The UK's 10 best stately homes - with number 1 once owned by King Charles

Audley End successful Essex (Image: Getty)

With implicit 3,000 stately homes successful the UK, we're spoiled for prime erstwhile it comes to visiting properties draped successful finery and oozing grandeur.

While visiting them each whitethorn beryllium a near-impossible task, present are 10 of the astir distinctive stately homes, each with their ain unsocial merit.

Once owned by King Charles II, Audley End successful Essex captures a infinitesimal successful clip of large technological advancements.

Thanks to its 18th Century proprietor John Griffin Griffin, this Jacobean mansion earned its spot successful past arsenic 1 of the archetypal to beryllium installed with state-of-the-art flushing toilets, piped h2o and servant doorbell pulls.

Blenheim Palace successful Oxfordshire nevertheless is simply a acquisition successful grandeur - adjacent Netflix picked it arsenic a filming determination for the opulent Bridgerton series.

Blenheim Palace successful Oxfordshire (Image: Getty)

Greenway successful Devon (Image: Getty)

The colossal Baroque masterpiece is simply a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the lone stately location successful the UK extracurricular of the royal residences called a palace.

The Georgian location called Nostell successful West Yorkshire is an ode to the esteemed Thomas Chippendale. It features implicit 100 of the furnishings maker's pieces, making it the cleanable spot to get inspiration for luxury interior design.

Greenway successful Devon was erstwhile Agatha Christie's household vacation home, and you tin spot why. Situated connected the Dart stream surrounded by serene countryside, it feels similar an flight from modern beingness wherever you tin inactive spot her idiosyncratic belongings successful spot from the 1950s.

Stourhead successful Wiltshire is for greenish fingered enthusiasts. The Palladian location is surrounded by picturesque gardens with classical temples, a water and trails starring to Alfred’s Tower with views implicit 3 counties.

Said to beryllium haunted by Anne Boleyn, Blickling Hall successful Norfolk holds a definite intrigue. Formerly a Tudor location converted into a Jacobean Hall, radical reported seeing Anne Boleyn arriving holding her ain head, successful a carriage driven by headless horses.

Stourhead gardens successful Wiltshire (Image: Getty)

Blickling Hall successful Norfolk (Image: Getty)

Leith Hall successful Aberdeenshire (Image: Getty)

Plas Newydd successful Denbighshire (Image: Getty)

Holdenby successful Northamptonshire was erstwhile the largest backstage residence successful England, originallty built for Elizabeth I. However, she ne'er lived determination and King Charles I was alternatively held nether location apprehension present for 5 months successful 1647 aft the civilian war.

Longleat successful Wiltshire is wide known arsenic the archetypal drive-through safari parkland extracurricular Africa, with implicit 120 species, nevertheless it's besides a beauteous residence wherever visitors tin adjacent enactment overnight successful the Keeper's Lodge looking onto the safari park.

The baronial architectyure of Leith Hall successful Aberdeenshire is conscionable fractional the story. You tin spot kingfishers and wildcats successful the lavish gardens, with herbaceous borders, stone gardens, and a unsocial Chinese Moon Gate.

Plas Newydd successful Denbighshire is famed for its residents, who are considered by immoderate arsenic aboriginal LGBTQ+ icons. Home to the of "Ladies of Llangollen" Miss Sarah Ponsonby and Lady Eleanor Butler from 1780 to 1829, they intrigued Georgian nine by wearing men’s covering and sharing a bed.