In Search of the Perfect House 500 of the Best Buildings in Britain and Ireland

Most books on country homes focus only on those open to the public. Here, celebrated architectural campaigner Marcus Binney goes further, presenting 500 of the most remarkable and unusual houses that survive on the British islands. Gabled Cotswold manors, 14th-century timber-framed hall houses, cozy Queen Anne rectories, and grand Regency villas are all here, shown in full-color photographs that wonderfully compliment Binney’s descriptions of each exquisite piece of architectural heritage. From Highcliffe Castle in Christchurch, Dorset to Tyninghame House in East Linton, Scotland, you’ll find over 900 pages of dream homes arranged by county—each page overflowing with spectacular cupolas, luxuriant gardens, eccentric histories, lavish domestic comforts, and extravagant foyers. It’s a unique view into the architectural practices and decorative fashions of centuries past.