| 2 miles west of St Albans, off A4147 St Albans - Hemel Hempstead road Gorhambury House is a fine neo-Palladian house, built in 1777 - 84 to the designs of Sir Robert Taylor. In the Middle Ages the Gorhambury estate, lying near the site of the vanished Roman city of Verulamium, belonged to St Albans Abbey. The present house was built by the 3rd Viscount Grimston.The 3rd Viscount's son was created Earl of Verulam in 1806 and the family have lived at Gorhambury ever since. Old Gorhambury House nearby is now maintained by English Heritage. more information |
 | At Hatfield off A414 Hatfield House, built between 1607 and 1611 by Robert Cecil, 1st Earl of Salisbury, is one of England's finest Jacobean houses. It is still the home of the Cecil family. The house was designed by Robert Lyminge and the interior decoration was the work of English, French and Flemish craftsmen.Its chief historical interest lies in the surviving wing of the original Royal Palace of Hatfield where Henry VIII's children were raised. Elizabeth I spent most of her childhood at Hatfield. There are now 42 acres of Jacobean garden. more information |
 | Direct access off A1(M) junction 7 Knebworth House was built by Sir Robert Lytton in 1490. In 1810 a large part of the house was demolished and it was transformed into the High Gothic house seen today. Robert, the 1st Earl of Lytton, was a Viceroy of India. Sir Edward Bulwer-Lytton's study has details of his life and works. 25 acres of gardens with a formal rose garden, avenues and maze. 250 acres of parkland, adventure playground and miniature railway. Famous for its open-air rock concerts. more information |
 | In Ayot St Lawrence, 2 miles north-east of Wheathampstead, 2 miles north from B653 George Bernard Shaw was 50 years old when he bought 'The Villa' at Ayot St Lawrence in 1906 and characteristically renamed it 'Shaw's Corner'. Shaw lived here until his death in 1950 at the age of 94 years old. The house has remained unaltered since that time. Shaw would step out into the garden for his regular evening walks, and at the bottom of the garden is a small, revolving summerhouse where Shaw retreated for peace and quiet. His ashes were scattered in the garden. more information |