Britain has long been famous for its magnificent country houses. These buildings occupy a special and significant place in our collective cultural history, and are admired around the world not only for their architectural beauty but as a symbol of ‘Britishness’. Recent films and television series such as Downton Abbey, Bridgerton and the ever-growing portfolio of Austen adaptations have been filmed in some of Britain’s most picturesque houses, attracting fans from far and wide who want to get a glimpse of these places for themselves.
With more than 3,000 stately homes across the UK, there is no shortage to explore. Many are now in the care of institutions like the National Trust and English Heritage, and function purely as museums, revealing how the British aristocracy have lived through the ages. Others are still fully or partly occupied by the families who built them, and have opened some of their rooms to the public. The grounds, too, are often spectacular, having been landscaped by the likes of Capability Brown and Humphry Repton, or developed by their horticulturally minded inhabitants.
Each and every house and garden has a distinctive character and something unique to offer, but if you are looking to discover the jewels in the crown, this list is a very good place to start. You might even allow yourself a moment to stop and imagine what it would be like to live in a place like this…