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Wouldn’t it be great to spend a month touring castles and manor houses throughout England? I’d love to do it. Actually, I could do it throughout Europe.

England offers a collection of some of the finest castles and manor houses in the world as this incredible photo gallery attests to. We include the famous and arguably best castles and manor houses, but our list also includes lesser known, but also spectacular options.

Scroll through below to enjoy some of the finest castles and manor homes that England has to offer. Please note, these are in England only, not Ireland or Scotland, both of which have their own incredible castles and mansions.

1. Warwick Castle

Warwick Castle is a medieval castle located in Warwick, a county town of Warwickshire, England. It was originally a wooden motte-and-bailey castle built by William the Conqueror in 1068 that was rebuilt into stone in the 12th century.

When it was granted to Sir Fulke Greville by James I in 1604, the castle was converted to a country house owned by the Greville family, who became Earls of Warwick later on. Over its 950 years of history, Warwick Castle has been owned by 36 different individuals and currently in the hands of The Blackstone Group.

About the Warwick Castle

Where: Warwickshire, England
When: 10th century
Who built it: William the Conqueror
Style: Medieval
What is it now? Tourist attraction
Current owners: The Blackstone Group

2. Herstmonceux Castle

Herstmonceux Castle located in East Sussex, England is a brick-built castle constructed in the 15th century.

It is one of the oldest significant brick buildings still standing in England that was erected by the builders from Flanders. Today, the castle is owned by the Queen’s University and serves as a study centre.

About the Herstmonceux Castle

Where: East Sussex, England
When: 15th century
Who built it: Builders from Flanders
Style: Medieval architecture
What is it now? Study Centre for Queen’s University
Current owners: Queen’s University

3. Bodiam Castle

Bodiam Castle was built in 1385 by Sir Edward Dalyngrigge, a former knight of Edward III, with the permission of Richard II, ostensibly to defend the Robertsbridge, East Sussex area against French invasion during the Hundred Years’ War.

Bodiam Castle’s possession was passed through several generations of Dalyngrigges, until their line became extinct, and the castle passed by marriage to the Lewknor family. Today, the ownership of the castle is being held by The National Trust and remain in ruins.

About the Bodiam Castle

Where: Robertsbridge, East Sussex, England
When: 14th century
Who built it: Sir Edward Dalyngrigge
Style: Medieval architecture
What is it now? Still in ruins
Current owners: The National Trust

4. Alnwick Castle

The Alnwick Castle is a stately home in Alnwick in the English county of Northumberland. It is the seat of the Duke of Northumberland, built after the Norman conquest in the 11th century by a Norman nobleman Ivo de Vesci, and was renovated and remodelled a number of times.

Currently, the Alnwick Castle is still the house of the Duke of Northumberland and is open to the public throughout the summer.

About the Alnwick Castle

Where: Alnwick, Northumberland, England
When: 11th century
Who built it: Norman nobleman Ivo de Vesci
Style: Gothic style
What is it now? House of the Duke of Northumberland
Current owners: Duke of Northumberland

5. Windsor Castle

The Windsor Castle in Windsor, Berkshire, England is a royal residence at Windsor popular for its long association with the English and later British royal family and for its architecture.

It was originally built in the 11th century following the Norman invasion of England led by William the Conqueror. Today, the Windsor Castle is in use Queen Elizabeth II in right of the Crown and is open to the public via Limited access.

About the Windsor Castle

Where: Windsor, Berkshire, England
When: 11th century
Who built it: Sir William Whitfield
Style: Gothic style, Georgian architecture, Victorian architecture
What is it now? Royal Residence
Current owners: Queen Elizabeth II

6. Highclere Castle

Highclere Castle (the home in the TV show Downton Abbey)

The Highclere Castle is a country house in Hampshire, England designed by architect Charles Barry in the Jacobethan style.

It was constructed in the 17th century built on the foundations of the original medieval palace of the Bishops of Winchester who owned the estate from the 9th century. Today, the castle serves as the country seat of the Earl of Carnarvon, a branch of the Anglo-Welsh Herbert family.

About the Highclere Castle

Where: Hampshire, England
When: 17th century
Who built it: Architect Charles Barry
Style: Jacobethan style / Jacobethan-revival style
What is it now? Seat of the Earl of Carnarvon
Current owners: George Herbert, 8th Earl of Carnarvon

7. Mount Edgcumbe House

Mount Edgcumbe House is a stately home in south-east Cornwall built by Sir Richard Edgcumbe in the 16th century. It was the principal seat of the Edgcumbe family since Tudor times until the 7th Earl sold the estate to Cornwall County Council and Plymouth City Council and open the house to the public.

