The Best English Houses & Gardens

Alnwick Castle in Northumberland is a grand medieval fortress, home to the Percy family for over 700 years. Known as a filming site for "Harry Potter", it features opulent staterooms, gardens, and history blending Norman origins with modern heritage.

Blenheim Palace in Oxfordshire is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill. This grand Baroque estate features lavish interiors, vast landscaped gardens, and parkland designed by Capability Brown.

Chatsworth House in Derbyshire is a grand stately home of the Cavendish family, famed for its opulent interiors, priceless art, and 105-acre gardens. Set in the Peak District, it’s one of England’s most visited and admired historic estates.

The Eden Project in Cornwall features massive biomes housing rainforest and Mediterranean habitats. This striking eco-attraction combines lush gardens, interactive exhibits and sustainable design, showcasing the wonders of nature and innovation.

Hampton Court Palace, by the River Thames, is a magnificent Tudor and Baroque royal residence. Once home to Henry VIII, it features grand halls, exquisite gardens, and the famous hedge maze, rich in royal history.

Longleat in Wiltshire is a grand stately home and the UK’s first safari park. Renowned for its Elizabethan architecture, landscaped grounds, and wildlife drives featuring lions, elephants, and more, it blends heritage with family adventure.

Windsor Castle, in Berkshire, is the world’s oldest and largest inhabited castle. A royal residence for over 900 years, it features grand State Apartments, St George’s Chapel, and stunning grounds, offering a glimpse into Britain’s living history.

Cambridge University Botanic Garden spans 40 acres of beautiful landscapes showcasing over 8,000 plant species. It offers glasshouses, themed gardens, and tranquil walks, blending scientific discovery with natural beauty in the heart of the city.

Buckingham Palace is the official London residence of the monarch, known for its grand façade, lavish State Rooms and the Changing of the Guard ceremony. It remains a central symbol of the British monarchy and national events.

Burghley House in Lincolnshire is one of England’s grandest Elizabethan mansions. Built for Sir William Cecil, it features lavish state rooms, a fine art collection, landscaped parkland by Capability Brown, and contemporary sculpture gardens.

Castle Howard in North Yorkshire is a baroque stately home set in vast parkland with lakes, temples and formal gardens. Its opulent interiors, dramatic dome and art collections make it one of England’s most magnificent historic houses to explore.

Clovelly in Devon is a unique, privately owned village with steep cobbled streets, whitewashed cottages, and no cars. Overlooking the Bristol Channel, it’s famed for its timeless charm, donkey transport, and picturesque harbour.

Cotehele, near Saltash, is a beautifully preserved Tudor house set above the River Tamar. With medieval interiors, gardens, and a working mill, it offers an atmospheric journey through centuries of Cornish history.

Dove Cottage in Grasmere was William Wordsworth’s home, where he wrote much of his poetry. The adjoining Wordsworth Museum showcases manuscripts, artefacts, and exhibitions, offering a rich glimpse into the poet’s life and the Romantic movement.

Godolphin, near Helston, is a historic Cornish estate with a Tudor manor, tranquil gardens, and ancient woodlands. Once a powerful mining estate, it offers peaceful walks, panoramic views, and a glimpse into Cornwall’s rich past.

Greenway in Devon, Agatha Christie’s riverside retreat, showcases her family treasures amid tranquil woodland gardens. Overlooking the River Dart, it offers a peaceful insight into the author’s life and surroundings.

Haddon Hall in Derbyshire is a stunning medieval manor, famed for its Tudor interiors, terraced gardens, and riverside views. Often called “the most complete house of its period,” it’s a romantic setting frequently used in films and TV.

Hardwick Hall in Derbyshire is an Elizabethan masterpiece built by Bess of Hardwick. Famous for its vast windows, rich tapestries, and grand design, it stands amid landscaped gardens and parkland as a symbol of Tudor wealth and power.

Hatfield House in Hertfordshire is a grand Jacobean mansion set in vast gardens and parkland. Famous as the childhood home of Elizabeth I, it features opulent state rooms, fine art, and beautifully landscaped grounds rich in history.

Highclere Castle in Hampshire is a grand Victorian mansion, famed as the filming location for *Downton Abbey*. Surrounded by parkland designed by Capability Brown, it showcases opulent state rooms, Egyptian artefacts, and rich family history.

