A stunning Victorian manor house stands proudly in the middle of a sprawling 200-acre landscape.
With perfectly manicured greenspace, Abney Hall Park is home to a woodland and has a variety of beautiful plants blooming from its marshlands.
Located in Cheadle the manor home is steeped in history and once belonged to acclaimed novelist Agatha Christie.
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Built in 1847, the Hall's first owner was a former Mayor of Stockport. Prince Albert frequented the beautiful Grade II listed building, as well as the likes of King Edward VII and former Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli.
It's most famously known, perhaps, as the place where Agatha Christie produced the novels The Tale of the Christmas Pudding and After the Funeral.
The Park is set in an area that was once part of the River Mersey flood plain, meaning lots of the land is still very marshy.
But these conditions have made it the ideal location to spot an array of diverse wildlife and plants which flourish in the wetlands.
What is there to do at Abney Hall Park?
The 200-acre site boasts an abundance of hidden pathways leading through its woodland, where waterfowl, kingfishers, woodpeckers - and even a pair of parakeets - can be found.
It's also home to a river and two ponds, complete with a waterfall.
After a good day's worth of exploring, you can visit the on-site café for a warm drink or a snack.
The grounds we see today are only one tenth of their original size, as the surrounding land was used to extend the motorway.
The hall itself is now used as office space and therefore isn't accessible to the public.
However, you can still get up, close and personal with the manor house and admire its 19th century architecture from the outside.
You might even recognise Abney Hall Park from your TV screens.
It was used in 2014 to the film the BBC series Our Zoo, detailing the life of the Mottershead family who founded Chester Zoo in the 1930s.
For those who are avid runners, the Abney Hall 5k Run takes place on the first Saturday of every month.
It's free of charge, sponsored by St Cuthbert's Church, and kicks off at 9.30am.
How do I get to Abney Hall Park?
The site itself provides two free car parks for public use.
But if you don't drive - or fancy leaving the car keys at home - then you can always catch the train or bus instead.
Gatley Railway Station and East Didsbury Railway Station are both around a 20 minute walk away from the park.
Or you could take the 11, 309, 310, 311, 312 or 371 busses.
