HAVING loved Bridgerton since it first aired on Netflix, I was delighted to hear that I could immerse myself in the Regency era whilst enjoying the lovely grounds of Houghton Lodge Gardens.
Live the Bridgerton Dream: A Regency Soirée at Houghton gave fans the opportunity to come along and have a taste of what it would have been like promenade with your partner, friends or family in the era.
Right from the moment we arrived we were greeted by ‘Lady Whisteradown’ played by Sophie Andrews, who was the host for the day. She was stunning in her blue gown, which wouldn’t be out of place in the popular show.
My mum and I bought our own picnic and set out our blanket on the banks of the River Test, which was a lovely treat. It felt so peaceful, and we were looking forward to the day ahead.
After enjoying our buffet, we decided to walk through the grounds and could hear The Bossard String Quartet playing some of the hits which viewers would recognise from the show. It drew us to the glass house, and we stopped for a bit to delight in their magnificent performance.
As the afternoon continued the Hampshire Regency Dancers were on hand to entertain guests, it was so lovely to watch them showcase their talent and enjoy the dances that we all love to watch during the Bridgerton balls.
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It was then our chance to have a go. I was apprehensive at first as I’m not a great dancer, but the Regency dancers were on hand to guide us through. It was so delightful to learn a couple of dances alongside others which brought a lot of smiles and laughs.
After all that dancing, we decided to treat ourselves to a cocktail and cake. Sitting in the glass house we were very jealous of the afternoon tea that other people were enjoying and will definitely be returning to enjoy this at some time in the future.
It was then time to walk back down to the Test to listen to The Bossard String Quartet once again, which was the most peaceful time of our whole day and enjoy looking at some of the marvellous outfits that some of the guests had worn. So many people had put in the effort to truly immerse themselves in the era, it was lovely to see.
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