A stately home in Worcestershire has been named among the best in Britain in a list by The Telegraph.

The newspaper, along with the 12th Duke of Bedford, has created the list which features stately homes across the UK.

Harvington Hall in Kidderminster was named under the 13th heading ‘hidden secrets’ in the list.

The Telegraph said: “A huge house is bound to hold secrets. Woburn is currently closed for restoration (reopening 2026), which is, say the current Duke and Duchess of Bedford, “revealing new and interesting details”. Details, especially hidden ones, are good for business.”

What did The Telegraph say about Harvington Hall?

The newspaper said: “Harvington is known as the “house of secrets”.

“This moated Elizabethan manor has seven priest holes, added by the devoutly Catholic Pakington family during the Reformation.

“These range from a teeny space above the bread oven (entered via a trapdoor in the privy) to a huge attic hideaway that the priest could access via a false chimney.”

@imperidox_ Exploring the historic Harvington Hall, uncovering its secret priest holes used by Catholic priests hiding during the English Reformation.  Every corner holds a tale of bravery and faith.  #HarvingtonHall #PriestHoles #History #EnglishReformation #HiddenStories #HistoricExploration #Heritage #CatholicHistory #catholic #catholictiktok #history #historytok #historytiktok #historybuff #historylesson #historyteacher ♬ original sound - Scary videos

The stately home has been praised well on Tripadvisor with visitors sharing their experiences.

It has received a 4.5/5 rating from 524 reviews with one person sharing: "Of all the National Trust and Historic Houses I've been to, this was the most memorable – brought to life by a wonderful, articulate and amusing guide (Angie?).

"Wherever you travel from, no matter how long it takes, you won't regret it."

Another commented: "Was recommended to this place by friends, so glad we went what a lovely find. We did the guided tour with James who certainly knew his stuff the tour was 1/2 hour and was very informative, we really enjoyed the morning nice tea room and gardens."

Recommended reading:

Britain’s best 15 stately homes

If you’re looking for somewhere new to visit, these stately homes could offer a great day out for you and the family. The Telegraph listed the following as the best in Britain:

  • Audley End, Essex
  • Blenheim Palace, Oxfordshire
  • Nostell, West Yorkshire
  • Greenway, Devon
  •  Stourhead, Wiltshire
  • Blickling Hall, Norfolk
  • Holdenby, Northamptonshire
  • Longleat, Wiltshire
  • Leith Hall, Aberdeenshire
  • Plas Newydd, Denbighshire
  • Lyme, Cheshire
  • Mount Stuart, Isle of Bute
  • Harvington Hall, Worcestershire
  • Wentworth Woodhouse, South Yorkshire
  • Calke Abbey, Derbyshire

You can find out more about each stately home in the list on The Telegraph’s website (linked above).