East Midlands Tourism

Burghley House, Lincolnshire

Burghley House is the largest and grandest Elizabethan House in England and home to the Cecil family for over 400 years. In the latest adaptation of Pride and Prejudice, Burghley was used for the exterior and interior of Rosings, the imposing home of Lady Catherine de Bourg, daunting dowager aunt of Darcy, and patron of Mr Collins. More recently it also featured in The Da Vinci Code and The Golden Age.

Rockingham Castle, Northamptonshire

Rockingham Castle stands on the edge of an escarpment giving dramatic views over the surrounding landscape. Built by William the Conqueror, the Castle was a royal residence for 450 years. Surrounding it are some 18 acres of gardens including a 400 year old ‘Elephant Hedge’ and formal 17th century terraced gardens.

Grimsthorpe Castle, Lincolnshire

This imposing country house sits amongst rolling countryside surrounded by formal gardens and extensive woodland. Descendants of the deer that King Henry VIII hunted here now roam the parkland, grazing under the ancient oaks. There is the chance to soak up the atmosphere and ‘Spirit of Place’ in a house that has been home to the family since 1516. It is filled with fine furniture, paintings and tapestries.

Belton House, Lincolnshire

Belton House is a perfect example of a Restoration style, English country house. The vast H-shaped residence underwent a major refurbishment in the early 19th Century restoring much of the original splendour to Belton. The property was given to the National Trust in 1984. It has featured extensively in period television dramas including ‘Pride and Prejudice’ and ‘Jane Eyre’.

Belvoir Castle, Leicestershire

From the elegance of the State Dining Room to the delights of the Regents Gallery, Belvoir is a magnificent castle that offers lots to explore. Sloping lawns lead down to the Rose and Statue Gardens. The Castle also contains a collection of porcelain, silks, tapestries, sculptures and paintings, including examples of fine French furniture, Italian sculpture alongside paintings by Gainsborough, Reynolds, Holbein and Poussin.

Althorp, Northamptonshire

Althorp is one of England’s finest country houses, home of the Spencer family for over 500 years and ancestral home of Diana, Princess of Wales and where she is laid to rest. Inside the house, which is open to the public during the summer months, is one of the world’s greatest collections of portraiture, including works by Reynolds, Gainsborough, Rubens and Van Dyck.