Best Of British Stately Homes

Osborne House, Isle of Wight


Summer residence of Queen Victoria, and the place of his death in 1901, Osborne House was designed by Prince Albert similar to the Italian Palace. It is currently managed by English Heritage and open to visitors. Highlights include great views of the Solent, the opulent rooms and magnificent gardens.

Burghley House, Lincolnshire

Built by Sir William Cecil, chief adviser to Elizabeth I, Burghley House is located near the city of Stamford in Lincolnshire. Your attractons include a series of rooms, richly decorated with portraits of the state of the Cecil family, Elizabeth I of England, Henry VIII and Oliver Cromwell, 2000 acres of gardens designed by "Capability" Brown, and a deer park. The house was the scene of Castel Gandolfo in the film adaptation of The Da Vinci Code.

Castle Howard, Yorkshire

Best known as the home of fictional Sebastian Flyte in the television adaptation of Evelyn Waugh Brideshead Revisited, Castle Howard is actually the historic seat of the Earls of Carlisle. The area once covered 13,000 hectares and was attended by its own station. The house has 145 rooms, many of which can be explored, idyllic gardens and a playground.

Chatsworth House, Derby shire

The seat of the Duke of Devonshire, and the home of the Cavendish family since 1549, Chatsworth House is located near the River Derwent in 1000 acres of parkland. The house contains dozens of antiques and works of art, and extensive gardens to receive 300,000 visitors each year. Chatsworth appeared in the film adaptation of Pride and Prejudice 2005 and was also used in the Duchess, with Keira Knightley.

Hatfield House, Hertfordshire

Built in 1611 under orders by his son, William Cecil, Robert, of Hatfield House is accessible to London and is located next to the site of Hatfield Palace, childhood home of Elizabeth I of interior fittings furniture construction special purpose, and historical relics collection of over 10,000 records. A large collection of sculptures by Henry Moore is currently on display in the park.

Mellerstain House, Scotland

About eight miles north of Kelso, Scottish Borders, was designed by Robert Adam and Mellerstain is decorated with plaster friezes classical painting, embroidery and a beautiful collection of porcelain and furniture. A garden with terrace at the rear, and its picturesque location by the lake makes it a popular wedding venue.

Mussenden Temple and Downhill House (photo), Northern Ireland

This National Trust property makes modest in our list is not to impose its scale but for its spectacular location, perched above the Atlantic on the cliffs near Castlerock in County Londonderry. Downhill House fell into disuse after the Second World War and is now just a ruin, and said the striking look and rugged site.