Hill Top Farm in Cumbria is the charming 17th-century farmhouse of Beatrix Potter. Preserved as she left it, the cottage showcases her belongings and illustrations, with a beautiful cottage garden and links to her beloved children’s stories.

Hughenden Manor, near High Wycombe, was the home of Victorian Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli. Set amid scenic parkland, it features richly decorated interiors, wartime history exhibits, and beautiful gardens to explore.

Ickworth House in Suffolk is a grand Georgian estate known for its striking Rotunda, art collections and landscaped parkland. Managed by the National Trust, it offers elegant interiors and scenic walks.

Jane Austen’s House in Chawton, Hampshire, is the charming cottage where the author lived and wrote her famous novels. Today it’s a museum with personal items, manuscripts, and exhibits that bring her life and literary world vividly to life.

Lanhydrock in Cornwall is a magnificent Victorian country house set within wooded parkland. Known for its grand architecture, extensive servants’ quarters, and formal gardens, it offers a vivid glimpse into upstairs and downstairs life.

Leeds Castle in Kent is a fairytale fortress set on islands in a lake. With origins dating to the 12th century, it has royal ties, elegant interiors, gardens, and a maze, making it one of England’s most picturesque historic sites.

The Lost Gardens of Heligan in Cornwall are a vast restored Victorian estate with jungle-like valleys, romantic woodlands, walled gardens and iconic sculptures like the Mud Maid. A magical blend of history, nature and artistry.

Lyme Park in Cheshire is a grand estate surrounded by moorland and deer park. Its elegant mansion, formal gardens, and sweeping views combine history and nature—famed as the filming location for *Pride and Prejudice*.

Oliver Cromwell’s House, in Ely, Cambridgeshire, offers an immersive glimpse into 17th-century life. Once the Lord Protector’s family home, it features period rooms, interactive exhibits, and insights into England’s turbulent Civil War era.

Osborne House on the Isle of Wight was Queen Victoria’s seaside retreat. Designed in Italianate style, it boasts lavish interiors, formal gardens, and private beaches, offering a glimpse into royal family life and Victorian splendour.

The Royal Pavilion in Brighton is a dazzling former royal palace with Indian-style domes and Chinese-inspired interiors. Built for George IV, it’s famed for its exotic architecture, lavish décor, and landscaped gardens at the heart of the city.

St Michael’s Mount in Cornwall is a tidal island crowned by a medieval castle and church. Linked to the mainland by a causeway at low tide, it features terraced gardens, harbour village, and sweeping coastal views steeped in legend.

Stowe Gardens in Buckinghamshire is a masterpiece of 18th-century landscape design. Sweeping lawns, lakes, and classical temples create a harmonious vision of nature and art, reflecting the ideals of the English landscape movement.

Stowe House, in Buckinghamshire, is a grand neoclassical mansion surrounded by world-famous landscaped gardens. Once a symbol of aristocratic grandeur, it now offers guided tours revealing its opulent interiors and rich history.

The Alnwick Garden in Northumberland is a striking contemporary garden featuring a grand cascading fountain, enchanting rose and ornamental gardens, a bamboo labyrinth, and the famous Poison Garden. It also hosts the world’s largest treehouse restaurant.

Trerice, near Newquay, is an Elizabethan manor house with tranquil gardens and fine interiors. Managed by the National Trust, it offers a peaceful glimpse into Tudor life amid rolling Cornish countryside.

Waddesdon Manor in Buckinghamshire is a French Renaissance-style château built by Baron Ferdinand de Rothschild. Surrounded by landscaped gardens, it houses fine art, decorative treasures, and seasonal exhibitions, with woodland trails and family-friendly

West Wycombe Park, in Buckinghamshire, is an elegant 18th-century Palladian mansion set amid ornamental lakes and temples. Its landscaped gardens and artistic interiors reflect the grandeur of Georgian society and design.

