Until this century, Ham House had changed only hands as a private residence, meaning that it remained as a statement of wealth and power with luxurious collections of fine furniture, textiles and paintings.

Situated on the River Thames, Ham house is but one of series of grand houses and palaces along the river. Largely unaltered since the 17th Century, the building was commissioned by the Earl of Dysart in 1610.

As a child, the Earl was Charles I's 'whipping boy', punished by proxy for the future king's misdemeanours. Rewarded in the end, the Stuart mansion was built to impress with an ice house, dairy and still house (the 17th-century equivalent of an in-house pharmacy) as well as a perfectly preserved 16th Century garden.

Plenty to see and do whilst visiting, during the year there's an open-air theatre, special guided tours and Christmas carol concerts. For ghost hunters, Ham house is reputedly one of the most haunted houses in Britain.