Stourhead, Wiltshire
3rd Most Visited of the National Trust Properties
Stourhead was described as ‘a living work of art’ when it was first laid out over 250 years ago. Designed by Colen Campbell, it is one of the first examples of Palladian architecture in England. With a unique Regency library, rare Chippendale furniture and exquisite paintings, the house and impressive gardens have been shaped by various generations of the wealthy Hoare family. The world famous landscape garden is centred on a serpentine lake surrounded by a richly stocked arboretum with many exotic rhododendrons. The over 1,000 ha estate has many classical temples and grottoes to explore.
The exterior of the house at Stourhead, Wiltshire. © National Trust Images/Dennis Gilbert