About the Mount Edgcumbe House

Where: Cornwall, England
When: 16th century
Who built it: Sir Richard Edgcumbe
Style: Tudor-gothic style
What is it now? Open to the public
Current owners: Cornwall Council and Plymouth City Council

8. Kenilworth Castle

Kenilworth Castle constructed from Norman through to Tudor times has been described by architectural historian Anthony Emery as “the finest surviving example of a semi-royal palace of the later middle ages, significant for its scale, form and quality of workmanship”.

It survived the six-month-long Siege of Kenilworth in 1266, believed to be the longest siege in English history. The castle also underwent many major changes until it was left in ruins and opened to the public by the Town of Kenilworth maintained by the English Heritage.

About the Kenilworth Castle

Where: Kenilworth, Warwickshire, England
When: 11th century
Who built it: Geoffrey de Clinton
Style: Medieval architecture / Tudor style
What is it now? Open to the public
Current owners: Town of Kenilworth

9. Arundel Castle

The Arundel Castle located in the Arundel, West Sussex, England is a restored and remodelled medieval castle originally built by Roger de Montgomery on Christmas Day in the 11th century. It was restored in the 18th and 19th centuries upon getting damaged in the English Civil War.

The castle served as a home and has been in the ownership of the family of the Duke of Norfolk for over 400 years that started back in the 11th century.

About the Arundel Castle

Where: Arundel, West Sussex, England
When: 11th century
Who built it: Roger de Montgomery
Style: Medieval architecture
What is it now? Open to the public
Current owners: Duke of Norfolk

10. Leeds Castle

The Leeds Castle in Kent, England was owned by a Saxon chief called Led or Leed from 857, who built a wooden structure on two islands in the middle of the River Len.

The Castle descended through the de Crevecoeur family until it was bought by King Edward I’s Queen, Eleanor of Castile, which became their favorite residence. Today the castle is open to the public maintained by the Leeds Castle Foundation.

About the Leeds Castle

Where: Kent, England
When: 11th century
Who built it: Robert de Crèvecœur
Style: Norman architecture
What is it now? Open to the public
Current owners: Leeds Castle Foundation

11. Hever Castle

Hever Castle is located in the village of Hever, Kent and was built in the 13th century as a country house. Constructed by the Boleyns, it became the seat of the Boleyn family for a century.

It later came into the possession of King Henry VIII’s fourth wife, Anne of Cleves after the latter’s father Thomas Boleyn died. Today it is open to the public maintained by the Broadland Properties Limited.

About the Hever Castle

Where: Hever, Kent, England
When: 13th century
Who built it: Boleyn family
Style: Medieval architecture
What is it now? Open to the public
Current owners: Broadland Properties Limited

12. Wray Castle

Wray Castle located in Claife, South Lakeland, Cumbria is a Victorian neo-gothic building constructed during the 12th century. It was constructed by Liverpudlian surgeon James Dawson using his wife’s fortune.

After his death, the property came into possession of several hands and now it is currently open to the public maintained by the National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty.

About the Wray Castle

Where: Claife, South Lakeland, Cumbria, England
When: 12th century
Who built it: Liverpudlian surgeon James Dawson
Style: Victorian neo-gothic architecture
What is it now? Open to the public
Current owners: National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty

13. Lulworth Castle

Lulworth Castle is an early 17th-century mock castle located in East Lulworth, Dorset, England. The castle was built as a hunting lodge by Thomas Howard, 3rd Viscount Howard of Bindon that was completed in the early 17th century.

The ownership of the castle came into the possession of Humphrey Weld and his descendents, the Weld family still owned the property.

About the Lulworth Castle

Where: East Lulworth, Dorset, England
When: 17th century
Who built it: Thomas Howard
Style: Mock-gothic style
What is it now? Tourist attraction
Current owners: Weld family

14. Burghley House

Burghley House is a grand sixteenth-century country house located in Cambridgeshire, England.

Built by and still lived in by the Cecil family, the property is a leading example of the Elizabethan prodigy house. It is currently open to the public run by the Burghley House Preservation Trust, which is under the Cecil family.

About the Burghley House

Where: Cambridgeshire, England
When: 16th century
Who built it: Cecil family
Style: Elizabethan prodigy style
What is it now? Open to the public
Current owners: Cecil family

15. Lowther Castle

The Lowther Castle located in Cumbria, England is a country house in the historic county of Westmorland. It is a property belonged to the Lowther family, latterly the Earls of Lonsdale, since the Middle Ages. It is currently open to the public maintained by the Lowther Estate Trust.

