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Tour 6 British Houses That Are Bursting With Historical Charm

From Balmoral Castle and Buckingham Palace to the relatively humble English cottages and converted flats, British houses tend to offer much more historical charm than their American counterparts. Although there are certainly plenty of recent builds throughout England, there’s something distinctly delightful about the Georgian, Victorian, and other old-fashioned home styles that dot the UK. Below, we’ve selected seven of our favorite British houses featured in AD . 

A Coastal Victorian Property

In the entrance porch is a mirror designed by Gowing. This hangs above an ebonized ash cabinet by John Alfredo Harris . Gowing’s collection of glass cloches with butterflies feature throughout the house and demonstrate her love for vintage and sourcing pieces from antique fairs—a design service she applies when renovating clients’ homes.

Also in the master stands a Clearwater freestanding bath and gold Vola fixtures. The floor lamp is Murano. “What I love about the Victorian mood is its space,” Gowing says, describing what attracted her to the property. “I love the height. The proportions are just fantastic, really.” Born in Sydney, she is naturally drawn to openness: “Everything is very open there, and the rooms here have that same sense of freedom.”

Although in some quarters it is considered unfashionable, there’s a lot to be admired about Victorian design. They were the original maximalists, who favored the romantic and eclectic with a mash-up of historic styles. They knew how to do all things decorative.

Structurally magnificent with amazing proportions, this 1879-built house has all the commanding characteristics of the period, but there’s something different going on here. Any hint of Victorian stuffiness is countered with streamlined contemporary design, and the private rooms upstairs feel soft and intimate in contrast to the open spaces on the ground floor.

Taking on the renovation of this house in St Leonards-on-Sea in East Sussex, interior designer Scarlett Gowing had quite the challenge. The near-derelict Grade II—listed property has endured many incarnations over the years (it has been a convalescent home, language school, and drug rehabilitation center) and in the process lost any semblance of the family home it once was. Also, the spook factor was high. “It was a big ask,” says Gowing of how she tackled the renovation. “The house had lost its soul: All the stained glass was broken and boarded over and a lot of the doors were bricked up to create smaller rooms.” So she went back to the original floor plan to bring the house back to life. — Claire Bingham

Original Parquet Flooring in a Pied-à-Terre

The walls and ceiling of the primary bath are made of polished plaster in a soft green finish. A custom unpolished brass washstand is topped with a Vert d’Estours marble basin, the sink fittings are from The Water Monopoly, and the sconces are by Michael Anastassiades from Sigmar. Inspired by Jean Cocteau murals, Maddux Creative designed a mosaic floor that was realized by Pierre Mesguich Mosaïk.

Adjacent to the living room is the library, which contains a Christophe Delcourt sofa, a Paolo Buffa armchair, a cocktail table from Villiers , a rug from Tufenkian, and a vintage pendant light. Charles Gaines’s work Explosion #26 , which was acquired from Hauser & Wirth, can also be seen.

A homeowner who is eager and willing to take risks isn’t always a given, but when it came to one pied-à-terre project, London-based design firm Maddux Creative hit the jackpot. The clients, a Los Angeles−based couple with two 20-something daughters, were looking for a chic canvas to display their growing collection of contemporary art. Located in a 1920s building in London’s Marylebone neighborhood, the two-bedroom apartment was replete with period details, such as original moldings and parquet flooring.

“We had some amazing features to work with that provide a sense of timelessness and character,” says Scott Maddux, an architect who has been focusing on interiors since he relocated to London nearly three decades ago. “Both the floors, which we sanded down for a bare-looking finish, and the Haussmannian-style panel moldings feel very Parisian. Throughout the residence, we played with the idea of not being able to tell if something was original or new. The homeowners are quite adventurous, so they were receptive to more artistic ideas.” — Alyssa Bird

A Generations-Old Georgian Home

The stately dining room was enlivened with the addition of Benjamin Moore’s Denim Wash blue wall paint.

In order to secure this gargantuan project, designer Emma Sims Hilditch presented a thoughtful proposal, keeping the spirit of the Georgian-style home with modern embellishments to gracefully provide a more contemporary edge. “In the end, I think [the client] chose us because of the [small] size of our practice,” Sims Hilditch, whose eponymous firm has offices in London and Gloucestershire, shares. “He knew we needed the breadth” of a commission like this, adds the designer, who launched her namesake firm in 2009. Well, if there is one thing a 14,000-square-foot project can provide, it is indeed breadth.

The sprawling Northern England estate has been in the same family for more than 500 years. The current owner—Sims Hilditch’s client—inherited it from a distant cousin. In order to make the necessary repairs and updates, some of the property’s land was sold off in order to fund an extensive renovation.

The early stages of the project were its most exciting. “We uncovered so many parts of the house,” Sims Hilditch recalls with a residual giddiness. Old stone walls were stripped back from false fireplaces; carpets were removed to reveal forgotten tiling.

Other aspects of discovery posed challenges: The center of the house, for one, was a rabbit warren of Victorian-era domestic spaces, meant mainly to serve the dozens of staff who would’ve been operating the house. A historical marvel, yes, but not exactly functional for a present day single-family home. — Sophia Herring

A To-Die-For Thatched-Roof Cottage

An outdoor sitting area. 

When actor Sienna Miller first saw a 16th-century thatched-roof cottage in Buckinghamshire, England, she fell for it hard. “It was a time when there was a lot of press attention on me, and I wanted somewhere to escape. I bought the house on a whim—it offers a sanctuary. I also wanted somewhere where family and friends could gather. It has a nurturing feeling;  it is a home with a heart,” she says.

When she isn’t starring in films and television series or onstage (including a role in the Apple TV+ series Extrapolations, set to debut next year), Miller, her daughter, friends, and family spend glorious times at the house. And for more than a decade she left the faded chintz-filled interior with its engineered flooring pretty much untouched. During the pandemic, however, when the urge struck to restore the house, she knew just who to call. “I wanted a Gaby house!” says Miller, referring to her great friend Gaby Dellal’s houses in London and Cornwall, with their wonderful eclectic interiors where vintage fabrics and kilims, industrial fittings, and other homey elements commingle in unexpected unions that exude warmth, impeccable taste, and heartfelt character.

Dellal, a film and theater director by profession, was happy to undertake the project and set about the work with gusto, shuttling back and forth between London and the site while Miller, who was born in the U.S. and raised in the U.K., was grounded in New York during lockdown. “What was beautiful is that she just trusted me, and we had a deal whereby she was not allowed there for six months until I completed the project,” says Dellal. — Harriet Quick  

An Arts and Crafts Country House

A leaded glass window illuminates the stairwell and great room. The bespoke sofa wears a Ralph Lauren Home print. Vintage leather Chesterfield sofa; Lampshade by Robert Kime; On walls, Farrow & Ball paint.

Vintage bamboo furniture in the primary-suite foyer. Stark carpet.

With its chimneys thrusting into the sky, its half-timbered brick façade and vast expanses of leaded glass, the stately structure exemplifies the moment when the English country-house tradition met the wealth of the Industrial Revolution and the aesthetic of the Arts and Crafts movement. It’s not difficult to visualize swirls of cigar smoke rising to the rafters in the vast main hall, and brandy being served by liveried footmen. Indeed, the estate was once owned by famed tobacconist Alfred Dunhill, founder of the eponymous luxury empire that still bears his name.

Decades later, the scene in the Old Barn, as it is affectionately known, was far more raucous when it belonged to music producer Robert Stigwood, manager of Cream and the Bee Gees. “The house was the scene of legendary parties,” says current owner Angelo Moratti. “It’s where George Harrison’s wife and Eric Clapton started their romance. Elton John stayed often. Virtually everyone who was important in the ’70s music industry was a guest here. There are so many wonderful stories.”

Stigwood sold the place to Moratti’s father, Gian Marco, in 1976, shortly before relocating to Bermuda. Gian Marco Moratti, like his father before him, was head of one of Italy’s largest oil companies—where Angelo Moratti himself works today. (The family had also long been involved with Milan’s championship soccer team Inter Milan.)

