Kenwood House

Dating back to the 17th century, this sprawling stately home was a residence of the Earls of Mansfield for the best part of 200 years. Then, in 1925, it was snapped up by Lord Iveagh, part of the legendary Guinness family (a dynasty responsible for a lot of hangovers.).

A successful businessman, Iveagh was also a prolific art collector, with a particular passion for the Old Masters. Upon his death in 1927, much of his substantial collection was left to the nation, as was Kenwood House. So, thanks to this so-called ‘Iveagh Bequest’, we can now stroll through the halls of Kenwood and take in some pretty great art, including paintings by Vermeer, Rembrandt and Frans Hals. But this storied home isn’t frozen in time; more recent highlights include sculptures by Barbara Hepworth and Henry Moore.