Only six miles from Quainton set in its own grounds near Middle Claydon is Claydon House.

In the 1750s at his family seat in Buckinghamshire, 2nd Earl Ralph Verney set out to create a country house of extraordinary grandeur that would dazzle his wealthy neighbours and outdo his political rivals. Thirty years on he was facing financial ruin.

Today the interiors that remain are among the most ambitious and lavish ever created in the eighteenth century.

Claydon has been occupied by the Verney family for more than 550 years; the place is a testament to their fascinating fluctuating fortunes, from their close involvement in the English Civil War to the family connection with Florence Nightingale.

To get more details on visits Click here for the Claydon House National Trust webpage.