Houses & buildings
We look after over 300 historic buildings, from the grand and imposing to the small and quirky. Explore our places from afar and discover some of the stories behind our houses and the inhabitants who called them home.
Which places are open and what you need to know before you visit
More than 100 gardens and parks and hundreds of coast and countryside places are open in England and Northern Ireland. Many historic houses are open in England. To avoid disappointment please book in advance, especially at weekends and school holidays. In line with Welsh Government legislation, all places in Wales will close from 24 October to 9 November. Please check the property webpage of the place you wish to visit before you travel. Read this article to find out how to book and what to expect from your visit.
How we're opening historic houses and buildings again
We've reopened more than 60 houses to visitors as part of our phased reopening. To keep everyone safe, we’ve had to make changes. Discover what we’ve been doing, what to expect from a visit and our plans for welcoming you back to more of the houses in our care.
Some of our greatest houses for armchair viewing
Knole, Kent
Notable for both its size and grandeur, the former Archbishop’s palace is a vast complex of rooms, staircases and courtyards.
Mount Stewart, County Down
A three-year, £8 million conservation project has restored Mount Stewart to its early 20th-century glory when it was home to Edith, Lady Londonderry.
Chartwell, Kent
Winston Churchill made his home at Chartwell in Kent for over forty years and the house is a testament to his many interests.
Cragside, Northumberland
Created by the Victorian inventor William Armstrong, this was the first house in the world to be lit by hydroelectricity.
Polesden Lacey, Surrey
The Duke and Duchess of York, later King George VI and Queen Elizabeth (the Queen Mother), spent part of their honeymoon at Polesden Lacey in 1923.
Clouds Hill, Dorset
Clouds Hill was the rural retreat of T. E. Lawrence (Lawrence of Arabia), who described it as ‘a hut in a wood near camp wherein I spend my spare evenings’.
Stoneywell, Leicestershire
Nestled in the idyllic surroundings of Charnwood Forest, Stoneywell is a rare surviving example of an Arts and Crafts house with its original furnishings.
Snowshill Manor, Gloucestershire
Snowshill Manor is packed with extraordinary treasures collected by Charles Paget Wade, featuring 22,000 objects.
Interior design through the ages
Georgian interior design
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.
Victorian 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.
1920s house style and design in the UK
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.
