Castle Howard

15m from York off A64.

Open mid-March to end-October. Grounds and Gardens: 10am. House: 11am (last is one of the Treasure Houses of England, an impressive 18th century palace filled with fine furniture, important works of art, family treasures and collections.

Designed by Vanburgh (1699-1726) for the Third Earl of Carlisle, this spectacular is set in 1000 of magnificent parkland with nature walks, scenic lakes, follies, temples and stunning rose garden, fountains and the colourful spectacle of ornamental woodland are a delight.

Castle Howard was the setting for the celebrated TV adaptation of Brideshead Revisted, and more recently for BBC's Buccaneers.