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Lavish Stately Homes You Should Visit in The UK If You Love Period Drama

If watching spectacular stately homes on TVwith cozy libraries, grand halls, and acres of skillfully landscaped lawns amaze you, read on to find out where you can experience its beauty in person. 

If you love period drama and often binge on series like Downton Abbey and Bridgerton, you probably also wish to dress up in your best attire and run through the lush green lawns of a lavish old stately home. Luckily, you can make your wish come true in the UK—home to several palatial properties—open to visitors and filmmakers. Here are some marvelous stately homes you should visit when holidaying in the UK.

Highclere Castle in Hampshire

You might have seen this breathtaking Grade-I country estate in Downton Abbey, the popular TV series. The Highclere Castle spans an area of 5,000 acres and it also featured in other notable films like The Four Feathers, Agatha Christie’s Marple, and Jeeves and Wooster. While you are at the Highclere Castle, remember to visit the permanent Egyptian Exhibition.

Lyme Park in Cheshire

Lyme Park is hands down the most remarkable setting for numerous period dramas. This grand estate served as Mr. Darcy’s Pemberley (the 1995 adaptation of Pride & Prejudice as a mini-series by BBC). During medieval times, it was a deer park, and later in the 16th century, an Elizabethan manor was built on the site. The estate was further enlarged in the early 1700s by Giacomo Leoni, an Italian architect.

Castle Howard in North Yorkshire

This North Yorkshire-based castle is the epitome of stately perfection. Movies like Death Comes to Pemberley, Bridgerton, Stanley Kubrick’s Barry Lyndon, and Brideshead Revisited (both adaptations) were filmed at Castle Howard. The property is privately owned by the Howard family, but guests are heartily welcomed to immerse in the captivating beauty of the property after purchasing entry tickets. If you wish to witness a real-life castle, that is straight out of a fairytale, do check out Castle Howard.

Alnwick Castle in Northumberland

You might have seen this castle in Harry Potter (2001 and 2002), Elizabeth (1998), and also Downton Abbey (2014 and 2015). The Alnwick Castle is a must-visit destination if you are a Potterhead because it serves as a notable location in Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone and Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. You can see the spot where Harry learns Quidditch, the place where Ron crashes his father’s flying car, and the path leading to Hagrid’s hut.

Montacute House in Somerset

You can recognize this elite palatial property from Sense and Sensibility and Wolf Hall. The Montacute House features the longest Gallery (a hall with a high ceiling and walls adorned with paintings) in England. This stunning Elizabethan mansion was built in 1598, and its slightly Gothic interior will surely blow your mind.

If you want to fulfill your period drama or fairytale fantasies, these stately homes can make your dream come true