About the Lowther Castle

Where: Cumbria, England
When: 17th century
Who built it: Robert Smirke
Style: Gothic revival architecture
What is it now? Open to the public
Current owners: Lowther family

16. Sizergh Castle

The Sizergh Castle and Garden at Helsington in the English county of Cumbria is a stately home and garden owned by the Strickland family until it was gifted to the National Trust in 1950 by Gerald Strickland.

It is currently open to the public showcasing the elegant paintings and portraits that it contain.

About the Sizergh Castle

Where: Cumbria, England
When: 14th – 15th century
Who built it: Strickland family
Style: Georgian style
What is it now? Open to the public
Current owners: National Trust

17. Hampton Court Palace

Hampton Court Palace is a royal palace in Greater London. It was built Cardinal Thomas Wolsey, a favourite of King Henry VIII during the 16th century.

However in 1529, the cardinal gave the palace to the King to check his disgrace and Henry VIII later on enlarged the property. Today, the palace is open to the public and is a major tourist attraction and currently owned by Queen Elizabeth II in right of the Crown.

About the Hampton Court Palace

Where: Greater London, England
When: 16th century
Who built it: King Henry VIII for Cardinal Thomas Wolsey
Style: Baroque architecture
What is it now? Open to the public / Tourist attraction
Current owners: Queen Elizabeth II in right of the Crown

18. Mannington Hall

Located Near Itteringham, Norfolk, England, Mannington Hall is a moated medieval country house that has been owned by the Walpole family since the 18th century.

The first manor that was built on this site was constructed in the 15th century and was renovated during the 19th century. Today it is now owned and occupied by Robert Walpole, 10th Baron Walpole and only open to the public by appointment.

About the Mannington Hall

Where: Norfolk, England
When: 15th century
Who built it: Walpole family
Style: Medieval architecture
What is it now? Open to the public by appointment only
Current owners: Robert Walpole

19. Avebury Manor

Avebury Manor & Garden is an early-16th-century manor house located in Avebury, near Marlborough, Wiltshire, England. It was built after William Dunch of Little Wittenham in Berkshire purchased the estate in 1551. It is now in the hands of National Trust and is privately occupied.

About the Avebury Manor

Where: Avebury, England
When: 16th century
Who built it: Richard Holford
Style: Georgian style
What is it now? Private property
Current owners: National Trust

20. Belton House

Belton House is a Grade I listed country house that was built in the 16th century. It is located in Belton near Grantham, Lincolnshire, England and was the seat of the Brownlow and Cust family.

In 1984, the family gave the house away to the National Trust and is now operating as a popular tourist site and is open to the public.

About the Belton House

Where: Belton, Lincolnshire, England
When: 16th century
Who built it: Anthony Salvin
Style: Carolean architecture
What is it now? Open to the public / Tourist site
Current owners: National Trust

21. Brodsworth Hall

Brodsworth Hall is one of the best surviving examples of an upscale Victorian mansion. Built in the Italianate style at the behest of a Swiss banking family, this limestone country house has remained unaltered since the 1860s.

Brodsworth Hall is now the property of the English Heritage Foundation and remains open to the public for tours and events.

About the Brodsworth Hall

Where: South Yorkshire, England
When: 19th century
Who built it: Philip Wilkinson for Charles Sabine Augustus Thellusson
Style: Victorian, Italianate
What is it now? Open to the public by appointment
Current owner: English Heritage

22. Audley End House

Located on the lush green Essex countryside, the Audley End House is one of the best-preserved examples of Jacobean architecture. As a palace in all but name, this country house has stately gardens and monuments open to public viewing.

Once the site of a Benedictine monastery, the Audley End House was the family seat of the Barons Braybrooke for centuries before its transference to English Heritage.

About the Audley End House

Where: Essex, England
When: 17th century
Who built it: Capability Brown and Robert Adam for Baron Braybrooke
Style: Jacobean
What is it now? Open to the public by appointment
Current owner: English Heritage

23. Burton Manor

Built of finely dressed ashlar-stone in 1805 and remodeled a century later, the Burton Manor and Garden holds a prestigious position on England’s National Heritage List.

The grounds include a central courtyard, an orangery, terraces, and an expansive parkland. Burton House served as an adult education facility in the 20th century and has been closed for renovation since 2011.

