Visit England's Glorious Stately Homes

Explore these historic beauties...

I absolutely love history, especially the history of England. One of my favourite activities is to go and explore England's stately homes that are bursting with history, which I absorb like a sponge! The history, the architecture, art, antiques, the grand gardens, I love it all!

England proudly boasts many stately homes and, to be honest, I love them all! So, to pick my top five was very hard indeed! After much thought, here are my favourite five...

Lamport Hall

Lamport Hall, a Grade I listed house, is located in the beautiful Northamptonshire countryside, in the village of Lamport. At Lamport Hall you can explore the house and gardens. Where they also have guided tours.

The Hall itself was very much a house in progress over the centuries. Back in 1568, wealthy wool merchant, John Isham, built a manor house on the Lamport Estate. Which was later extended by his grandson, also named John. Grandson John became the first Baronet in 1627, in the reign of Charles I.

But, it was Sir Justinian Isham who built the main existing building in 1655. He commissioned John Webb to design the home. The next huge additions were completed in 1741 and in 1842 came more rebuilding.

By 1950, the house was deteriorating, so Sir Gyles Isham took on the restoration project. Allowing the house open to the public in 1974.

Lamport Hall is incredible, as well as having stunning gardens, there is also a gnome garden, which was the idea of the rather eccentric Victorian Baronet, Sir Charles Isham. The gardens will be open from March 2019, the Hall opens from April 2019. To explore both gardens and Hall, it is £9 for adults, £8 concession, and £3 for children 11-18 years old.

Blenheim Palace

Blenheim Palace, in Oxfordshire, is the principal residence of the Dukes of Marlborough, and the only non-royal country house in England to hold the title of a palace. Built between 1705 and 1722, it is the birthplace and ancestral home of former Prime Minister, Sir Winston Churchill.

Blenheim Palace is currently home to the 12th Duke of Marlborough and his family. This Grade I listed building will take your breath away with its history, art, and antiques.

Blenheim Palace was a gift to John Churchill, the first Duke of Marlborough, from Queen Anne. This gift was in thanks to his victory at the Battle of Blenheim in 1704.

There are free guided tours of the State Rooms, covering all the fascinating history of each room. There is a huge library which is home to over 10,000 books, some are hundreds of years old.

Dogs are welcome in the park, but not in the palace. Though they must be kept on a lead, due to the wildlife.

Tickets for the palace, park, and gardens are £27 for adults, £24 for concession, and children aged 5 to 16 £15.50. Well worth a visit.

Buckingham Palace

I'm sure you all will of heard of this glorious palace! Yes, Buckingham Palace, the London residence of Queen Elizabeth II. It has been the home to the reigning Monarchs since Queen Victoria in 1837.

It was once a large townhouse, which was built for the Duke of Buckingham in 1703. King George III acquired the property in 1761, as a private residence for Queen Charlotte.

Buckingham Palace was enlarged in the nineteenth century. It has 774 rooms, 760 windows, and 1,514 doors!

The State Rooms are open for ten weeks each summer, and selected dates during the winter and spring. Entrance cost is £25 adults, £22.80 concession, and £14 for under 17s.

To enter Buckingham Palace is such a treat, the memories will last a life time.

Althorp

Althorp, the family home of the Spencer family for over five hundred years. Set in the Northamptonshire countryside, this Grade I listed stately house is just spectacular.

Purchased by John Spencer in 1508, using funds from the families sheep rearing business.

Althorp is now owned, since 1992, by Charles Spencer, the 9th Earl Spencer, who is the little brother of Princess Diana. Lady Diana Spencer lived at Althorp after her parents divorce, until her marriage to Prince Charles. It is here, in the beautiful grounds, where she is laid to rest.

Althorp is open from 1st July to 31st August. Online tickets are £18.50 for adults, and £11 for children aged 5 to 16.

Hampton Court Palace

I first visited Hampton Court Palace when I was twelve years old, and I instantly fell in love with the place. The grand stair cases, beautiful rooms, the gardens, and naturally, the maze! The maze is the UK's oldest surviving hedge maze, and it is very exciting to explore, pure joy.

The building of Hampton Court Palace began in 1515 for Cardinal Thomas Wolsey, who was a favourite of King Henry VIII. However, Wolsey fell from favour, so he gave the palace to Henry VIII, which became the home for Henry VIII.

Hampton Court Palace is a huge tourist attraction in the borough of Richmond Upon Thames. It is open from 10AM, tickets are £19.20 for adults, and £9.60 for children aged five to fifteen years.

My best advice is just go, go, go!!