“My father immediately hired Renzo Mongiardino, who had designed our home in Milan,” says Moratti, referring to the legendary 20th-century Italian interior and set designer. Located on 43 acres, with two lakes, the property is only a 40-minute drive from central London, which made it an ideal refuge for the family. “I was attending boarding school only about a half hour away and would go to the house on weekends. My family had an office in London as well, so they were often there, and I still used it a lot when I was in my 20s and 30s.”

But over the years, the family’s connection to their country retreat weakened, and it was used only sporadically. “When my father died two years ago, I inherited the house,” Moratti says. By then, his own circumstances had changed as well. Through his work with the Special Olympics International, he had met his wife, Nadia, whose son, Adam, now 10, has disabilities. The couple had twins, Grace and Gian Marco, now 4. And the appeal of a home near London, where Nadia has family, only increased.

It was then that Moratti turned to AD100 designer Joy Moyler. If buildings come with diverse and fascinating histories, so do designers. Moyler’s background includes stints with Thierry Despont Ltd., Ralph Lauren, and Armani/Casa, giving her the widest possible range of style touchstones. Moreover, her years at Armani had endowed her with the ability to work with high-profile personalities, including Leonardo DiCaprio and John Mayer. “I’m so lucky to have worked at so many firms,” she says. “One thing I always wanted to take away was an open mind. I am blessed not to be known for a particular style.” — Michael Boodro

A Colorful 19th-Century Home

In the living room, a central ottoman opens up to reveal the family’s stash of jigsaw puzzles and games, while an upholstered fender offers a fireside place to perch. Says Mary Graham: “They are such a great piece of furniture because not only do they make the room a lot more flexible and you can fit more people in, but they’re a great opportunity for adding fun and character into the room.”

Family is the common theme that runs through the 19th-century country home of Claire Vero, founder of Aurelia Probiotic Skincare. Located in a small village in the south east of England, this property’s history runs deep. Vero’s husband Alex spent his childhood here and it was always his hope that his family would too.

The entrepreneurial couple and their two young boys moved into the house in 2018 and set about the renovation that was at once respectful to the architecture while not bound by traditional design. “It was always such a welcoming family home, but we wanted to make it our own,” says Vero, who approached London-based interior decorators Mary Graham and Nicole Salvesen of Salvesen Graham with the task of transforming the property to suit their busy life.

As with any redecoration project, there was a temptation to dive straight in with the patterns and colors, but getting the layout right is where it began. “We don't use a house in the same way these period properties were originally intended,” Graham explains on the challenge of reconfiguring an old house to keep the essence but make it relevant for today.

For Vero, her flow of family life is intertwined with the demands of running a business from home. Some rooms are kept separate; other spaces such as the large kitchen and breakfast room are integrated. As the boys play at the family end of the house, Vero has her own workspace and can lay down tools in the elegant sitting room in the evening. Every space is used. This owes much to the ingenuity of Salvesen Graham. Very much their kind of architecture, the result is a blend of classic English heritage, modern femininity, and a strong sense of fun. — Claire Bingham

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Short breaks.

Go on an escorted tour of Britain's beautiful historic estates with JustGo! Holidays, an official partner of Historic Houses

Take a wonderful short break holiday to discover some of Britain’s most special historic houses, castles and gardens. With specially tailored itineraries each four, five or six day escorted tour allows you to easily discover beautiful and extraordinary historic houses, castles and gardens around Britain.

On these fascinating tours we uncover the secrets and stories of the families who have lived in these special places and get a glimpse into the lives of those who still do, with many owners offering exclusive access or intriguing behind-the-scenes tours for guests.

Each tour includes fine architectural treasures, superb collections and stunning interiors, with many properties represented by Historic Houses considered iconic symbols of Britain’s unique heritage. A range of travel options are offered including return coach travel, making your own way or a door to door travel service.

The tours are run by Just Go! Holidays, one of the UK’s leading coach holiday specialists.

Charming Houses of the Cotswolds

An Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, the Cotswolds is a pastoral landscape of gently rolling hills, idyllic views and quintessentially English market towns and villages of honey-coloured stone where time seems to have stood still.

Hidden Houses of the Lake District

Recently recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Lake District boasts some of England’s finest scenery. Awash with glittering midnight blue lakes, jagged fells and lush valleys, we are transported into a bucolic abundance of natural beauty.

Kent’s Most Beautiful Gardens

Kent isn’t described as the garden of England for nothing. Within Britain’s oldest county lies the perfumed landscape of fruit-laden orchards, rolling hills and a treasure trove of country estates and enchanting castles.

A Taste of the Stately High Life in Yorkshire

Yorkshire is home to some of the most beautiful landscapes in the country as well as a wonderfully rich and fascinating heritage. We delve into the past with a look around some of the county’s most impressive historic houses, many...

Castles & Churches of Northumberland & the Borders

The rugged county of Northumberland is steeped in history, with a host of ancient castles, ruined abbeys and picturesque stately homes dotting the scenic countryside. We learn more about the intriguing stories behind the powerful castles that dominate the landscape,...

Homes of Edinburgh’s Landed Gentry

Scotland’s vibrant capital city of Edinburgh is surrounded by important estates and fine houses, owned by the landed gentry of generations past who often had connections to royalty or the politics of their day. These fascinating places boast an eclectic...

Special Houses & Gardens of North Norfolk

North Norfolk is not only renowned for its big skies, wide horizons and sandy beaches but also for its fascinating heritage and abundance of beautiful historic houses, ranging from Tudor moated manors to Arts and Crafts homes. Many are spectacular...

A Grand Tour of Oxford & the Home Counties

The pastoral landscapes of the Home Counties provide a beautiful backdrop to some of Britain’s most impressive houses and manors. We uncover the fascinating stories of these magnificent places with their wonderful mix of architectural styles and fine treasures within,...

Longleat Festival of Light & South West at Christmas Time

There is nothing quite like the countdown to Christmas in the enchanting South West! Soak up the wonderful yuletide atmosphere with festive market stalls, iced with glittering fairy lights and a stately home boasting the most impressive statuesque Christmas trees.

An Indulgent Tour of the Festive Castles of Kent

The Garden of England is Britain’s oldest county, steeped in thousands of years of history and full of treasures, from medieval manors to romantic castles adorned with enchanting Christmas decorations of yesteryear.

Natural Beauty & Architectural Splendours of Suffolk

Beautiful Suffolk has plenty to discover, from a glorious coastline to rolling countryside and picturesque towns. On this fascinating break we visit some of the most interesting and diverse houses of the county, as we uncover secrets of the family...

Jane Austen Festival

Jane Austen is famed for her fiction which explores the British landed gentry at the end of the 18th century, and we delve into her world during this fascinating long weekend break. We head to Bath, which was Jane Austen’s...

An Exclusive Tour of Northern Ireland’s Finest Houses

Northern Ireland is not only renowned for the beauty of its countryside and coastline but also for the number of stunning country houses and magnificent castles that pepper the landscape. We learn more about the country’s rich heritage as we...

See all JustGo! Holidays Short Breaks

With specially tailored, bespoke itineraries, these fascinating short breaks allow you to easily discover beautiful and extraordinary historic houses, castles and gardens around Britain – places where our nation’s history lives and breathes – all in the company of like-minded...

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Take a look inside this Cotswolds country house

This 17th-century house in the Cotswolds features a sitting room, family room, dining room, kitchen/breakfast room, cloakroom, utility room, five bedrooms (two en suite) and a bathroom..

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1/10 Exterior

2/10 Sitting room fireplace

An open fire greets visitors in the sitting room, while a pair of matching  lamps  in each alcove creates a sense of symmetry. Soft-green walls and pale linen upholstery set a soothing tone.

Find comparable sofas at  Sofa Workshop

3/10 Family room

The living areas are laid out in an enfilade, providing an uninterrupted view from one room to another. An original  fireplace   sets the tone for a scheme of muted greys.

