Historic Houses in All Regions.

Anne Hathaway's Cottage The most romantic of all the Shakespearean properties, is Anne Hathaway's Cottage, which lies in the beautiful hamlet of Shottery, just outside Stratford-upon-Avon.

Balmoral Castle Balmoral Castle, holiday home of the British Royal family, is situated in the magnificent valley of the River Dee.

Blenheim Palace Blenheim Palace was built for the National Hero John 1st Duke of Marlborough and his Duchess Sarah, given by Queen Anne as a gift in reward for his military services.

Buckingham Palace Buckingham Palace is the official London residence of the sovereign, and was first opened to the public in 1993.

Castle Howard Castle Howard's magnificent façade is visible for miles around - it is the largest house in Yorkshire and has been the home of the Howard family, since the 17th century.

Chatsworth Set in the heart of the Peak District National Park, Chatsworth is one of the Treasure Houses of England. Visitors see 26 rooms in the House, the 105 acre Garden with its celebrated waterworks and maze, and the Farmyard and Adventure Playground.

Eltham Palace In 1933 Stephen Courtauld - millionaire, war veteran and patron of the arts - looked to the suburb of Eltham as the setting for a breathtaking new home. His vision was to link a modern, fashionable residence to the Great Hall of a medieval royal palace.

Hampton Court Palace For over 500 years, Hampton Court Palace has stood serenely on the banks of the River Thames. Many important historical figures, including 12 monarchs, have fallen helplessly for her charms. Will you join them?

Sandringham House, Museum & Gardens Sandringham House is the country retreat of HM The Queen and HRH The Duke of Edinburgh, built by King Edward VII and passed down as a private home through three generations of monarchs.

Shakespeare's Birthplace The "Man of the Millennium" William Shakespeare, was born in 1564 in the half-timbered house in Henley Street, Stratford-upon-Avon.

The Royal Pavilion, Brighton Experience the magical world of Brighton's Royal Pavilion, home to three British monarchs. Decorated in the Chinese taste with an Indian exterior this Regency Palace is quite breathtaking.

10 Downing Street No. 10 Downing Street, with its famous black front door - the backdrop to many historical announcements, has been the official residence of Britain's Prime Minister since 1732.

2 Willow Road This house is one of Britain's most important examples of Modernist architecture; the former home of Erno Goldfinger and designed and built by him in 1939.

Abbotsford House Abbotsford is the house built and lived in by Sir Walter Scott, the 19th century novelist, and author of timeless classics such as Waverley, Rob Roy, Ivanhoe and The Lady of the Lake.

Aberconwy House Aberconwy House is a 14th-century merchant's house, it is the only medieval merchant's house in Conwy to have survived the turbulent history of this walled town over nearly six centuries.

Alloa Tower Alloa Tower is all that remains of a historic ancestral manor house, destroyed by fire in 1800. Its 11-ft-thick walls allow a unique opportunity for visitors to walk on the roof and enjoy the spectacular views.

Anglesey Abbey, Gardens and Lode Mill Anglesey Abbey estate is 96 acres of garden and parkland, a country house in the Jacobean style and an Eighteenth century watermill.

Apsley House Apsley House, home of the first Duke of Wellington, is one of the capital's finest residences. Also known as 'Number One London', because it was the first house encountered past the toll-gate into London from the countryside.

Arbury Hall Arbury Hall has been the seat of the Newdegate family for over 400 years and is the ancestral home of Vicount and Viscountess Daventry.

Argyll's Lodging Argyll's Lodging is a superb mansion built around an earlier core in about 1630 and further extended by the Earl of Argyll in the 1670s.

Arley Hall & Gardens Arley Hall, with its ancient history and over 100 acres of gardens and parkland, has been owned and run by the same family for more than 500 years.

Arlington Court Nestling in the thickly wooded valley of the River Yeo lies the 1125ha (2700 acre) Arlington Court estate. At its centre stands the intimate and intriguing home of Miss Rosalie Chichester.

Arniston House Arniston is privately owned by descendants of the Dundas family who purchased the land in 1571. The present mansion house was commenced in 1726 by William Adam and completed by his son John , brother of the famous Robert, in the 1750's.

Arundel Castle & Gardens Built at the end of the 11th century, Arundel Castle is both ancient castle and stately home. It has been the home of the Dukes of Norfolk and their ancestors for 850 years.

Astley Hall Discover a 400 year old house, built by the Charnock family in Elizabethan times.

Athelhampton House and Gardens Athelhampton is one of the finest 15th century houses in England, containing many magnificently furnished rooms. The gardens, dating from 1891, are full of vistas and gain much from the fountains and River Piddle flowing through.

Attingham Park Attingham Park was built in 1785 for the 1st Lord Berwick. It has a picture gallery by John Nash, magnificent Regency interiors and collections of silver, Italian furniture and Grand Tour paintings.

Ayton Castle Ayton Castle's imposing silhouette is often glimpsed by passengers on express trains speeding north from Berwick-upon-Tweed towards Edinburgh. Its mighty tower, bartisans and crowstepped gables look satisfying foreign to the English visitor.

Bachelors' Club Follow in the steps of Robert Burns when you visit this fascinating 17th-century thatched house where he and his friends formed a debating club in 1780.

Baddesley Clinton Hall Enjoy a day at Baddesley Clinton, the medieval moated manor house with hidden secrets! One the most enchanting properties owned by the National Trust, Baddesley Clinton has seen little change since 1633 when Henry Ferrers 'the Antiquary' died.

Balfour Castle Balfour Castle was completed in 1848 to the order of the then owner, David Balfour, 4th Laird of Balfour and Trenabie. The Castle is said to incorporate 7 turrets, 12 exterior doors, 52 rooms and 365 panes of glass.

Bantock House Museum Restored to its stunning Edwardian glory, Bantock House is hidden deep within Bantock Park. Visitors are invited to explore this delightful home of the Bantock family.

Barley Hall Barley Hall is a unique survival in York, a city of wonderful buildings. It is a medieval building in the centre of the city, forgotten until a few years ago.

Barrie's Birthplace The creator of the eternal magic of Peter Pan - J M Barrie - was born here in 1860.

