Where history lives
We are more than a thousand important historic houses, supporting one another to keep our special places alive for future generations. We are Britain's independent heritage working together
Become a Historic Houses member
Explore the nation’s heritage from just £59 per year.
Hundreds of the most beautiful historic houses, castles, and gardens across Britain offer our members free entry.
Receive a quarterly magazine exploring the architecture, collections, and family histories of our grandest and oldest homes, and get an insight into what it takes to keep them standing today.
Enjoy monthly online lectures about the houses and their extraordinary history, presented by experts including house owners, curators and guest lecturers.
Hundreds of homes, thousands of stories
"Historic Houses gives places like ours a voice and a network, helping us to stay independent and keeping our home and garden alive and accessible for generations to come"
James Saunders Watson, owner of Rockingham Castle, Northamptonshire
Guided Tours - Invitation to View
‘Invitation to View’ offers exclusive tours behind the closed doors of some of the country’s most remarkable places. As part of a small group of like-minded people, you’ll have privileged access to some of our most private homes, led by...
House Gift Shops
Purchase gifts, souvenirs and more from our houses. Browse our directory to see what each house has to offer.
What's new
Policy: A plan for change
Given the current energy crisis, it is hardly surprising that environmental questions are once again in the political spotlight.
Tiny Traces: African & Asian Children at London’s Foundling Hospital
Discover a richer history of London life in the eighteenth century, through newly uncovered stories of African and Asian children in the care of the Foundling Hospital, at its new exhibition running from 30 September 2022 until 19 February 2023.
Policy Round Up: August 2022
The hot, sunny weather did not abate over August, although parliamentary recess did provide some respite from new and unexpected policy or legislation work. Rishi Sunak and Liz Truss continue to tear each other's policy to pieces in Conservative Party...
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Stories about our houses
Tiny Traces: African & Asian Children at London’s Foundling Hospital
Discover a richer history of London life in the eighteenth century, through newly uncovered stories of African and Asian children in the care of the Foundling Hospital, at its new exhibition.
Country House Treasures: An Exhibition in partnership with Dreweatts
As part of our ongoing partnership, from 11-13 July Dreweatts, the fine-art auction house, will be hosting ‘Country House Treasures’, a loan exhibition of furniture, works of art, and curiosities from some of our most loved historic houses. The exhibition...
Our June painting: Laura Diggens paints Sezincote
The warm days just after the Solstice broke for my visit to Sezincote earlier this month and the searing heat was replaced by a light cloud that sat overhead all day, interspersed with rumbles of thunder and short sharp showers....