Find a similar chair at  Oka  and comparable throws at The White Company

4/10 Sitting room

A pair of red wingback  chairs , one patterned and one plain, add a splash of colour and a sense of loose symmetry to the sitting room.

Source similar wingback chairs from  The Odd Chair Company.   Chesney’s  offers a wide selection of architectural fireplaces

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5/10 Kitchen

Simple  Shaker-style units  have been updated with a lick of paint, while a range oven and a conventional double oven allow plenty of room for family cooking.

For comparable bespoke units, try  Martin Moore & Company

6/10 Dining room fireplace

A mahogany  dining table  and chairs add a note of elegance and formality in the main dining area, where an open fireplace and an original exposed beam take centre stage.

Find similar antique mahogany chairs at  The Chair Set

7/10 Dining room

A redundant  alcove   has been brought to life with the addition of an ornate antique mirror flanked by a pair of table lights.

India Jane  sells similar table lamps. Source antique mirrors from Myriad

8/10 Master bedroom

A nickel-studded  headboard  adds a sophisticated edge to the master bedroom, which is decorated in chalky neutrals. Wall mounted extendable lamps are ideal for reading by.

Source a similar headboard from  Jane Churchill

9/10 Bedroom fireplace

In the master bedroom, a selection of painted furniture, including this antique  chest of drawers , adds an air of rustic elegance.

Source a similar antique chest of drawers from  Braemar Antiques

10/10 Bathroom

An Art Deco-inspired  mirror  lends glamour to an otherwise simple en suite.

The mirror was sourced from a selection at  Sainsbury's.

Can't get enough of house tours? There's plenty more inspiration on our  house tour  page.

After all, what's better than looking around someone's home for real inspiration?

Heather Young has been Ideal Home ’s Editor since late 2020, and Editor-In-Chief since 2023. She is an interiors journalist and editor who’s been working for some of the UK’s leading interiors magazines for over 20 years, both in-house and as a freelancer. 

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Britain’s best stately homes

We’ve toured the British Isles to bring you 25 of Britain’s best stately homes, from the World Heritage Site of Blenheim Palace to the ‘real’ Downton Abbey, Highclere Castle…

The number of heritage buildings still standing proudly across our land never fails to amaze us. Most of Britain’s best stately homes have hosted kings and queens, prime ministers, actors and poets – all manner of illustrious guests.

Here are some of Britain’s best stately homes, from examples of architectural brilliance to places that hide unbelievable stories.  So read on, enjoy, and start planning your next trip.

1.  Blenheim Palace , Oxfordshire

When listing Britain’s best stately homes, we simply had to mention Blenheim, the sprawling Oxfordshire estate that was built for John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough. The palace was built on land gifted to Churchill by Queen Anne. Anne also awarded him £240,000 for his victory over the French in the War of the Spanish Succession.

It was at Blenheim almost two centuries later that one of the duke’s descendants, Sir Winston Churchill, was born. The future prime minister even chose to propose to Clementine Hozier here, by the Temple of Diana, in 1908.

The house – the only non-royal or non-episcopal country house in England to be called a palace – is a masterpiece of English Baroque architecture. Designed by Sir John Vanbrugh and Nicholas Hawksmoor, it includes many beautiful features, such as the painted ceiling in the Saloon.

However, Blenheim’s 2,000 acres of gardens – one of the most exquisite works of 18th-century landscape architect Lancelot ‘Capability’ Brown – are what really make it special. It’s small wonder UNESCO declared it a World Heritage Site in 1987.

2.  Highclere Castle , West Berkshire

With the second Downton Abbey   film recently gracing our screens ,  surely it’s time to revisit the glorious Berkshire ancestral home that has formed the backdrop to so many scenes of the Crawley family and their household.

Certainly one of Britain’s best stately homes, The ‘real’ Downton Abbey, Highclere Castle , is the family seat of the Earls of Carnarvon. It was the current countess, Lady Carnarvon, a close friend of Downton Abbey writer Julian Fellowes, who saw the value in opening the house up to the period drama that has revived the estate’s fortunes.

Although Highclere has been in the hands of the Carnarvon family since 1679, (and its gardens were also designed by Capability Brown ), the current house was remodelled in the Jacobean style in 1838 for the 3rd Earl of Carnarvon by Sir Charles Barry, the man who famously rebuilt the Palace of Westminster .

Highclere Castle became the focus of a media circus in 1922 when the 5th Earl discovered the Tomb of Tutankhamun. The earl died shortly after the discovery, leading to the story of the ‘Curse of Tutankhamun’. However the earl’s death could be explained by blood poisoning from an infected mosquito bite.

3.  Chatsworth , Derbyshire

Few English estates draw such delight as this one in the heart of the Peak District. Chatsworth is known to many as Pemberley in the 2005 film adaptation of Pride and Prejudice , starring Keira Knightley. Eagle-eyed viewers may also remember it from another Knightley film, The Duchess .

Chatsworth has been the seat of the Dukes of Devonshire since 1549 and has passed through the hands of 16 generations of the Cavendish family.

The house is famed for its art collection, which spans four centuries, but its state apartments, overhauled to accommodate a visit from King William III and Queen Mary II that never actually happened, are extraordinary.

4.  Hardwick Hall , Derbyshire

Bess of Hardwick was one of the most influential figures in Elizabethan times – she was second in wealth only to Queen Elizabeth I – and Hardwick Hall was one of her homes.

It is a magnificent example of a prodigy house – showy properties built to house the queen on her annual progresses.

The plentiful windows – an extravagance as glass was expensive – led to the rhyme, ‘Hardwick Hall, more glass than wall.’

5.  Wentworth Woodhouse , South Yorkshire

The largest private residence in Europe, Wentworth is twice the width of Buckingham Palace. This 18th-century mansion has recently been bought and will undergo £40m of restoration work over the next 20 years.

It was once the home of Charles I’s ill-fated administrator, Thomas Wentworth, 1st Earl of Strafford. Wentworth was tried and beheaded for treason in 1641. The house also hosted a visit by King George V and Queen Mary in 1912.

6.  Lacock Abbey , Wiltshire

This quirky country house, near the historic town of Lacock, was built on a former nunnery and represented the ‘real’ Wolf Hall , the family seat of the Seymours, in the recent TV adaptation of Hilary Mantel’s novels.

Scenes depicting King Henry VIII’s bedroom and his lodgings at Calais were also filmed here. In real life, Henry sold Lacock to one of his courtiers, Sir William Sharington, following the Dissolution of the Monasteries. It is now in the care of the National Trust.

7.  Stonor , Oxfordshire

Although it is one of our oldest manor houses, Stonor is also one of our lesser-known stately homes, despite the fact that one of the most significant religious events in British history took place here.

In 1581 Edmund Campion hid in the roof space while he printed 400 copies of his famous treatise, Decem Rationes, arguing for Catholicism. However, he was soon caught and tortured before being hung, drawn and quartered.

The house is open at select times from April to September and holds a rare copy of the Decem Rationes.

8.  Castle Howard , North Yorkshire

So ambitious was the vision for Castle Howard, the private residence of the Howard family for more than 300 years, that the Baroque building took over 100 years to complete. The result was astounding, though, with two symmetrical wings and a central dome.

Although much of Castle Howard was devastated by fire in the 1940s, over the years many rooms have been restored. However, when the house was used as the backdrop for the film version of Evelyn Waugh’s Brideshead Revisited in 2008, parts were superficially restored and the East Wing remains a shell.

9.  Crag Hall , Derbyshire

Until recently this sandstone Georgian country house with views over Peak District National Park was the private shooting lodge and holiday home of the Earl and Countess of Derby, but now you can hire it for your own gathering.

Located amid historic royal hunting ground, this 12-bedroomed property can accommodate up to 21 guests. A perfect set-up for living out your Downton Abbey fantasies.

10.  Kenwood House , London

Hidden in London’s Hampstead Heath, Kenwood House is a Robert Adam’s house, remodelled by the architect in 1764 to include a new entrance, attic-storey bedrooms and one of his most famous interiors – the Great Library, which was restored to its original colours during a major restoration project in 2013.