Basildon Park This beautiful Palladian mansion was built in 1776-83. The interior is notable for its original delicate plasterwork and elegant staircase, as well as the unusual Octagon Room.

Bayham Abbey Come and enjoy this romantic Abbey ruin, set in the picturesque valley of the River Teise, in the heart of the Weald.

Beaulieu A unique day out in the heart of the New Forest. The list of things to see is as varied as its history which beckons you from across the centuries.

Beccles Museum The Museum is housed in Leman House which was probably built in about 1570 and was completely restored and modernised in the 1760s.

Belmont House The unique Georgian house of Belmont, set in beautiful gardens and surrounded by classical English country parkland, commands stunning views of the rolling Kent countryside.

Belmont House and Garden The unique Georgian house of Belmont, set in beautiful gardens and surrounded by classical English country parkland, commands stunning views of the rolling Kent countryside.

Bentley Wildfowl & Motor Museum The renowned waterfowl collection was started by the late Gerald Askew in the 1960's and soon became the largest private collection in the UK.

Bishop Bonner's Cottage Museum This delightful early 16th century, timber framed, thatched building, once three cottages, is the oldest domestic building in East Dereham

Blair Castle Dating from 1269 Blair Castle has been the home of the Atholl family for over 700 years. Set in the dramatic scenery of Strath Garry, it commands a strategic position on the route north, welcoming guests as Scotland's most visited private home.

Blaise Castle House Museum The museum features displays of everyday life in and around Bristol, including toys, costumes and domestic equipment. It stands in extensive grounds and woodland.

Blakesley Hall Blakesley Hall has been carefully refurbished and restored. It was re-opened to the public on 4th May 2002. The Hall is a timber-framed farmhouse built, in 1590, by Richard Smalbroke a man of local importance.

Blickling Hall Blickling is one of the greatest houses in East Anglia. The house dates from the early seventeenth century and has fine collections of furniture, pictures and tapestries.

Bolling Hall Tucked away in a leafy garden, less than a mile from the city centre. Bolling Hall is one of Bradford's most precious jewels.

Boscobel House This beautiful but modest timber framed house sheltered Charles II after defeat at Worcester. In 1651 he evaded capture by sheltering in an oak tree, which soon became known as the 'Royal Oak'.

Boston Manor House Boston Manor House is a fine Jacobean manor house built in 1623 and situated in parkland containing a lake and ancient cedar trees.

Boughton House Boughton House has been the Northamptonshire home of the Duke of Buccleuch and his Montagu ancestors since 1528. A 500-year-old Tudor Monastic building, gradually enlarged until French style addition of 1695 led to the sobriquet "The English Versaill

Boughton Monchelsea Place Boughton Monchelsea Place is a lovely Elizabethan Manor House, dating from 1567.

Bowhill House & Country Park The Scottish Borders home of the Duke of Buccleuch & Queensberry KT, is in the centre of an extensive estate of hills and valleys where history and landscape combine to provide a unique experience.

Bowood House & Gardens People come again and again to rediscover the enchantment of Bowood - a family stately home embracing a whole world of fascination in the splendour of a bygone age.

Bramham Park Bramham Park is a splendid Queen Anne mansion, containing fine collections of furniture, porcelain and paintings and is set in the peaceful tranquillity of 66 acres of formal gardens and 100 acres of pleasure grounds.

Brantwood Brantwood was the home of John Ruskin from 1872 until his death in 1900, Brantwood became an intellectual powerhouse and one of the greatest literary and artistic centres in Europe.

Breamore House & Museum The magnificent Manor House is set above the picturesque village of Breamore, overlooking the avon Valley on the edge of the New Forest just north of Fordingbridge.

Bristol's Georgian House A carefully preserved example of a late 18th-century sugar merchant's town house.

Bristol's Red Lodge Built c. 1590, it was in the grounds of the Great House which stood on the site of the present Colston Hall. Inside on the first floor, is the last surviving suite of 16th-century rooms in Bristol.

Broadlands Broadlands has been a part of English history for centuries. Home to statesmen and men of action. Host to royalty and the brilliant, powerful and celebrated of their time.

Brockhampton Estate At the heart of the Brockhampton estate lies Lower Brockhampton - a medieval moated manor house with a beautiful timber framed gatehouse.

Brontë Parsonage Museum Charlotte, Emily and Anne Brontë, were the authors of some of the greatest books in the English language. Haworth Parsonage was their much-loved home and Jane Eyre, Wuthering Heights and The Tenant of Wildfell Hall were all written here.

Broughton Castle The home of Lord and Lady Saye and Sele, and owned by the same family for over 600 years.

Broughton House An 18th-century house of the Murrays of Broughton and Cally, which was bought by E A Hornel, the renowned artist and member of the 'The Glasgow Boys'.

Buckland Abbey Buckland was originally a small but influential Cistercian monastery. The house, incorporating the remains of the 13th-century abbey church, has rich associations with Sir Francis Drake and his seafaring rival, Sir Richard Grenville.

Burgh House & Hampstead Local History Museum Burgh House is a handsome Queen Anne house in the heart of Old Hampstead, with original panelled rooms and staircase, and wrought-iron gates.

Burghley House Burghley house is the largest and grandest of the first Elizabethan Age. Built and mostly designed by William Cecil, Lord High Treasurer of England, between 1565 and 1587, the house is a family home for his descendants to this day.

Burns House It was in this simple sandstone house in a quiet Dumfries street that Robert Burns, Scotland's national poet, spent the last years of his brilliant life.

Buscot Park Buscot Park was built by Edward Loveden Townsend in the 1770's. The house is a dignified example of late 18th-century taste for Italianate country houses.

Cadhay Cadhay is an historic manor house built in 1550, which is 12 miles east of Exeter.

Caerhays Castle Gardens New plants are being tried out all the time at Caerhays which has now been designated as holders of a National Collection of Magnolias by the NCCPG.

Callendar House Callendar House encapsulates 600 years of Scotland's history from medieval times to the twentieth century. Great historical figures like Mary Queen of Scots, Cromwell and Bonnie Prince Charlie have visited the house.

