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Unique houses

An elevated view of the decorative exterior of the house at Cragside, Northumberland
The decorative exterior of the house at Cragside, Northumberland | © National Trust Images/John Millar

Discover some of the most unusual places in our care that you can visit. From Arts and Crafts gems and treasure houses to romantic royal getaways and the ultimate reading nook – every place has its own story to tell.

Cragside, Northumberland
This impressive Arts and Crafts house was ahead of its time. Highly efficient and modern, Cragside stands out for its state-of-the-art gadgets and inventions. Its electric lights were powered by an integrated hydroelectricity system, there was hot and cold running water, central heating and even an early dishwasher in the kitchen.Visit Cragside
Derrymore House, County Armagh
Aside from its quirky windows and brightly coloured limewashed exterior, Derrymore House appears to be a typical single-storey thatched cottage. It was built in the late 18th century for local MP Isaac Corry. However, this quaint cottage nestling in its 110-acre landscaped estate – a place of sanctuary for Corry – is fashionable, elegant and spacious inside.Visit Derrymore House
Erddig, Denbighshire
Sitting on a dramatic escarpment above the winding River Clywedog, Erddig tells the 250-year story of a family’s relationship with its servants. Originally built for Joshua Edisbury, High Sheriff of Denbighshire, it was the Yorke family who started the unique tradition of commemorating their staff with pictures and poems.Visit Erddig
Hill Top House, Cumbria
Beatrix Potter bought her Lake District sanctuary, Hill Top, with money from the sales of her first illustrated books including Peter Rabbit. A cosy converted farmhouse, it's filled with many of her belongings and this window into her personality inspired many of her famous stories.Visit Hill Top House
Ickworth House, Suffolk
Though the entire house isn't round, the iconic Rotunda at Ickworth House stands out from the crowd. The house was built as an 18th-century palace to display the many treasures collected over generations. Book a guided tour to make sure you don't miss any. The Rotunda forms the centrepiece of the Ickworth estate, showcasing an internationally renowned art and silver collection.Visit Ickworth House
Arts and Crafts design soft furnishings, including cushions, a rug, and curtains, in The Drawing Room at Standen House, West Sussex
Arts and Crafts design soft furnishings, including cushions, a rug, and curtains, in the Drawing Room at Standen House, West Sussex | © National Trust Images/James Dobson
Montacute House, Somerset
With its towering walls of glass and the glow of Ham stone, Montacute House was always meant to be a dazzling display of wealth and power. Designed by local builder and architect William Arnold, the architecture is rooted in Gothic, polished with Flemish and Renaissance influences. On the east front stand the Nine Worthies, statues of biblical, classical and medieval figures, which include Julius Caesar and King Arthur.Visit Montacute House
Mount Stewart, County Down
Explore the previously unopened rooms at Mount Stewart, which has been restored to its early-20th-century glory. A team of experts undertook extensive repairs and completely redecorated the neo-classical house, which was once home to Edith, Lady Londonderry. The three-year-long project cost £8 million and involved 200 volunteers.Visit Mount Stewart
Mussenden Temple, County Londonderry
Created by an eccentric Earl Bishop as part of his 18th-century estate, Mussenden Temple is an unforgettable clifftop folly. From it, visitors can enjoy the rugged headland views across the awe-inspiring North Coast. The Earl was said to have built it as a library and refuge for his cousin's daughter, who, it was rumoured, though never confirmed, he had an inappropriate relationship with.Visit Mussenden Temple
Packwood House, Warwickshire
With a history dating back to the 1570s, it wasn't until the 20th century that Packwood House was transformed into Baron Ash's vision of the perfect English country home. Furnished with a combination of antique textiles, polished wood, faded gold and other extraordinary objects, the ideal of timeless Englishness is enhanced by freshly cut flowers placed in every room.Visit Packwood House
Petworth, West Sussex
Petworth House has many great works of art on display, including pieces by Turner, Van Dyck and Reynolds. You’ll also find treasures like the Molyneux Globe, thought to be the earliest English terrestrial globe in existence, and A Vision of the Last Judgment – a dramatic work of art by William Blake.Visit Petworth
The Library at The Vyne, Hampshire
The Library at The Vyne, Hampshire | © National Trust Images/Andreas von Einsiedel
Polesden Lacey, Surrey
While kings, queens and other royalty have visited and stayed at several places we look after, Polesden Lacey was a romantic royal getaway. The Duke and Duchess of York, later King George VI and Queen Elizabeth (the Queen Mother), spent part of their honeymoon there in 1923. Renowned hostess Mrs Greville also welcomed Edward VII and George V as visitors to her Edwardian country retreat.Visit Polesden Lacey
Snowshill Manor, Gloucestershire
Extraordinary and unconventional, the home of the idiosyncratic Charles Wade, Snowshill Manor, is situated in an idyllic Cotswolds setting. Using architectural and theatrical techniques to dramatic effect, Wade, an avid collector, created an otherworldy place that's a delight to the senses. This treasure trove of more than 16,000 objects includes collections of mechanical doorbells, suits of armour, masks, as well as a village in miniature.Visit Snowshill Manor
Standen House, Sussex
Appearing to have ‘grown’ out of the rock face, Standen House was designed to look as though it's always been there. With views of the Medway Valley and Ashdown Forest, Standen has been recognised as one of the best examples of Arts and Crafts workmanship in the UK.Visit Standen House
The Vyne, Hampshire
Once an important Tudor ‘power house’, The Vyne has welcomed some illustrious guests including Henry VIII and Jane Austen. Its library, built in the 18th century from recycled wood and furniture to save money, hosts nearly 2,500 books ranging from theology and history to languages, which were collected by the Chute family over 300 years.Visit The Vyne
Wightwick Manor, West Midlands
Although the collection of art and design at Wightwick Manor is of the highest quality, it is the Mander family archive full of letters and photos, covering their whole lives, that stands out. Making Wightwick Manor even more like home, you can play with toys in the nursery, try out the full-size billiards table or head to the kitchen where the old range is still in use and lit on cold days.Visit Wightwick Manor
Two visitors laughing at each other whilst admiring the Dining Room at Christmas at Lanhydrock, Cornwall

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