Built in the 18th Century, Mount Stewart is a handsome neoclassical house and garden on the eastern edge of Strangford Lough in County Down in Northern Ireland. Once the seat of the Marquesses of Londonderry, the Vane-Tempest-Stewart dynasty, who bought the estate in 1744, this National Trust-owned property is a must-see for anyone interested in history or horticulture or who likes nothing better than to spend time appreciating beautiful and calm surroundings.
What to See and Do at Mount Stewart
Having undergone a massive three-year programme of redevelopment, Mount Stewart House offers an engrossing glimpse into the lives of the seventh Marchioness, Edith, Lady Londonderry and her family in the early 20th Century. You can walk through the elegantly restored rooms to see their beautiful furniture, carpets and artefacts, including stunning silver collections, family portraits and fascinating memorabilia. Room guides are present to tell you more about each setting.
The Mount Stewart gardens are a delight to explore and have been voted as one of the world’s top 10 gardens. A lavish ensemble of formal spaces and woodlands with a showpiece ornamental lake, they reflect Lady Edith’s flair for design and planting, and owe much of their richness and variety to the local, mild climate.
As a visitor, you can stroll around at leisure or take a guided tour, absorbing the imaginatively planted formal areas and informal lakeside landscapes. Mount Stewart House is open through the year from 11am to 5pm, while Mount Stewart Gardens are open year round from 10am to 5pm.