Camperdown Country Park Camperdown incorporates within its boundaries Camperdown Country Park, Templeton Woods, and Clatto Reservoir. There is also a wildlife centre, family fun fair, adventure playground, golf courses, cinema and ice rink

Canons Ashby House Canons Ashby is a romantic, 16th century Elizabethan manor house which has survived unaltered since 1710. Home of the Dryden family since it was first built, the house sits amongst beautiful gardens

Capesthorne Hall Capesthorne Hall has been the home of the Bromley-Davenport family and their ancestors since Domesday times.

Carlyles House This Queen Anne house was the home of Thomas Carlyle, the "Sage of Chelsea" for 47 years until his death in 1881.

Cawdor Castle Cawdor. A magical name, romantically linked by Shakespeare with Macbeth. A superb fairy-tale Castle, and just what every visitor is looking for, here is Scottish history that you can touch and see and sense for yourself.

Chambercombe Manor Set in a secluded valley, the Manor House has much to offer because of its history, situation, age and legends. The House dates from the 11th Century and was mentioned in the Domesday Book.

Charleston In 1916 the artists Vanessa Bell and Duncan Grant moved to Sussex with their unconventional household. From the moment they arrived they began to transform the house with decorations.

Chartwell Visit the home of Sir Winston Churchill and gain an insight into the domestic life of Britain's famous wartime Prime Minister.

Chastleton House Chastleton House is one of England's finest and most complete Jacobean houses. It is filled with a mixture of rare and everyday objects, furniture and textiles collected since its completion in 1612.

Chavenage This historic Elizabethan house, home of the Lowsley-Williams family, contains much of interest to the discerning visitor. Visitors can see the tapestry rooms and furniture and relics of the Cromwellian period.

Chenies Manor House The semi-fortified brick Manor House was built by Sir John Cheyne about 1460. Sir John Russell (later the 1st Earl of Bedford) made additions in 1526, and it was his principal residence.

Chettle House In 1710 Thomas Archer was commissioned to build the existing Chettle House. The house has no corners, all corners are rounded in common with the Archer style similar to those at the Church in Smith Square in London.

Churchill Museum and Cabinet War Rooms The Churchill Museum, the world's first major museum dedicated to life of Winston Churchill, is a permanent exhibition housed within the unique setting of the historic Cabinet War Rooms.

Clandon Park A grand Palladian mansion, built in the 1730s by the Venetian architect Leoni and notable for its magnificent two-storeyed Marble Hall

Claydon House Claydon is an extraordinary house with remarkable 18th century, rococo and chinoiserie decoration. Features include the unique Chinese room and parquetry Grand Stairs.

Cliveden This spectacular estate overlooking the River Thames has a series of charismatic gardens featuring topiary, statuary, water gardens, a formal parterre and woodland and riverside walks with magnificent vistas.

Cobham Hall Cobham Hall is an outstandingly beautiful red brick mansion dating from 1584, which demonstrates an exciting combination of Elizabethan, Jacobean, Carolean and 18th Century styles.

Cochwillan Old Hall A domestic building may have stood on the site of Cochwillan in the 13th century, but the present house is not earlier than 1450; it was probably built by William ap Gryffydd.

Cragside The revolutionary home of Lord Armstrong, Victorian inventor and landscape genius, was a wonder of its age. Built on a rocky crag above the Debdon Burn, Cragside is crammed with ingenious gadgets and was the first house in the world lit electrically

Craigievar Castle This fairytale-like castle, which exemplifies some of the best Scottish Baronial architecture, seems to have grown naturally out of the beautiful rolling hillsides of Aberdeenshire.

Crathes Castle An ideal place for the whole family to visit for a fantastic day out on Royal Deeside. The castle, with its fairytale turrets, is a superb example of a 16th-century tower house

Culzean Castle & Country Park The range of interests and activities at Culzean provides a perfect day out for the family. There is Robert Adam's castle, built 1772-1790 and Scotland's first Country Park, created in 1969 and consisting of 563 acres.

Dalemain Historic House & Gardens Behind the impressive pink ashlar façade lies the real surprise of Dalemain - its sheer variety. The history of the house stretches from Saxon times to early Georgian and has been in the same family since 1679

Dalmeny House When Dalmeny House was completed in 1817, it marked a great departure in Scottish architecture; its Tudor Gothic style, with its highly-decorated chimneys and crenellations, looked back toward fanciful 16th-century English mansions, such as Hampton Court.

Dinefwr Park & Newton House Dinefwr Park and Castle is a very special and beautiful place. Now, thanks to a £5 million, three-year project the Park is being transformed and is getting even better!

Doddington Hall and Gardens Doddington Hall stands today exactly as it was built with its walled gardens, gatehouse and family church.

Dorfold Hall Dorfold Hall is a Jacobean country house built in 1616 for Ralph Wilbraham. The house has beautiful plaster ceilings and panelling. The 18 acres of garden reflect four centuries of gardening fashion.

Dorney Court Dorney Court has been the home of the Palmer family for more than 450 years, passing from father to son through thirteen generations. It is a Grade 1 listed building.

Duff House Duff House is a magnificent early Georgian mansion, designed by William Adam for Earl Fife, and acknowledged to be his masterpiece.

Duncombe Park Sir Charles Duncombe's new Baroque mansion was completed in 1713 on a virgin plateau overlooking Helmsley Castle and the valley of the River Rye.

Dunrobin Castle Dunrobin Castle is the most northerly of Scotland's great houses. It is the largest house in the highlands, and is one of Britains oldest continuously inhabited houses, dating in part from the early 1300s.

Eastnor Castle In the dramatic setting of the Malvern Hills and surrounded by a beautiful deer park, arboretum and lake, this fairy-tale castle is the home of the Hervey-Bathurst family.

Edmondsham House and Gardens Edmonsham House is a fine Tudor Manor House with Georgian additions, which has remained within the ownership of the same family since the sixteenth Century.

Elton Hall Elton Hall stands in the midst of unspoilt landscaped parkland, on a site where there has been a house since the Norman Conquest.

Erddig Hall, Gardens & Country Park Erddig is a very special place. It is a unique family home that has captured the way of life of a bustling household community during the early years of this century.

