The Stately Homes
The 25 best stately homes to visit in the UK.
Every stately home you can visit in the United Kingdom - all 286 of them - ranked by one thing only: what 672,445 Google reviews say. The method is set out on the page.
On the collective verdict of 672,445 Google reviews, the best stately home to visit in the UK is Stourhead in Wiltshire, rated 4.8 stars across 12,142 reviews. Cragside in Northumberland is second. Below is the full national top 25, drawn from every one of the 286 houses on this list, across all four nations.
The order comes from the review data rather than from an editor's favourites. Each house's Google rating is weighted by how many reviews stand behind it, then all 286 are sorted and the top 25 printed. That rewards a high rating held across thousands of visitors over an equally high one held across thirty, and the effect shows immediately: the houses near the top are largely ones where the grounds carry as much of the day as the state rooms do.
The order is not the order of fame. Some of the best-known houses in the country sit well down it: Blenheim Palace at No. 70 (4.6 stars, 18,960 reviews), Castle Howard at No. 77 (4.6 stars, 8,799 reviews) and Highclere Castle at No. 83 (4.6 stars, 6,388 reviews). All three are rated highly in absolute terms. They are simply rated a little less highly, by a lot of people, than the houses above them - which is the only thing this ranking measures.
No. 1
Stourhead
Stourhead is a Palladian mansion built for the Hoare banking family, but it's best known for the landscape garden that surrounds it, laid out around a lake with a circular walking route. Reviewers rate both halves highly - the house for its paintings and furniture, including the well-known Pope's Cabinet, and the garden for the roughly 45-minute lake walk that changes character through the seasons, from bluebells and rhododendrons to snowdrops. Staff and volunteers are repeatedly praised as warm and knowledgeable.
Worth knowing: Time your visit for the right season if you can - reviewers describe very different but equally rewarding gardens depending on whether bluebells, rhododendrons or snowdrops are out, and there's ample car parking plus multiple cafes and toilets on site.
No. 2
Cragside
Cragside was built for Lord Armstrong and holds the distinction of being the first house in the world lit by hydroelectric power, with period interiors that reflect its Victorian innovation as much as its history. Reviewers consistently call it one of the best National Trust properties they've visited, praising both the house and the scale of the surrounding grounds and gardens. It's a big site - reviewers note some viewpoints are best reached by car rather than on foot.
Worth knowing: The estate is large enough that reviewers recommend driving between the different viewing areas rather than trying to walk the whole thing, and the house may not hold younger children's attention as long as the grounds do.
No. 3
Lanhydrock
Lanhydrock is a Victorian country house with more than 50 rooms open to visitors, largely rebuilt after a fire destroyed much of the original building in 1881.
Worth knowing: With so many rooms to see, allow plenty of time for a full visit rather than treating it as a quick stop.
No. 4
Wallington
Wallington is a 17th-century house in Northumberland with a central hall added under the influence of the Pre-Raphaelite-connected Trevelyan family, giving the interior an artistic character distinct from many houses of its period. No visitor reviews are currently on file for this listing, so specifics of a recent visit aren't available here. The notes suggest a house whose interest centres on its later Pre-Raphaelite-era additions as much as its original 17th-century structure.
Worth knowing: With no reviews on file yet, check current house opening hours directly with the National Trust before planning a visit.
No. 5
Chatsworth House
Chatsworth has been the seat of the Duke of Devonshire since the 1550s and is one of England's grandest stately homes, with reviewers comparing its packed picture galleries to a major European art museum rather than a typical country house. The gardens are rated highly and cover a huge area. Opinions are more mixed on value, with some visitors finding the entry fee steep for a visit where parts of the house and grounds - including, at times, the cascade - are off limits.
Worth knowing: Check what's included before you go, as reviewers note parts of the house and grounds can be closed off and features like the cascade aren't always running; a Universal Credit discount is available on the entry fee.
No. 6
Goodwood House
Goodwood House is the Georgian house at the centre of the Goodwood Estate, home of the Dukes of Richmond. Reviewers rate the guided house tours highly, describing knowledgeable guides who take questions as you go, and several mention tea and scones afterwards. A good share of the feedback comes from visitors there for the estate's motoring events, which draw large crowds and shape the day completely.