herbaceous borders, over 80 heritage pear and apple trees, over 100 varieties of snowdrops, display of antique garden equipment, children's garden and a garden trail for younger visitors. Truly, something for everyone

explore the birthplace and family home of William Shakespeare, hear tales of contemporary family life, with rare artefacts from the Trust

a delightful sheltered garden, with a partially restored watermill, renowned for its herbs and orchards, growing old English fruit varieties, and planted with over 250 medicinal and culinary herbs

ancestral home of the Spencer family since the sixteenth century with a fine collection of antiques. Diana, Princess of Wales was laid to rest here

a grand Jacobean house with much period detail. Explore life below stairs in the service wing and meet the horses in the stable yard

former home of The Priors of Nostell and Mayor of York - rediscovered behind modern facade in 1980s - restored to original 15th century splendour - magnificent Great Hall

a wealth of architectural history, with buildings dating from the 14C and a superb 30-acre garden famed for its rhododendrons and unique quarry garden

displaying exhibitions of contemporary and historic art in the spacious Saloon Galleries. The gardens are experiencing a renaissance with new planting schemes, enhancing the herbaceous borders

little changed since completion in 1583 - wide variety of paintings - tapestries - porcelain - 17th century needlework - rare James I carpet - period furniture - tea barn

14 acres of gardens - herbaceous borders - rose garden - rockery - cottage garden

the home of the famous Brontë family containing the world's most comprehensive collection of Brontë manuscripts, letters, early editions of the novels and poetry

with a wealth of artefacts, objets d'art and paintings dating mostly from the 18th and 19th century. Walkers and cyclists welcomed in the grounds

built Sir Edwin Lutyens, where family keepsakes sit alongside 17th Century tapestries with an Arts and Crafts inspired garden

peaceful retreat of T E Lawrence of Arabia with much of the furniture and fittings made by him

the first house in the world to be lit by hydroelectricity crammed full of ingenious gadgets – most of them still working and with one of the largest rock gardens in Europe

a secret, wartime airbase now a museum and visitor centre, restored parkland great for walking and with the 18th Century mansion at its centre

boasting a collection of blackwork embroidery and decorated, plaster ceilings with intimate gardens, duck pond and bird hide

with many art treasures including paintings by Gainsborough and Constable. The gardens have recently been lavishly restored with a number of specimen plants with interesting walkways lacing the gardens

a fine Georgian town house, exuding a welcoming feeling, with a richly decorated interior with many objects d'art and a special children's tour

the home of the Terry family (chocolates). Make your own chocolate box to take home and wander in the beautifully restored Arts & Crafts garden

moated medieval manor, with topiary and rose gardens. Recently featured as 'Austin Friars' in the TV adaptation of 'Wolf Hall'

dating back to the sixteenth century with a sympathetic extension designed by Lutyens and a stunning garden, the work of the gardening expert, Christopher Lloyd

Beautifully situated on the banks of the Thames. Step back in time, walking on the original marble floors and admiring the re-imagined 17th Century garden

a classic lat 18th Century mansion with political, wall paintings by Sir Jame Thornhill and extensive, relaxed gardens and parkland

famous for its Grade l listed gardens set within a 400 acre deer park surrounding the moated Tudor Hall. Enchanting herbaceous borders within the walled kitchen garden, also a rose and knot, herb and wild gardens with rare and beautiful plants

started in 1922 with 63 acres to explore including a magnificent Magnolia Walk, bluebell woods, with peonies and roses in the summer months. A chain of 7 lakes has been surrounded with rare trees and shrubs

perfectly preserved, medieval, moated manor with a deep sense of history, with tranquil gardens where the streams and lakes are fed by natural springs

home of the Hart Dykes since the 15th Century, the historic mansion boasts a great hall, grand staircase and library. The gardens have recently been updated to include thousands of rare, unusual and beautiful plants from around the world

step into this 125 acre oasis with peaceful tree lined riverside paths, picnic spots, a wetland boardwalk, and open air theatre and cinema in the summer months

a lovely 18th Century house with an unusual drawing room pained by Rex Whistler, a permanent 20th Century art collection and magnificent gardens

step back to the 1920s and discover how a grocer's family lived in a Midlands market town through their furnishings and household objects

plantsman's paradise containing over 2.400 different choice varieties of herbaceous perennials arranged into areas with different growing conditions to provide inspiration to gardeners whatever their soil and aspect

with a world class collection of furniture, textiles and wallpaper and priceless paintings inside and room to explore outside - including cycle trails -

a welcoming house on the River Rye including a collection of high quality, miniature rooms and touring art exhibitions throughout the year

meticulously crafted and planted to give both formal and informal gardens against a dramatic backdrop of a steep wooded valley

discover the world of science behind the botanical collections, with over 50,000 living plants to be found in a variety of settings