Eyam Hall Eyam Hall has been the much loved home of the Wright family for over 300 years. A guided tour of this remarkably unspoilt 17th century manor house affords a glimpse of history in miniature.

Fairfax House York's premier historic house museum is home for the famous Noel Terry Collection of English 18th Century furniture and clocks.

Falkland Palace The Royal Palace of Falkland, set in the heart of a unique medieval village, was the country residence and hunting lodge of eight Stuart monarchs, including Mary, Queen of Scots.

Fawley Court Fawley Court has a history that dates back to the 11th Century, the current house being designed by the world famous Sir Christopher Wren in 1683.

Felbrigg Hall This lovely house is within North Norfolk's Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and stands in its own 1,750 acre estate. It is one of the finest seventeenth century houses in the country.

Fenton House Fenton House is a late 17th-century construction with an outstanding collection of porcelain, 17th-century needlework pictures, Georgian furniture and early keyboard instruments, most of which are in working order.

Finchcocks Finchcocks is a fine early Georgian manor in a beautiful unspoilt setting which houses a magnificent collection of some ninety historical keyboard instruments.

Finlaystone Country Estate Welcome to Finlaystone with its spectacular views across the Firth of Clyde. We hope you will find something for everyone here, whatever the season.

Firle Place Firle Place is the home of the Gage family and has been for over 500 years. This unique Tudor house is set at the foot of the Sussex Downs within its own parkland and boasts a very interesting history.

Flatford Bridge Cottage This thatched sixteenth century cottage is at the heart of Constable Country. It houses a display about the artist who features Bridge Cottage in several of his paintings.

Ford Green Hall Ford Green Hall is a seventeenth century house complete with period garden. It was home to the Ford family for almost two centuries.

Forde Abbey and Gardens Founded in 1146, Forde Abbey was one of the most significant Cistercian monasteries in England during the four centuries that separated the reign of King Stephen from the Reformation.

Gainsborough's House Gainsborough's House is the birthplace museum of Thomas Gainsborough (1727-1788), one of England's most celebrated artists. More of his paintings, drawings and prints are on display here than anywhere else in the world.

Gawsworth Hall Gawsworth Hall is an ancient Manor House wrapped in romance, intrigue and great charm. On a tour of Gawsworth's historic rooms, you will see fine paintings, furniture, sculpture and stained glass.

Gawthorpe Hall Gawthorpe Hall was built between 1600 and 1605 for the Shuttleworth family who had already been at Gawthorpe for over 200 years.

Georgian House (Edinburgh) The Georgian House is part of Robert Adam's masterpiece of urban design, Charlotte Square. It dates from 1796, when those who could afford it began to escape from the cramped, squalid conditions of Edinburgh's Old Town.

Gladstone's Land Gladstone's Land was the home of a prosperous Edinburgh merchant, Thomas Gledstanes, in the 17th century. But Gledstanes also let out parts of the building to different tenants.

Glamis Castle Glamis Castle is the family home of the Earls of Strathmore and Kinghorne and has been a royal residence since 1372.

Greenbank Garden Within easy reach of city dwellers, this unique walled garden contains a collection of designs of particular interest to suburban gardeners. These include a parterre layout, fountains and a woodland walk.

Greenhill Covenanters House Greenhill is a place where time has been made to stand still taking us back from the time when King James VI travelled south of the border to his new kingdom to the time over a century later when the two kingdoms were united.

Greys Court Greys Court is a picturesque and intriguing house, originally 14th-century, with a beautiful courtyard and a tower surviving from 1347. It was later involved with Jacobean court intrigue.

Grimsthorpe Castle Grimsthorpe has been the home of the de Eresby family since 1516, when it was granted by Henry VIII to the 10th Baron Willoughby de Eresby on the occasion of his marriage to Maria de Salinas, kinswoman and lady-in-waiting to Queen Catherine of Aragon.

Haddo House Haddo House is unusual for Aberdeenshire in that it is not a castle - yet it is one of the most beautiful stately homes open to the public in Scotland.

Haddon Hall Haddon Hall - the Derbyshire Home of the Duke of Rutland, has belonged to the family since the late 16th century.

Hagley Hall Hagley Hall and Park are among the supreme achievements of eighteenth-century English architecture and landscape gardening.

Hall's Croft Halls Croft was the home of Dr. John Hall and Shakespeare's eldest daughter Susanna, whom he married in 1607.

Ham House Ham House is unique in Europe as the most complete survival of 17th century power and fashion. Built in 1610, it was enlarged during the 1670s when it was at the heart of Restoration court life and intrigue.

Hardwick Hall Set high on a hill in north-east Derbyshire, Hardwick is famous for the New Hall, one of the greatest Elizabethan houses, which survives almost unchanged today.

Harewood House Harewood House is a great family day out. Visit the Adventure Playground, explore the Gardens and Bird Gardens, take a boat trip across the lake or marvel at the collections in the House.

Hartland Abbey and Gardens Hartland Abbey was founded in 1157 in a narrow, wandering valley running inland from the Atlantic coast. It was dissolved in 1539 having survived longer than any monastery in the country.

Harvard House Harvard House was the home of Katherine Rogers, mother of John Harvard, whose bequest made possible the foundation of Harvard University. Harvard House is the home of the Museum of British Pewter.

Harvington Hall The moated island was made about 1260 and parts of the Hall are medieval, but most of it was built by Humphrey Pakington about 1580.

Hatchlands Park Built in 1758 for Admiral Edward Boscawen and set in a beautiful Repton Park offering a variety of park and woodland walks, Hatchlands contains splendid interiors by Robert Adam, decorated in appropriately nautical style.

Hatfield House Celebrated Jacobean House and Tudor Old Palace steeped in Elizabethan and Victorian political history in a spectacular countryside setting. Built in 1607 and home of the Cecil family for 400 years.

Heaton Hall A magnificent neo-classical country house with beautifully restored 18th century interiors, set in 650 acres of rolling parkland.

Hemingford Grey Manor Most of the Norman house remains virtually intact in spite of various changes over nine centuries. The house and garden are the setting for the Green Knowe books, written by Lucy Boston.

High Cross House The house was designed by the Swiss-American architect William Lescaze and is regarded as one of his most important and successful commissions. A superb example of International Modernism.

