There's a reason they're called the Treasure Houses of England. These houses may be privately owned, but they're national treasures nevertheless - and Harewood House is among the most impressive. J.M.W. Turner visited to paint the gardens in watercolour. Elton John performed a concert here. It's even been used as a filming location for the show Downton Abbey!
Harewood's round arches, engaged columns and classical pediments place it firmly within the Palladian style that was so popular in Georgian England. The exterior was designed by John Carr of York, the architect responsible for the Buxton Crescent and other Palladian gems. But Carr wasn't the only famous person to work on the estate: the park and gardens were landscaped by Capability Brown and later altered by Humphry Repton - two of the most important landscapists of all time.
This design shows Harewood House from the beautiful, award-winning terraces. It looks like it might be late afternoon - the facade is coated in orange light, and the Yorkshire sky is turning a dark blue. Any country estate buff is bound to fall in love with this tea towel!
