Designed to mimic an 18th Century Roman villa, with palatial gardens, Chiswick House was commissioned by Richard Boyle, the third Earl of Burlington.

Drawing inspiration from his 'grand tours' of Italy, the house is a show-piece, originally used for entertaining and to display the Earl's vast collection of paintings.

Surrounded by classical gardens, the building still houses a small but impressive collection of Old Masters. More significantly, the grounds are beautifully kept and perfect for a 'medium' walk round the lake.