Highclere Castle Highclere Castle, home of the 8th Earl and Countess of Carnarvon, is probably the finest Victorian House still in existence.

Hill House The finest of Charles Rennie Mackintosh's domestic creations, The Hill House sits high above the Clyde commanding fine views over the river estuary.

Hill of Tarvit Mansionhouse & Garden This fascinating mansion house, built in 1906, reflects the period 1870 - 1920 when Scotland was the industrial workshop of the world.

Hinton Ampner Garden Hinton Ampner is one of the great gardens of the 20th-century. It is a masterpiece of design by Ralph Dutton, 8th and last Lord Sherborne, uniting a formal layout with varied and informal plantings in pastel shades.

Hogarths House Hogarth's House in Chiswick was built around 1700 and was the country home of the great painter, engraver and satirist William Hogarth from 1749 until his death in 1764.

Holdenby House and Gardens Just across the fields from Althorp lies Holdenby, a house whose royal connections go back over 400 years. Built by Sir Christopher Hatton to entertain Elizabeth I, it became the Palace of James I and the prison of his son, Charles I.

Holker Hall and Gardens At Holker you always feel like a welcome guest not a tourist. It is set in exceptionally beautiful countryside with gardens merging into parkland, with hills on one side and the expanse of Morecambe Bay on the other.

Holkham Hall and Bygones Museum Holkham Hall, home of the Coke family and the Earls of Leicester, was built between 1734 and 1764 by Thomas Coke, 1st Earl of Leicester.

Holmwood House Holmwood has been described as Alexander 'Greek' Thomson's finest domestic design. It was built in 1857-8 for James Couper who, with his brother Robert, owned Millholm Paper Mills on the banks of the River Cart.

Houghton Hall Houghton Hall is one of the finest examples of Palladian architecture in England, it was built in the 1720s for Sir Robert Walpole, Britain's first prime minister.

House of Dun This beautiful Georgian house, overlooking the Montrose Basin nature reserve, was designed by William Adam in 1730.

House of the Binns An Edinburgh butter merchant, Thomas Dalyell, who had made his fortune at the court of King James VI and I in London, built the House of the Binns between 1612 and 1630.

Hugh Miller Museum and Birthplace Cottage Hugh Miller was one of the great Scots of the 19th century. Starting as a stonemason, he rose to world fame as a writer and pioneer of geology, as well as being a campaigning journalist and leading church reformer.

Hughenden Manor Hughenden Manor was the home of Victorian prime minister and statesman Benjamin Disraeli from 1848 until his death in 1881. Most of his furniture, books and pictures remain in this, his private retreat.

Ickworth House, Park & Garden Ickworth is one of the most unusual and most surprising of National Trust properties, an elegant Italianate house and gardens set within spectacular English parkland.

Ingatestone Hall Ingatestone Hall is a sixteenth century manor house built by Sir William Petre, Secretary of State to four Tudor Monarchs.

Isel Hall The Elizabethan Range and fortified Pele Tower of Isel Hall dominates the landscape in its magical setting above River Derwent.

Jane Austen's House The Jane Austen Museum is housed in a charming red-brick seventeenth-century house, It was Jane's last home, where she lived with her mother and sister Cassandra from 1809 until 1817.

John Knox House John Knox House has been the outstanding building in Edinburgh's historic Netherbow for over five hundred years.

Keats House Museum This charming house, once two regency cottages, was the home of romantic poet John Keats from 1818 until 1820.

Kelburn Castle & Country Centre The family home of the Earls of Glasgow, Kelburn Castle has long been an inspiration for adults and a paradise for children.

Kellie Castle This very fine example of domestic architecture in Lowland Scotland dates from the 14th century and was sympathetically restored by the Lorimer family in the late 19th century.

Kelmarsh Hall and Gardens Kelmarsh is a 3,363 acre (1361ha) agricultural estate at the heart of which stands the eighteenth century Kelmarsh Hall, surrounded by its pleasure gardens and parkland.

Kelmscott Manor Kelmscott Manor, a grade 1 listed Tudor farmhouse adjacent to the River Thames, was the summer home of William Morris from 1871 until his death in 1896. Morris loved the house as a work of true craftsmanship, totally unspoilt and unaltered.

Kentwell Hall and Gardens Kentwell Hall is a romantic, moated, mellow brick Tudor mansion in a tranquil parkland setting.

Kingston Lacy Kingston Lacy is a magnificent mansion with important collections, set in attractive formal gardens and parkland.

Knebworth House The Lytton family have lived at Knebworth for 500 years. Queen Elizabeth 1 stayed here, Charles Dickens acted in private theatricals in the House and Winston Churchill's painting of the Banqueting Hall hangs in the room where he painted it

Lamport Hall Lamport Hall was the home of the Isham family for over four centuries.

Lauriston Castle A country mansion situated five miles west of the city centre, it stands in extensive grounds overlooking the Firth of Forth.

Layer Marney Tower Layer Marney Tower was built between 1515 and 1525 and is the tallest Tudor Gatehouse in the country.

Leighton Hall Set in beautiful parkland against a backdrop of the Lakeland Fells, award winning neo Gothic Leighton Hall is the lived-in home of the Gillow family.

Leighton House Art Gallery Museum Leighton House was the home of Frederic, Lord Leighton, (1830-1896), the great classical painter and President of the Royal Academy.

Leith Hall Step inside this beautiful house and you are immediately immersed in the atmosphere of a typical Scottish laird's residence.

Lennoxlove House Lennoxlove, dating from the 14th century is the home of the Duke of Hamilton, Scotland's premier Duke.

Levens Hall The Hall is a magnificent Elizabethan mansion built around a 13th century pele tower with unique Topiary Gardens and a working steam collection.

Linley Sambourne House Linley Sambourne House was the home of Edward Linley Sambourne a leading Punch cartoonist of the late Victorian and Edwardian period.

Little Hall Little Hall is a late 14th Century Hall House on the main square, it mirrors the history of Lavenham over the centuries. It was built in the 1390s as a family house and workplace.

Little Malvern Court Little Malvern Court has been the home of the Berington family by descent since the Dissolution of the Monasteries in 1539.

