Gearing up to celebrate the 500th anniversary of the birth of its founder William Cecil in 2020, Burghley House is planning a bumper season for 2019 – including the world’s largest gathering of Rolls Royces and a summer concert by one of the UK’s top selling R&B singer-songwriters.

One of England’s greatest Elizabethan houses, Burghley, near Stamford, Lincolnshire, will also again host its popular annual events, from a picturesque outdoor cinema to fine food markets and new contemporary sculptures in a historic garden setting.

Plans are underway for 2020 to mark the anniversary of the birth of William Cecil – Elizabeth I’s most trusted minister who designed the house as a grand tribute to his Queen – which will include a high profile lecture series, new exhibitions and celebration events. But in the meantime, and hot on the heels of a record-breaking season last year when it attracted more than 120,000 visitors to the House and Gardens, Burghley has a host of events lined up for 2019.

The House and Gardens re-open on Saturday, 16 March 2019, with this year’s year-long exhibition, ‘Treasures of the East’, bringing to life objects used and obtained by Burghley’s two great collecting Earls in the 17th and 18th centuries. Spring also sees the annual opening of the normally closed South Gardens (16 Mar - 5 Apr), with magnificent seasonal displays of Narcissi and spring bulbs, while the Burghley Easter Egg Treasure Hunt (21st April) returns.

Other 2019 highlights will be a summer concert by Britain’s biggest black recording star, Billy Ocean (8th June) when the parkland will echo to the sounds of ‘Caribbean Queen’, while special guest Heather Small is bound to make the crowds feel ‘Proud’.

For the spectacular sight of the largest Rolls-Royce and Bentley gathering anywhere in the world, the Rolls Royce Enthusiasts Club Annual Rally (21st - 23rd June) has stands, an auction of cars and automobilia, as well as class judging and a parade of prize winning cars.

For more spectacular summer celebrations, the Battle Proms Concert (20th July) brings music, Spitfire displays, cannons, cavalry and fireworks to the parkland. It is still believed to be the only opportunity in the world to see their signature piece – Beethoven’s Battle Symphony –performed as he composed it: acompanied by 193 live Napoleonic cannons!

Cinema takes centre stage for the now well-established Burghley Film Festival 2019 (24th - 28th July) with five days and nights of fabulous films alongside the new style film festival food, including American classics served from our airstream trailer.

Foodies will be treated to three Burghley Fine Food Markets (6th - 7th April; 24th – 26th Aug; 28th November - 1st December) offering a range of produce with handmade cheeses, organic vegetables, luxury sweet treats and rare breed meats.

Autumn treats include Burghley at Twilight (2nd - 5th October) when the House will be floodlit and visitors serenaded by musicians as they turn back time and become evening guests to explore a grand historic house at twilight, while the ever popular Spooky Tours return 16th - 31st October.

For festive fun, the Burghley Christmas Fair with the Angel Fair (28th November - 1st December) will be the biggest ever, featuring luxury gift fair and seasonal food market, all in a picture postcard setting with the magnificent Tudor house as a backdrop. Once again, Burghley will be working in association with The Angel Fair to raise money for charity.

For price options and full group visit details, see www.burghley.co.uk/visiting/group-visits/