Our greatest houses

From magnificent manors to humble homes, country estates to town residences, the houses we look after all tell their own unique story. We’ve pulled together some of our greatest houses to visit including one of the most impressive buildings in our care, a tranquil hideaway, a royal retreat and a seat of scandal.

Castle Ward in County Down — The classical side of the house

Castle Ward County Down

Architectural differences

Castle Ward is an 18th-century mansion and a particularly unusual building famed for having been built with two completely different architectural styles. The story behind this is that the original builder of the house, Bernard Ward, 1st Viscount Bangor, didn't agree with his wife Lady Anne on the décor. Bernard was more classical in taste with Lady Anne preferring the fashionable Gothic style, leading them to split the house down the middle.

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The south front of Kingston Lacy — View of the 17th-century mansion from the south lawn at Kingston Lacy, Dorset

Kingston Lacy Dorset

Magnificent

Kingston Lacy, Dorset, is filled with stories from history. William John Bankes (1786-1855) inherited the house in 1834, and transformed it into the lavish vision we see today. His travels influenced the design of the mansion and he went on to acquire Kingston Lacy's most important collection of objects, including a group of Spanish paintings. Bankes' eye for detail and love of art is reflected throughout the house.

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The interior of the Conservation Studio at Knole — The interior of the converted 15th century barn

Knole Kent

Conservation gem

An enormous conservation project, Inspired by Knole, has improved and restored the house and its collections, as they were falling into a poor state of repair. The medieval barn was also given a new roof and set up as a conservation studio, where much of the Knole collection was treated along with other decorative art objects from across the places we care for. Before you visit, please pre-book your tickets.

The Royal Oak Foundation Conservation Studio is due to reopen from 27 May.

Visit Knole

Churchill's painting studio at Chartwell, a National Trust property in Kent — The Studio at Chartwell is filled with Churchill's paintings and equipment

Chartwell Kent

Famous people

Many famous people have lived in the houses we care for. Chief among them is the wartime prime minister and great statesman Winston Churchill, who made his home at Chartwell in Kent for over 40 years. The house is a testament to his many interests – he wrote prolifically in his study and built a studio in the grounds in which to pursue his love of painting.

Please check the website for booking requirements before visiting.

Visit Chartwell

The Carved Room at Petworth House, West Sussex

Petworth West Sussex

Finest art

Petworth House is home to many works of art, including the Molyneux globe, thought to be the earliest English terrestrial globe in existence, and 'A Vision of the Last Judgment', a dramatic work of art by William Blake.

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Light bulbs at Cragside lit by hydroelectricity

Cragside Northumberland

Innovation

Created by the Victorian inventor William Armstrong, Cragside in Northumberland has innovation at its heart. It was the first house in the world to be lit by hydroelectricity and boasted other modern conveniences including hot and cold running water. A modern hydro system completed in 2014 now produces enough energy to light all 350 light bulbs in the house.

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The exterior view of Newton House — The house and gardens at Dinefwr, Carmarthenshire

Dinefwr Carmarthenshire

Most majestic

Newton House, Dinefwr, was originally built in 1660. Over the years the house has undergone various designs, from an ornate Gothic façade, to the magnificent grand staircase and opulent ceilings. Surrounding the house is the Dinefwr estate, rolling green countryside which is perfect for a stroll with a loved one.

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View of the Rotunda at Ickworth, Suffolk

Ickworth Suffolk

Roundest

Though the entire house isn't round, the iconic rotunda at Ickworth, Suffolk, is sure to make this historical place stand out. The house was built as an 18th-century palace to showcase lots of treasures collected over generations, including an extensive painting collection and the statue of The Fury of Athamas, which features in the book 125 Treasures of the National Trust. The rotunda roof has recently been repaired, and when you visit you'll be able to marvel at the treasures collected over time at Ickworth.

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Polesden Lacey Surrey

Royal connections

Kings, queens and other royalty have visited and stayed at several places we look after. 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 Surrey in 1923. The renowned hostess Mrs Greville also welcomed Edward VII and George V as visitors to her Edwardian country retreat.

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Exterior of the cottage, peeping through the trees with flowers framing the foreground — The exterior of Clouds Hill in Dorset

Clouds Hill Dorset

Smallest

Clouds Hill in Dorset 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’. He rented the tiny white-washed cottage when stationed at Bovington Camp before later buying it. He was fatally injured in a motorcycle accident nearby in 1935.

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Stoneywell Leicestershire

Tranquil hideaway

Nestled in the idyllic surroundings of Charnwood Forest, Stoneywell in Leicestershire is a charming stone house, and is a rare surviving example of an Arts and Crafts house with its original furnishings. Designed as a holiday home by the architect Ernest Gimson for his brother, it remained in the Gimson family for four generations until it came into our care in late 2012.

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The Turquoise Hall (Blue Room) at Snowshill Manor, Gloucestershire — The Turquoise Hall at Snowshill Manor

Snowshill Manor and Garden Gloucestershire

Unusual collection

Snowshill Manor in Gloucestershire takes the prize for its most unusual collection. It’s packed with extraordinary treasures collected by Charles Paget Wade, and we now care for around 22,000 items at Snowshill. This includes samurai armour, toys and an exquisitely decorated cabinet that's over 250 years old.

Visit Snowshill Manor

Video

Spookiest

Treasurer’s House in York has a history spanning 2,000 years. The Roman road in the cellar is the source of mysterious experiences – many people have reported seeing the ghosts of Roman soldiers there. Ghostly presences have also been felt in other rooms.