With peeling paintwork and overgrown courtyards, Calke Abbey tells the story of the dramatic decline of a country house estate. The house and stables are little restored, with many abandoned areas vividly portraying a period in the 20th century when numerous country houses did not survive to tell their story.

Discover powerful stories of a family who amassed a vast collection of hidden treasures. Visit the beautiful, yet faded walled gardens and explore the orangery, auricula theatre and the kitchen gardens. Escape into the ancient and fragile habitats of Calke Park and its National Nature Reserve.

Don't miss...

• The stunning state silk bed, erected for the first time in 1985 after lying undiscovered since the 18th century

• Spot the ‘Old Man of Calke’, a 1,200 year old oak tree

• Visit the red and fallow deer in their restored enclosure

• Explore the Tramway Trail by bike or by foot

• Stroll through the pleasure grounds to the flower garden with its unique auricula theatre

Dudmaston is something unexpected in the Shropshire countryside that is a much loved home for over 875 years. The unexpected galleries create a total contrast, with their formal, crisp lines. They were designed by the last owner, Rachel, Lady Labouchere, to house her and her husband’s differing modern and traditional collections of art for the visitor to peruse.

The gardens provide amazing vistas and tranquillity while the orchard is the perfect place to relax and for the children to let off steam. For more stunning views and getting up close to nature there is the Big Pool and Dingle woods, while the wider estate provides extensive walking routes for year round enjoyment.

Dudmaston Hall is the family home of Mr and Mrs Mark Hamilton-Russell.

Powis Castle, built around 1200 as a medieval fortress, sits high on a rock above its world-famous garden. Laid out under the influence of Italian and French styles, the garden is overhung with clipped yews and shelters rare and tender plants. It retains original lead statues and features an orangery on the terraces.

Remodelled and embellished over more than 400 years, Powis reflects the changing ambitions of the Herbert family, who occupied the Castle from the 1570s. Each generation enlisted artists to grow the family’s collection of paintings, sculpture, furniture and tapestries on view throughout the house.

One of the UK’s most significant collections of Indian objects is displayed in the Clive Museum at Powis Castle. As major figures in Britain’s colonial East India Company, Robert Clive and his son Edward (later 1st Earl of Powis) looted many of these objects during their seizure of power in India and Myanmar and violent subsequent rule in the 18th century. Clive wealth amassed through the East India Company remained at Powis, contributing to later modernisation of the Castle and Gardens that transformed Powis to how it exists today.

Home to the Anson family since 1624, it was once described as ‘a perfect paradise’. Visit this important piece of Staffordshire's heritage for a full day of discoveries.

The stories of Shugborough are entangled with the exploits and interests of two brothers, Thomas and George Anson. Their fortunes and their social position shaped Shugborough; understanding the origins of their power helps us to interpret the ideas and materials which flooded into Britain throughout the 18th century, furnishing homes, forging fashions and changing culture.

You can explore sweeping parkland, ancient woodland and a landscape peppered with monuments. See seasonal blooms in the formal gardens, or produce in the walled garden. Head over to Park Farm to see Dorking chickens, and say hello to the animals, such as Longhorn cows and Southdown sheep that roam around in the fields.

In the Georgian mansion, unearth unusual treasures and experience life 'below stairs' in the servant's quarters, then enter a world of glamour and royalty in the apartments of Patrick Lichfield, 5th Earl and fashion photographer.

This amazing Victorian garden was created by James Bateman for his collection of plants from around the world. A visit takes you on a global journey from Italy to the pyramids of Egypt, a Victorian vision of China and a re-creation of a Himalayan glen.

The garden features collections of rhododendrons, summer bedding displays, a stunning Dahlia Walk and the oldest surviving golden larch in Britain, brought from China in the 1850s.

The Geological Gallery shows how Bateman's interests went beyond botany. Opened in 1862 the unique hallway is a Victorian attempt to reconcile geology and theology.

A country retreat in the heart of Worcestershire. The house and garden, originally a stage-set for summer parties, offer a glimpse into life at the turn of the 18th century.

Don't miss the original wall-paintings by Sir James Thornhill. Full of drama and politics, they show the birth of Georgian society.