The grounds are home to ancient woodland and landscaped gardens, probably designed by Humphry Repton, and feature sculptures from the likes of Barbara Hepworth and Henry Moore.

11.  Lyme Park , Cheshire

Best known for its starring role as Mr Darcy’s Pemberley in the 1995 BBC adaptation of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice (yes, that scene when Colin Firth emerges from the lake), Lyme Park is a fine example of an Italianate palace.

Outside, the 1,300 acres are home to a medieval herd of red and fallow deer, while inside you’ll find an incredible collection of English clocks and the famous Mortlake tapestries. The Edwardian era was when Lyme Park was in its heyday and the house is a time capsule of that period.

12.  Buscot Park , Oxfordshire

This stately home was built in the Renaissance Revival style of architecture between 1779 and 1783 for Edward Loveden Townsend. Buscot also houses the Farringdon Collection , with paintings by Rembrandt, Reynolds, Rubens and Van Dyck.

13.  Great Chalfield Manor and Garden , Wiltshire

The stand-in for Thomas Cromwell’s home of Austin Friars in TV’s Wolf Hall , Great Chalfield is as pretty an English country house as you can imagine.

The 15th-century moated manor house is set in tranquil countryside and features a gatehouse and stunning oriel windows, all of which withstood a siege by Royalists during the English Civil War. The private residence offers guided tours, or you can book into one of Chalfield Manor’s reasonably priced gorgeous four-poster bedrooms for the night.

14.  Burghley House , Lincolnshire

Described as ‘England’s greatest Elizabethan house’, Burghley was built and designed by William Cecil, Lord High Treasurer to Queen Elizabeth I, between 1555 and 1587. Its grounds includes 2,000 acres of Capability Brown gardens, (which were added later), and a deer park.

The interior is lavish and features sumptuous fabrics and carvings by Grinling Gibbons. In the Pagoda Room are portraits of Queen Elizabeth I, King Henry VIII, Oliver Cromwell and members of the Cecil family.

Some say that beneath its foundations lie the remains of the medieval settlement of Burghley, mentioned in the Domesday Book, which so far has evaded archaeologists.

15.  Mount Stuart , Isle of Bute

It may come as a surprise that the first house in Britain to have an indoor heated swimming pool is hidden on the tiny Isle of Bute in the Firth of Clyde in Scotland, but then Mount Stuart is no ordinary place. It was also probably the first property in Scotland to have electric lighting, central heating and a passenger lift – a horse-drawn railway was needed to build the house.

The Gothic Revival building, which replaced an earlier Georgian property, is a feat of Victorian engineering. It was created for John Crichton-Stuart, 3rd Marquess of Bute – the richest man in Britain in the late 19th century.

16.  Woburn Abbey , Bedfordshire

Woburn has been in the Russell family since King Edward VI gifted it to John Russell in 1547. In 1550 John was made the first Earl of Bedford.

It’s been the family seat since the 1620s and it was turned into the English Palladian home in the 1800s. The estate first opened to the public in 1955 and its impressive art collection includes the largest private collection of Venetian views painted by Canaletto on public view and the Armada Portrait of Queen Elizabeth I .

17.  Longleat House , Wiltshire

Completed in 1580, Longleat is another of our great Elizabethan houses and one of Britain’s best stately homes. Set in 900 acres of Capability Brown parkland, it also has one of the largest book collections in Europe. Look out for the bloodstained waistcoat of King Charles in the Great Hall – he reportedly wore it at his execution.

Now home to the 7th Marquess of Bath and run by his son, Viscount Weymouth, Longleat has come a long way from the property bought by MP John Thynne in 1540 for £53.

18.  Llancaiach Fawr Manor , South Wales

Built circa 1550 for Dafydd ap Richard, this house is a great example of a semi-fortified manor house. It’s laid out much as it would have been in 1645 when King Charles I visited. Charles must have angered the owner, Colonel Edward Prichard, as he switched allegiances to the Roundheads.

19.  Luton Hoo , Bedfordshire

A house has stood at Luton Hoo since at least 1601 when Sir Robert Napier, 1st Baronet, purchased the estate. The house we see today dates from the late 18th century. At the time it was the seat of the 3rd Earl of Bute, then prime minister to King George III. Like many of Britain’s best stately homes, it too has Capability Brown designed gardens.

Guests at Luton Hoo hotel can enjoy the Edwardian Belle Epoque interiors introduced by the people behind the Ritz. One highlight is the Wernher Restaurant, named after the owner who ordered the works. Over the years the estate has fulfilled many roles, including testing tanks during the Second World War.

Today it’s a fantastic place to get a taste of the English country life. Take afternoon tea or have a go at archery, much as past guests of its distinguished owners would have done.

20. Hatfield House , Hertfordshire

Within easy reach of London, this Jacobean-style property was built for Robert Cecil, 1st Earl of Salisbury, on the site of Hatfield Palace. Cecil had exchanged Hatfield with King James I for the nearby Cecil family home of Theobalds.

Like the king, Robert Cecil wasn’t keen on the rather old-fashioned Hatfield Palace, which had been owned by King Henry VIII , and so he rebuilt it as Hatfield House.

It was here that Henry VIII’s offspring, Mary, Elizabeth and Edward played as children. Elizabeth was even supposedly told of her ascension to the throne at Hatfield.

The Marble Hall takes its name from the chequered black and white flooring where guests would have danced at balls. Guests were overlooked by the Rainbow Portrait of Queen Elizabeth I – perhaps the most colourful portrait of the Tudor era. The inscription ‘Non sine sole iris’, meaning ‘no rainbow without the sun’, reminds viewers that only the queen’s wisdom can ensure peace and prosperity.

21.  Norton Conyers , North Yorkshire

It is one of the most enduring images in English literature: the mad woman locked away in the attic. And it was at Norton Conyers that Charlotte Brontë is said to have taken inspiration for her novel, Jane Eyre .

Charlotte Brontë visited the medieval house in 1839, before she wrote her seminal novel. Could it be mere coincidence that Norton Conyers has its own legend of a woman hidden in an attic? The discovery of a blocked staircase in 2004, much like the one in the novel, seemed to confirm the theory. The house has recently been restored and reopened to the public on a few select days each year, and is most definitely one of Britain’s best stately homes.

22.  Blickling Hall , Norfolk

Was this red brick mansion built on the site of the birthplace of Anne Boleyn ? The house was built on the ruins of the former Boleyn home during the reign of King James I. Anne’s parents lived here from 1499 to 1505, so if Anne was indeed born in 1501 then it’s highly probable.

On the staircase of the Great Hall there are reliefs of Anne and her daughter, Queen Elizabeth I. Anne’s ghost is also said to appear carrying her severed head every year on the anniversary of her execution. The South Drawing Room, with its Jacobean-style chimneypiece and ceiling, is also highly impressive.

23.  Montacute House , Somerset

This late Elizabethan house was Greenwich Palace in TV’s  Wolf Hall and is considered a masterpiece of Renaissance architecture. The house’s biggest draw by far is its Long Gallery, the longest of its kind in England. Montacute’s Long Gallery displays over 60 Tudor and Elizabethan portraits loaned to the house by the National Portrait Gallery.

24.  Sudeley Castle , Gloucestershire

The final resting place of King Henry VIII’s last wife, Catherine Parr, this beautiful private castle is perhaps as well known for its colourful gardens as its restored Tudor buildings.

Situated in the heart of the Cotswolds , in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, just a few miles from Broadway, Sudeley lay in ruin for almost 200 years following the English Civil War when Cromwell ordered its ‘slighting’, until an ambitious restoration project began in 1837.

25.  Somerleyton Hall , Suffolk

This gorgeous Tudor palace opens to the public from April to September. It grounds feature one of Britain’s finest yew hedge mazes and a 70ft-long pergola, and it is deservedly on the list of Britain’s best stately homes.

