Houses

We have more than 300 houses in our care, from the grand and imposing to the small and quirky

Visitors in the grounds of Polesden Lacey at autumn — Polesden Lacey, Surrey

Visitors at the West front of Petworth House, West Sussex — Mike Leigh’s film, Mr Turner, was partly filmed at Petworth House

Our greatest houses

One size doesn't fit all when it comes to the houses we look after. From the biggest to the smallest, the most innovative to the most scandalous, discover the amazing variety of houses in our care.

Step inside

Visitors looking across the moat to Baddesley Clinton, Warwickshire

Our most romantic places

From moated manors to ancient ruins, temple-strewn gardens to windswept islands, the places we look after are bursting with romance.

Upstairs and downstairs

An archive black and white photograph of Mrs Greville standing with a dog in her arms

Places with a royal story to tell

Many of the places we look after have connections to kings, queens and other members of royalty. Here's our pick of the best. Why not visit to uncover the full story?

Children cooking in the kitchens at Erdigg, Clwyd

Get a taste of life below stairs

We look after many country estates and grand houses where servants worked to maintain the house and grounds. Visit one of our top spots for a glimpse of life below stairs.

Visitors at Hill Top admire Beatrix Potter's dolls' house — Beatrix Potter's dolls' house at Hill Top, Cumbria

Places with the best dolls' houses

Whether you’re seven or 70, tiny houses for miniature people can be fascinating. We have a wonderful variety of dolls’ houses at the places we look after. Here's our pick of the best.

Tiny houses for tiny people

Interior design through the ages

The Zodiac roundels on the Boudoir’s ceiling at Knightshayes Court, Devon

The Winter Parlour at Canons Ashby, Northamptonshire

Interior design: Georgian

You can see the elegant styles that were in fashion during the Georgian period at places including Croft Castle in Herefordshire and Basildon Park, Berkshire. Here's our short guide.

Victoria Interior Design - Buildings & Houses

Visit our places like Penrhyn Castle, Wales and Tyntesfield, Somerset, to see examples of Victorian interior design. Here's a short guide to the eclectic styles of the era.

Interior design: 20th century

Coleton Fishacre, Devon, and The Homewood, Surrey, both boast striking Modernist décor. Learn more about this 20th-century design movement and where to see it.

Tudor Interior Design - Building & Houses

The Tudor period was an age of prosperity, often resulting in lavishly built and decorated houses. We look after some beautiful examples, including Montacute House, Somerset, and Canons Ashby, Northamptonshire.

Stories from our places

Scandalous stories from our places

The places we look after have rich histories, and some of them are hiding stories sordid enough to raise a blush. Intrigued? Read on…

The sixteenth-century Gate Tower on the West Front at Coughton Court, Warwickshire

Connections to the Gunpowder Plot

Links to the 1605 Gunpowder Plot can be found at historic houses and former hunting forests we look after including Lyveden New Bield, home to infamous plotter Francis Tresham.