The original formal gardens, designed by George London, have been faithfully re-created and complement the relaxed later gardens, with orangery, orchards and walled garden. If you venture further afield, our walks leaflet will help you find George London’s visionary Semicircle in the parkland - the beginning of the landscape movement.

The culmination of a lifetime of dreams: salvaged objects and exotic pieces come together in a Jacobean meets Edwardian style. Beautiful, homely, warm and welcoming. We can't put it better than a visitor in the 1920s did: A house to dream of, a garden to dream in.

The house was originally built in the 16th century, yet its interiors were extensively restored between the First and Second World Wars by Graham Baron Ash to create a fascinating 20th-century evocation of domestic Tudor architecture.

Packwood House contains a fine collection of 16th-century textiles and furniture, and the gardens have renowned herbaceous borders and a famous collection of yews.

Explore this French Renaissance-style château built by Baron Ferdinand de Rothschild in 1874 to entertain the fashionable world and to house his collection of fine art.

Step back in time in the Victorian style gardens, gaze at flamboyant colours on the parterre amid the ornate fountains and statuary. Hear the rare and exotic birds calling from the roccoco style Aviary found in the heart of the gardens.

Alternatively spend a fun filled day with the family, and have an adventure in the woodland playground which winds through the trees, making use of the natural environment to create a magical area to play.

Overlooking the river Avon on the edge of Shakespeare’s Stratford, Charlecote Park has been part of this corner of rural Warwickshire for centuries. Still the Lucy family home after 900 years, you can explore the vision of the Victorian owners George Hammond Lucy and his wife, the formidable Mary Elizabeth, who extended their home and filled it with treasures from their European travels.

Linger in the rooms open to our visitors in the central portion of the house to discover more about the collection brought together by generations of the family whose tastes, lifestyle and varied fortunes are all reflected here

Today, the kitchen is brought to life in cooking and costume. Across the courtyard you can explore the laundry and brewhouse which once hummed with the activity of a busy working estate. Discover the stables which house the family’s carriage collection, each with its own story to tell.

Stroll through the gardens that Mary Elizabeth loved so dearly, from the formal parterre to the shady woodland garden with rare plants and borders full of colourful herbaceous planting.

Coughton Court is the home of the Throckmorton family who have lived at Coughton since 1409. John de Throckmorton, Under Treasurer of England to Henry VI, acquired Coughton in the early 15th Century through his marriage to Eleanor de Spiney. Their descendants have held it for 600 years and, although the National Trust has owned the house since 1946, the family still live here. The present resident, Mr Magnus Birch-Throckmorton, and his family enjoy occupancy of the house under a 300 year lease.

The origins of Coughton Court lie in pre-conquest times and there is evidence of a house on this site from the 14th Century. The present building was begun in the 15th Century and has since survived in a family who for much of that time were impoverished, persecuted or imprisoned for their adherence to the Catholic faith.

The Royal International Air Tattoo (RIAT) is the world's largest military air show, held annually in July at RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire, England in support of The Royal Air Force Charitable Trust. The show typically attracts a total of 150,000 to 200,000 spectators over the weekend.

The theme for RIAT 2025 was ‘Eyes in the Skies’ which saw the Royal International Air Tattoo celebrate and highlight the vital role aviation plays across domains of aerial surveying, airborne early warning, maritime patrol, search and rescue, reconnaissance, signals intelligence and surveillance. RAF Fairford welcomed aircraft from around the world which have been modified and adapted for use on these specialised missions, in military and civilian operation for visitors to view.

Kedleston Hall is an extravagant temple to the arts designed by the architect Robert Adam. Commissioned in the 1750s by Nathaniel Curzon whose ancestors had resided at Kedleston since the 12th century. The house is framed by historic parkland and boasts opulent interiors intended to impress.

Designed for lavish entertaining, Kedleston Hall displays an extensive collection of paintings, sculpture and original furnishings, reflecting both the tastes of its creators and their fascination with the classical world of the Roman Empire.

From spring to autumn Kedleston’s formal garden offers a colourful interpretation of its original 18th century design. The expansive grounds with both long and short walks, feature sweeping vistas of Kedleston’s parkland and provide access to a rich array of wildlife.

