Knebworth House is one of England's finest stately homes. It lays 29 miles north of London in the county of Hertfordshire close to the new town of Stevenage. It has been the home of the Lytton family since 1490. The House has been through several transformations during its history, notably in 1813-1816 and again in 1843-1845.
Its most famous occupant was Edward Bulwer-Lytton, the Victorian statesman and author, and the House has been visited by Winston Churchill and Charles Dickens. Modern-day visitors to Knebworth House can take a guided tour where the history of the House is explained, and there is an opportunity to see many historical artefacts. The current occupants of the House are Henry Lytton-Cobbold and his family.
Knebworth House in films and music
The House has been used in many films which include The Great Muppet Caper in 1980, Batman in 1989, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire in 2005, and Jonathan Creek in 2008. Knebworth House today continues to be used for TV and films.
Knebworth has become legendary for its rock concerts and has played host to some of the greatest acts in the music industry. Over the years the park in Knebworth has featured the likes of Paul McCartney, Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, the Beach Boys, Queen, Elton John, the Rolling Stones, Chuck Berry, Ray Charles and Genesis. Large numbers of people attend the concerts at Knebworth and an audience of 375,000 attended a three-day concert by Robbie Williams in 2003. In 1986, Queen gave their last concert which featured Freddie Mercury as vocalist.
The first of the concerts began in 1974 and continue to this day. Here is an extensive list of concerts at Knebworth House.
Knebworth House events and activities
The House plays host to several events. It holds country shows, ghost tours, classic motor events, jousting and food festivals, as well as its concerts. These events are very well attended, and whenever events or concerts are held at Knebworth, the surrounding area can get very congested. There is just a two-lane motorway giving access to Knebworth which leads to massive queues. It is advisable to get the train to Stevenage and then walk. Check travel news before setting out.
There are many things to see on a visit to Knebworth House. Not only the House itself, but there is an adventure park, the gardens, and the dinosaur trail. There is plenty to keep the whole family and individuals alike busy for a whole day.
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Richard Aitkins - Richard Aitkins is a freelance writer and tutor from Hertfordshire, England. He has a Bachelor of Arts Honours degree in Humanities with ...
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