Curated Collection

Historic Houses, country houses, and more

Queen’s House, a former royal residence and historic house in the London Borough of Greenwich

Queen's House, Greenwich

© Janie Airey 2016

Home Explore Curated Collections Historic Houses, country houses, and more

Looking to experience the rich history, architecture, and art of a historic house near you?

From country estates to world heritage sites, the UK is home to a rich array of historic houses, castles and architecture. Discover lavish interiors, captivating stories, and beautiful landscaped gardens.

Plan your historic house visit today.

Must-see historic houses

Browse our list of historic houses, country estates, and more

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Tudor House Museum

10% off in café

Browsholme Hall

Dudmaston

Near Bridgnorth

Syon House & Gardens

Sulgrave Manor

Central Southern

Georgian House Museum

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Burgh House

Abbotsford, The Home of Sir Wa...

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Get inspired

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Mel Giedroyc at Pitzhanger Man...

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Pitzhanger Manor & Gallery

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Discover the top five country houses and gardens that are perfect to explore in the summer.

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Where to see art outdoors: Sculpture parks and art gardens to visit now

Art and the great outdoors – have you ever known a better pairing? Head to these venues to see art in the open air, in dramatic gardens and parks.

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Top 10 Scottish treasures

From fantastical castles to Victorian country houses, Scotland is home to some spectacular architecture.

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Ten grand London houses

As the country's great mansions get set to open for the summer season, we find ten of our favourite historic houses in London.

Suzi Ruffell at Bletchley Park

Comedian Suzi Ruffell takes her pal, fellow comedian Jenny Bede, to Bletchley Park in Milt...

Andrew Hunter Murray at Jane A...

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Jane Austen's House

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Animal encounters: Museums with farms, butterfly houses, aviaries and more

Majestic horses, rare birds and even live beehives – explore the animal kingdom at these museums and historic houses this spring.

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Ten Capability Brown gardens

Capability Brown transformed landscape design in the 18th century. Here's 10 of his surviving landscapes to discover.

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Ten things to do for the Easter holidays

Need a cultural fix that's entertaining for kids too? These venues are perfect for a family day out during the school holidays.

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Must-see museums and galleries in south London

South London has modern spaces that bring art to the local community and historic locations that celebrate its colourful past.

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Ten Victorian houses

Victorian grand houses were often characterised by Gothic Revival architecture, lavish interiors and manicured grounds – discover ten of the best.

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Top five pre-raphaelite houses

Art historian Dr James Fox shares his favourite places to enjoy Pre-Raphaelite artworks. All discounted entry with a National Art Pass.

Nabihah Iqbal at Leighton Hous...

Musician, DJ and broadcaster Nabihah Iqbal invites her friend, fellow musician Lexy Morvar...

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London's grand historic houses

James Fox's pick of historic houses that put the great into Greater London. These regal residences are free or discounted with a National Art Pass.

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Five Tudor houses

From Henry VII to Elizabeth I, the Tudor monarchs presided over one of England's defining eras. Here's our guide to some of the greatest houses...

Anneka Rice at Osborne House

Broadcaster Anneka Rice takes her friend, actor and writer Imogen Stubbs, to Osborne House...

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Ten great days out for summer

This summer, explore our 10 suggestions of places with something for everyone – from animals by the seaside to museums exploring the sea and sky.

Michael Craig-Martin, Tricycle, 2016, The Foundling Museum, Art Funded 2017

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See art for free with your National Art Pass

Here’s our pick of the inspirational museums, galleries and historic houses you can visit for free with your National Art Pass.

Jessie Burton at Charleston

Author Jessie Burton takes her mum Linda to Charleston, the Bloomsbury home of art and ide...

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What to see and do on your next trip to the Lake District

From William Wordsworth’s chocolate-box cottage to a cabinet of curiosities at the Ruskin Museum, there are lots of intriguing museums, galleries...

