AttractionsHistoric Buildings

The Tower of London has been an integral part of British Royal history for nearly one thousand years. Only at the Tower of London can you marvel at the breathtaking Crown Jewels, stand on the execution site of three English queens, and hear the myths and legentds…

George III bought Buckingham House in 1761 for his wife Queen Charlotte to use as a comfortable family home close to St James's Palace, where many court functions were held. Buckingham House became known as the Queen's House, and 14 of George III's 15 children were born there.…

Windsor Castle has been named one of the Seven Wonders of Britain in a major survey by Yellow Pages, backed by the English Tourism Council. Windsor Castle is one of three official residences of The Queen and has been home to the Sovereign for over 900 years.…

The new Palace of Westminster was built in the years following the fire of 16 October 1834 which destroyed nearly all the Old Palace. Work began in 1840 and was substantially completed by 1860, although only in 1870 actually finished. It was formally opened in 1852.Westminster Hall, which…

Chatsworth is one of Britain's best loved historic houses and estates, offering something for everyone to enjoy, from famous works of art and the spectacular fountains in the garden to the finest shopping, food and drink and many miles of free walks. In the house, you can…

Set in more than 900 acres of stunning countryside, this Grade One listed Mansion House is a real gem, and a perfect day out for all the family. Located just off the M6 at J13, just a few miles from Staffordshire's county town Stafford, Shugborough Estate offers…

Ludlow Castle, the finest of medieval ruined castles, set in glorious Shropshire countryside, at the heart of this superb, bustling black and white market town.Walk through the Castle grounds and see the ancient houses of kings, queens, princes, judges and the nobility ‐ a glimpse into the lifestyle…

Possibly the most famous and most visited literary landmark in Britain. This is the house where it is thought that Shakespeare was born and spent his formative years. The house is approached via the Visitors' Centre which holds a comprehensive exhibition about Shakespeare's life. The Birthplace is then…

Westminster Cathedral is one of the greatest secrets of London; people heading down Victoria Street on the well‐trodden route to more famous sites are astonished to come across a piazza opening up the view to an extraordinary facade of towers, balconies and domes.Itself a supreme achievement of art,…

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Harewood is a great family day out. Visit the Adventure Playground, explore the Gardens and Bird Gardens, take a boat trip across the lake or marvel at the collections in the House. With an extensive programme of events and exhibitions, Harewood offers something for all.The garden landscape at…

Britain's greatest Mediaeval experience at Warwick Castle. castle was created as a fortification in AD 914, to protect the small hilltop settlement from Danish invaders who posed a threat to the Anglo‐Saxon kingdom of Mercia. You are able to explore the Castle with towers, dungeons and state…

Speke Hall is one of the finest half‐timbered mansions of England, set in a tranquil oasis of gardens and woodland on the banks of the Mersey.Originally, visitors to Speke having crossed the stone bridge over the moat would have passed directly through the gatehouse into the Courtyard, entering…

Althorp has been home to the Spencer family for nearly 500 years. It became the focus of world attention following the tragic death of Diana, Princess of Wales in September 1997. Like many great country houses, it has benefited from the discriminating and varied collecting of generations…

The Eden Project, set in an amazing location in the heart of Cornwall, gives you a unique view of the world of plants and human society. The Eden Project is the largest greenhouse ever built, the size of 30 football pitches. There are two massive conservatories:The…

One of the finest working stables in existence, the Royal Mews at Buckingham Palace provides a unique opportunity for visitors to see the work of the Royal Household department that provides road transport for The Queen and members of the Royal Family by both horse‐drawn carriage and motor…

Hampton Court Palace promises a magical journey back through 500 years of royal history. Discover the magnificent State Apartments of Henry VIII and William III, explore 60 acres of immaculate riverside gardens and lose yourself in the world‐famous maze.There are over 60 acres of gardens to explore at…

Formerly the 14th century Great Gatehouse of Beaulieu Abbey, Palace House is set in glorious grounds and gardens with immaculate spreading lawns and walkways overlooking the Beaulieu River. The House has been in Lord Montagu's family ownership since 1538, when Sir Thomas Wriothesley, later 1st Earl of Southampton,…

