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Britain’s great historical houses are national treasures – so it may be surprising to learn that the vast majority of them are privately owned.
Britain’s great historical houses are national treasures – so it may be surprising to learn that the vast majority of them are privately owned.
The Historic Houses Association represents over 1,500 privately owned historical houses – more than 500 of those open to the public.
Each property represents a fantastic day out for the family, while many also offer memorable surroundings in which to celebrate a wedding or other special event.
Featured below are five of Britain’s finest historical houses, all available for year-round public visits. As a Historic Houses Association member, you’ll be able to visit all these historical houses free of charge.
An imposing medieval castle, Northumberland’s Alnwick Castle boasts drama and intrigue. Popular with tourists for many years, visitor numbers have swelled further in recent times, boosted by fans of the Harry Potter films.
Alnwick is the real-life setting for the family films, making a day out at this historic property a must for kids and big kids alike.
Countless events are held at the castle throughout the year, ranging from history tours and archery to rock concerts and magic.
At the heart of the Cotswolds stands Blenheim Palace – a stunning historical house both inside and out. Indeed, many visitors never even cross the threshold, so consumed are they by the stunning gardens that won HHA/Christie’s Garden of the Year Award in 2009.
Those that do enter Blenheim Palace enjoy one of the finest Baroque Houses in the country, with its rich collection of tapestries, artwork and porcelain. It’s not lacking in history either – Blenheim was the birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill.
Another magnificent building of the Baroque period. Castle Howard, in Yorkshire, was built in 1699 and offers a great day out for anybody with an interest in art, particularly sculpture.
Fans of TV and Film may recognise the grounds as the setting for the Brideshead Revisited series, and the subsequent film.
A spectacular historical house that was the childhood home of Queen Elizabeth, The Queen Mother and the birthplace of Princess Margaret.
Despite these claims to fame though, the Scottish castle is perhaps better known as the legendary setting of Shakespeare’s ‘Macbeth’.
Bedfordshire’s Woburn Abbey is situated in a 3,000 acree deer park. So, once you’ve visited the impressive stately home, you can enjoy spotting the 10 species of deer that roam free in the Abbey grounds.
Visit the HHA website to find other historical houses which are free of charge to visit.
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