WHAT could be more quintessentially English than a country house? Essex is blessed with a wealth of historic venues that all make a fantastic day out for all the family.

Audley End, near Saffron Walden, is one of England’s most magnificent stately homes.

It was given by Henry VIII to his Lord Chancellor, Sir Thomas Audley, who transformed it into this grand Jacobean mansion.

It was built to entertain kings and in 1668 Charles II bought it as somewhere to stay when he attended the races at Newmarket.

During the 18th century, Robert Adam added an impressive suite of reception rooms on the ground floor and “Capability”

Brown was brought in to landscape the parkland.

Over in LayerMarney and built in the same year Henry VIII met the French king, Francis I at the Field of Cloth of Gold, Layer Marney Tower is the tallest Tudor Gatehouse in England.

Henry stayed in the impressive tower in 1522. However, the palace it was intended to lead to was never actually completed.

Climbing the 80ft tower’s 99 steps is well worth the effort, as the reward is a breathtaking view across the north of the county.

In Ingatestone, step back some 400 years to the 16th century and the home of another knight of the realm, Sir William Petre, Secretary of State for Tudor monarchs. Scions of the Petre family still live in Ingatestone Hall and they have done much to preserve much of the original form and appearance of the house.

Indeed, Sir William would still recognise many features, such as the mullioned windows, high chimneys, crow-step gables and oak-panelled rooms.

Rescued from ruin and steeped in history, Hylands House, in Chelmsford, is a fascinating and beautifully restored country house.

Built in 1730 as a modest redbrick Queen Anne-style house, it has changed and developed considerably throughout its history.

Nine different owners have each stamped their own personality on the house, extending and remodelling according to their tastes and the fashion of the day.

Visitors can now enjoy spectacular rooms, ranging from the exquisitely gilded drawing room to the sumptuously ornate Banqueting Room. Explore the basement complete with butler's pantry and wine cellar.

  • For more information about all the places mentioned and much more in Essex, go to visitessex.com