Llancaiach Fawr Manor House Visitors to Llancaiach Fawr Manor step back in time to the year 1645. They are greeted and shown around by the "servants" of the owner.

Longleat Discover the family adventure of a lifetime at Longleat, and experience all the excitement and fun of our adventure park attractions.

Loseley Park Built in 1562 by Sir William Moore, a fine example of Elizabethan architecture, set amid beautiful parkland grazed by the Loseley Jersey herd.

Lotherton Hall Lotherton is an Edwardian gentleman's country residence which retains the character of a charming family home.

Lydiard House & Park Lydiard Park, the ancestral home of the Viscounts Bolingbroke, lies in beautiful parkland within easy reach of junction 16 on the M4. The Palladian house, church, formal parkland and surrounding pasture are the striking remains of a great estate.

MacLellan's Castle MacLellan's Castle is a castellated town house, which was built in the 1750s.

Mapledurham House and Watermill Mapledurham House, still the home of the descendants of the original family, is an Elizabethan Manor House situated beside the Thames and sheltered by the Chiltern Hills.

Mary Arden's House And Countryside Museum The farmhouse at Wilmcote, just three miles outside Stratford-upon-Avon, the home of William Shakespeare's mother, is now a countryside museum; devoted to showing country life from Tudor times to the present day.

Mary Queen of Scots Visitor Centre This impressive 16th century house, set in a garden of pear trees, interprets the tragic life and times of Mary Queen of Scots.

Melbourne Hall In its picturesque poolside setting, Melbourne Hall was once the home of Victorian Prime Minister, William Lamb, who as 2nd Viscount Melbourne, gave his name to the famous city in Australia.

Melford Hall A romantic turreted brick Tudor mansion near the green in the unspoilt village of Long Melford.

Mellerstain Mellerstain, one of Scotland's great Georgian houses was begun in 1725 by William Adam and completed several years later by his famous son, Robert.

Middleton Hall The Hall has an interesting architectural history with its earliest buildings dating from c.1300 and other buildings dating from the sixteenth century and the early nineteenth century.

Milton's Cottage Come and visit the Grade 1 listed XVIth Century cottage where John Milton lived and completed "Paradise Lost" and started "Paradise regained".

Mirehouse The present house was built in 1666 by the 8th Earl of Derby for his visits to his Cumbrian estates. In 1688 he sold it to his agent Roger Gregg. This is the only time it has been sold.

Moccas Court Built by Anthony Keck in 1775 overlooking the River Wye, decoration including the round room and oval stair by Robert Adam.

Mottisfont Abbey Garden, House and Estate This 12th-century Augustinian priory was converted into a private house after the Dissolution and still retains the spring or "font" from which its name is derived. The abbey contains a drawing-room decorated by Rex Whistler.

Mount Edgcumbe House & Country Park Sir Richard Edgcumbe of Cotehele built a new home in his deer park at Mount Edgcumbe in 1547-53.

Mount Stuart Mount Stuart, a spectacular Victorian Gothic house, is the magnificent architectural fantasy of the 3rd Marquess of Bute (1847-1900) and the Scottish architect Robert Rowland Anderson.

Muchelney Abbey Muchelney, the atmospheric and once-remote 'great island' amid the Somerset Levels, has many rewards for visitors.

Nash's House and New Place At the end of Chapel Street, you will find the beautiful old building from the sixteenth century, known as Nash's House. In the garden, you can see the foundations of New Place - Shakespeare's fine house.

Newstead Abbey Founded as a monastic house in the late twelfth century, Newstead became the Byron family seat in 1540. Newstead's most famous owner, the poet Lord Byron, sold the property in 1818.

Newtimber Place Newtimber Place is a Sussex moated house, built of flint and brick with a roof of Horsham stone.

Normanby Hall Country Park Nestling in the heart of North Lincolnshire's tranquil countryside Normanby Hall Country Park is the ideal day out for all the family.

Nottingham Castle Museum and Art Gallery The Duke of Newcastle built his new Ducal Palace between 1674-9, it still dominates the Castle Rock to this day. It was restored in 1878 as one of the first provincial museums of fine art.

Number 1 Royal Crescent Number One was the first house to be built in the Royal Crescent, John Wood's masterpiece of Palladian design. The magnificently restored and authentically furnished town house creates a wonderful picture of fashionable life in 18th century Bath.

Oakwell Hall This beautiful, Elizabethan manor house has delighted visitors for centuries. Built in 1583, the hall is now set out as it would have been in the 1690s, when it was the home of the Batt family.

Ordsall Hall Ordsall Hall, once home to the wealthy Radclyffe family, is one of the finest examples of Tudor architecture in North West England.

Ormesby Hall Ormesby Hall is an intimate home lived in by the Pennyman family for more than 300 years, with fine plaster work, carved wood decoration and fascinating portraits.

Osterley Park The spectacular 18th-century interiors of the Osterley Park house comprise one of Britain's most complete examples of Robert Adam's work.

Otley Hall Otley Hall is a stunningly beautiful 15th century medieval moated Hall. Still a family home, it is set in 10 acres of gardens in the tranquil Suffolk countryside.

Owlpen Manor One of the most romantic small manor houses in the West of England. The Tudor manor is the lived-in medieval manor house of the de Olepennes, dating from 1450 to 1616, with minor early 18th century improvements.

Oxburgh Hall The Hall has a magnificent Tudor Gatehouse and boasts needlework by Mary Queen of Scots. Oxburgh is surrounded by lovely gardens and there are charming woodland walks with picnic areas.

Palace of Holyroodhouse The Palace of Holyroodhouse, official residence in Scotland of Her Majesty The Queen, stands at the end of Edinburgh's Royal Mile against the spectacular backdrop of Arthur's Seat.

Paxton House Built in 1758 to the design of John Adam for the dashing Scottish Laird, Patrick Home of Billie, Paxton House is the finest eighteenth century Palladian Country House in Britain.

Paycockes House This fine half-timbered house is evidence of the wealth generated by the East Anglian wool trade in the 15th and 16th centuries. It contains unusually rich panelling and wood carving.

Peckover House and Garden Set in the attractive market town of Wisbech, Peckover House is a lovely Georgian brick town house with a charming two acre Victorian walled garden.

