Knole

Knole in Sevenoaks is one of the largest houses in England, begun in the 1450s as an archbishop's palace, taken by Henry VIII, and home to the Sackville family since 1603; they still live in part of it. The showrooms have been open to visitors for four centuries and hold rare Stuart furniture and textiles, including state beds and the original Knole sofa; Virginia Woolf's Orlando was written for Vita Sackville-West, who grew up here. The house sits in a 1,000-acre medieval deer park where fallow deer wander within touching distance, and reviewers describe picnicking under ancient trees, walking the park routes and learning from knowledgeable room guides. Dogs are welcome on a lead at all times in the deer park and courtyards, and at the Brewhouse Cafe's outdoor seats. You can also watch conservators at work in the Royal Oak Foundation Conservation Studio, climb the Gatehouse Tower and book tours of the attics or Lord Sackville's private garden. Tips from visitors: pre-booking is essential at weekends and in school holidays, members included, use postcode TN13 1HX to find the car entrance, and keep away from the deer.