Boughton House, Northants.

Private (HHA)
An imposing house “The English Versailles” notable for looking a bit like a French palace. The contents include fabulous treasures – a large collection of fine art including paintings, furniture, porcelain, weapons, textiles, claiming to be one of the major treasure houses of England. It has seven courtyards and a wing which remains as an unfinished shell, revealing details of the construction. The gardens and estate are also notable. The 17th century design features of the gardens, including square ponds and a series of canals have been restored. Note the pyramidal mound and the matching hole ‘Orpheus’. The walled garden near the house is also worth a visit. The house is open during August and a few other dates, the gardens more often. Suggested visit time: at least a half day.
The visitor information includes prices for optional tours. When I visited, my basic admission (free with HHA) allowed a self-guided tour of the State Rooms and most of the ground floor, and the grounds, but the optional tours were fully booked.
All photos from May 2024 visit.