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Hampton Court Palace

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Visiting Hampton Court in Surrey was like walking through time. It has been continuously reconstructed throughout different periods in history, so if ‘Tudor’ is not your thing, don’t be put off by the exterior. As one of the most famous properties in the UK, I’m sure many of you have heard of it before, but it is certainly not overhyped! It delivers everything you could want in a historic house museum and more. They even have a tour with a lady dressed as Queen Elizabeth I, but it was not advertised well so make sure you ask! They do have parking, but I can imagine on a nice day, it would be full up, so get there early. After immediately entering the ticket office, I noticed an interesting conservation display (see photo below).  A display encouraging visitors to touch one half of a textile piece, in order to demonstrate the damage caused by touching historical textiles. In my opinion having an interactive display makes it much easier for visitors to underst...
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Knole House

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I started to get bored of grand classical properties, so I wanted to see something a little magical. The intricate details of the Jacobean Knole house in Kent provided just that. Every room was a treat because the house was spectacularly furnished. I don’t know why I expected more of a husk of a property rather than a liveable home, but I was pleasantly surprised. I was happy that they didn’t try to flog us an awkward audio tour because as per usual, volunteers were staged in every room and they had their own opinions about the property. However, no pictures were allowed inside the house, even without flash, which was a little disappointing. I don't know why some historic houses do this without providing a reason, it's so annoying! I really would like to know if other people find this frustrating. As soon as we got in, mum instantly spotted that they were selling pot plants and insisted that we buy something, so before we even got into the house, ...
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Red House

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After visiting many National Trust properties, I must admit they all blend into one, so I wanted to see something unique. Red house (not "The" Red House as we were swiftly told) in Bexleyheath London was definitely a good choice. The Gothic architecture and medieval decoration reflect its history as a hub for the Pre-Raphaelite movement. The house is a little empty, as many items had been removed or replaced over the years, but that isn't really the point of the property. Instead, my eyes were drawn to details on the stain glass windows and the decorative wall patterns. For the many people that I know who love the Arts and Crafts movement, this place will certainly be a treat.   Round window overlooking the rose garden.   The house was home to the multi-talented William Morris, but you don’t need to be a fan of his work to have fun because plenty of information was provided through tours and helpful volunteers. In fact, out o...
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Waddesdon Manor

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Built in the style of a French chateau, Waddesdon Manor is definitely made to impress and inside is no exception. The Victorian decor provides plenty of objects to photograph, but having so many objects in one room (as seen below) can be quite overwhelming and not to everyone’s taste. Whether you enjoy the manor will depend on why you choose to visit historic properties. If your aim is to step in to a serene space, then maybe this one isn’t for you, but if you want to see a collection of eccentric objects, then Waddesdon is a real treasure.  This is the first room you enter. My eyes don't know where to focus.   This gentleman was located in the wine celler. When inside, it soon became clear that learning about the property and its contents was quite a challenge. Afterward, I found out that audio guides were available, but they not well advertised so I missed the opportunity to get one. I relied on talking to staff and volunteers t...
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Osterley Park

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Situated in beautiful Isleworth, Osterley Park is a wonderful example of neo-classical design. As stunning as it is, some rooms did appear a little bare, likely because many of the paintings and objects inside are provided by other collections, such as the V&A. Therefore, the joy of the house mostly lies with the architecture and history of the building, which does make for a good photograph, especially for all the Greeks reading this who love a bit of classical archtecture! As I hoped, volunteers were situated in almost every room, all brimming with historical information and interesting stories that really helped fill the bones of the house, which has convinced me once again that there is no substitute for human interaction in a historical house museum. I had a hilarious conversation with one volunteer called Mary, which involved critiquing the painting below. Osterley Park in this image is clearly depicted as being bigger and more imposing than it actually...
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