CLOSED FOR REPAIRSKew Palace, used by the royal family between 1729 and 1818, is the last survivor of several important royal residences at Kew. The Palace, George III's family home, set in the grounds of the beautiful Royal Botanic Gardens Kew, is currently closed for major repairs.…

An architectural masterpiece of the 13th to 16th centuries, Westminster Abbey also presents a unique pageant of British history. Westminster Abbey, a work of architectural genius, a place of daily worship, deploying the resources of high musical expertise, a burial place of kings, statesmen, poets, scientists, warriors…

Tower Bridge was completed in 1894, after 8 years of construction, and is one of the finest, most recognisable bridges in the World. It took 8 years, 5 major contractors and the relentless labour of 432 construction workers to build Tower Bridge.At the Tower Bridge Exhibition you…

Blenheim Palace, the Formal Gardens and Park are now open daily until 29th October.From 1st November, the Palace, Park and Gardens are open Wednesdays through to Sundays until 10th December. Situated just 8 miles from Oxford on A44, the Palace was created a World Heritage site in 1987…

One of the great houses of the Midlands, Attingham Park was built in 1785 for the 1st Lord Berwick to the design of George Steuart and has a picture gallery by John Nash. The magnificent rooms contain collections of ambassadorial silver, Italian furniture and Grand Tour paintings. The…

Castle Howard is one of Britain's finest stately homes, located in the beautiful Howardian Hills, fifteen miles northeast of the famous city of York.Built in 1699, Castle Howard is, today, still the private home of the Howard family. As a major tourist attraction the house receives hundreds of…

Built in 1870 by the Prince and Princess of Wales, later King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra, Sandringham was once described as 'The most comfortable house in England'. It has been passed down as a private home through four generations of British monarchs and is now the…

This brilliantly positioned defensive castle juts out into the narrow entrance to the Dart Estuary, with the sea lapping at its foot. Begun in the late 14th century, the castle was intended to protect the warehouses and homes of Dartmouth's merchants. It was one of the earliest castles…

Peveril Castle, perched high above the pretty village of Castleton, offers breathtaking views of the Peak District. After extensive conservation work on the keep, English Heritage has erected a walkway at first‐floor level, enabling visitors to enter two chambers previously inaccessible: a medieval garderobe and a small…

Bodelwyddan Castle and Park is situated in Denbighshire, North Wales. Set in 260 acres of magnificent parkland, the Castle is a partner of the National Portrait Gallery NPG and is open to the public most days throughout the year.As well as being an historic house and accredited museum…

Country estate including mansion with important collections and 'below stairs' areas, impressive garden and deer park. An early Georgian house built around a Tudor core, Dunham Massey was extensively reworked in the early years of the 20th century. The result is one of Britain's most sumptuous…

During the two hundred years or so since Capability Brown laid out the parkland and Sir Christopher Sykes, 2nd Baronet, started the building of Sledmere, the house has become filled with works of art reflecting very different tastes and life styles of the succedding generations of the Sykes…

Cardiff Castle is one of Wales's leading tourist attractions. Situated in the very heart of the capital, alongside city centre shopping and the magnificent Bute Park, the Castle's enchanting fairytale towers conceal an elaborate and splendid interior.Contained within its mighty walls is a history spanning nearly 2,000 years,…

Burghley is one of the largest and grandest houses of the first Elizabethan Age. Built and mostly designed by William Cecil, Lord High Treasurer to Queen Elizabeth I, between 1555 and 1587, the main part of the House has 35 major rooms on the ground and first…

This Benedictine Monastery established in around 1150, is the oldest standing building on Merseyside. First restored over a century ago the site continues to develop with museums displays, educationmeetingconcert space and chapel dedicated to HMS Conway open by appointment. Climb the tower of Birkenhead's first parish…

Chirk Castle is a 700 year old marcher fortress, which commands fine views over the surrounding countryside.Originally the 13th century castle, completed in 1310, was bought for £4800 in 1595 by Sir Thomas Myddelton a Welsh merchant.A magnificent marcher fortress completed in 1310 and now a stately home…

