A visit to a stately home can make a wonderful weekend outing. Luckily for Derbyshire residents, Chatsworth House - a majestic architectural feat and fabulous tourist attraction in the region - has been named as one of the top 10 grandest homes in the UK.
South Western Railway commissioned research which names Chatsworth House as the third top stately home in the UK.
Other palatial properties on the list are also filming locations where blockbusters Harry Potter, Downton Abbey, Peaky Blinders and more were filmed.
It is thought Britain’s grand homes are enjoying much deserved limelight on the back of the ‘Bridgerton effect’.
The Regency-era period drama is a mega hit for streaming giant Netflix.
It is thought to have piqued people’s curiosity about olde world buildings and wider British heritage leading to a 49% year-on-year increase in Google searches for 'stately homes’.
It is more than just history that attracts people to stately homes.
The grand estates with sprawling landscape gardens are often magnificent places to behold.
Here is the top 10 list of grandest stately homes in the UK
1. Blenheim Palace (Woodstock, Oxfordshire)
2. Hampton Court Palace (Molesey, Richmond upon Thames)
3. Chatsworth House (Bakewell, Derbyshire)
4. Burghley House (Stamford, Peterborough)
5. Montacute House (Montacute, South Somerset)
6. Rangers House (Blackheath, London)
7. Hatfield House (Hatfield, Hertfordshire)
8. Bletchley Park (Bletchley Park. Milton Keynes)
9. Alnwick Castle (Alnwick, Northumberland)
10. Highclere Castle (Highclere, Newbury)
South Western Railway’s research analysed various factors to compile the listing (for more information click here).
Four key factors were considered: television and film appearances, monthly Google search volumes, the number of 5-star Google reviews, and ticket prices (with cheaper being better). These metrics were then used to create a scaled weighted ranking, with a score of 100.
Here are a selection of photos of the top 10 stately homes in the UK.
1. Blenheim Palace, Woodstock, Oxfordshire
Top of the list is Blenheim Palace. It has over 9,000 5-star Google reviews and an impressive score of 95 out of 100. The palace also boasts starring roles in TV and film productions such as Bridgerton, Dungeons and Dragons and Blackadder. | Anthony Masi via Wikipedia
2. Hampton Court Palace Molesey, Richmond Upon Thames
Number two on the list is Hampton Court Palace scoring 91.1 out of 100. Known for its connections to King Henry VIII - it was the monarch's favourite residence - the palace's many features include a Great Hall and hedge maze. | Tom Podmore via Unsplash
3. Chatsworth House Bakewell, Derbyshire
This 16th century stately home scored a whopping 88.2 out of 100 and came third on the list. If it looks familiar, you may have seen it grace TV screens, being featured in Peaky Blinders and The Duchess. Visitors can also enjoy a stunning estate, exquisite gardens and a farmyard. Christmas at Chatsworth is a hotly anticipated event which sees the house decorated in beautiful festive festoons, lights and more. | David Reed via Pixabay
4. Burghley House, Peterborough, Stamford
William Cecil's stunning creation Burghley House scored 87.8 out of 100, landing it on the fourth spot. The striking building has also been featured in award-winning films and shows including Pride and Prejudice, and The Crown. | Anthony Masi via Wikipedia