Pencarrow Pencarrow is a private house still owned and lived in by the Molesworth-St.Aubyn family. The present house was built during the 1760's. The house has a very fine collection of pictures, furniture, porcelain and antique dolls.

Penshurst Place & Gardens Penshurst Place is one of England's finest historic houses set in the Weald of Kent's peaceful rural landscape.

Petworth House A magnificent late-17th century palace set in a beautiful park, landscaped by 'Capability' Brown and immortalised in Turner's paintings.

Pickford's House Museum Pickford's House, a Grade One listed building, was built in 1770 by architect Joseph Pickford as his family home and work premises.

Plas Newydd Plas Newydd is the traditional home of the Marquess of Anglesey, it was built in the 18th century by renowned architect James Wyatt.

Pollok House Pollok House is an elegant country house situated in the tranquil surroundings of Pollok Country Park.

Port Lympne Wild Animal Park Whether you are interested in wild animals, historic houses or magnificent scenery, Port Lympne has something for everyone.

Powell-Cotton Museum The Park, gardens and woodlands provide an attractive and tranquil backdrop to Quex House, one of Kent's finest Regency houses, and the Powell-Cotton Museum a vast collection of treasures gathered on twenty-eight expeditions to Africa and Asia.

Priest's House Museum The Priest's House is an historic town house dating from the 16th century. This Grade II* listed building retains many original architectural features.

Raby Castle Built for the mighty dynasty of the Nevills, this great fortress stands proud and defiant, its history rolling back almost a thousand years.

Ragley Hall Ragley is the Family home of the 9th Marquess and Marchioness of Hertford, seat of the Conway-Seymour family. Designed in 1680 by Robert Hooke.

Ripley Castle Ripley Castle has belonged to the Ingilby family since 1308/9, Sir Thomas Ingilby saved King Edward 1's life by killing the wild boar that was about to commit regicide.

Rodmarton Manor Rodmarton Manor, near Cirencester in Gloucestershire, was one of the last country houses to be built in the old traditional style when everything was done by hand with local stone, local timber and local craftsmen.

Royal Burgh of Culross This picturesque Royal Burgh on the northern shore of the Forth is a complete community, preserved as it was in the 16th and 17th centuries.

Royal Mews The Royal Mews was built by Nash in the 1820's as the Mews for Buckingham Palace. The entrance off Buckingham Palace Road is through a Doric archway surmounted by a clock tower.

Rydal Mount and Gardens Rydal Mount, in the heart of the Lake District, retains a lived-in, family atmosphere and has seen little change since Wordsworth and his family came to live there in 1813.

Saint Hill Manor One of the finest Sussex sandstone buildings in England, Saint Hill Manor was built in 1792 by Gibbs Crawford.

Scone Palace Scone is a place that breathes history like nowhere else in Scotland. Poised above the River Tay, the Palace overlooks the routes north to the Highlands and east through Strathmore to the coast.

Seaton Delaval Hall Seaton Delaval Hall is a splendid English baroque house, regarded by many as Sir John Vanbrugh's masterpiece.

Sewerby Hall and Gardens Situated in a dramatic cliff-top position, forming the gateway to the Flamborough Heritage Coast, Sewerby Hall and Gardens, set in 50 acres of early 19th century parkland, enjoys spectacular views over Bridlington Bay.

Shambellie House Museum of Costume Shambellie House is a beautiful Victorian country house, set in attractive wooded grounds. It contains costume from the 1850's to the 1950's displayed in period room settings.

Shambles Victorian Village The old buildings, many of them pre-Victorian, contain an amazing collection of Victoriana, from the well to do drapers house to the simple gardener's cottage.

Shandy Hall Here in 1760-67 the witty and eccentric parson, Laurence Sterne wrote Tristram Shandy and A Sentimental Journey.

Shaws Corner Visit the home of George Bernard Shaw from 1906 until his death in 1950.

Sherborne Castle The present Sherborne Castle was built by Sir Walter Raleigh in 1594 and has been the Stately Home of the Digby family since 1617.

Shibden Hall Built in 1420, Shibden Hall with it's oak panelled interiors and atmospheric room settings is Halifax's Historic Home. The Folk Museum and Barn also offer you a world without electricity, where craftsmen worked in wood and iron.

Shipton Hall Shipton Hall was built around 1587 by Richard Lutwyche to replace a much older, black and white, timbered house which was destroyed by fire earlier in the 16th century.

Sion Hill Hall Sion Hill Hall was designed in 1912 by the renowned York Architect Walter H. Brierley "The Lutyens of the North". The Hall contains the H.W. Mawer collection of fine antique furniture, porcelain, paintings and clocks all in superb room settings.

Skara Brae Prehistoric Village Skara Brae contains the best preserved group of Stone Age houses in Western Europe.

Smithills Hall and Estate Visitors to Smithills Hall can enjoy history in the surroundings of a building that stretches from the 14th century to the glorious period of the Arts and Craft revolution of the late 19th century.

Somerleyton Hall & Gardens Somerleyton Hall is the stately home of The Hon. Hugh Crossley, son of Lord and Lady Somerletyon. The Hall is a splendid Victorian Mansion built in Anglo-Italian style by Sir Morton Peto to show off the wealth of new Victorian aristocracy.

Souter Johnnie's Cottage The inspiration for the character Souter Johnnie, Tam's 'ancient, trusty, drouthy crony' in Burns' poem Tam O'Shanter, was John Davidson, the real-life souter (shoemaker) who lived and worked in this cottage.

Southwick Hall Dating from the 14th Century and owned successively by three families, Southwick Hall illustrates the development of a manor house.

Squerryes Court Experience the warm welcome of this beautiful 17th Century manor house, still lived in by the descendants of John Warde who purchased Squerryes from the Earl of Jersey in 1731.

St. Mary's House and Gardens This historic house in the downland village of Bramber was built in 1470 by Waynflete, Bishop of Winchester, Provost of Eton College and founder of Magdalen College Oxford.

Stanford Hall Stanford, where Shakespeare's Avon flows gently through the Park, has been the home of the Cave family, ancestors of the present owner Lady Braye since 1430.