Hidcote is an Arts and Crafts garden in the north Cotswolds, a stone’s throw from Stratford-upon-Avon. Created by the talented American horticulturist, Major Lawrence Johnston its colourful and intricately designed outdoor ‘rooms’ are always full of surprises. It’s a must-see if you’re on holiday in the Cotswolds.

Explore the maze of narrow paved pathways and discover secret gardens, magnificent vistas and plants that burst with colour. Many of the plants found growing in the garden were collected from Johnston’s many plant hunting trips to far away places. It’s the perfect place if you’re in need of gardening inspiration.

Meander through the intricate gardens and into the Wilderness. This secluded stretch of tall trees is just right for a picnic. Take a glimpse beyond the boundary and see the garden blend effortlessly into the countryside beyond.

Warwick Castle is a medieval castle developed from a wooden fort, originally built by William the Conqueror during 1068.

Warwick is the county town of Warwickshire, England, situated on a meander of the River Avon. The original wooden motte-and-bailey castle was rebuilt in stone during the 12th century.

During the Hundred Years War, the façade opposite the town was refortified, resulting in one of the most recognisable examples of 14th-century military architecture. It was used as a stronghold until the early 17th century, when it was granted to Sir Fulke Greville by James I in 1604. Greville converted it to a country house, and it was owned by the Greville family (who became Earls of Warwick in 1759) until 1978, when it was bought by the Tussauds Group.

In 1937 Geoffrey Mander, a local paint manufacturer and Liberal MP, did something remarkable – he persuaded the National Trust to accept a house for the nation that was just 50 years old.

Geoffrey had inherited Wightwick in 1900, a house designed in an ‘Old English’ style by Midlands architect Edward Ould and built for his parents, Theodore and Flora Mander, between 1887–1893. 

While they lived in the house, Theodore and Flora took inspiration from Oscar Wilde’s lecture on 'the House Beautiful'; as a result, the interiors reflect Wilde’s commitment to the principles of the Aesthetic Movement and the ideals of ‘art for art’s sake’. Wilde’s influence can be seen in the collection of objects from Japan and China and the designs of William Morris and his British Arts and Crafts contemporaries.

Generations of the Brownlow family made their mark on Belton, commissioning the finest designers and craftsmen of their age to shape Belton Estate. The house and gardens showcase cutting edge design and innovation, from 17th century sash windows to a cast iron-framed conservatory in the Italian Garden, made possible thanks to the Industrial Revolution. 

Belton House contains impressive art, silver, and porcelain collections, as well as a world-renowned library. Outside there is a deer park, pleasure grounds, and formal gardens of Dutch and Italian design.

Today, Belton welcomes new generations to explore the ancient deer park, picnic in the pleasure grounds, or burn off energy in the National Trust's largest outdoor adventure playground.

Baddesley Clinton was the home of the Ferrers family for 500 years.

Much of the house you see today was built by Henry Ferrers, a lawyer, diarist and antiquarian, in the late 1500s.

The house was a sanctuary not only for the Ferrers family, but also for persecuted Catholics who were hidden from priest hunters in its secret hiding places during the 1590s.

Attingham inspires a sense of beauty, space and awe. The imposing entrance, glimpses of the vast mansion against silhouettes of cedars and expansive parkland, epitomise classical design and Italian influence. Its completeness of survival exemplifies the rise and decline, love and neglect of great country-house estates. Discovering the Berwicks' estate with acres of parkland, miles of walks, the huge organic walled garden, large playfield and welcoming mansion is a full day out.

There’s so much to see and do at Attingham -- whether you’re a family looking for activities, both inside and out, or simply in search of a traditional visit to a historic house and parkland. Full of life and locally loved, there’s something for everyone all year round.

The dominating stone façade of Penrhyn Castle hides more than just its internal red-brick construction. Built in the early 19th century, its formidable architecture, opulent interiors and fine art collection lean on a long history of sugar and slate fortunes, social unrest and the longest-running industrial dispute in British history.

Owned by the Pennant family, Penrhyn is a key example of how wealth derived from slavery shaped the built environment of Wales and underpinned local working histories. A staunch anti-abolitionist, Richard Pennant's fortune – acquired from sugar plantations in Jamaica that used enslaved labour – funded roads, railways, schools, hotels, workers’ houses, churches and farms in North Wales.

