From Longleat House in Wiltshire to Chatsworth House in Derbyshire, stately homes in the UK make a great day out for all the family.
Stately homes not only offer beautiful views but also a glimpse into the life of luxury of those who have accommodated them, making it easy to see why they’re a great day out for people of all ages.
But which are the nation’s favourite? We’ve surveyed Brits across the nation to reveal what their number one stately home is*. Of the stately homes the public has visited, the top six favourites are featured below.
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Chatsworth House, Derbyshire (23%)
Located in the heart of the Peak District National Park and home to one of the UK’s most loved novels-turned-film, Pride and Prejudice, Chatsworth House’s stature is as impressive as it is rich in history. Unsurprisingly, it takes the lead as Britain’s favourite stately home with almost one in four Brits claiming it as the best stately home in the UK. It offers a wide range of activities for its visitors, whether it’s the seasonal fairs or a taste of the life of luxury at this real-life Downton Abbey.
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Windsor Castle, Windsor (22%)
Founded by William the Conqueror in the 11th century, Windsor Castle is the oldest and largest occupied castle in the world, which is where Britain’s longest-reigning monarch Queen Elizabeth II chose to spend her weekends. The beauty and cultural richness of this British stately home makes it easy to see why it is a close second as Britain’s favourite. Its rich and regal history makes it perfect for fans of the Royal family.
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Blenheim Palace, Oxfordshire (19%)
The impressive stately home in Oxfordshire was the birthplace of Winston Churchill and boasts a beautiful palace accompanied with 12,000 acres of land. Nearly one in five Brits said Blenheim Palace was their favourite English stately home as it offers many fun activities for both adults and children. Enjoyable endeavours at this British country house include the 2-mile-long Marlborough Maze and a miniature train that circles the grounds daily - making it a great day out for all the family!
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Kensington Palace, London (17%)
Home to the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and their family, with its glorious gardens and grand rooms to explore, it is easy to see why 17% of Brits said that this famous British stately home was their favourite. It often has seasonal exhibitions, galleries, and events for people of all ages, and is one of the nicest stately homes with gardens.
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Longleat House, Wiltshire (16%)
Regarded as one of Britain’s best examples of Elizabethan architecture, Longleat House has accommodated 15 generations of the Thynne family and is now occupied by the 7th Marquess of Bath. This is a great stately home to visit, and the area is a wonderful staycation destination as there are many attractions for all the family - whether it’s immersing yourself in the family history on the house tour or being at one with nature on the spectacular drive-through safari.
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Alnwick Castle, Northumberland (15%)
Another impressive castle rich in history, Alnwick Castle was built in the 11th century and is the second-largest inhabited castle in the UK today, following Windsor Castle. Being the filming destination for some of the Harry Potter films, the castle is great for those who want a taste of Hogwarts and the wizarding world.
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Find your perfect holiday home
If you’re visiting these grand estates in the UK, you’re going to need a place to call your home. We’ve got impressively large properties in case you want to act the Duke and Duchess of your own country house, but we’ve also got cosy boltholes if small-scale getaways are more your thing. Find your perfect holiday home now.
Discover your perfect holiday cottage
*Survey of 1,000 respondents in February 2022 by TLF, who were asked to select up to three of their favourite UK stately homes.