Nearest station to Boscobel House

First things first, pay a visit to the mysterious Royal Oak, which stands proudly in the grounds of the house. The tree is a descendant of the oak tree in which a young Charles II hid in order to escape the hordes of Cromwell’s men that were patrolling the region.

Next up, venture inside to discover another of King Charles II’s hiding places, this time a priest hole in the Hunting Lodge, where he spent the night before embarking on his escape to France in the mid-1600s.

When you’ve had enough of hiding places, make your way to the beautiful timber-framed Boscobel House hunting lodge. Discover the lodge’s long and illustrious history by signing up for a guided tour, which run through the grounds at 11am and 2pm each day.

Next it’s back outside to take in the stunning Knot Gardens, crafted in the same 17th-century style that would have existed in the house’s heyday – complete with rectangle parterre beds, stunning honeysuckle and rare species of lavender, box and santolina. Pay close attention to the small mound in the gardens, which was once a 'pretty arbour' where Charles is said to have relaxed and read in the 1600s.