the much loved country retreat of HM Queen Elizabeth ll. Explore objets d'art collected by the Royal family, or browse the classic cars in the Transport Museum

a fine regency hall surrounded by parkland designed by Capability Brown and will modern gardens designed by the renowned Dutch plantsman Piet Oudolf.. Alive with clever contrasts and colour throughout the seasons

extensive garden of varied colour, perfume and sound with winding paths, majestic trees with self led family activities

the ancestral home of Patrick Lichfield, the fashion photographer, a glamorous estate mansion with sweeping parkland and a natural play area for children

set on a rocky outcrop, one man's realisation of an Arts and Crafts vision within a family home surrounded by 4 acres of lovely gardens

gardens created by the award winning, lecturer and plantswoman, Beth Chatto. The 5 main areas all deal with challenging soils and aspects

designed by Sir Roy Strong and his late wife, stretching over 4 acres, these innovative gardens reflect their interest in the arts and weaves the story of their marriage and lives into them. Picnics are welcome

built in 1842 as the last resort for the destitute, the stories of the people who lived and worked here help tell the poignant history

built as a family home, the garden and estate balance faded beauty and function with an abundance of nature; celebrated in ornate Gothic carvings

the house, home of the quirky Museum of Curiosities, is surrounded by an informal landscape of lawns, lakes, woodland, parkland and farmland

lose yourself along the 200ft long herbaceous border, formal knot and rose garden, waterlily canal or riverside walk. Has a wide range of year round events, including arts and crafts and gardening courses

Wordsworth's birthplace and family home, presented as it would have been when he lived here with his siblings and family servants

rare and exotic plants from world-wide locations with a mixture of formal and informal gardens with world famous camellias and magnolias

Tudor house and gardens, privately owned for 500 years, with connections to Thomas Hardy and formal Elizabethan gardens

still privately occupied, this delightful manor dates back to the early 16th Century. Visitors are encouraged to sit on the chairs, lie on the beds and play snooker in the Billiard Room. The gardens include a kitchen garden, topiary garden and orchard

a handsome Georgian mansion with a fine collection of antiques and objets d'art, including the Charles Paget Wade Costume Collection

this beautiful stately home houses a vast collection of antiquities, chapel, library, sculpture gallery, laboratory, costumes, adventure playground & beautiful woodland gardens

once the home to Sir Francis Drake with contemporary furnishings and artefacts, an impressive medieval Great Barn and extensive gardens

home of the Lucy family for over 900 years and reputedly where Shakespeare was caught poaching, it is filled with treasures collected from around the world

walk through the peaceful grounds to the Walled Kitchen Garden where you can experience sights, scents and a taste of the past

holiday home of the D'Oyly Carte family built in the Arts & Crafts style with a joyful atmosphere enhanced by music and a 30 acre garden

set in classical parkland landscaped by Capability Brown, now with an adventure playground, this period mansion is also a world class art gallery

Thomas Harpy's rural childhood home where visitors are invited to make themselves at home or wander through the quintessential cottage garden

a fine 18th Century Manor House with unrivalled art collections surrounded by formal and woodland gardens and children's adventure playground

this Elizabethan moated Manor House was a catholic retreat during the Reformation and boasts a wealth of priests holes and a pretty knot garden

set in over 6000 acres of woodland, a welcoming Georgian house, holding the National Trust's largest fashion collection with interactive displays

the Gothic Revival house is surrounded by gardens which are a masterpiece of architectural planting, home to one of the most outstanding botanical collections in the country

azalea, rhododendron and flowering shrub gardens with picnic spots in the deer park. Also a Roman temple site with museum and a museum geared at New Zealand

Thomas Hardy's atmospheric home until his death in 1928, several items of the original furniture remain, much designed by him

20th Century gardens with hidden pathways and colourful borders using Mediterranean style planting, which takes advantage of the southerly location

the inspiration of the talented Messel family with Rose Garden with many old fashioned, scented blooms and elegant, yet comfortable house

with spectacular river and sea views, this Edwardian house boasts a rare collections of exotic plants. Generations of children return to hunt for Fred the ghost

set in a picturesque location surrounded by a deer park with family heirlooms in the castle and extensive grounds to explore

grand and tranquil historic house with an impressive ionic temple, a woodland play area and outdoor games for children. Picnics welcome

a magnificent Georgian house which has been a family home for nearly 300 years with extensive grounds with year round interest

medieval Manor House which was the ancestral home of George Washington, with a tranquil garden and a 'nuttery' - a haven for wildlife

birthplace and family home of Sir Isaac Newton and visit orchard where the apple tree gave him inspiration including a 'hands on' Science Centre

unique 16-sided house dating from the late 18th century, containing many quirky objects & mementoes, including a fragile shell gallery

a hospital in the medieval sense of a hospice for the elderly. Set in a magnificent Tudor building and still in use today. Visitors can take guided tours round this splendid building