The Penrhyn Slate Quarry and Port Penrhyn, established by the Pennants, dominated the Welsh slate industry for almost 150 years. Penrhyn Castle’s vast rooms, rich neo-Norman architecture and opulent furnishings are steeped in these colonial histories.

Created by Welsh architect Sir Clough Williams-Ellis, Portmeirion Village was designed to show how a naturally beautiful site could be developed without spoiling it. Williams-Ellis acquired the site in 1925 and worked to complete his grand vision over the next 50 years, completing the Village as we know it today in 1976.

Clough hoped that his creation would inspire others.

Portmeirion Village provided the backdrop for the 1960's cult classic series, The Prisoner, starring Patrick McGoohan.

Patrick McGoohan not only starred as Number Six, the leading role in The Prisoner, he was also the creator and driving force behind the 17 episode series.

It was probably one of the most influential pieces of television of the 1960's not only in the UK and USA, but also in France, Australia, and many other countries. Even The Beatles were fans!

With intimate corners, sweeping lawns, grand terraces and verdant woodland, there are many gardens in one at Bodnant.

Created over 150 years, with plants collected and brought to Britain from far afield, and the incredible vision of generations of the McLaren family and Puddle head gardeners, this haven of rarity and beauty with a stunning backdrop of the Carneddau mountains of Snowdonia is a delight for the senses.

With year-round colour, the garden can be whatever you want it to be, whether that's a hive of activity or a haven of tranquillity and relaxation, this is truly a special place for all ages.

A spectacular Elizabethan house filled with rich furnishings and tapestries preserved by successive generations of the Devonshire family.

It was the formidable 'Bess of Hardwick' who first built the house and developed the surrounding estate in the late 1500s. Her descendants, the Dukes of Devonshire, treasured Hardwick, while lavishing much of their attention and money on nearby Chatsworth. Their success – intimately associated with empire over 400 years and across the globe – preserved Hardwick, and their interests elsewhere saved it from significant alteration.

In the 20th century, keenly aware of Hardwick’s great significance and unique appeal, the Devonshires ensured that this remarkable building was passed on to the nation with its Elizabethan splendour intact.

Located at the gateway to the Lake District National Park, five miles south of Kendal in Cumbria, Levens Hall has grown from a stark, imposing Pele Tower built c1250-1300, into a warm and welcoming family home.

Marvel at this beautiful privately-owned house and gardens, with links to the Duke of Wellington and home to the world's oldest topiary gardens which is the centre of a thriving 9,500-acre agricultural estate providing much of the produce for the café, Levens Kitchen.

Sizergh Castle is a stately home with garden and estate at Helsington in Cumbria.

This imposing house stands proudly at the gateway to the Lake District and has been home to the Strickland family for more than 800 years.

There’s plenty to explore on the 1,600-acre estate, including wetland, woodland and orchards – look out for fritillary butterflies, deer and rare hawfinches. If you’d rather relax in gardens, wander through the orchards, rock garden or stumpery or stroll along the herbaceous border and fruit wall – there's something new to see in every season.

Visit the Medieval manor which is filled with items collected by 26 generations of the Strickland family, including the internationally recognised Inlaid Chamber.

Home to the Anson family since 1624, it was once described as ‘a perfect paradise’. Visit this important piece of Staffordshire's heritage for a full day of discoveries.

The stories of Shugborough are entangled with the exploits and interests of two brothers, Thomas and George Anson. Their fortunes and their social position shaped Shugborough; understanding the origins of their power helps us to interpret the ideas and materials which flooded into Britain throughout the 18th century, furnishing homes, forging fashions and changing culture.

You can explore sweeping parkland, ancient woodland and a landscape peppered with monuments. See seasonal blooms in the formal gardens, or produce in the walled garden. Head over to Park Farm to see Dorking chickens, and say hello to the animals, such as Longhorn cows and Southdown sheep that roam around in the fields.

In the Georgian mansion, unearth unusual treasures and experience life 'below stairs' in the servant's quarters, then enter a world of glamour and royalty in the apartments of Patrick Lichfield, 5th Earl and fashion photographer.