Knebworth House and Gardens

Five Centuries of the Lytton Family

Knebworth House has been home to the Lytton family since 1490, when Sir Robert Lytton acquired the manor. The original building was a red-brick Tudor house arranged around a central courtyard. In 1811, Elizabeth Bulwer-Lytton demolished three sides of the square, reducing it to the west wing. Her son Edward, the Victorian novelist, politician and playwright, then transformed the exterior between 1843 and 1845, adding the High Gothic turrets, gargoyles and heraldic creatures that define the house today.

Edward Bulwer-Lytton was one of the most popular authors of his age, responsible for phrases still in everyday use. His study at Knebworth remains much as he left it, lined with first editions and personal artefacts. The house later passed to his grandson, the Earl of Lytton, who served as Viceroy of India — a connection reflected in the Indian Exhibition displayed in the house. The family still lives at Knebworth, and the current custodian, the Hon. Henry Lytton Cobbold, opens the house to visitors each year.

What to See and Do

The house tour takes in rooms spanning five centuries. The Jacobean Banqueting Hall features a carved oak screen and minstrels' gallery, while the Victorian State Drawing Room holds elaborate ceiling work by John Crace and hand-painted Chinese wallpaper. Upstairs, bedrooms and dressing rooms reflect both Edwardian elegance and 20th-century comfort. A permanent exhibition chronicles the extraordinary history of rock concerts held in the park since 1974, with memorabilia, film clips and photographs.

Outside, the 28-acre gardens were redesigned by Sir Edwin Lutyens in the early 1900s. Pollarded lime avenues frame a series of garden rooms including a herb garden, walled garden and sunken lawn. The dinosaur trail winds through woodland with 72 life-sized models, and Fort Knebworth provides a large adventure playground for children. The wider parkland stretches to 250 acres and includes walking trails, a deer park and picnic areas.

Getting There and Practical Tips

Knebworth sits just off the A1(M) at junction 7, making it one of the most accessible stately homes from London by car — roughly 30 miles north of the capital. By train, services from King's Cross to Stevenage take around 25 minutes, with a connecting train or short taxi ride to the estate. The house opens on selected dates from March to September, so always check the website before visiting. Gardens and park typically open at 10:30am, with the house following at 11:30am.

Allow at least half a day to see the house and gardens properly, longer if children want to explore the dinosaur trail and playground. A cafe serves hot meals and snacks, and picnics are welcome in the park. The grounds are mostly accessible, though some garden paths are gravel and the house has stairs without a lift.