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What to see and do on your next trip to Cornwall

Discover why Cornwall will make the perfect staycation.

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Five country castles for family days out

Discover five countryside castles across the UK for fun family days out.

Amy Liptrot at the Brontë Pars...

Writer Amy Liptrot, author of The Outrun and The Instant, takes her friend, poet Zaffar Ku...

Brontë Parsonage Museum

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Things to see and do on the Isle of Wight

The small county island houses a wealth of culture, from Roman villas to a royal retreat and the former home of a pioneering photographer...

The Narcissus Hall at Leighton House Museum

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Find inspiration at these artists' houses and studios

Dive into the creative world of your favourite artist at the house where they lived and worked.

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From a legendary Pride and Prejudice moment to regal drama The Crown, learn more about some of the interior and exterior filming locations in the UK.

Gardens in bloom with historic houses in the background

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Find literary inspiration at these famous writers’ homes

From Jane Austen to William Shakespeare, the Brontës to Keats, explore the homes of the writers behind some of English literature's most famous books.

A frosty bridge, grounds and woodland lit by winter sunshine

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Perfect places for a winter walk

Pull on your boots and gloves: here are some of our favourite museums, historic houses and gardens where you can go for a winter walk in the UK.

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Perfect picnic spots

From Young V&A to Dumfries House, discover some of the best picnic spots across the UK for fun family days out with a National Art Pass.

Hepworth Wakefield, Museum of the Year Winner, 2017. Photo: Marc Atkins / Art Fund 2017. MOTY 2017. CP0068

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Explore the most iconic museums the UK has to offer

Whether you love cutting-edge art, classical painting or artefacts from around the world, you’ll be able to see all your favourite things at these...

Kensington Palace aerial view front.

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Must-see venues with royal connections

To mark the coronation of King Charles III and the Queen Consort, we've rounded up a selection of must-see venues with royal connections.

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Charleston: the Bloomsbury Group’s rural retreat

This East Sussex farmhouse was both home and canvas to the Bloomsbury Group for 64 years.

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Explore idyllic gardens at historic houses for springtime

Landscaped gardens, cascading countryside and perfect spots for a picnic – here’s our pick of the best grounds and gardens to visit for spring.

The Royal Pavilion, Brighton

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An insider's guide to Brighton

Local travel writer Jools Stone explores the lively seaside city on a cultural adventure and shares his favourite places to visit with a National...

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Gardens, glasshouses and conservatories for a tropical winter

A tropical oasis at Barbican, historic woodland at Dunham Massey and winter flowers at Mottisfont – these are some of our favourite winter gardens.

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What to see and do on your next trip to Yorkshire

Discover why Yorkshire makes the perfect staycation in the UK.

Miles Jupp at Tredegar House

Actor and comedian Miles Jupp takes his friend Anna Antebi to Tredegar House in Wales, whe...

Tredegar House, Gardens and Park

A man holds his young child and they are both blowing a mist display.

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Top tips for exploring museums with children

From the V&A to Cardiff Castle, get top tips on how to make a great museum experience for kids with author Mary Richards.

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Fun things to do with kids in London

Explore our selection of museums, galleries and more things to do with kids in London

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Art and About: A visit to Ham House

From riverside views to rooms fit for royalty, Art Fund member Melina explores Richmond and Ham House on a day out with her National Art Pass.

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What to see and do on your next trip to Norfolk

From Sheringham Museum on the beach to the stunning Sainsbury Centre in Norwich, explore our guide to Norfolk's must-see cultural attractions.

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Step back in time: Living history museums for fun family days out

Travel through time and immerse yourself in the past at these living history museums across the UK.

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Ten Georgian houses

Palladian villas, Capability Brown gardens, the Gothic Revival: the Georgian era gave rise to some of Britain's most iconic architecture.

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The more you see, the more we do.

The National Art Pass lets you enjoy free entry to hundreds of museums, galleries and historic places across the UK, while raising money to support them.

Get a national art pass