Fun, history, beauty - all in one place (Knebworth House (Knebworth))

Member Name: dee778

Product:	Knebworth House (Knebworth)
Date:	30/07/09 (201 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: A great place for adults, children and everybody in between

Disadvantages: So much to do, there is hardly time to fit it in

Knebworth House is a stately home dating from 1490, close to Stevenage in Hertfordshire. Although the house itself is a very pleasant place to visit, Knebworth is much more than just a stately home. For me, Knebworth means rock concerts, fun with the children and long walks.

My first visit to Knebworth was at my first rock concert, in June 1980, when I danced along in the rain to the sounds of Elkie Brookes, Santana, Mike Oldfield and the Beach Boys. Since that time I have moved closer to Knebworth, and over the years have discovered that the park is an endless source of fun for children of all ages, that the gardens are lovely to walk around on a summers day, that the grounds are surrounded by a network of footpaths and lovely walks, and that there is always a selection of interesting shows and events there, as well as the yearly music festivals.

~~Fort Knebworth~~
The grounds of Knebworth comprise 250 acres, which seems enormous - and within this, about a mile from the house and formal gardens, is the children's play area, which we have always called Fort Knebworth. A long time favourite with both my children, we have spent many long days at Fort Knebworth; a huge children's wooden fort, about 15 foot high, built out of logs - wild west style. Inside the fort are ropes and swings, a parapet so that you can run around the top wall of the fort and shoot the Red Indians, and smaller crawling tunnels at the bottom of the wall. My sons used to bring huge gangs of friends with toy rifles with them to re-enact wars (sorry, I know this isn't very pc!).

At the back of the fort are two enormous slides. I mean really, really enormous! Both of them are staffed, and you slide down very fast on a mat with a foot glove attached. One has lot of bumps but is straight, and one has a vertical drop and is a corkscrew. The vertical drop part of the slide has a glass viewing top and the sight of hair standing on end, combined with blood-curdling screams, has always made me too scared to go on this slide!

Just next to the fort is a bouncy castle (free of charge) and a miniature steam train (free of charge). In addition there is an adventure playground, with zip wires, climbing ropes and swings.

I could spend all day at the fort, but I usually persuade the kids to jump on the free vintage bus that takes you to the house and gardens, which include the Dinosaur Garden.

~~The Dinosaur Gardens~~
The Dinosaur Trail is a relatively new and surprisingly tacky addition to Knebworth. Situated in a wild corner of the formal gardens, 72 very large and brightly coloured plastic dinosaurs have been put into mock pens amongst the trees and rhododendron bushes. Although this is not very appealing to adults, all children seem to love it, and rush along the woodland paths, screaming with excitement every time they see a green T-Rex.

~~Knebworth House and Gardens~~
Knebworth is home to the Lytton family, including the Victorian novelist Edward Bulwer Lytton - author of the words "the pen is mightier than the sword". Current owners are now the 19th generation of Lyttons, and run it as a business as well as a family home.

Knebworth House is well worth a visit - opulently decorated rooms, suits of armour, paintings - the usual trappings of a stately home, in very beautiful surroundings. A nice touch to modern life is the photos of the rock concerts that have been held there over the past few decades.

The gardens date from the Edwardian era, and are a truly lovely break from the chaos of the play area. They were designed by the architect Sir Edwin Lutyens, who, as the website claims "simplified the ornate beds and statuary of the Victorian garden with lawns and avenues of pollarded lime trees".

As always, there is something for the children - a maze has been grown in the gardens, which is always huge fun.

Adults will love to stroll around the formal gardens, admiring the fountains and statues, the walled kitchen garden and the magnificent view down to the house.

~~Knebworth on Film~~
Knebworth really is a lovely location, and has been used as such in many films. Perhaps its most famous appearance was as Wayne Manor in the Batman films. It has also been used in other films and TV shows such as The Shooting Party, Wilde, Jane Eyre, The Canterville Ghost and Haunted Honeymoon.

~~Music at Knebworth~~
Many of the greatest rock bands have played at Knebworth over the years, and I am totally gutted that the only time I have ever been there was to see the Beach Boys! I would have given anything to be at the Floyd gig, but .........

The first event was in 1974 - and the event has run nearly every year since then. I am going to write a quick list of the headline bands over the years to give an idea of how great Knebworth has been, although today it is easily overshadowed by Reading and Glastonbury. The event has been truly great... and truly awful over the years - sometimes boasting audiences of 120,000 and the biggest names, and sometimes plumbing the depths of middle aged, middle class boredom.

1974. Allman Brothers, Van Morrison, Doobie Brothers.
1975. Pink Floyd, The Steve Miller Band, Linda Lewis.
1976. Rolling Stones, 10cc, Lynyrd Skynyrd.
1977. Genesis, Jefferson Starship, Torn Petty and The Heartbreakers.
1978. Frank Zappa, The Tubes, Peter Gabriel, Boomtown Rats.
1979. Led Zeppelin, The New Barbarians [featuring Keith Richards & Ronnie Wood]
198. The Beach Boys, Mike Oldfield, Elkie Brooks, Santana, Lindisfarne.
1981 and 1982. Jazz years.
1982 and 1983. Nothing I want to talk about. (Cliff Richard...)
1985. Deep Purple, Scorpions, Meatloaf, UFO.
1986. Queen, Status Quo, Big Country.
1990. Pink Floyd, Paul McCartney, Mark Knopfler, Eric Clapton, Elton John, Phil Collins and Genesis, Robert Plant and Jimmy Page, Cliff Richard and The Shadows, Status Quo, Tears for Fears.
1992. Genesis, The Saw Doctors.
1996. Oasis, Prodigy, Manic Street Preachers, Charlatans, Chemical Brothers.
2001. Jamiroquai
2003. Robbie Williams, Moby, Ash, Kelly Osbourne, The Darkness.
2006. The Who.
2009. Metallica, Linkin Park, Lamb of God, Mastadon.

~~Events~~
There are always special events at Knebworth, ranging from literary and artistic events, to car rallies and historical re-enactments. These are all listed on the website: www.knebworthhouse.com

~~Walks~~
There are many footpaths leading to and through the grounds, across the deer park and around the chapel. It is possible to enter the grounds for free if you start your walk from Knebworth village, and by doing so you can add a variety of unusual things to a ramble, from jousting knights, to archery events, to vintage car rallies. The countryside around the House is lovely and the walks are extensive. There are many books containing circular walks for the area.

~~Practical Information~~
The House and Gardens are used for private events all year round, and are only open to the public on weekends and during school holidays, from March to September.

There is a small shop and cafe in the gardens, along coffee and snack huts throughout the grounds.

Admission:
Adult and children 4-16 - £7.50. Children 1-3 free. Family ticket £26.00
Opening times: 11am-5pm

The garden is very accessible to those with a disability, having wide gravel paths. A wheelchair is available from the House staff.
Unfortunately there is no lift in the house, and those with mobility difficulties could not see the whole range of rooms.
The vintage bus is also not suitable for those with mobility problems, as it has steep, narrow steps - but is it possible to drive around the grounds in your own car.

Knebworth is 29 miles from London on the A1(M) - the nearest station is Stevenage.

Summary: Make sure you get there early to get your moneys worth