Castle Howard is an 18th century Baroque stately home in North Yorkshire, one of the grandest and most over the top in England, with 145 rooms and set in 1,000 acres of gardens and parkland. It is owned by the Howard family, and has been for over 300 years. The house was started for the
The church of St Dunstan in the East is essentially an atmospheric garden inside the ruins of a medieval-Baroque church destroyed during the Blitz. The church dates from 1100 and was part of the community for some 800 years. It was severely damaged in the Great Fire of 1666 and repaired, with a new tower
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Inveraray Castle is the imposing 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
Sudbury Hall is a fine Jacobian mansion and estate, created by the wealthy George Vernon. It has long included a Museum of Childhood and in 2022 was rebranded ‘The Children’s Country House at Sudbury’. This includes the museum, focussing on the experience of childhood, the hall and garden. The hall is now specifically aimed at younger visitors, with over 12 rooms created with and for children.
Home to the Earl and Countess of Carnarvon, Highclere is a predominantly Victorian mansion set in extensive grounds. The house was redeveloped in Jacobean style by Sir Charles Barry, the architect responsible for the Houses of Parliament, from an earlier Georgian mansion which, itself, replaced a Tudor House. The 5th Earl sponsored the discovery of Tutankhamun’s tomb by Howard Carter in 1922 and Highclere was used as the location for the TV series Jeeves and Wooster as well as taking the title role in the highly successful Downton Abbey.
Balmoral Castle and estate is the Royal Family’s private home in Scotland. Queen Victoria and Prince Albert purchased it in 1852, replacing the old castle with the current building.
Dunham Massey is a 17th century estate, packed with treasures, used as hospital during WW1 and training facility in WW2.
Historic Christchurch Greyfriars, destroyed in the Great Fire and again by German bombs, is now a tranquil, haunted, garden.
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Cragside was the home of the 1st Baron Armstrong, arms manufacturer and dealer, and is a showcase of Victorian grandeur and innovation. Notably, it was the first house globally to use hydroelectricity. The extensive estate offers various walks, gardens, and a 6-mile circular drive with waymarked walks at various points.
