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Walk in the footsteps of Ada Lovelace at De Vere Horsley Estate, Surrey, which was originally her marital home.

De Vere Wokefield Estate, set in 250 acres of Berkshire parkland, was built in 1788 by celebrated architect Sir John Soane, and has been welcoming distinguished guests into its surroundings for centuries.

There is something deeply nostalgic about the stately homes, manicured lawns and country estates of Britain. Once the preserve of royalty and the landed gentry, they offer a unique insight into British history with their rich and sometimes chequered past.

Few guests who visit Latimer House have any inkling of its secret past and yet its role during the Second World War has now been recognised by Historic England as being on a par with the code-breaking at Bletchley Park.

We Brits love our pets. They’re a member of the family. So, when searching for a family staycation, it’s no surprise that the question on all our lips is… ‘is it dog-friendly?’.

Surrey is a great place to explore, just a stone’s throw from the capital and home to an array of attractions, as well as a number of De Vere country estate hotels, each with its own distinctive features.

Since March 2020 we’ve been a nation of doorstep clappers, pan bangers, amateur teachers and news-obsessives. We even sorted through that box of random things in the garage we’ve been stepping over for a decade.

With the festive season fast approaching, the events team at De Vere, a collection of historic mansion house estates, has shared its top tips to help you arrange the ultimate Christmas party.