Set high on a rock overlooking the historic market town of Amboise and the River Loire, this former royal château is home to Leonardo da Vinci's tomb.
Loire Valley: Château d’Amboise
Loire Valley: Château du Clos Lucé
Once the summer house of the French royal family, this manor house was home to Leonardo da Vinci during the last years of his life.
Loire Valley: The beautiful village of Montrésor
Thanks to its quaint medieval streets, charming château and idyllic walk along the River Indrois, it's not surprising Montrésor has been named one of les plus beaux villages de France.
Loire Valley: The château and gardens at Chaumont-sur-Loire
Possibly my favourite château in the Loire. It may not have the architecural flourishes of Chenonceau or Chambord, but it's a delightfully charming affair surrounded by acres of stunning gardens.
Loire Valley: Château de Chambord
The biggest and grandest château in the Loire Valley is a masterpiece of Renaissance architecture, boasting 440 rooms and an ingenious double helix staircase.
Loire Valley: Château de Chenonceau
Thanks to its distinctive arched bridges spanning the River Cher, Chenonceau is the prettiest, most fairytale-like of the châteaux of the Loire.
Hughenden: Disraeli’s Buckinghamshire estate with a secret history
The Buckinghamshire home of Queen Victoria's favourite Prime Minister, Benjamin Disraeli, was used as a top secret base during the Second World War.
Anglesey Abbey, gardens and Lode Mill
Boasting a monastery-turned-stately home, 114 acres of gardens and a working mill, this National Trust estate in Cambridgeshire makes for a fab day out.
Norfolk: Castle Rising
With its extraordinarily well-preserved keep that's surrounded by tall earthworks, Castle Rising is home to one of the UK's most memorable and unusual castles.
Norfolk: Holkham Estate
Boasting a grand stately home, acres of parkland, deer, woodland, a walled garden and even a sandy beach – Holkham Hall has it all.
Norfolk: Blickling Estate
This magnificent red-brick Jacobean mansion is a sight to behold. The Norfolk estate in which it lies is said to have been the birthplace of Anne Boleyn.
Exploring the north Norfolk coast
From grand stately homes to picturesque, windswept beaches and quaint, charming villages, the north Norfolk coast is a delightful place for a short break.
Little Old World 