Harry Potter, Star Wars and James Bond set to hit the outdoor cinema screen at Burghley House

The giant cinema screen returns to England’s greatest Elizabethan house in July as Burghley House again becomes the spectacular backdrop for an outdoor film in the picturesque South Gardens.

Among the returning cinematic favourites is the ‘Best of British’ barbecue and film themed drinks, plus the chance to hire Burghley deckchairs, while the line-up of movies is better than ever.

The 2016 Burghley Film Festival features some of the biggest hits of the last year, including a nightime screening of ‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens’, along with daytime sessions of children’s favourites and Disney classics, such as ‘Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs’ and ‘Peter Pan’.

Launching the Festival on Wednesday, July 27, will be a whole day of Harry Potter, with The Philospher’s Stone and Prisoner of Azkaban during the daytime session and The Deathly Hallows Part 1 and Part 2 during the evening.

If that leaves you shaken, but not stirred, there’s always the return of James Bond in Spectre on the Friday night – or for a real weekend treat, how about Hairspray followed by Mamma Mia on Saturday night?

For a fitting final night finale, Star Wars: The Force Awakens takes Burghley to a galaxy far, far away before Batman lights up the night sky in The Dark Knight.

In between, movie fans can enjoy everything from rom-coms Notting Hill and Bridget Jones’s Diary on Thursday, July 28, to thrills and spills in Mission Impossible – Rogue Natio’ on Friday, July 29. Daytime family screenings include Puss in Boots and WALL-E.

Early bird tickets are available until May 1, at £10 adults and £6 children and then £12 and £7 until July 26. During the festival itself tickets will cost £14 and £8. Parking is free.

Daytime tickets give access to both screenings during the day, and evening tickets give access to both evening screenings. Book at www.burghley.co.uk.