Constable Hall, East Yorkshire's premier stately home. One of the most fascinating country houses to survive with its historic collections.Burton Constable is a large Elizabethan mansion set in a 300 acre park with nearly 30 rooms open to the public. The interiors of faded splendour are filled with…

Grade I listed garden, extensive woodlands and Italianate mansion. This spectacular estate overlooking the River Thames has a series of gardens, each with its own character, featuring topiary, statuary, water gardens, a formal parterre, Octagon temple, informal vistas, woodland and riverside walks. The present house, the…

A fine 16th century timber‐framed house, and one of the jewels among the many interesting buildings in Coggeshall and is a legacy from the town's prosperous Wool Age.Coggeshall was also famous for its lace, examples of which are displayed inside Paycocke's House. There is a very attractive…

In 1173 Roger de Stuteville built the Norman Manor house, the lower chamber of which still remains. Since then the property has never changed hands by sale, though it has passed from family to family on occasions when the male line has ended. One of his daughters was…

Goodwood combines the glamour of a great English country house with the warmth of a family home. Still owned and lived in by the Earl and Countess of March and their young children, this unique Sussex house provides a stunning setting for one of the most significant private…

Savour the poignant atmosphere of this fully furnished Victorian country house with its original contents carefully conserved by English Heritage. There are over 30 rooms on view ranging from the faded grandeur of the sumptuous reception rooms to the cluttered remains of the fascinating servants wing with…

Delightful home of Lord and Lady Feversham. Unoccupied by the family for over 60 years. Now fully restored as a family home. Your memorable day in the country includes a detailed guided tour of the house coupled with breathtaking views from the magnificent broadwalks within the eighteenth…

Mid 18th Century palladian mansion notable for its fine plasterwoprk and carved wood decoration. Victorian kitchen and laundry, beautiful stable block, attractive garden and large model railway exhibition.Open: 30 March ‐ 2 NovemberTues, Wed, Thurs, Sun and Bank Holidays 1.30pm ‐ 4.30pm.Adult £3.90, Child £1.90, Family…

York's county house and garden, this imposing Georgian Mansion was built in 1716 and contains one of the most empressive baroque interiors in England. Exceptional wood carving, an unusual central corridor running the full length of the house, and over 100 pictures on loan from the National…

When William the Conquerer came to England in 1066 he brought with him the concept of the castle. He and his men of which there were 12,000 at most, needed rapidly to make themselves secure amongst a potentially hostile population of one and a half million, and simply…

The museum and art gallery at the birthplace of Thomas Gainsborough. Gainsborough's House, the only birthplace of the great British artist open to the public in Britain, opened as a museum in 1961. It shows a large collection of his paintings, drawings and prints as well…

A vast stately home with many windows and chimneys, built from grey stone and surrounded by acres of land that is now a deer park. The moment you arrive at Prideaux Place you realise you are somewhere very special indeed. The house landscaped grounds and formal…

Spectacular 17th‐century house with original interiors and formal garden. Ham House is unique in Europe as the most complete survival of 17th‐century fashion and power. The formal garden is significant for its survival within the area known as the cradle of the English Landscape Movement.Guided tours…

To many people, their first sight of this glorious medieval castle can seem foreboding, and certainly its history lacks nothing in drama and intrigue. Some of you may recognise us as a film location, for everything from Harry Potter to Elizabeth to Becket to Blackadder. There…

Throughout the year a fascinating guided tour of the Globe Theatre is included in your visit to Shakespeare's Globe Exhibition.Founded by the pioneering American actor and director Sam Wanamaker, Shakespeare's Globe is a unique international resource dedicated to the exploration of Shakespeare's work and the playhouse for which…

Bath Abbey is a parish church which was once the great church of a monastery. A cathedral is the principal church of a diocese, the area of a bishop's authority. The Abbey Church is classified as one of the Greater Churches group. Begun in 1499, it is…

