Britain’s top 20 stately homes
Whatever your idea of the perfect historic house – imposing architecture, beautiful interiors or glorious gardens – you'll find it here. We peek through the (gilded) keyhole at 20 of the county's finest manors,...
History of Suffolk county’s architecture
The architecture of the county of Suffolk is a mix of colour and character, with timber-frame and flint, pargetting and thatched roofs, moats and chimney stacks
By Jenny Woolf
Scattered around the flinty-grey churches of Suffolk,...
Upstairs Downstairs
We explore what relationships were really like between the upstairs and downstairs residents of Britain’s big houses
In the new Downton Abbey film, veteran housekeeper Mrs Hughes is unequivocal in briefing staff: “I want every...
Capability Brown: Designing England’s Gardens
CAPABILITY BROWN was the first celebrity garden designer who left an extensive legacy as he swathed his way through more than 150 gardens of the aristocracy in the mid-18th century.
Get lost in Britain’s best mazes at stately homes
From mystical labyrinths to planted puzzles of twists, turns and dead ends in stately home gardens, Lawrence Alexander gets lost in Britain's best mazes
There's a scene in Jerome K. Jerome’s classic Three Men in...
Stay at a royal retreat
From castles and estates to hotels and inns, Britain has a wonderful selection of places to stay with a royal flavour
“Queen Elizabeth I slept here” is the sort of claim that is often heard when...
Top 10 things to do in the British summer holidays
School's out – great for your little ones but not so great for you once they start climbing the walls. Here's our guide to some great British days out to make the summer holidays...
Grand stately homes of Buckinghamshire
Words: Susie Kearley
The beautiful county of Buckinghamshire offers country estates and glorious gardens, and has intriguing wartime connections
Bordering Greater London to the southeast, Buckinghamshire’s proximity to the capital made it a prime spot for...
Four of the best Tudor houses
We tour four Tudor houses impeccably preserved by the National Trust and full of fascinating historical detail
An age of ease and prosperity, the Tudor period saw a frenzy of competitive building: lavish, even ostentatious,...
10 beautiful British picnic spots
As the glorious weather continues, we’re packing our hamper and heading to some of the loveliest places in Britain for lunch with a view
Brancaster Beach, Norfolk
Norfolk isn’t short of stunning beaches, but this is...