Worth knowing: On big event days reviewers advise arriving very early - one suggests being on site by around 6.15am for the Festival of Speed - and note the free breakfast club meetings still need booking in advance.
No. 7
Coleton Fishacre
Coleton Fishacre is a 1920s Arts and Crafts house built for the D'Oyly Carte family, set above a coastal garden that runs down to the cliffs over the sea. Reviewers rate the garden as among the best they've visited, especially when the bluebells or other seasonal plantings are in full bloom, with the house itself well documented in photos and notes tracing its development.
Worth knowing: The car park fills up even on quieter weekdays, so arrive with some flexibility, and dogs are welcome throughout the garden.
No. 8
Dunham Massey
Dunham Massey is a Georgian and Edwardian house set within a medieval deer park, giving visitors a combination of a grand interior and centuries-old parkland roamed by deer.
Worth knowing: As with other National Trust deer parks, keep dogs on leads and keep a respectful distance from the deer, particularly during autumn rutting season.
No. 9
Lyme Park
Lyme Park is a grand Palladian mansion best known to many visitors as Pemberley in the BBC's 1995 Pride and Prejudice adaptation, though its history runs back further to a medieval hunting lodge, with Elizabethan features still visible. Reviewers rate both the house tours and the walking trails on the wider estate, on the edge of the Peak District.
Worth knowing: Look out for the "behind the scenes" guided tour if it's available - reviewers rate it above the standard route through the main rooms.
No. 10
Hardwick Hall
Hardwick Hall is an Elizabethan prodigy house built for Bess of Hardwick, famed for its vast expanses of glass across its three floors. Reviewers highlight the centuries-old tapestries and detailed stone carvings inside, and rate the walks around the grounds and lakes as a strong draw in their own right, popular with both history enthusiasts and dog walkers.
Worth knowing: It draws large crowds even on a regular bank holiday, so reviewers suggest going with the expectation of busy rooms rather than a quiet wander.
No. 11
Waddesdon Manor
Waddesdon Manor is a French Renaissance-style chateau built in the late 1800s for the Rothschild family, now cared for by the National Trust (free entry for members). Reviewers describe an estate on a grand scale, with gardens, farmland walks and an aviary alongside the house, and recommend booking the house tour in advance.
Worth knowing: Book the house tour ahead of time - reviewers found it fills up and is worth prioritising over simply wandering the grounds.
No. 12
Belton House
Belton House is a Restoration-era country house widely regarded as a benchmark of English country house architecture, and reviewers describe an incredible house paired with helpful room guides and extensive grounds and walks. The library is a particular highlight, with visitors free to sit and read from the books on display. Historic links include a stay by Prince Charles during his time as a cadet at Cranwell.
Worth knowing: Some rooms may be affected by ongoing restoration work, though reviewers note the artwork generally remains on display despite this, and the cafe and shop are rated among the National Trust's best.
No. 13
Anglesey Abbey
Anglesey Abbey began as an Augustinian priory before being remodelled into a Jacobean-style house by Lord Fairhaven, who also laid out its extensive gardens. Reviewers rate the gardens as the main draw, with a winter garden they call magical, while the house holds antiques and period rooms worth a shorter visit alongside them.
Worth knowing: The on-site restaurant is on the pricier side, and reviewers suggest allowing plenty of time for the extensive grounds since they're large enough to fill most of a visit on their own.
No. 14
Attingham Park
Attingham Park is a neoclassical mansion built for the first Lord Berwick, notable for a picture gallery roofed in cast iron and glass, and set within a large deer park. Reviewers describe a full day out, with the option of paid extra tours such as 'Behind Closed Doors' giving access to the top two floors and stories of the last owners. The grounds are consistently praised as stunning and dog-friendly, with plenty of wildlife and a large deer park to explore.
Worth knowing: It gets busy on peak days like Easter Sunday but reviewers say it's well organised even then, and the grounds are dog-friendly with poo bins provided throughout.