Founded in 1093, this magnificent Norman cathedral is the shrone of St Cuthbert and one of the great architectural experiences in Europe. Together with the adjacent castle, it is a World Heritage site.Cathedral Opening Times & PricesMonday ‐ Saturday 9.30am ‐ 6.15pm, Sun 12.30pm ‐ 5pm, extended…

A sixteenth century house with a nineteenth century garden planted by George Maw, a bulb collector and breeder. There is a terraced garden, a rock garden and a rose garden designed by Graham Stuart Thomas. Situated on a plateau above the gorge of the River Severn, this…

The jewel of Somerset ‐ some of England's finest cloister buildings, magnificent architecture and unique wall paintings, set in a peaceful riverside location. Discover 800 years of monastic life ‐ medieval painted chamber, timber roofing, wonderful floor tiles and amazing cloister buildings.…

If you thought Oxford was just about elegant spires and world‐class academia then think again brbrOxford Castle Unlocked reveals Oxford's less well known history, one that's rich with tales of great escapes, betrayal and even romance all within the walls of this ancient castle and prison.brbrbrbrThe…

The Royal Crescent was built to the designs of John Wood the Younger between 1767 and 1774. It is justly considered one of the finest achievements of urban 18th century architecture and represents the highest point of palladian architecture in Bath. The houses of the Royal Crescent were…

Find out about the dramatic story of King Charles II hiding from Cromwells troops at Moseley Old Hall after he fled the Battle of Worcester in 1651.See the bed on which the King slept and the priest hole in which he hid, and hear fascinating stories about what…

The Swan Theatre's ornate Victorian Gothic building is home to displays from the RSC Collection. Items are selected from a wide range of material, collected since the original theatre opened in 1879, which illustrate the history of performance in Stratford's theatres. The RSC Collection is open from…

One of England's most impressive Mediaeval castles, built by the Nevills and home to Lord barnards family since 1626. It features fine furniture, impressive artworks and elaborate architecture. Also deer park, walled gardens, coach and carriage collection, woodland adventure playground, picnic area, tearooms and gift shop.Open:Easter:…

Venue for the recent 'I'm Famous and Frightened' on Living TV, Bolsover Castle regularly hosts concerts, Shakespearian plays and other living history events. The award winning property has turrets and battlements rising from a beautiful wooded hilltop. The battlements and famous Venus Garden have been completely…

One of the most significant Jacobean houses in England with 31 opulent rooms on view. Set in 'Capability' Brown landscaped park, with walled Victorian kitchen garden.Audley End House was commissioned by Thomas, first Earl of Suffolk, on the scale of a royal palace, to entertain his monarch,…

Come and visit the secret jewel in Shropshire. Entrance in the village of Marchamley.Party bookings taken.Open: 14 ‐ 31 August…

The Salvin family home since 1402, Croxdale is now seen as an 18th Century re‐casing of an earlier Tudor building. Mid‐Georgian rooms with Rococo ceilings, private chapel and fine gardens.Open: House by Appointment OnlyTuesday and Wednesday from first Tuesday in may to second Wednesday in July,…

One of England's most beloved stately homes, Knebworth House is famous worldwide for its rock concerts and as the home of Victorian novelist Edward Bulwer Lytton ‐ author of the words The pen is mightier than the sword ‐ this beautiful gothic mansion is situated 29 miles north…

Eastnor Castle, in the dramatic setting of the Malvern Hills and surrounded by a beautiful deer park, arboretum and lake ‐ is the home of the Hervey‐Bathurst family.The style proposed by the architect, the young Robert Smirke, was Norman Revival. From a distance, Eastnor was intended to create…

Away from the distractions of town, business or busy hotels, Mapledurham is an oasis of peace, natural beauty and history. Mapledurham House, still the home of the descendants of the original family, is an Elizabethan Manor House situated beside the Thames and sheltered by the Chiltern Hills,…

Samlesbury Hall is a 14th Century Manor House. Over the years there have been many changes. It is administered by a registered charity known as the Samlesbury Hall trust whose aim is to maintain the Hall for the people of the area. The trust was founded in the…