About the Burton Manor

Where: Cheshire, England
When: 19th century
Who built it: Richard Congreve
Style: Neoclassical
What is it now? World Heritage Site closed for redevelopment
Current owner: Liverpool Corporation

24. Castle Ashby

Built of formidable red sandstone in Norman style, Shrewsbury Castle is one of the oldest and best castles in England.

As the first Earl of Shrewsbury, Roger de Montgomery built this castle as a fortification shortly after William the Conqueror’s victorious Battle of Hastings in 1066. While little of the original physical structure remains, visitors can enjoy much of the restored version constructed as early as the 1660s.

About the Castle Ashby

Where: Shropshire, England
When: 11th century
Who built it: Roger de Montgomery
Style: Norman
What is it now? Museum
Current owner: Shropshire Council

25. Shrewsbury Castle

Built of formidable red sandstone in Norman style, Shrewsbury Castle is one of the oldest and best castles in England.

About the Shrewsbury Castle

Where: Shropshire, England
When: 11th century
Who built it: Roger de Montgomery
Style: Norman
What is it now? Museum
Current owner: Shropshire Council

26. Danesfield House

Built from 1899 to 1901 under the leadership of W. H. Romaine-Walker, the Danesfield House served as a residence on an estate near the River Thames in Buckinghamshire, England. Sold to the corporate world in 1977, the Danesfield House officially became a hotel and spa in 1991.

About the Danesfield House

Where: Buckinghamshire, England
When: 19th century
Who built it: W. H. Romaine-Walker for Robert Hudson
Style: Neo-Tudor
What is it now? Hotel and spa
Current owner: Danesfield House Hotel Ltd

27. Whatley Manor

Located on 12 acres of sprawling green in Wiltshire, England, Whatley Manor is one of the best examples of Anglo-Saxon-inspired style. Whatley Manor was originally a farmhouse that T.G. Smith.

About the Whatley Manor

Where: Wiltshire, England
When: 18th-19th century
Who built it: T.G. Smith, Lord of Easton Grey Manor
Style: Anglo-Saxon
What is it now? Hotel, restaurant, and spa
Current owner: Relais & Châteaux

28. Wraxhall Castle

This home and estate is one of the finest examples of Victorian Gothic Revival architecture in the region. With its orangery, sawmill, aviary, and kitchen garden, this estate provides a complete picture of life in a bygone period.

First the longtime home seat of the Tynte baronets, the estate remained under the ownership of the Gibbs family until 2001. Instead of allowing the estate to sell into private interests once more, the National Trust purchased it for public use in 2002.

About Wraxhall

Where: North Somerset, England
When: 19th century
Who built it: William Gibbs
Style: Gothic Revival
What is it now? Open to the public
Current owner: National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty

29. Lyme Hall

Nestled within beautiful gardens and a deer park, Lyme Hall is a fine blend of several architectural styles. Once the home seat of the Lymes of Leigh, the Elizabethan mansion’s construction first began during the lifetime of Piers Legh VII.

About two centuries later, famed architect Giacomo Leoni added Baroque and Palladian elements to the dwelling. The National Trust now manages the estate for public viewing.

About the Lyme Hall

Where: Cheshire, England
When: 16th century; 18th century
Who built it: Piers Legh VII; Giacomo Leoni
Style: Elizabethan; Palladian, Baroque
What is it now? Open to the public by appointment
Current owner: National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty

30. Kirby Hall

Kirby Hall is a large Elizabethan country house in Kirby Muxloe, Leicestershire, England. It was built by Sir Christopher Hatton, a favorite of Queen Elizabeth I, between 1570 and 1580. The house is a fine example of Elizabethan architecture, with its symmetrical facade, tall chimneys, and elaborate plasterwork.

Kirby Hall was originally a hunting lodge, but it was later used as a home by Sir Christopher Hatton and his family. The house was sold to several different owners over the centuries and was eventually acquired by the National Trust in 1938.

About Kirby Hall

Where: Kirby Muxloe, Leicestershire, England
When: 1570–1580
Who built it: Sir Christopher Hatton
Style: Elizabethan
What is it now? A museum and tourist attraction
Current owner: The National Trust

31. Blaise Castle

With its Ionic columns, stucco, and bas-relief medallions, Blaise Castle is a straightforward example of new-wave classical architecture.

Bristol businessman John Hartford commissioned its construction during the 1790s on the estate that also includes an ancient hamlet and folly. The castle is now under the management of the Bristol City Council.

