The National Trust preserves and protects hundreds of historic places and spaces across the UK. Here’s a ranking of 20 of the best properties:

1. Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal Water Garden, Yorkshire
   • World Heritage site featuring extensive monastic ruins
   • Rating: 5/5 for its stunning landscapes and rich history
2. Stourhead, Wiltshire
   • Magnificent 18th-century landscape garden and Palladian mansion
   • Rating: 5/5 for its picturesque views and classical architecture
3. Cragside, Northumberland
   • Victorian house with groundbreaking hydroelectric technology
   • Rating: 4.5/5 for its innovative features and beautiful gardens
4. Blenheim Palace, Oxfordshire
   • Birthplace of Winston Churchill and a World Heritage site
   • Rating: 5/5 for its grandeur and historical significance
5. Giant’s Causeway, Northern Ireland
   • Unique geological formation of interlocking basalt columns
   • Rating: 5/5 for its natural beauty and scientific interest
6. Sissinghurst Castle Garden, Kent
   • Famous garden created by Vita Sackville-West
   • Rating: 4.5/5 for its romantic and innovative garden design
7. Dunster Castle, Somerset
   • Ancient castle with dramatic hilltop location
   • Rating: 4/5 for its medieval architecture and stunning views
8. Attingham Park, Shropshire
   • 18th-century mansion with extensive parkland
   • Rating: 4/5 for its elegant interiors and deer park
9. Waddesdon Manor, Buckinghamshire
   • Renaissance-style château filled with fine art
   • Rating: 4.5/5 for its opulent interiors and beautiful gardens
10. Lindisfarne Castle, Northumberland
    • 16th-century castle on Holy Island
    • Rating: 4/5 for its unique location and atmospheric interiors
11. Powis Castle and Garden, Wales
    • Medieval castle with spectacular terraced gardens
    • Rating: 4.5/5 for its well-preserved interiors and world-class gardens
12. Hardwick Hall, Derbyshire
    • Elizabethan prodigy house with stunning long gallery
    • Rating: 4/5 for its architectural significance and textile collection
13. Tyntesfield, Somerset
    • Victorian Gothic Revival house with extensive grounds
    • Rating: 4/5 for its ornate architecture and family history
14. Hidcote, Gloucestershire
    • Arts and Crafts-inspired garden of ‘outdoor rooms’
    • Rating: 4.5/5 for its influential garden design
15. Chatsworth House, Derbyshire
    • Magnificent stately home with art collections and gardens
    • Rating: 5/5 for its grandeur and extensive collections
16. Bodiam Castle, East Sussex
    • 14th-century moated castle
    • Rating: 4/5 for its picturesque setting and medieval architecture
17. Snowshill Manor and Garden, Gloucestershire
    • Quirky house filled with eccentric collections
    • Rating: 4/5 for its unique character and beautiful Cotswold setting
18. Lyme Park, Cheshire
    • Grand estate with deer park, famous for its Pride and Prejudice connection
    • Rating: 4/5 for its diverse offerings and literary associations
19. Kedleston Hall, Derbyshire
    • Neoclassical mansion with extensive parkland
    • Rating: 4/5 for its Robert Adam interiors and landscaped grounds
20. Corfe Castle, Dorset
    • Dramatic ruins of a royal castle
    • Rating: 4/5 for its imposing presence and rich history

These properties offer a diverse range of experiences, from grand stately homes to rugged landscapes, each with its own unique charm and historical significance.