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The seat of the Duncombe family since 1711, when the house was built by Thomas Duncombe (born Thomas Browne). His descendent, Charles Duncombe, was created Lord Feversham in 1826. The house is not open to the public, but 450 acres of parkland, gardens and nature reserve are. There is also a bird of prey centre on site.

Haddon Hall dates from the 11th century, was formerly the seat of the Duke of Rutland, and is currently the private home of Lord and Lady Edward Manners.  The Manners acquired Haddon through marriage and can therefore claim to have owned it for its entire existence; the hall is one of the oldest houses in the country.

From the 1700s, the family preferred their main seat at Belvoir Castle, so Haddon was empty for two centuries.  Unaltered by Georgians or Victorians, venturing into Haddon Hall has been described as like stepping back in time.  The Medieval Banqueting Hall remains furnished with its original Dais table, behind which hangs a tapestry gifted to the family by visiting Henry VIII.  The Parlour boasts its glorious Tudor painted ceiling of Tudor roses and marvellous heraldic panelling.  Exquisite and rare 15th century frescos adorn the walls of the Medieval Chapel.  In contrast to the Tudor and Medieval Rooms below, the light and airy first floor Elizabethan rooms culminate in the spectacular 110ft Robert Smythson designed Long Gallery; reputed to be one of the most beautiful rooms in England.

Outside, the terraced Elizabethan Walled Gardens cascade down to the River Wye and provide spectacular views over ancient parkland to the Peak District beyond.

Haddon is a favourite film location, featuring in no fewer than three different film adaptations of Jane Eyre, as well as Mary Queen of Scots, The Other Boleyn Girl, Pride & Prejudice and various documentaries.

Image credit: Historic Houses

Hardwick Hall is one of the most impressive Elizabethan Houses in Britain, built in the late 1590s for the remarkable Bess of Hardwick, Countess of Shrewsbury (c1527-1608).  Her initials, ES, are proudly on the turrets.  It was designed by the architect Robert Smythson to replace Hardwick Old Hall, which stands next door, and is renowned for its windows – ‘more glass than wall’, so it is said.  Set in attractive gardens, inside is what the National Trust claims to be the “finest collections of Elizabethan tapestries and embroideries in Europe.”  Much of the furniture and other house contents are listed on an inventory that dates from 1601.

Hardwick Old Hall in next door, in ruins and as of 2021 closed.  Although just a stone's throw from the back garden, the National Trust may insist you walk right round the grounds to get to it, rather than through a convenient gateway.

Inveraray Castle is the ancestral home of the Duke of Argyll, Chief of the Clan Campbell and one of the must-see visitor attractions on the West Coast of Scotland.  With a spectacular location on Loch Fyne, there has been an Inveraray Castle for around 500 years.  The present castle was begun by the 3rd Duke in 1746 and took 43 years to build.  Far from a forbidding fortress, Inveraray is a palatial home displaying the clan chief’s wealth and influence – though it does house an alarmingly large collection of armaments.  The Duke and Duchess and their family live on two floors of the castle; the remainder is open to visitors, along with gardens and grounds – which include trees planted by, among others, David Livingstone, William Gladstone and Queen Victoria.  Inveraray Castle featured as ‘Duneagle Castle’ in the TV programme ‘Downton Abbey’.

In 1689 William III bought the Jacobean mansion Nottingham House from his Secretary of State, the Earl of Nottingham, and commissioned Christopher Wren to extend and improve it. Thus it became Kensington Palace, a favourite residence of successive monarchs until the death of George II in 1760. Queen Victoria was born and spent much of her youth here.

Today, Kensington Palace contains the offices and London residences of The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge as well as The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, The Duke and Duchess of Kent and Prince and Princess Michael of Kent.

Visitors can walk in the footsteps of royalty in Victoria's re-imagined childhood rooms, see the magnificent King's State Apartments and the famous Sunken Garden.