County guide · The Stately Homes
Best stately homes in Essex
Essex is led by the vast Jacobean Audley End, once one of the largest houses in England, alongside the timber-framed Paycocke's House and the Tudor Ingatestone Hall.
There are 4 stately homes in Essex on this list. Audley End House and Gardens is the best-rated, at 4.6 from 6,562 Google reviews.
Map
Every stately home on this list - 4 in total, 2 you can stay overnight in
Audley End House and Gardens
Essex
Jacobean mansion with grounds landscaped by Capability Brown; state rooms and private apartments are shown furnished.
Paycocke's House
Essex
Timber-framed merchant's house in Coggeshall, built around 1500 by a wealthy wool merchant
Ingatestone Hall
Essex
Tudor manor house built for Sir William Petre, still owned by his descendants.
Abbey House
Essex
Grade II listed house with an early 17th-century core, standing within the grounds of the Audley End Estate - the site of the former Walden Abbey, granted to Sir Thomas Audley by Henry VIII in 1538; now a private exclusive-hire house, not part of the English Heritage-run Audley End House next door.
Common questions
How many stately homes can you visit in Essex?
4 stately homes in Essex are on this list. Every one of them opens to visitors in some form, whether that is a ticketed house, a regular tour or a hotel occupying the building itself.
Which is the best-rated stately home in Essex?
Audley End House and Gardens, rated 4.6 from 6,562 Google reviews. Only houses with at least 100 reviews are considered, so a high score from a handful of visitors does not top the list.
Are any stately homes in Essex free to enter?
None of the 4 on this list is recorded as free entry. Entry prices are set by each house rather than held here, and several are covered by a membership scheme, so check the operator's own site before you travel.
Who runs the stately homes in Essex?
Of the 4 on this list, 1 is run by English Heritage, 1 is run by the National Trust and the remaining 2 by private estates, independent trusts or local councils. Who owns a house decides whether a membership card gets you in, so each entry names its operator and links to the official site.
Can you stay overnight in a stately home in Essex?
Yes. You can stay at Audley End House and Gardens and Abbey House. What is on offer ranges from a full country-house hotel to a self-catering cottage on the estate, so check each house's own page and book direct.