Thames Valley
The Thames Valley region is a name given to the collection of counties to the west of London that follow the course of the River Thames. The counties include Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire, and these are traditionally the wealthier counties in England. They are also wealthy in terms of the grand houses, parks and attractions that the visitor can feast their eyes upon.
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Basildon Park
Movie-goers will recognise Basildon Park as the location for Netherfield in the 2005 adaptation of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice. That this spectacular Georgian mansion exists today is a testament to the extraordinary dedication of its 1950s owners Lord and Lady Iliffe, who ensured the property’s survival against all the odds. (Read more...)
Broughton Castle
Picturesquely situated on an island surrounded by a three-acre moat, Broughton Castle has had an important part to play in England’s history. This incredibly well preserved medieval manor house was originally built around 1300 by John de Broughton, and his descendants, Lord and Lady Saye & Sele, still reside in it. (Read more...)
Claydon House
Claydon House in Buckinghamshire contains some of the best examples of interior decoration in the rococo architectural style of the 18th century. Such was the extravagance of the designer Luke Lightfoot that the family in residence went bankrupt paying for it. The house is now run by the National Trust. (Read more...)
Cliveden House
Cliveden is an Italianate mansion set on the banks of the River Thames as it flows through Buckinghamshire. It has been residence to royalty, aristocracy, luminaries and eccentric billionaires. The estate is owned by the National Trust, with woodlands, gardens and a Grade 1 listed house leased as a hotel. (Read more...)
Eton College
The small town of Eton sits just across the river from Windsor, and is famous for its boarding school Eton College. Educating 1,200 boys, it is one of the oldest, most exclusive and expensive private schools in Britain. Famous past scholars include Princes William and Harry, and Prime Minister David Cameron. (Read more...)
Hughenden Manor
Hughenden Manor is a red brick Victorian mansion in Buckinghamshire. It was the home of one the most famous Prime Ministers in British history, Benjamin Disraeli, who is buried nearby. Owned by the National Trust, it is situated in a 1,500 acre park and woodlands landscape with views over the Hughenden Valley. (Read more...)
Kingston Bagpuize
Kingston Bagpuize House in Oxfordshire is a must for aficionados of 18th century architectural styles. Originally built in the 1660s, and rebuilt in the Georgian period around 1720, it is mainly constructed of handsome red brick and stone with parkland containing a notable collection of trees and shrubs. (Read more...)
Savill Gardens
The world famous Savill Gardens is owned by the Queen, It has been described as a ‘gardener’s garden’, without the baggage of an attachment to a stately home. It is actually 10 gardens in one covering 35 acres, and throughout the year there is a stunning contrast of colourful displays. (Read more...)
Stowe Gardens
Stowe is 'Britain’s largest work of art' according to the National Trust who is charged with maintaining it. However, it is not the house that takes the plaudits, but the grounds. Generally regarded as a classic masterpiece, they are the most impressive and important landscaped garden in the UK. (Read more...)
Waddesdon Manor
If you prefer your tours of the English landscape to exude a certain je ne sais quoi, then Waddesdon Manor is for you. Built in the late-Victorian era by the great European banking dynasty, the Rothschilds, its French renaissance style makes it less a stately home and more a stately chateau! (Read more...)
West Wycombe Park
West Wycombe Park is a country house in Buckinghamshire. It was built primarily as a pleasure dome for the 18th century libertine Sir Francis Dashwood, and the naughty dilettanti members of his infamous ‘Hellfire Club’. It is architecturally unique, containing the complete mix of styles that spanned 18th century England. (Read more...)