Stately Homes & Gardens

Romantic houses and more gardens than you can shake a watering can at

In the 1600s Northamptonshire was described as "passing well furnished noblemen’s and gentlemen’s houses" and the same can still be said today. From the sprawling gardens of medieval Rockingham Castle, to the painted ceilings of Boughton House, the grandeur and finery of Northamptonshire's stately homes will amaze you.

Many of these houses have remained in the same family for generations, such as the Watsons at Rockingham Castle, the Brudenells at Deene Park, the Spencers at Althorp and the Montagus at Boughton, all of whom can trace 500 years of continuous ownership. These, along with many other historic houses in Northamptonshire are still much loved and lived-in family homes. During your visit you will immediately feel welcome and as the families open up their doors, you are offered the opportunity to 'peep through the keyhole' to experience how the gentry lived then, and now.

Most of these homes also boast stunning gardens, providing the perfect backdrop for you to relax and explore century-old landscaping, nurtured by generations.