About the Blaise Castle

Where: Bristol, England
When: 18th century
Who built it: William Paty for John Harford
Style: Georgian
What is it now? Museum
Current owner: Bristol City Council

32. Heaton Park

Seated on the backdrop of a golf course, boating lake, and observatory, Heaton Hall is one of the finest historical monuments in Manchester.

Although the land had been occupied since the Middle Ages, construction on the present building began under the instructions of Sir Thomas Egerton in 1772. In 1902, the then-Earl of Wilton sold the residence to the Manchester City Council to serve as a municipal park.

About Heaton Park

Where: Manchester, England,
When: 18th century
Who built it: James Wyatt for Thomas Egerton, 1st Earl of Wilton
Style: Neoclassical
What is it now? A museum, park venue
Current owner: Manchester City Council

33. Newby Hall

Newby Hall is a riverside Georgian complex with great historical significance to North Yorkshire. Built in the 1700s under the direction of Sir Edward Blackett and Sir Christopher Wren, it includes stable blocks, herbaceous borders, woodland walks.

Richard Elcock Weddell purchased Newby Hall in the late 1700s, and his indirect descendants (the Compton family) run the establishment today.

About the Newby Hall

Where: North Yorkshire, England
When: 18th century
Who built it: Sir Edward Blackett, 2nd Baronet, Sir Christopher Wren
Style: Georgian
What is it now? Seasonally open to the public
Current owner: Lucinda Compton

34. Oxburgh Hall

Oxburgh Hall is a moated, medieval great house in Norfolk. Commissioned after the crenellate licensing of Sir Edmund Bedingfeld, it is now open to tours under the management of the National Trust.

About the Oxburgh Hall

Where: Norfolk, England
When: 15th century
Who built it: Sir Edmund Bedingfeld
Style: Tudor
What is it now? Open to the public
Current owner: National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty

35. Chenies Manor

Chenies is a surviving example of a late-medieval manor house. First built under the commission of Sir John Cheyne in the 1400s, the manor enjoyed expansion under the direction of the Russell family. Although no longer a primary residence, Chenies is a regular location for weddings and film settings.

About the Chenies Manor

Where: Buckinghamshire, England
When: 15th century
Who built it: Sir John Cheyne
Style: Tudor
What is it now? Open to paid members, wedding and film venue
Current owner: Charles and Boo Macleod Matthews

36. Witley Court

Witley Court is a ruined Italianate estate. First built for the Foley Baronet, it underwent massive expansions under John Nash, the Earls of Dudley, and Samuel Daukes.

The mansion enjoyed acclaim until the loss of the Dudley fortune after World War I. Following the Great Fire of 1937, the mansion fell into disrepair. The Historic England Commission has restored Witley Court as a spectator ruin.

About the Witley Court

Where: Worcestershire, England
When: 17th century
Who built it: Baron Foley
Style: Italianate
What is it now? Spectacular ruin, open for viewership
Current owner: Historic Buildings and Monuments Commission for England

37. Wimpole Estate

As the largest house in Cambridgeshire, Wimpole Estate is a fine example of Georgian-style luxury. Built as a family home under the direction of politician Thomas Chicheley, the estate is now a house museum open to the public.

About the Wimpole Estate

Where: Cambridgeshire, England
When: 17th century
Who built it: Thomas Chicheley
Style: Georgian
What is it now? Open to the public
Current owner: National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty

38. Castle Howard

Castle Howard is a large stately home located in North Yorkshire, England. It was built by Charles Howard, 3rd Earl of Carlisle, between 1699 and 1712. The house is a fine example of Baroque architecture, with its symmetrical facade, large courtyard, and extensive gardens.

Castle Howard was originally built as a hunting lodge, but the Howard family later used it as a home. The house was sold to several different owners over the centuries, but it has been owned by the Howard family since 1947.

About Kirby Hall

Where: Yorkshire, England
When: 1699–1712
Who built it: Charles Howard, 3rd Earl of Carlisle
Style: Baroque
What is it now? A stately home and tourist attraction
Current owner: The Howard family

39. Bruce Castle

Named after the Scottish House of Bruce, this castle is one of the oldest surviving brick castles in England.

It has undergone extensive remodeling and has been the family home of people like Sir William Compton, the Barons Coleraine, and Sir Rowland Hill. The Bruce Castle now serves as a museum.

