Explore 20 of the best stately homes in England, including Chatsworth, Blenheim Palace, Castle Howard, Waddesdon Manor, Hardwick Hall, Petworth, Knole and Osborne
Best stately homes in England for history, gardens and art
Country Houses
Stately homes where the architecture is reason enough to go
Some stately homes are really about gardens. Some are about family history. Some are about the distinctly British habit of building something enormous simply because …
Staffordshire, where England does pots, peaks and the odd rollercoaster
Staffordshire is one of those quietly varied counties where you can go from rolling countryside to industrial heritage to adrenaline rides all in the same …
Buckinghamshire is where England quietly perfects the countryside weekend
Just west of London, Buckinghamshire has long been the place where England goes to admire its own good taste. Rolling hills, picture-perfect villages, stately homes, …
Bedfordshire, a gentle county with deer, dukes and the odd lion
Bedfordshire is one of those counties that often sneaks under the radar. Wedged between the busier worlds of London, Cambridge and the Midlands, it sits …
Exploring Oxfordshire – spires, villages and the art of looking clever
Oxfordshire has long perfected the art of looking effortlessly clever. This is where honey-coloured buildings meet ancient libraries, punts drift under low bridges, and grand …
Northamptonshire, grand houses, quiet towns and one very loud racetrack
Right in the centre of England, Northamptonshire often slips under the radar, happily letting its neighbours attract most of the attention. This suits Northamptonshire perfectly …
Rolling downs, tidy towns and geese with opinions, West Sussex at its best
Tucked between the South Downs and the sea, West Sussex has the sort of gentle, well-balanced scenery that feels like England operating at its most …
Worcestershire: more than just a sauce
Tucked between the Cotswolds and the Malvern Hills, Worcestershire is one of those counties that does not demand attention but rewards anyone who stops to …
Leicestershire is where England’s past pops up in surprising places
Right in the centre of England, Leicestershire offers a fine mixture of countryside, industry, ancient battles and the occasional surprise king turning up in a …