Stanway House and Fountain Stanway House, an outstandingly beautiful example of a Jacobean manor house is situated near Winchcombe in the glorious Gloucestershire countryside and is now the setting for a 300ft single jet gravity fountain - the tallest fountain in Britain.

Stanway Water Garden One of the finest 18th century water gardens, restored in 1998, Stanway lies beneath the 700 foot high Cotswold escarpment. Its grand formal Canal, with 165 foot high fountain , stands on a great grass terrace overlooking the Jacobean manor house.

Stonor Stonor has been the home of Lord and Lady Camoys and the Stonor family for over eight hundred years. It is set the beautiful Chiltern Hills with commanding views of the surrounding deer park.

Stowe Landscape Gardens One of the first and finest Georgian landscape gardens in Britain, Stowe has over 30 arches and temples mirrored in the waters of lakes or silhouetted against the sky. The garden and park were created by the Temple family during a two hundred year period.

Sudbury Hall The ideal family day out - an intriguing house, an entertaining museum and a restful garden.

Sudeley Castle Gardens & Exhibitions Sitting proudly on the Cotswold escarpment, Sudeley Castle Gardens & Exhibitions not only celebrates its rich history but also explores the new.

Sudley House The former home of Victorian ship builder George Holt, housing his personal collection of 18th and 19th century British art. A charming gallery with works by Turner, Gainsborough, Lord Leighton and Holman Hunt.

Sulgrave Manor Sulgrave Manor is a superb example of a modest manor and garden of the time of Shakespeare, and was home to the ancestors of George Washington.

Sutton House Sutton House, the oldest house in London's East End, is a rare example of a Tudor red-brick house.

Tabley House Collection Grade I listed Palladian house containing The Leicester collection of paintings, furniture and memorabilia from the 17th to 20th century.

Tatton Park A day at Tatton Park has much to offer. Its two historic houses are set in 1000 acres of beautiful rolling parkland with lakes, tree-lined avenues and herds of red and fallow deer.

Temple Newsam House At Temple Newsam you can explore three floors of a magnificent country house, admire beautiful paintings, furniture and silver.

Tenement House Here is a typical Victorian tenement flat of 1892, a fascinating time capsule of the first half of the 20th century.

The Ancient High House Stafford's Ancient High House has been one of the most important buildings of the town for over four hundred years. Its late Elizabethan architecture makes it particularly distinctive among its 20th century neighbours.

The Island's Treasure House The Story of Mann is full of fascinating stories which bring our unique past alive for you with an Island-wide presentation. The chapters of our story will reveal themselves as you travel through some of the finest cultural landscapes in Europe.

The Manor House Step back in time and experience how people really lived in Medieval, Tudor and Stuart Times at Donington le Heath Manor House.

The Vyne Step into another world when you visit this richly historic house in a glorious, unspoilt setting, and discover a wealth of rare treasures and domestic features.

The Walled Garden at Scampston Scampston is among the best examples of the English Country House, combining fine architecture with a wealth of art treasures in a beautiful parkland setting in Yorkshire.

Thirlestane Castle Thirlestane, one of the oldest and finest castles in Scotland is set in lovely Border hills at Lauder, 28 miles south of Edinburgh and 68 miles north of Newcastle, on the A68.

Thomas Carlyle's Birthplace Thomas Carlyle may have rubbed shoulders with Darwin, Dickens and Thackeray, but he never forgot his roots and insisted that his final resting place should be Ecclefechan, the village where his birthplace still stands.

Torosay Castle & Gardens A beautiful and welcoming Victorian family home surrounded by 12 acres of spectacular gardens.

Traquair House Visit romantic Traquair where Alexander I signed a charter over 800 years ago and where the 'modern wings' were completed in 1680.

Trewithen House, Gardens and Nurseries The outstanding Trewithin Gardens, created over a hundred years ago, are internationally famous.

Ugbrooke Park A warm welcome awaits you at Ugbrooke Park, home of the Lords Clifford of Chudleigh for three hundred years and the present Clifford family's private home.

Upton House & Gardens Upton House is a late seventeenth century house, built of the mellow local stone, which was remodelled by Walter Samuel, 2nd Viscount Bearstead, after his purchase of the property in 1927.

Waddesdon Manor Waddesdon manor was built between 1874 and 1889 in the style of a 16th-century French chateau for Baron Ferdinand de Rothschild to entertain his guests and display his vast collection of art treasures.

Walcot Hall Walcot Hall dates back to Tudor times, the original Elizabethan facade being gabled. The gardens cover over 30 acres, including one of the finest Arboretums in Britain.

Weaver's Cottage This typical 18th-century handloom weaver's cottage contains the last example of the 800 looms working in the village of Kilbarchan in the 1830s.

Wesley's Chapel and House John Wesley (1703-1791), one of the most influential personalities of the eighteenth century, is the founder of Methodism. He built Wesley's Chapel as his London base.

West Wycombe Park The West Wycombe Park house is one of the most theatrical and Italianate mid-18th-century buildings in England with facades designed as classical temples.

Weston Park Visit Weston Park, set in the spectacular Shropshire countryside, and you will marvel at the beautiful Seventeenth Century House and the splendour of the 1,000 acre Parkland in which it rests.

Wightwick Manor This fascinating house contains one of the finest collections of William Morris and the Arts and Crafts Movement. Visitors can explore this Victorian masterpiece with its Great Parlour and timber-framed exterior.

Wilton House Wilton house, 450 year old home to the Earl of Pembroke, provides a fascinating insight into British history.

Wimpole Hall, Garden and Park Wimpole Hall, set in rolling parkland and woodland, is part of the 2,500 acre Wimpole Estate. The Hall is a magnificent country house, mainly eighteenth century in style.

Witley Court One hundred years ago, Witley Court was one of England's great country houses. Today it is a spectacular ruin following a great fire in 1937.

Woburn Abbey Visitors will experience living history at Woburn Abbey - the Russell family has lived here for almost 450 years and it is still their family home.

Woodchester Mansion Hidden in a secluded Cotswold valley, untouched by time and the modern world, lies Woodchester Mansion, an unfinished masterpiece of Victorian building.