About the Bruce Castle

Where: Tottenham, England
When: 16th century
Who built it: William Compton, Groom of the Stool for Henry VIII
Style: Georgian
What is it now? Museum
Current owner: Haringey Council

40. Buckingham Palace

As one of the most famous palaces in the world, Buckingham is the London residence and administrative headquarters of the British Royal Family. Famous for its townhouse appearance and grand balcony used to greet crowds, this palace is one of the key landmarks of the modern era.

About the Buckingham Palace

Where: Westminster, London, England
When: 18th century
Who built it: Captain William Winde for the 1st Duke of Buckingham
Style: Neoclassical
What is it now? Residence and administrative headquarters of the monarch of the United Kingdom
Current owner: Crown Estates

41. Sandringham Palace

Sandringham Palace is a private home of the British House of Windsor. It blends Jacobean and Elizabethan architecture and serves as a notable landmark in Norfolk.

About the Sandringham Palace

Where: Norfolk, England
When: 19th century
Who built it: Albert Edward, Prince of Wales
Style: Jacobethan
What is it now? Private home of Elizabeth II
Current owner: Elizabeth II

42. Kensington Palace

Kensington Palace is the primary London residence of the British Royal Family. It combines elements of Baroque and Jacobean style and is a well-known cultural symbol of the United Kingdom.

About the Kensington Palace

Where: Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, London, England
When: 17th century
Who built it: Christopher Wren and Nicholas Hawksmoor for King William III and Queen Mary II
Style: Baroque, Jacobean
What is it now? Residence of the British Royal Family
Current owner: Elizabeth II in right of the Crown Estates

43. Hatfield House

Hatfield House is one of the finest examples of Old Jacobean architecture. Built for the Cecil family, it has remained in family ownership through the present and offers visitation and tours by appointment.

About the Hatfield House

Where: Hertfordshire, England
When: 17th century
Who built it: Robert Cecil, 1st Earl of Salisbury
Style: Tudor, Jacobean
What is it now? Family home and historic landmark; select areas open by appointment only
Current owner: Robert Gascoyne-Cecil, 7th Marquess of Salisbury

44. Blenheim Palace

Blenheim Palace is the only non-royal, non-clerical estate in England to hold the title of a “palace.” A stunning example of English Baroque style, Blenheim Palace remains the house seat of the Dukes of Marlborough. The palace is also registered with the UNESCO World Heritage Center.

About the Blenheim Palace

Where: Oxfordshire, England
When: 18th century
Who built it: Sir John Vanbrugh for the Duke of Marlborough
Style: English Baroque
What is it now? The principal residence of the Dukes of Marlborough
Current owner: Jamie Spencer-Churchill and the trustees of the Duke of Marlborough

45. Chatsworth House

Seated on the bank of the River Derwent, the Chatsworth House is an imposing blend of Tudor and English Baroque architecture. Built as a country home for the aristocratic Cavendish family, it remains the house seat of the Duke of Devonshire.

About the Chatsworth House

Where: Derbyshire, England
When: 16th century
Who built it: Bess of Hardwick and Sir William Cavendish
Style: Tudor, English Baroque
What is it now? Residence of the Cavendish family, tourist attraction
Current owner: Trustees of the Chatsworth Settlement, Duke and Duchess of Devonshire

46. Hardwick Hall

Located on a beautiful expanse of green in Derbyshire, Hardwick Hall is a historically significant example of Elizabethan architecture.

Built under the commission of Bess of Hardwick, this country house features exceptionally large glass windows (earning it the nickname “more glass than wall”). The home is now fully open to the public.

About the Hardwick Hall

Where: Derbyshire, England
When: 16th century
Who built it: Robert Smythson for Bess of Hardwick
Style: Renaissance, Elizabethan
What is it now? Open to the public
Current owner: National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty

47. Wentworth Woodhouse

Wentworth Woodhouse is the largest private residence in England. Boasting the longest façade in Europe, it is a striking example of high-Jacobean architecture. The country house is currently closed for restoration.

About the Wentworth Woodhouse

Where: South Yorkshire, England
When: 18th century
Who built it: Thomas Watson-Wentworth, 1st Marquess of Rockingham
Style: Jacobean
What is it now? Under restoration
Current owner: Wentworth Woodhouse Preservation Trust

48. Crag Hall

49. Kenwood House

Located in Hampstead, London, the Kenwood House is the historically significant ancestral home of the Earls of Mansfield. The home combines elements of Georgian and neoclassical style and houses famous portraits and collections.