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The Best Stately Homes in England You Can Visit

Last updated: August 1, 2023 . Written by Laurence Norah - 10 Comments

Jess and I both love visiting the stately homes in England. These imposing constructions were generally built to house the aristocratic families of the country, and tend to be rather grand affairs with formal rooms, impressive architecture and, depending on the whims of the owners, some form of landscaped garden.

These homes, which are generally in the country, can also be referred to as Country Houses or Country Homes, and they are where the gentry would retire to when not hanging out in the cities taking part in the social scene. Clearly, a tough life, but someone had to do it.

During the 20th century though, and for various reasons, many of Britain’s aristocratic families ended up short on funds and so weren’t able to keep these homes maintained. One of the ways around this was to open them up to the public (or sell them to a public body), which means that today a great many of England’s finest homes and palaces are open for touring.

Some of these are still privately owned, whilst others have been given to national organisations such as the National Trust and English Heritage for ongoing maintenance and upkeep.

In today’s post, I want to share with you ten of my favourite stately homes that you can visit in England. Note that this doesn’t include major Royal Palaces like Windsor or Hampton Court – that’s going to be a whole post of its own!

I’m also just sticking to England for this one. As you can imagine, there were hundreds to choose from across the country, but I feel that each of the ten options in this post is well deserving of its title as one of the:

Table of Contents:

Best Stately Homes in England to Visit

1. Blenheim Palace

Blenheim is the only property in Britain which carries the title “Palace”, but is not Royal. Instead, it’s the principal residence of the Dukes of Marlborough (the family still lives on site), and is both a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and one of the largest houses in England.

It’s also notable as being the birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill, and is the ancestral home of the Churchill family.

The house and grounds today are open to the public, and are a truly grand place to visit. You could easily spend a full day here, picnicking by the lake, enjoying the English Baroque architecture, touring the Winston Churchill exhibit (he also proposed to his wife on the grounds) as well as taking in the gloriously opulent state rooms and wandering the park and gardens which in their current form were designed by renowned landscape gardener Capability Brown.

It’s a good day trip from London, and could also be combined with a visit to nearby Oxford. Read more about our experiences visiting Blenheim on a day trip from London here , and book your tickets in advance here to save the queue. You can also book a day trip from London which includes Blenheim here .

2. Chatsworth House

Nestled in the Derbyshire Dales, near England’s Peak district, Chatsworth House has topped lists of the UK’s favourite country house numerous times. And it’s not hard to see why – the impressive building, surrounded by 105 acres of garden and 1,000 acres of park land is truly wonderful to behold. No wonder that 300,000 people come here every year for the garden alone!

Of course, there’s more to Chatsworth House than the garden, although with the fountains, rockeries and cascade feature, you could be forgiven for spending a whole day just in the garden.

The house itself has been home to the Cavendish family, also known as the Dukes of Devonshire, since 1549, and has been added to and extended throughout the years. The family do still live here, and of the 126 rooms, only around 20 or so are open to the public. Still, they are large, impressive and richly decorated, so a tour is well worth the entry fee.

Another notable feature of Chatsworth are the excellent dining options, with three on-site restaurants as well as two cafe’s. One of these restaurants, the Flying Childers, specialises in afternoon tea, and naturally we had to try that out. Served on Wedgwood, the afternoon tea was a sumptuous affair, and one of the best we’ve had in the UK.

If you’re looking to take your country house visit to the next level, an afternoon tea is definitely a good way to do so! For ticketing and further information, see the official Chatsworth House website. Hint – if you book online, you get free parking. You can also visit as part of this 3 day tour from Manchester .

3. Highclere Castle

Fans of the TV series Downton Abbey will instantly recognise Highclere Castle because it stands in as the main house in the show. Whilst Downton Abbey itself is fictional, this is a striking building nonetheless, and well worth visiting, even if you’re not a fan of the show.

As it happens, Jess is a huge fan of the show, and so did the whole tour. I was quite impressed with the gardens and exterior of the property, so entertained myself wandering around and waiting for the clouds to clear and the people to move so I could get a nice photo.

In terms of the building and grounds, well, like all the properties so far, the gardens had Capability Brown’s involvement (he was a busy chap!), whilst the property itself dates from 1679. It’s the home of the Earl of Carnarvon (famous for the discovery of Tutankhamun’s tomb – there’s an Egyptian Exhibition to celebrate this), and is open through the summer, as well as on select dates throughout the year.

Whilst general admission tickets on the official website often sell out, we have been reliably informed that if you turn up at the property you are very unlikely to be turned away. Another option is to take a day tour from London like this one which includes transport and admission.

• We have a full guide to visiting Highclere Castle to help you plan your trip.

Don’t miss the café on site for delicious scones, or the Secret Garden. Highclere Castle is about an hour’s drive south of Oxford, or a couple of hours from London – you could visit as a day trip from either, and also include Stonehenge, if you were so inclined. Check out my UK Itinerary post for more ideas on trips around the UK.

4. Wentworth Woodhouse

If my list of stately homes was a family tree, Wentworth Woodhouse would probably be the crazy uncle that no-one talks about. It’s a property of mindboggling proportions, unbelievable in so many ways, and yet most people have never heard of it.

It’s also a bit of an odd one to include, largely because at the time of writing this post, I don’t know for how long it is going to be open to the public for. My advice to you is, if you can get to it, and it is open, to visit as soon as you can. Whilst the property is currently owned by a Trust, with government money being allocated for restoration, there always appears to be the risk that it might return to private ownership and be closed to the public.

If that happens, it would definitely be a tragedy, because this property is, as I mentioned, just bonkers. Some quick facts to blow your mind:

Wentworth Woodhouse is the largest private home in Europe. It has over 300 rooms (no-one actually knows how many), 23,000 square meters of floor space and the property alone has a footprint of 2.5 acres. It’s so big that some guests left breadcrumb trails to get back to their rooms after dining as otherwise the chances of getting to bed were slim. Oh, it also has the longest country house façade of any house in Europe (606 feet long), and is so big that the front and the back look like two completely different properties.

So why has no-one really heard of this place?

Well, unfortunately, the house, and in particular the original gardens, have suffered their share of troubles over the years. The property sat on a huge coal seam, and just after the second world war, the UK government turned the grounds into the UK’s largest open cast mine site, causing huge devastation to the formal gardens, as well as potentially resulting in subsidence issues under the property itself.

Over its lifetime, large portions of the property have been unoccupied, and as such, a lot of restoration work is required. This might be a slight understatement. The rooms are empty for the most part, and a tour is certainly a different experience to many of the other properties on this list. Still, I absolutely urge you to visit if you can, the vast scale of the property is just incredible to behold, and the people who work here are deeply passionate about Wentworth.

If you’re interested in learning more about the history of the family and house, Jess recommends the book “ Black Diamonds ”, which charts the rise and fall of the Fitzwilliam family, previous owners of the house. Jess has also written a very comprehensive post all about visiting Wentworth Woodhouse , which you should definitely check out. Then, book your tour on the official website and get yourself along to this stunning property.

5. Chartwell House

Another property makes the list with a link to Winston Churchill. In fact, we’ve recently visited so many Churchill sites that Jess has written a whole post dedicated to visiting Winston Churchill sites in England .

In this case, Chartwell House was Churchill’s home, from when he and his wife Clementine purchased it in 1922, through to Sir Winston’s death in 1965, at which time Clementine presented it to the National Trust, who still own and look after the property today.

This is certainly not as grand or ostentatious a property as many of the others on this list. Whilst a property has been on the estate since the 16th century, the Churchill’s made so many changes upon their purchase that it’s essentially completely transformed. This is actually a good thing, because the 19th century version of the property was not favourably thought of.

The property is very much worth visiting, because it gives an impression of the home life of the man who was at the centre of a number of world events through the 20th century, who also happened to find time to win a Nobel Prize for literature, paint award winning landscapes, raise butterflies and build walls. So yes, definitely worth the visit. Note that Chartwell runs timed tours and it gets busy here, so we recommend arriving early in order to be in with a good chance of seeing the property close to your preferred time!

