Osborne House

After her marriage to Prince Albert in 1840, Queen Victoria felt the need for a family residence in the country. In 1845 the royal couple purchased the property with an estate of 342 acres, plus the adjacent Barton Manor. Before the deeds had even changed hands, architect Thomas Cubitt had been approached - firstly to build a new wing and then to demolish the old house and add further wings. Once all the work was complete, an exquisite pair of Italianate towers dominated the landscape and looked out over passing ships in the nearby Solent.

The interiors of Osborne House abound with opulence in both architectural design and decoration. Marble sculptures, commissioned by Victoria and Albert, line the classically designed Grand Corridor of the house and recall the royal couple's love of the arts. Prince Albert worked with Cubitt on the Italianate designs for the terraced formal gardens, which complement the house. The grounds also contain a children's play area, a summerhouse, a museum, and a miniature fort and barracks, as well as the Swiss Cottage, originally built as an educational tool where the royal children could learn domestic skills.

From Nov-Mar, the house is open for pre-booked guided tours only, allowing visitors to see the Royal Apartments and private rooms at a quieter time of year in the company of one of our expert guides.