About the Kenwood House

Where: Hampstead, London, England
When: 17th-18th century
Who built it: Robert Adam for William Murray, 1st Earl of Mansfield
Style: ‎Georgian, neoclassical
What is it now? Open to the public
Current owner: English Heritage

50. Longleat House

Longleat House is one of the best examples of early Elizabethan architecture. Built during the 16th century for Sir John Thynne, it remains the house seat for the Marquesses of Bath.

About the Longleat House

Where: Wiltshire, England
When: 16th century
Who built it: Robert Smythson for Sir John Thynne
Style: Elizabethan
What is it now? Museum and safari park
Current owner: Alexander Thynn, 7th Marquess of Bath

51. Blickling Hall

Blickling Hall is a premier example of fine Jacobean architecture. Built in the 17th century on the ruins of the old estate, it is now a historic house museum open to the public.

About the Blickling Hall

Where: Norfolk, England
When: 17th century
Who built it: Sir Henry Hobart
Style: Jacobean
What is it now? Open to the public
Current owner: National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty

52. Monacute House

Monacute House is a late Elizabethan mansion that has remained nearly unchanged since that era. Originally built for Sir Edward Phelips, it is now a popular museum and film setting.

About the Monacute House

Where: Somerset, England
When: 16th century
Who built it: Edward Phelips
Style: Elizabethan
What is it now? Art museum, gallery, scheduled monument, film setting
Current owner: National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty

53. Sudeley Castle

As a remarkably intact Norman castle, many people consider Sudeley one of the best castles in England. Located in the lush gardens of Gloucestershire, Sudeley is also one of the few castles in England that still maintains a private residence.

As a result, the staterooms and gardens of Sudeley Castle are open for public viewing, but further interior rooms are closed from public view.

About the Sudeley Castle

Where: Gloucestershire, England
When: 15th century
Who built it: Ralph Boteler, 1st Baron Sudeley
Style: Norman
What is it now? Museum, family residence
Current owner: Lady Elizabeth Ashcombe

54. Somerletyon Hall

Somerleyton Hall features a recognizable combination of Tudor and Jacobean architecture. Built for John Wentworth, this East Anglian estate remains the house seat of the Barons Somerleyton.

About the Somerletyon Hall

Where: Suffolk, England
When: 17th century
Who built it: John Wentworth
Style: Tudor, Jacobean
What is it now? Family residence
Current owner: Hugh Crossley, 4th Baron Somerleyton

55. Waddesdon Manor

Built to resemble a grand French château, Waddesdon Manor is one of the most-visited buildings in England. The manor was once the residence of the Rothschild family and is now a museum and a supremely popular tourist destination.

About the Waddesdon Manor

Where: Buckinghamshire, England
When: 19th century
Who built it: Baron Ferdinand de Rothschild
Style: Neo-Renaissance
What is it now? Museum
Current owner: National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty

56. Penshurst Place

Penshurst Place is the historically significant ancestral home of the Sidney family. The estate is the most complete surviving example of medieval English and Italianate architecture. Known as the birthplace of Sir Phillip Sidney, the estate has also been the set for numerous films (such as The Princess Bride).

About the Penshurst Place

Where: Kent, England
When: 14th century
Who built it: Sir John de Pulteney
Style: Italianate
What is it now? Museum
Current owner: Philip Sidney, 2nd Viscount De L’Isle

57. Ickworth House

A striking example of neoclassical architecture, the Ickworth House is the historic seat of the Marquesses of Bristol. This Suffolk building is now a tourist attraction under the management of the National Trust.

About the Ickworth House

Where: Suffolk, England
When: 18th-19th century
Who built it: Frederick Hervey, 4th Earl of Bristol and Bishop of Derry
Style: Neoclassical
What is it now? Museum
Current owner: National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty

58. Holker Hall

Holker Hall is one of the largest private residences in Cumbria. A fine example of Jacobean Revival architecture, it is open for tours on an admission-fee basis.

About the Holker Hall

Where: Cumbria, England
When: 19th century
Who built it: George Webster
Style: Jacobean Revival
What is it now? Residence, tourist attraction
Current owner: Lord Cavendish

59. Coughton Court

With its elegant crenelated façade directly facing the main road, Coughton Court is one of the grandest examples of Tudor and English Renaissance architecture. Originally the home of the Throckmorton family, it is now an attraction under the National Trust.

About the Coughton Court

Where: Warwickshire, England
When: 16th century
Who built it: Sir George Throckmorton
Style: Tudor, English Renaissance
What is it now? Museum
Current owner: National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty

60. Holkham Hall

Holkham Hall is one of the best-preserved examples of Palladian Revival architecture. The building remains the house seat of the Earls of Leicester and a tourist attraction.

