Ickworth

Bury St. Edmunds

Ickworth's huge central Rotunda, flanked by two massive wings, dominates this eccentric house built by the equally eccentric 4th Earl of Bristol, who dreamed of creating an Italianate palace within an English landscape. It houses important collections of paintings (including work by Velázquez and Titian) and fine family portraits (several by Gainsborough), as well as Huguenot and ambassadorial silver and Regency furniture. The fabulous State Rooms were only used by the family on special occasions, and are as pristine and awe-inspiring today as they were when originally created. Today, the West Wing contains visitor, conference, banqueting and wedding facilities, while the East Wing is now The Ickworth Hotel. Wooded Pleasure Grounds provide a shady and delightful contrast to the formality of the Italianate Garden. Beyond there are 729 hectares (1,800 acres) of idyllic parkland, including a vineyard and dense woodland offering miles of walks.