Anglesey Abbey, near Cambridge, is a Jacobean-style house filled with art and antiques. Surrounded by stunning gardens and the historic Lode Mill, it offers seasonal beauty, from spring blooms to winter light displays.

set just outside Stratford-upon-Avon, the world famous cottage, with much original furniture, where Shakespeare courted Anne Hathaway

beautiful medieval house is part of the story of King Henry VIII and his divorce settlement with his fourth wife, Anne of Cleves. Highlights include atmospheric furnished rooms and a Tudor garden with traditional plants

Antony, near Torpoint, is a grand early 18th-century mansion managed by the National Trust. Surrounded by landscaped gardens and river views, it’s famed for its fine interiors and striking art collection.

Apsley House, known as Number 1 London, was the home of the Duke of Wellington. This grand Georgian mansion near Hyde Park Corner displays fine art, silver and memorabilia, celebrating the Duke’s victory at Waterloo and his distinguished public life.

Arlington Court in North Devon is a Regency house set in extensive gardens and parkland. It also hosts the National Trust Carriage Museum, with over 40 historic horse-drawn vehicles, from elegant coaches to everyday carts.

Ascott near Leighton Buzzard is a stunning Rothschild house blending Jacobean and Victorian styles. Surrounded by elegant gardens and fine art collections, it offers a refined glimpse into English country life.

surrounded by a beautiful landscaped deer park, this elegant country house has had its fortunes rise and fall; this is still visible in the building today

Auckland Palace in County Durham, once home to the Prince Bishops of Durham, is a beautifully restored residence. Its grand rooms, chapel and gardens tell stories of power, faith and centuries of northern heritage.

created by Geoff Hamilton of BBC's Gardeners' World programme with beautiful, individually landscaped gardens set in 8 acres

Basildon Park, near Reading, is a Georgian mansion set in rolling parkland. Restored by the Iliffe family, it features elegant interiors, fine art, and scenic walks, offering a glimpse of refined 18th-century country living.

The Beatles’ Childhood Homes in Liverpool, cared for by the National Trust, include John Lennon’s and Paul McCartney’s houses. Guided tours reveal the modest interiors where their early songs were written, offering a glimpse into their musical beginnings.

beautiful grounds surround this 18C house which is home to a wonderful collection of clocks, paintings & much family memorabilia

a fine example of a country house estate built in the late 17th Century surrounded by beautiful gardens and with a large outdoor adventure playground

overlooking the Vale of Belvoir, this castle holds numerous art works, tapestries & sculptures. Also enjoy the Statue Gardens built into the hillside

originally rich merchants' houses & shops, 3 rooms are open to the public. Exhibitions about the history include the elopement of Bessie Surtees, an 18C love story

Bicton Park Botanical Gardens in Devon feature historic glasshouses, rare plants and landscaped grounds. With a museum, railway and play areas, it offers beauty, history and family-friendly fun.

Biddulph Grange Garden in Staffordshire is a spectacular Victorian garden of themed landscapes. From an Egyptian court to a Chinese pagoda, its creative design and vibrant planting make it a National Trust gem.

The Birmingham Back to Backs, preserved by the National Trust, reveal the lives of working families from the 19th and 20th centuries. These restored courtyard houses offer a vivid glimpse into the city’s industrial past.

Birmingham Botanical Gardens offer 15 acres of landscaped grounds with glasshouses, exotic plants and seasonal colour. Located in Edgbaston, they provide a peaceful escape with wildlife, events and beautiful garden displays year-round.

Blaise Museum in Bristol, housed in a Georgian mansion, showcases social history, costume and art collections. Surrounded by beautiful parkland, it offers a fascinating glimpse into life from past centuries.

medieval manor house - still a family home - set in riverside meadows & woodland - unspoilt & relaxing -