About the Holkham Hall

Where: Norfolk, England
When: 18th century
Who built it: William Kent and Lord Burlington for Thomas Coke, 1st Earl of Leicester
Style: Palladian Revival
What is it now? Residence and tourist attraction
Current owner: Earls of Leicester of Holkham

61. Hutton in the Forest

Built on an ancient fortress and medieval stronghold, Hutton in the Forest is one of the best-known examples of Gothic Revival style. The estate includes a peel tower dating back to the Middle Ages along with a walled garden, and the entire estate remains the property of the Barons Inglewood.

About Hutton in the Forest

Where: Cumbria, England
When: 17th century
Who built it: Fletcher-Vane Baronetcy
Style: Gothic Revival
What is it now? Seasonally open to the public
Current owner: Barons Inglewood

62. Bowood House

Bowood House is a Georgian stately home that remains the residence of the Lansdowne family. The extensive Italianate terrace gardens represent a popular tourist attraction.

About the Bowood House

Where: Wiltshire, England
When: 18th century
Who built it: Sir Orlando Bridgeman, 2nd Baronet
Style: Georgian
What is it now? Residence, tourist attraction
Current owner: Lansdowne family

63. Osborne House

Osborne House is a former royal residence now open for public visitation. Built in Italian Renaissance style, the grounds feature extensive forestry and cottages.

About the Osborne House

Where: Isle of Wight, United Kingdom
When: 19th century
Who built it: Thomas Cubitt for Queen Victoria and Prince Albert
Style: Italian Renaissance
What is it now? Open to the public
Current owner: English Heritage

64. Durham Castle

Durham Castle is a formidable Norman structure that refer to as one of the best castles in England. Originally built to honor the Norman Conquest of 1066, it served as a bishop’s castle for centuries.

Durham Castle is now a residential dormitory for the University of Durham, and its Great Hall is a student dining room.

About the Durham Castle

Where: Durham, England
When: 11th century
Who built it: Bishop of Durham
Style: Norman
What is it now? Dormitory
Current owner: University of Durham

65. Belvoir Castle

Belvoir is the stately home of the Manners family and is the house seat of the Dukes of Rutland. Built over centuries in Gothic Revival style, it is open to public tours on select dates.

About the Belvoir Castle

Where: Leicestershire, England
When: 18th-19th century
Who built it: James Wyatt for Duke of Rutland
Style: Gothic Revival
What is it now? Residence, tourist attraction
Current owner: David Manners, 11th Duke of Rutland

66. Ripley Castle

The Ripley Castle is the house seat of the Ingilby baronets in North Yorkshire, England. Built in the 14th century, it is one of the best examples of early-Tudor architectural style.

About the Ripley Castle

Where: North Yorkshire, England
When: 14th century
Who built it: Ingilby baronets
Style: Tudor
What is it now? Residence, tourist attraction
Current owner: Ingilby family

67. Manor House in Eton Dorney Berkshire

The Manor house in Eton Dorney Berkshire is a medieval residence sold to Sir William Garrard in 1542. Garrard’s descendants, the Palmer family, added Victorian elements to the home in the 19th century and continue to use it as a family residence in the present day.

About the Manor House

Where: Buckinghamshire, England
When: 15th century, 19th century
Who built it: Palmer family
Style: Tudor
What is it now? Residence
Current owner: Palmer family

68. Cotehele Manor

Cotehele Manor is a medieval building with additional Tudor elements. Built under the direction of Sir Richard Edgcumbe and his son, the house remains one of the least-altered medieval buildings in Cornwall.

About the Cotehele Manor House

Where: Cornwall, England
When: 15th century
Who built it: Sir Richard Edgcumbe and Sir Piers Edgcumbe
Style: Tudor, Medieval
What is it now? Museum
Current owner: National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty

69. Barrington Court

Barrington Court is an impressive Tudor manor house in Somerset, England. Built for the Clifton family in the 16th century, it changed ownership several times before its conversion into a tenant farm by the 19th century.

After a complete renovation in the 20th century, the house has remained under management with the National Trust.

About the Barrington Court

Where: Somerset, England
When: 16th century
Who built it: Clifton family
Style: Tudor
What is it now? Tourist attraction
Current owner: National Trust

70. Avebury Manor

Built on the site of a priory of St Georges de Boscherville, Avebury Manor is an example of the architectural transition from medieval to Tudor style. Originally the property of the Dunch family, it is now a tourist attraction open to the public.