Visiting stately homes in England

When it comes to stately homes in England, there is an abundance of choices. Several are or were owned by the crown including Windsor Castle and Hampton Court, both within an easy day-trip from London.


Ten of these homes are referred to as the Treasure Houses of Britain These homes belonged or still belong to aristocratic families in England. They are the best of the best of the private homes and years ago treasures from these homes travel to the United States in a wonderful exhibit which piqued the interest of many American.


Most of these homes will require a car to visit. They are located in the countryside and quite far from public transportation. These homes are an attraction to not only tourists but to locals and a day-out to a stately home is a way for many Brits to enjoy the outdoors in a lovely garden or park.




Woburn Abbey is located in the town of Woburn, Bedfordshire and is the home of the Duke and Duchess of Bedford. This home has been in the Russell family for almost 400 years. The house is located within a 3000-acre deer park. The Red and Fallow Deer of Woburn are one of the major attractions. You will glimpse the herds as you drive through the park. It is a very impressive sight. The ticket that you purchase to enter the house also gives you access to the gardens, the deer park, and the antique centre.


Though this is, without a doubt, a stately home, there is a warm feeling to the decor. Woburn has an outstanding art collection, one of the finest of the Treasure Houses if not the finest. Among the many old masters displayed there are 21 views of Venice by Canaletto. A spectacular Sevres porcelain collection is also a highlight of any visit.

The restaurant on site serves lunch and tea and there is a very nice gift shop. The antique centre is located away from the house and it always has a good selection of items on offer. There are some very expensive pieces but also some smalls that anyone can afford. A Safari Park is a favorite family destination.

Chatsworth is located near Bakewell in Derbyshire. It is the home of the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire. The Cavendish family has lived in this home since it was first built in the 16th century by Bess of Hardwick. It has been enlarged greatly over the centuries and today is truly one of the most amazing of the stately homes. One of the most famous of the residents of Chatsworth was Georgiana who was the subject of a book and movie in recent years. The Duchess, starring Kiera Knightley, was partially filmed on site at Chatsworth.


Today, the house has been adapted to allow visitors to tour through more areas than ever before while still allowing the family to have their privacy. There are audio tours, guided tours, and talks. You can spend as much or as little time visiting as you would like. There is a fine art collection on display throughout the house including works by Rembrandt, Van Dyke and Veronese. Things are never static here; they are always updating the exhibits and opening up more areas of the house.

The house usually opens in March and stays open until December 23. In addition to the house, there are exceptionally lovely gardens, a farmyard, and The Devonshire Collection which focus& on the collections of the family throughout the years.

There is a wonderful gift shop and you can also stop and have a snack or lunch at the restaurant. A visit can certainly fill an entire day. Even in the off-season when the house is closed, a visit to the grounds or to the local churchyard to visit the family graves is worth doing.

Blenheim Palace is located in Woodstock, Oxfordshire. It is the home of the Churchill family, the Dukes of Marlborough. It is also the place where Winston Churchill was born. It was built for the First Duke in the early 18th century after the victory at the Battle of Blenheim. It is one of the largest private homes in England and certainly can be described as stately. The house is open from February through the end of December.

One of the first rooms that guests visit on a self-guided tour is dedicated to Winston Churchill. He really should not have been born here, his parents were visiting and he was born early. The house is filled with the collected treasure of the last 300 years. The house is set in over 2000 acres of stunning gardens.

These are just three of the best stately homes that England has to offer, there are many more and certainly one to suit anyone's taste.

The other 7 Treasure Houses of Britain are Beaulieu, Castle Howard, Leeds Castle. Burghley House, Harwood House, Hatfield House, and Holkham Hall. The owners or former owners of these homes read like a who's who of British history. A visit to a stately home is a history lesson that the whole family can enjoy. I have visited all of them except Castle Howard and enjoyed them all.


Further information:


Windsor Castle


Hampton Court