Like a number of other properties on this list, Chartwell House is a National Trust property, so it’s free to National Trust members and visitors with a National Trust touring pass . See more at the end of the post for ways to save money on entry to the properties on this list.

6. Osborne House

Ok, I promised no Royal Palaces or Castles, so this one is a bit of a cheat. This isn’t technically a palace or a castle, but is definitely associated with Royalty – it was Queen Victoria’s holiday home, and it can definitely be described as palatial – at least in size!

It can be found on the Isle of Wight, just off the south coast of England, and feels much like an Italian villa. It was purpose built in the 19th century for Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, and so reflects their style and tastes.

It also had to be large enough to accommodate their extensive family, and there are parts of the grounds which were dedicated to the children’s use and education, including a miniature fort and vegetable gardens.

As you can imagine, it’s well worth exploring the house and the grounds (currently 354 acres) – in particular don’t miss the beach, which was for the private use of the Royal Family.

The house is now owned by English Heritage and open to the public, check the official website for pricing and opening times . You book your tickets online in advance here .

Osborne House is operated by English Heritage, so there’s a fee to visit. It’s free for English Heritage members ( sign up here , available to everyone), or holders of the English Heritage Overseas Visitors Pass (non-UK residents only, buy yours here ).

See more at the end of the post for saving money on entry to the properties on this list.

If you are visiting the Isle of Wight, do also take a look at our guide to spending two days on the Isle of Wight , as well as Jess’s guide to Queen Victoria sights on the Isle of Wight.

7. Newstead Abbey

In the heart of Nottinghamshire, Newstead Abbey is most famous for being the home of noted British poet Lord Byron. Originally though, as the name suggests, this was a religious building, home to a number of Augustinian monks. However, when Henry VIII decided to disband all the Catholic houses, including monasteries, the Abbey was handed over to the Byron family.

Lord Byron the poet inherited the property when it was badly in need of repair, and initially he lived in nearby Nottingham, using the grandly crumbling ruin as handy poetic inspiration.

Later, he moved into the property and did attempt various restorative works, but these were generally of an artistic nature rather than anything usefully structural, and so the property continued to decline, until it was finally bought in 1818 by someone with sufficient funds to restore it to some of its original glory.

Finally, after passing to various people, it was gifted to the city of Nottingham, and today it is owned and maintained by Nottingham City Council, and can be toured both inside and outside.

It’s a fascinating property to look at, as part of it is an old abbey ruin, with the house built onto the side of it. There are wonderful gardens to explore, including an American Garden, a Japanese Garden and a walled garden.

The tour of the property naturally focuses on its most famous resident, but there are plenty of tales about the property and its other owners that will fascinate you. All in all, a very worthwhile half day visit.

8. Apsley House

I appreciate that pretty much every house in this list requires a bit of effort to get to – either you’re going to have to find your own transport, or you’re going to have to book a tour. With that in mind, and in particular for those of you just visiting London, I wanted to give you an option that’s right on your doorstep – Apsley House.

Ok, so it’s not exactly a grand stately home, or a country house at all, but it’s impressive nonetheless, and will give you an idea at least of the aristocratic lifestyle if you don’t have time to head out of London, or want to visit somewhere that isn’t a Royal Palace.

This is on Hyde Park Corner, so it’s right in the heart of London, just around the corner from Buckingham Palace. It’s the family home of the Dukes of Wellington, and is a spectacular example of an aristocratic town house.

The house is still occupied by the Dukes of Wellington, however most of it is now open to the public and serves as a museum, primarily to the first Duke of Wellington, who famously defeated Napoleon at the Battle of Waterloo, and is widely regarded as one of the greatest British military commanders in history.

Apsley House today houses a superb art collection, much of which was acquired as the spoils of war, as well as gifts from admirers around the world, which include paintings, sculptures, silver, porcelain and more. There’s an excellent audio guide which will take you around the house, which we definitely recommend.

Apsley House is operated by English Heritage . In terms of entry fees, it’s free to English Heritage members, those holding an English Heritage Overseas Visitor Pass or you can pay a one-off ticket price.

It’s also included on the excellent London Pass – if you are planning on seeing a number of sights in London, then we can definitely recommend picking one of those up for your visit. Read Jess’s full review of the London Pass to see if it will save you money on your trip.

9. Baddesley Clinton

Baddesley Clinton is the only moated property on this list, which in my book, warrants its entry alone. Technically a manor house, Baddesley Clinton dates from the 13th century, and was the property of the Ferrer family for 12 generations before passing to the National Trust.

The house has seen its fair share of history, with particular note being the role it played during the Catholic persecutions of the 16th century. In particular, there are three “priest holes” in the property, where priests could hide to avoid capture.

There are also lovely gardens to explore and the property has notably beautiful stained glass windows. It’s definitely a little different to some of the other properties on this list, hence the inclusion.

Again, as a National Trust property, Baddesley Clinton is free to National Trust members and visitors with a National Trust touring pass . See more at the end of the post for saving money on entry to the properties on this list.

10. Attingham Park

Last, but by no means least on my ten favourite stately homes to visit in England is Attingham Park . This 18th century mansion and estate is the fourth most visited National Trust property in the UK, and when you visit you’ll quickly understand why.

Built in 1785, the building is imposing and impressive, with a huge main façade and two single storey wings jutting out from either side. The interior is equally grand and well maintained, with a marked difference between the “upstairs” and “downstairs” lifestyles on show.

When we visited we took a behind the scenes tour of the new picture gallery roof. This might not seem that exciting, but given the original was designed by John Nash (architect of Buckingham Palace, along with a great number of buildings of Regency London) using radical design technologies for the time, this turned out to be quite fascinating.

We also learnt about the history of the owners and occupants of the property – stories that involved romance, loss, ruin and restoration. So basically something for everyone!

Again, there’s enough here to do for at least half a day of exploring, and there’s an excellent café on site in the stable block. This is also a National Trust property – you know the drill by now in terms of how the pricing works.

Map of Stately Homes in England

The houses I’ve chosen are all around England, so I don’t expect you to be able to visit them all in one trip. I have two posts with suggested UK itineraries, and some of these houses could easily be added to either of those. You can see the two week UK itinerary here , and the one week UK itinerary here .

As a guide though, here’s a map showing all the locations of the Stately Homes in this post for quick reference.

Tours that Visit Stately Homes in England

As you can see from the map, the stately homes we have recommended are spread out across the country, meaning that if you don’t have your own transport, it can be challenging to reach them, even by public transport.

To help you get around this issue, we’ve found a number of tours that will get you to some of the properties on this list. Whilst not every home can be visited as part of a tour, the more popular and closer to London the property is, the greater the chance of their being a tour! Here are some tour options for you to consider:

• This private tour to Chartwell House from London, which includes round-trip transport from your hotel, entry fee to Chartwell, and a private guide and driver
• This full day tour of Highclere Castle from London, which includes your entry fee to Highclere Castle, as well as a number of other Downton Abbey filming locations
• This full day tour of Blenheim Palace , the Cotswolds, and some Downton Abbey filming locations, which also includes entry to Blenheim and an audioguide
• A 5 day tour of England and Wales from London, which includes Chatsworth House amongst many other locations!

As you can see, you have a few different options for visiting these stately homes, even if you don’t have your own transport.

Passes for Visiting Stately Homes in England

Many of the houses in this list are privately owned, and so have their own entry fees. Usually, it’s worth checking online at their official websites to see if they are running any offers – such as the free parking at Chatsworth if you book online.

A number of the other properties are part of national organisations such as the National Trust or English Heritage.

In those cases, if you are planning on visiting a number of properties operated by these organisations then you may be better off purchasing an annual membership instead of paying individual prices. You only need to visit a few properties in each case to make up the cost of membership.

You can buy an English Heritage Membership here and a National Trust membership here .

If you’re only visiting the UK for a shorter trip there are specific passes for visitors for both the National Trust and English Heritage, which represent great value for money for visitors.

For the National Trust you can pick up a National Trust touring pass . This is valid for 7 or 14 days, and gives you access to every National Trust property in the UK.

