Stamford, Lincolnshire; one of the finest Elizabethan country houses, was built by William Burghley, later known as Lord Burghley, and the Burghley family still lives in the house. The house is full of priceless treasures of art from famous paintings (Veronese, Carlo Dolci, Joos van Cleve, Gainsborough, Pieter Brueghel Younger), tapestries, sculptures to wonderful ceilings by Antonio Verrio. The majority of the pieces of art were bought by John, the 5th Earl of Exeter and his wife Lady Anne Cavendish on their ‘Grand Tour’ in late 17th century. Photo gallery here.