It becomes clear very quickly that some of the previous owners of Powis Castle nurtured a love for taxidermy. Despite my aversion to this, the interior of Powis Castle is still stunning, and kept in perfect condition. For me, the exterior is really where the magic happens.
The gardens are manicured and you'll learn a thing or two about topiary, you'll probably see the odd peacock and peahen and the courtyard is stunning - especially if you manage to sneak in a cream tea from the cafe to the left of the courtyard as you enter.

What an entrance!
If you're on a time limit and the weather is gorgeous, I suggest leaving the house until you have more time and opting to thoroughly enjoy the gardens instead. The garden is set on different levels and the view is breathtaking.
Exploring the gardens properly will take at least 2 hours. At a medium pace, that should have been just enough cardio to burn off the cream tea I enjoyed. If not, it should have been enough to at least deal with the clotted cream.

The view and gardens
The closest major town is Welshpool, but a day trip from Birmingham will only take 1.5 hours if you wanted to do a weekend away but base yourself in a city.
There is car parking on site but remember to drive slowly as you're driving through a deer park.
Tickets can be bought at the venue itself but it's worth checking the National Trust website to properly plan your trip.
Price information and opening times can be found here.