For English Heritage , you can get an English Heritage Overseas Visitor Pass . This is valid for 9 or 16 days, and gives you access to every English Heritage property in the UK.

In addition, some overseas organisations have reciprocal arrangements with the National Trust and English Heritage – meaning if you are a member of an overseas organisation you may have free entry already.

You can see on their websites both the reciprocal arrangements and a full list of covered attractions. See those on the National Trust website here , and English Heritage here .

Finally, as already mentioned in the post, if you’re visiting London, then you can save a good pile of money by investing in a London Pass for your stay, which gives you access to a good many London attractions.

Further Reading

We’ve written a number of posts and guides to travel in the UK that you might find useful for planning a trip. We also have a number of books and online resources that you might find helpful, both related to Stately Homes, and general travel in the UK. Here they are:

• A Two Week UK itinerary & A One Week UK Itinerary
• A Two Day London Itinerary , as well as a Six Day London Itinerary
• The Best Photography Locations in London
• Tips on Buying and Using the London Pass
• Planning an Oxford day trip from London
• The Highlights of Oxford
• Visiting Blenheim Palace and the Cotswolds
• A Guide to Touring the Scottish Borders
• A Guide to visiting Stonehenge from London
• The Best Harry Potter Locations in London
• Black Diamonds – the tale of Wentworth Woodhouse
• England’s Thousand Best Houses – this should give you plenty of ideas for more places to visit!
• If you want a physical (or digital!) book to accompany your travels, then Amazon have a great selection. We recommend the Rick Steves England book , & the Lonely Planet Guide to get you started.

And that finishes up my post on some of my favourite Stately Homes to visit in England! Got a favourite you’d like to share, or any questions about the post? Let us know in the comments below!

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There are 10 comments on this post

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Wilson Freda says

29th March 2020 at 4:35 am

Much grateful for useful suggestions for stately homes. I would be checking them out for visit and will let you know about my experience.

Laurence Norah says

29th March 2020 at 3:00 pm

My pleasure Wilson, enjoy!

victor says

16th January 2020 at 4:14 pm

wow, wonderful I have searching for tours specifically for all of these wonderful places, any suggestions with whom I can contact?

16th January 2020 at 4:16 pm

Hi Victor. Thanks very much. As a starting point I’d recommend reaching out to the companies I list in the tours section of the post to see what they can do for you. Some of these locations can definitely be visited by tour, but others are not usually included on tours, so you would have to create your own private tour.

12th January 2020 at 12:22 pm

Why is Castle Howard not on this list? It beats many of these places hands down.

12th January 2020 at 1:51 pm

Great point! It’s on our short list to visit, but we haven’t made it yet so it’s not on the list. But rest assured when we visit then we will definitely re-evaluate 🙂

Thanks for your comment

David A Hoyer Esq. says

21st April 2019 at 12:28 am

Chartwell House is certainly worth a visit, and you’d make an excellent day of touring Stately Homes by including the nearby Knole House, Igtham Mote (only about 10 and 16 miles from Chartwell, respectively) and if you have the time, Bateman’s (about 30 miles from the other 3 homes). These properties will give you the experience of everything from an absolutely enormous Stately Home full of antiques, period furnishings and a prominent family’s (Sackville-West) history (Knole House) to a moated Manor House built and expanded over six centuries (Igtham Manor) to a more modest Manor (Bateman’s) that was the home of Rudyard Kipling. Added to Chartwell, these properties will easily fill a day of viewing Manors, Mansions and Moated Manses. All are National Trust properties, so if you’re a member, you’ll have free entry, and all possess unique attributes that make visiting well worth the time. Igtham (pronounced like “item”) Mote was the most expensive renovation undertaken by the National Trust when it was begun. Knole House is so enormous that it can take you nearly an hour to walk through the open areas of the house, without stopping to look at all that’s on display – plus you’ll need another 20+ minutes to visit the Gatehouse Tower to see how Edward Sackville-West, 5th Earl of Sackville lived for part of his life. Chartwell, Knole House and Igtham Mote are all within about 15 miles of each other. Bateman’s sits about 30 miles south of the other three, but is great if you’re a Kipling fan.

21st April 2019 at 11:22 am

Thanks so much for this comment! We actually visited Igtham Mote quite recently and had a lovely walk through the countryside to an excellent pub as well 🙂 This would certainly make for a great day out.

srbmckenzie says

4th December 2016 at 10:18 am

For the film aficionados it’s also worth mentioning that Chatsworth was used as the interior filming for the Colin Firth version of Pride and Prejudice!

Laurence says

5th December 2016 at 8:53 am

I did not know that! Thanks 😀

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The original site of London 2000 years ago, the City is one of the most interesting and unique areas of London.

Ancestry Research

Let our experts research your Family Tree in Britain

The Thames Path Walks

The Thames is a Medieval river, a Victorian river, a Royal river, an Industrial and Commercial river and a river for leisure, pleasure and residential living. Discover the river with your expert guide.

A Walk through the City of London

Victorian market places, medieval churches and Roman remains.

The British Museum

Over 8 million treasures from around the world. See some of the highlights on a private two hour tour or on a flexible full day London tour.

Spitfire Flights

From The Blog: Take to the skies in the legendary Spitfire from a Battle of Britain airfield

Overnight Castles

Visit Hever Castle, Windsor Castle and Hampton Court Palace and spend the night at luxurious Amberley Castle.

Normandy D-Day Tours

Omaha Beach, St Mere Eglise, Arromanches and many more. By car, train or private plane from London or Paris.

WELCOME TO BRITISH TOURS LTD.

Britain's longest- established private tour operator since 1958.

If you are looking for private London tours, and flexible tours of England, Scotland & Wales with excellent tour guides - you have come to the right place.

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Private london tour.

Flexible tours of London by private car, minibus or public transport with expert guides. British Tours since 1958.

Stonehenge Inner Circle Tour

Inner circle Stonehenge Tour at Dawn or Dusk. Your guide will collect you by private car from your London hotel.

Westminster Abbey

Visit the royal church with over 1000 years of history, setting of coronations and resting place of the Kings and Queens of England with your expert tour guide.

Tower of London

Unlock the fascinating history of the Tower of London, a place of drama and intrigue for nearly 1000 years, with your expert tour guide!

London Tours & Surroundings

London tours.

London for first timers and seasoned visitors. Special interests include Residential London, Legal London, Architecture, Kids London, Maritime Greenwich, VIP London and more

Museums & Galleries

We have expert guides for all London's Museums & Galleries including The British Museum, The National Gallery, Sir John Soane's Museum, The National Portrait Gallery and the V & A. For any others just ask!

Private London Walks

Notting Hill, The City of London, Borough and the South Bank, Political London, Rock and Roll London ... we have an expert guide for all special interests and for all languages

Visit Stonehenge with the Avebury Stone Circle, King Arthur sites, Bath, Windsor, Oxford, Salisbury or Winchester. Or visit Stonehenge on an Inner Circle Tour at Sunrise or Sunset

England Tours & Britain

Tour some of England's most historic Castles - Leeds, Hever & Windsor Castle. Also visit Hampton Court Palace, Churchill's home at Chartwell and stay the night at Luxury Amberley Castle

Gems of the South

For centuries the wealthy and aristocratic have built their great manor houses and castles South of London in Kent & Sussex, beautiful regions of orchards, copses & hop fields, splendid gardens, delightful villages and towns

Overnight Stratford Tour

The highlight of this tour is Stratford-Upon-Avon, a small Tudor market town situated along the tree fringed river Avon immortalised by William Shakespeare

Wales Tours

Visit this enchanted country of remote mountains, sparkling lakes, windswept cliffs - beautiful Snowdonia, the majestic castles of Beaumaris, Harlech & Caernarfon, lovely Bodnant Gardens and more

Paris Tours & Surroundings

London to paris day tours.

Take the high speed Eurostar from London to the Heart of Paris where you will be met by your expert, private guide for your flexible tour of Paris

Private France Tours

Overnight normandy.