No. 15
Chartwell
Chartwell was the family home of Sir Winston Churchill for over 40 years, and reviewers describe both house and grounds as strikingly large and well presented, from a spacious free car park to extensive gardens. The house holds exhibitions on Churchill's life, and visitors consistently mention the black swans on the grounds alongside the historical exhibits. Even those who miss the house due to afternoon closing describe the grounds and setting as worth the visit alone.
Worth knowing: The house can close in the afternoon before the wider site does, so if seeing the interior matters most to you, aim for a morning visit rather than leaving it late in the day.
No. 16
Blickling Estate
Blickling is a red-brick Jacobean mansion in Norfolk with a birthplace association to the Boleyn family, set within extensive parkland, walks, and a lake. Reviewers consistently rate the grounds as the main draw - bluebell woods, cycle hire, and long walks feature heavily - while the house itself gets praise for its library and the knowledge of its volunteers, including cataloguing work still visibly in progress. It's a big day out rather than a quick call, with a cafe and pub near the car park.
Worth knowing: Access to the house itself is not guaranteed on every visit, so check ahead if seeing the interior matters to you, and note the cafe is on the pricier side with limited seating.
No. 17
Kenwood
Kenwood was remodelled by Robert Adam and stands on Hampstead Heath, free to visit and hung with a world-class art collection that includes a Rembrandt self-portrait. Reviewers repeatedly express surprise that a house and collection of this quality can be seen at no cost, and the grounds and the view back over London are part of the appeal. Volunteers and the per-room information notes come in for particular praise.
Worth knowing: Reviewers mention the entrance is round the back of the house and that free tickets can be booked online, though some report simply walking in; expect a walk up through the grounds from the Heath.
No. 18
Knole
Knole is one of England's largest houses, former home of the Sackville family and childhood home of Vita Sackville-West, built in the 1400s originally as an archbishop's residence. Reviewers describe a house that feels lived-in despite its scale, and the deer park surrounding it is a major draw in its own right, with tame deer visitors can get close to. It's rated as a full day out combining historic interiors with extensive parkland walks.
Worth knowing: The deer park alone is worth a visit even if you skip the house - several reviewers came primarily for the grounds and deer rather than the interior.
No. 19
Burghley House
Burghley House is an Elizabethan prodigy house built by William Cecil and still home to the Cecil family. Reviewers describe interiors that are lavish and densely hung with paintings, and most name the same highlights: the Heaven Room, the Hell Staircase and the Tudor kitchens. The gardens are rated highly and described as extensive, and room guides come in for repeated praise for how much they are willing to share.
Worth knowing: Several reviewers recommend picking up the guide to the paintings before going in, as the works are numbered to it; some also report the parkland and car park were free on their visit, with the house and gardens ticketed separately.
No. 20
Cliveden
Cliveden is a 19th-century Italianate mansion overlooking the Thames, once home to the Astor family and now run as a hotel, with its grounds open to day visitors via the National Trust. Reviewers rate the gardens and woodland walks highly across seasons, from winter to spring, though several note that National Trust tickets cover the grounds only, not the house itself.
Worth knowing: A National Trust ticket gets you the grounds only, not the Cliveden House interior (it operates as a hotel), so some reviewers feel the price is steep unless you catch a discount offer.
No. 21
Baddesley Clinton
Baddesley Clinton is a moated medieval manor house in Warwickshire that sheltered Catholic priests in hidden priest holes during a period of religious persecution - a house whose history of concealment and survival is its defining story. No visitor reviews are currently on file for this listing, so a first-hand account of a recent visit isn't available here. The notes suggest the priest holes and the house's moated setting are its principal points of interest.
Worth knowing: With no reviews on file yet, it's worth checking current opening days and whether priest hole access is included in a standard visit before travelling.
No. 22
Kedleston Hall
Kedleston Hall is a Neoclassical mansion designed by Robert Adam for the Curzon family, and reviewers frequently rate it among the best National Trust houses they've visited, praising the immaculate condition of the architecture. The domed room and marble halls are recurring highlights, alongside grounds that offer walks through parkland wildlife.
