Historic House Museums
England
If you are planning a trip to Great Britain for a week or more, you should consider getting a National Trust membership. This will get you into many houses and gardens for free, as well as good discounts at other historic sites like the Tower of London. A good book for planning your vacation is "Historic Houses, Castles & Gardens in Great Britain and Ireland", published by Reed Information Services.
London
Leighton House
Leighton House was the home of Frederic, Lord Leighton (1830-1896), the great classical painter. The interior evokes the world of the Arabian Nights, with fabulous gilt mosaics, fountains and opulent marble columns.
Open Mon - Sat, 11am - 5:30pm 12 Holland Park Road Tel 071 602 3316
Linley Sambourne House
The home of Linley Sambourne (1844-1910) who was the chief political cartoonist for Punch. A uniquely preserved Victorian townhouse, it has been featured in several movies and BBC miniseries.
Open Mar.1 - Oct. 31, Wed 10-4 & Sun 2-5 18 Stafford Terrace Tel 0181 994 1019
Sevenoaks
Knole
This National Trust Property is the largest private house in England. It has 7 courtyards (days of the week), 52 staircases (weeks of the year) and 365 rooms (days of the year).