Visit Mont-St-Michel, Bayeux and the Normandy D-Day sights on this two day tour

Who is your Guide?

Our guides are personable educated men and women, chosen for their knowledge, special interests, backgrounds and personality. They will collect you by car from any central London location and guide you inside places of historic importance

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15-Day Britain and Ireland Tour to York, Edinburgh, Dublin and the Ring of Kerry

15 days, 4 countries and 19 cities

Accommodation

14 Breakfasts, 5 Dinners

View day-by-day trip itinerary

All the highlights and some special travel surprises feature on this in-depth journey around the UK and Ireland. Feel the pride of the Welsh people, see the seat where Irish kings once ruled and sample a pint of the favorite local brew during a tour of the Guinness Storehouse in Dublin.

Looking to book in a group of 9 or more?

Deals, savings and exclusive private touring options available plus if you need a different date or itinerary change we can create a custom trip. Contact us for more details

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Low deposit from $200

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Trip map & itinerary

Day by day itinerary

15 days itinerary trip from London to London visiting 4 countries and 19 cities

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About this trip

Sightseeing highlights.

Explore Dublin and Edinburgh 

Discover Bath, Cardiff, Chester, York and Oxford

Visit Stonehenge, the Roman Baths in Bath, the Waterford Crystal Showroom, Blarney Castle to kiss the stone, the Rock of Cashel in Cashel, Gretna Green, Edinburgh Castle and Shakespeare's Birthplace in Stratford-upon-Avon

View the Principality Stadium in Cardiff, Alnwick Castle, York Minster in York, Anne Hathaway's cottage in Stratford-upon-Avon and Sir Winston Churchill's grave at Bladon

See St. Patrick's Cathedral and the Georgian Squares in Dublin and the English Lake District's magnificent scenery

Scenic Drive of the Ring of Kerry in Ireland

Tickets for the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo are included on departures that coincide with performance dates

Travel highlights

Specific transfer information can be found here:

Airport Transfers

An expert Travel Director and professional Driver

The services of a Trafalgar Local Host when you stay at Trafalgar's recommended London hotel

Pick-up and drop-off when you stay at the Trafalgar recommended London hotel, booked through Trafalgar

Cherry-picked hotels, all tried and trusted

All porterage and restaurant gratuities

All hotel tips, charges and local taxes

Breakfast daily and up to half of your evening meals

Must-see sightseeing and surprise extras

Audio headsets for flexible sightseeing

Luxury air-conditioned coach with Wi-Fi in most countries or alternative transportation (such as rail journeys)

Return ferry across the Irish Sea between Wales and Ireland

Optional Experiences and free time

On occasion, hotels of similar standard and location may be utilized.

Frequently asked questions

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What is a definite departure?

A departure is shown as 'Definite Departure' once it has reached a minimum number of guests. That particular departure will definitely run, barring any extraordinary circumstances. We update these regularly, and you can book any departure. While it is highly unlikely a departure doesn't meet the minimum number of guests, you will be offered the best alternative dates or a full refund of any payment made if this is the case. If there are ever any changes to your departure, we will contact you.

How can I book flights for my tour? What about extra hotel nights?

You can add flights and extra hotel nights directly through Trafalgar, so that everything is taken care of, leaving you to relax and enjoy your tour. If you're booking online, once you've selected your travel dates and room type, you'll be offered an option to add extra hotel nights and flights. Alternatively, you can call us to book and one of our travel experts can advise on your options.

How much is the deposit for a Trafalgar tour?

On most of our departures, you can secure your trip today with a low deposit from just $200.

What are the different kinds of experiences available?

Each Trafalgar tour has a carefully-selected range of included experiences to help immerse yourself in a destination. But did you know that every tour also has a Be My Guest and MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience? Be My Guest Experiences are the original local travel experience, letting you step into the lives of hosts who will share stories about their families and communities. MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experiences are conscious travel experiences that give back to the local communities, which support the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Our tours also include a selection of Optional Experiences which are available for an additional cost, allowing you to make your trip your own.

Can I join a Trafalgar tour as a solo traveller?

A guided tour is the perfect way to solo travel. You'll meet like-minded people traveling with Trafalgar, and you'll relax knowing you can travel with ease, forming genuine connections as you go. To find out more solo room types and pricing select your preferred departure date and continue to the next page.

Where can I find room options?

Once you've selected your preferred departure date, on the next step add the number of guests to review the available room options and find the one that suits you best.

How can I apply my past guest discount?

It's great to have you back on board - the loyalty of our guests means everything to us. To access your Global Tour Rewards discount, please confirm the name and date of your past trip once you've added your passenger details. The discount will be applied before you book.

MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experiences

Every one of our tours includes at least one conscious travel experience that supports one or more of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGS). Look out for yours within the day-by-day trip itinerary.

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Net-zero by 2050

Travel knowing our 4-point climate action plan will ensure net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.

Support Local

Your tour directly supports local communities by visiting family-run businesses, UNESCO sites and places of cultural significance.

Sustainable Practices

Every part of our business, from trip design to how we run our offices, aligns to our 5-year sustainability strategy which ensures a positive impact on people, the planet and wildlife.

Philanthropic Efforts

Our not-for-profit, the TreadRight Foundation, invests in nature-based solutions to address climate change.

You’ll make a positive impact to people, planet and wildlife on this tour

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Korda looks to rediscover unbeatable form in Women's Open at the home of golf

ST. ANDREWS, Scotland (AP) — Nelly Korda was playing such good golf in the first half of 2024 that her rivals were starting to hope she wouldn’t turn up for tournaments.

“I played in LA a couple weeks ago and she pulled out,” No. 40 Georgia Hall said of the world’s top-ranked player. "I texted her and just said, ‘Thanks for giving us a chance.’”

One of the greatest winning streaks in the history of women’s golf sure has come to end, however, heading into this week’s British Open — the fifth and final major of the year.

After a run of five straight victories from January to April amid a tear of six wins in seven starts on the LPGA Tour, Korda missed the cut in three successive events –—including in two majors — for the first time in her career and was outside the top 20 at both the Evian Championship and the Olympic Games in Paris.

So, where does Korda see her game heading to the home of golf at St. Andrews, which is staging the Women’s Open for the third time?

“You’re going to go up. You’re going to go down,” Korda said Wednesday. “I think the best part of the downs is that you learn so much about yourself and it’s always a learning opportunity and I enjoy that.

“I always try to think of everything in a positive mindset. Compared to the start of the year, obviously I’ve had some finishes that weren’t the best. But at the end of the day, I’m still learning and I’m still getting better from it.”

For Korda at this stage of her career, it’s about “not getting ahead of yourself.”

That will apply to this week, too.

The Old Course should provide a stern test for the best players in the world because of the rain and strong winds — potentially more than 30 mph — that have been forecast for Thursday and Friday.

Stacy Lewis, the American who won the event the last time it was held at St. Andrews in 2013, said Wednesday she reckons “maybe 60% of the field” will start off the week with the kind of mindset that will prevent them from winning.

“There’s a lot of people,” Lewis, the captain of the United States’ Solheim Cup team, said, “when they get off the plane and they see the weather, it’s not going to fit them.”

Korda, whose only top-10 finish in seven British Opens was a tie for ninth in 2019, said it was important to “stay present.”

“The beauty of this week is that you’re going to hit some bad shots and they are going to end up well and then you’re going to hit some good shots that are not going to end up very well,” said Korda, who won the Chevron Championship in April for her second major title.

“At the end of the day, you get to be really creative with the game of golf, too, which we don’t get to do on a lot of golf courses.”

Lilia Vu of the United States arrived as the defending champion and recent history suggests she'll struggle. Since 2019, each British Open champion has failed to make the weekend in their title defense.

Vu also said she was sick all last week after competing in the Olympics.

"I think I know it’s going to be a battle for everyone, not just me," Vu said of what she described as a “once-in-a-lifetime chance” to play a major at the home of golf.

AP golf: https://apnews.com/hub/golf