Worth knowing: The approach through the gates and drive is part of the experience, so allow time to enjoy it rather than rushing straight to the house.
No. 23
Erddig
Erddig is a late 17th-century house noted for its unusually well-documented relationship with its servants, whose lives and roles were recorded in detail and are woven into the house's interpretation today. Reviewers rate the volunteer guides highly for exactly this reason - the depth of knowledge about the people who worked at Erddig as much as the family who owned it. The gardens are praised even into autumn, and the car park has been known to fill up fast when events are on.
Worth knowing: The house closes relatively early at 3:30pm, so time your visit accordingly, and check for events in the grounds which can fill the car park even outside normal peak times.
No. 24
Ightham Mote
Ightham Mote is a moated medieval manor house dating from around 1320, described by the Trust as the most complete medieval moated manor house in England, and reviewers back that up with consistent praise for its historic character. The house is full of interesting antiques, with flat, easy walks around the property and its two lakes. A natural play area and well-stocked shop and cafe make it manageable for a family visit.
Worth knowing: It's a compact site well suited to a shorter visit - reviewers describe a leisurely few hours as enough time to see garden, house, and lakes without feeling rushed.
No. 25
Mount Stuart
Mount Stuart is a Victorian Gothic Revival house on the Isle of Bute and the home of the Marquesses of Bute. Reviewers are emphatic about the interior, describing layered arches, elaborate ceilings and a level of detail several say they had not seen anywhere else. The guides are praised for their knowledge, and the courtyard cafe gets consistently good notices, as do the extensive grounds and gardens.
Worth knowing: The house sits on the Isle of Bute, so factor the island journey into your day, and allow time for the grounds as well as the interior.
How this ranking works
Every rating and review count here comes from publicly available Google review data for the 286 stately homes on this list - 672,445 reviews in all, averaging 4.59 stars. Each house's score is its own rating pulled toward that national average, with the pull weakening as its review count grows: at 5,000 reviews the two count equally, and far beyond it the house's own rating dominates. It is the method film and book charts use to stop a perfect score from a dozen voters beating a near-perfect one from a hundred thousand. Ratings move as new reviews arrive, so treat neighbouring positions as close-run - the gap between No. 2 and No. 22 is real, the gap between No. 8 and No. 9 is not.
Before you travel
Houses close wings for conservation, change operator, and adjust their opening hours faster than any list can follow. Every entry above links through to that house's own page here, which carries its operator, access notes and official website - check there, or with the operator directly, before planning a day around a visit.
Questions people ask
What is the best stately home to visit in the UK?
On the review-weighted verdict of 672,445 Google reviews across all 286 stately homes you can visit in the United Kingdom, the best is Stourhead in Wiltshire, rated 4.8 stars across 12,142 reviews. Cragside in Northumberland is a close second on 4.8 stars from 8,296 reviews.
What is the best stately home in Scotland?
Mount Stuart on Isle of Bute is the highest-placed Scottish house on this ranking, at No. 25 nationally, rated 4.8 stars across 1,790 Google reviews.
What is the best stately home in Wales?
Erddig in Wrexham is the highest-placed Welsh house on this ranking, at No. 23 nationally, rated 4.7 stars across 5,419 Google reviews.
Is Blenheim Palace the best stately home in England?
Not on this measure. Blenheim Palace places No. 70 of 286, on a 4.6-star rating across 18,960 Google reviews. That is a solid rating from a very large audience, and with that many reviews behind it the weighting barely moves the score off 4.6 - which still leaves it behind the top 25, where every house holds at least 4.7 stars. Fame and visitor numbers are not the same thing as visitor satisfaction, and this ranking measures only the second.
How is this ranking calculated?
Each house's Google rating is weighted by how many reviews stand behind it: a house needs thousands of reviews before its own rating fully outweighs the national average of 4.59 stars, with the crossover set at 5,000 reviews. That stops a 5.0 rating from a handful of visitors outranking a 4.7 held across twenty thousand. No editor chose the list or reordered it.