From outside, the romantic Elizabethan mansion of Melford Hall has changed little since the days when Queen Elizabeth I was an honoured guest. Inside, there's a panelled banqueting hall, masses of Regency and Victorian finery, and a display on Beatrix Potter, a cousin of the Hyde Parkers, who owned the house from 1786 to 1960. Melford Hall is usually open Wednesday to Sunday in summer, but this may change in 2021 – call for the latest hours and fees.