Welcome to a showpiece palace that has wowed visitors since its completion in 1765.

Whet your appetite with these five highlights from the Hall:

Making an entrance

More than any other room, the Marble Hall reflects architect Robert Adam's love of Rome. You can't fail to be impressed by this grand entrance, designed to overawe visitors and establish a sense of grandeur.	© NTPL / Nadia Mackenzie

Marvel at the Marble Hall's grand conception and intricate design. There are no windows to distract from the splendour. The room is lit from above in the style of a classical Roman villa's open courtyard.

Sea monsters and mermaids

© NTPL / Nadia Mackenzie

According to a recent party of schoolchildren, 'this room’s got bling!'. The Drawing Room's furnishings shimmer with recently restored blue damask and gold leaf. The room was always intended to display the best paintings in the house.

Sir Nathaniel originally wanted a painted ceiling for this room, celebrating English naval victories over the French. Look up and instead you'll discover Adam's elaborate plasterwork design featuring sea monsters and merfolk. They also grace the sofas.

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Going Roman

© NTPL / Nadia Mackenzie

Be inspired by the Saloon's huge domed ceiling. Adam modelled it on one of his favourite buildings of classical antiquity, the Pantheon in Rome.

The equivalent space to the Saloon in a Roman villa was the vestibulum, a room sacred to the gods and filled with their images. Following this tradition, Adam originally displayed Sir Nathaniel’s impressive collection of classical sculpture in the alcoves. Urns on plinths now take their place.

Guests at the balls occasionally held in this circular room could sit out a dance on settees and chairs ingeniously curved to fit against the walls.

Dine in style

© NTPL / Nadia Mackenzie	A decorative feast awaits you in the Dining Room. Pick out the goddess of the harvest and god of wine on the mantelpiece. Roundels with reliefs of the harvest and the vintage add more flavour.

Robert Adam was also a practical man. Look for the plate-warmer and perfume burner he designed to deal with cold food and stale food smells.

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Eastern promise

Track down exotic treasures from the east in the Eastern Museum on the Hall's ground floor. In his will, Lord Curzon split his dazzling collection of Asian artefacts between the V&A and a museum for Kedleston.	© NTPL / Nadia Mackenzie

Little has changed since the museum opened in 1927. Lady Curzon's peacock dress is just one of the many highlights on offer.