Hidden England

Hidden England (http://www.hiddenengland.org) is a marketing and discussion group set up in 2002 as a partnership between five heritage sites in the East Midlands who wanted to do more to promote the area for tourism.

The main participants are:
Belvoir Castle, Grantham Leicestershire
Burghley House, Stamford, Lincolnshire
Belton House, Grantham, Lincolnshire
Rockingham Castle, Market Harborough, Northamptonshire
Grimsthorpe Castle, Bourne, Lincolnshire
All are in private ownership with the exception of Belton House which is a National Trust property.

The concept of Hidden England was to share IDeaS and take action to increase awareness of the whole area. In year one each property contributed a small amount of money to produce a combined information leaflet and attend a number of trade shows especially aimed at the group market. The five properties were supported in attempts to promote the whole region by the inclusion of a number of hotels who contributed to be part of the marketing campaign.

Viewed as an innovative method of marketing where local tourist attractions work in partnership rather than in competition, Hidden England has been supported with funding from the East Midlands Development Agency via the Welland Sub Regional Partnership and East Midlands Tourism. It was also the first time that a National Trust property had worked with a group of privately owned properties in this way.

The key participants remain the original five houses, but other complementary hotels and attractions are:
Easton Walled Gardens, Grantham
Barnsdale Gardens, Oakham
Hansens Chocolate House, Folkingham, Lincolnshire
Rutland Water Cycling, Oakham
Stamford, Lincolnshire
Ye Olde Pork Pie Shoppe, Melton Mowbray
The Manners Arms, Knipton
Barnsdale Lodge, Oakham, Rutland
Sysonby Knoll, Melton Mowbray
Grantham Marriott, Grantham
Hambleton Hall, Oakham
Hotel Elizabeth, Corby
Stapleford Park, Nr Melton Mowbray
The George, Stamford
The Olde Barn Hotel, Grantham