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Visit the best historic houses & gardens in the UK

The UK has many of the world's most beautiful and illustrious historic houses and gardens in the world. Here we highlight the very best places you can visit as you explore the country.

arundel-castle-2018-2

Are you visiting the UK this year? Perhaps you’re just looking to explore England, Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland on a day trip. No tour around Britain is complete without a visit to its extraordinary historic houses and gardens, and here we’re listing some of the very best places to visit in the UK by region for those who love exploring its history. Scroll down our page here to navigate towards each region depending on where you’re looking to visit next. You can also view a map of all the places you can visit here.

Don’t forget, all these places can be visited for free using your Historic Houses membership card!

England

Belvoir Castle exterior credit Nick Fry

The East Midlands

The East Midlands has a high concentration of historic houses and gardens, and if you’re planning a long weekend in the area, or simply a day trip, there are some wonderful places to visit in the Lincolnshire, Northamptonshire and other counties within the region.

Hindringham Hall beautiful lake photograph

Eastern England

Encompassing famous countries such as Norfolk, Cambridgeshire and Essex, the East of England is a haven for historic houses and gardens, including grand country estates such as Holkham Hall and Knebworth house, to beautiful more intimate spaces such as Stody Lodge and The Gibberd Garden.

Hever Castle and Gardens in September

London & the South East

If you’re visiting the UK, or looking for a staycation adventure exploring the history and extraordinary heritage of Britain, then a visit to the South East of England offers some of the finest collection of historic houses and gardens anywhere in the world; from the Tudor castle of Hever – the childhood home of Queen Anne Boleyn, to the stunning gardens of Arundel and ‘World Garden’ of Lullingstone.

Alnwick Castle

The North East

If you love castles and stately homes, a visit to the North East of England ticks all the boxes. From Alnwick Castle – as also seen in the Harry Potter franchise, to Raby Castle, Brancepeth Castle and Chipchase Castle, among others, the North East of England is the perfect day out for lovers of historic houses and gardens.

Gresgarth Hall in Lancashire

The North West & Isle of Man

Encompassing famous towns such as Stoke, Liverpool and Manchester, and home to the Lake District, the North West of England is a very popular region for domestic and international tourism.

But its the area’s stunning historic houses and gardens that are often overlooked but are the perfect day out for anyone exploring the region. From Capesthorne Hall to Muncaster Castle, the North West is a history lover’s paradise, and here we list the best places to visit in the region.

Lulworth Castle in Dorset

The South West & Channel Islands

The South West of England is full of glorious places to visit and explore, including an array of the country’s finest historic houses and gardens. Here, you can find a selection of places to visit when in the area, and if you’re a Historic Houses member, you can use your card to explore these places for free.

Arbury Hall, Warwickshire

The West Midlands

If you’re looking for a day out in England, you should look no further that the West Midlands, which is home to some of the UK’s most impressive historic houses and gardens. From Eastnor Castle to Arbury Hall, the region is a heritage lover’s paradise, and here we are listing the best places to visit when in the West Midlands.

Harewood House was designed by Robert Adam

Yorkshire

Yorkshire isn’t known as God’s county for nothing. With glorious rolling hills in the Dales, major cities such as Leeds, Hull and York, and famous beach towns such as Whitby and Scarborough, Yorkshire is a tourist’s dream. No visit to Yorkshire is complete, though, without a tour of the magnificent country houses and famous gardens of the county. Here, we’re highlighting the best historic houses and gardens to visit in Yorkshire.

Northern Ireland

Montalto Estate in Northern Ireland

Discover the four best places to visit in Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland is home to a few stunning examples of historic gardens. Our pick of the four best places to visit in Northern Ireland includes some of the best gardens to visit in the UK. From the Butterfly Garden of Seaforde to the walled garden of Glenarm Castle – one of the oldest gardens in Ireland.

Scotland

Dunrobin Castle near Inverness in Scotland

Make the most of Scotland on your next visit

A visit to Scotland isn’t complete without a visit to it’s illustrious historic houses, castles and gardens. From Skaill House in the Orkneys to Floors Castle on the Scottish Borders, it’s worth taking account of where you can visit when making a day trip to Scotland or a longer excursion. Here, we list the best places to visit in Scotland, with links to each house and garden in their specific region.

Wales

Gregynog Hall in Wales

Explore the historic houses and gardens of North & South Wales on your next visit

Croeso i Gymru! Welcome to Wales, a country full of some of the most stunning landscapes imaginable, with a proud and distinct history that’s reflected in its wealth of historic houses and gardens. If you’re planning a visit to Wales, make sure to schedule in time to peruse this glorious heritage.

Become a Historic Houses member

Explore the nation’s heritage from just £68 per year.

Hundreds of the most beautiful historic houses, castles, and gardens across Britain offer our members free entry.

Also: receive a quarterly magazine, enjoy monthly online lectures, get exclusive invitations to buy tickets for behind-the-scenes tours, and take up a range of special offers on holidays, books, and other products you might like.

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Elsing Hall with a beautiful moat

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