10 best National Trust sites in London

Discover the house of historian, social writer and ethical thinker Thomas Carlyle and his wife Jane, who lived here from 1834 to 1881. Opened in 1895 as a literary shrine, it contains some of the Carlyles' furniture, books, pictures and personal possessions, together with portraits and memorabilia.

Explore Ham House, Europe's most complete surviving example of 17th-century fashion and power. The garden is one of the few formal gardens to have survived the English Landscape Movement, while the buildings house an orangery, brick ice house, dairy and still house.

Step inside The Homewood, a modernist National Trust house in Esher, which was designed by Patrick Gwynne in the 1930s and inspired by the work of Le Corbusier and Mies van der Rohe. Entry is by pre-booked guided tour only.

Enjoy an afternoon stroll in Morden Hall Park, an attractive green space with trees, waterways and plenty of space to relax. This historic park offers gentle walks along the River Wandle over pretty bridges, a family-friendly nature trail and a cafe.

See a rare example of a Tudor red-brick house built for Sir Ralph Sadleir, Principal Secretary of State for Henry VIII. Sutton House features oak panelling, a painted staircase, carved fireplaces and Jacobean wall paintings.

Originally built in 1575 and transformed by Robert Adam into an elegant 18th-century neo-classical villa, Osterley Park and House is set in more than 140 hectares (350 acres) of landscaped park and farmland, complete with ornamental lakes and pleasure grounds.

Visit London's lesser-known National Trust Roman Bath, a true archaeological puzzle that may actually date from Tudor times. The bath can be viewed for free via a grill from the path all year round. Admission to the baths is by appointment only with Westminster Council.

Explore 17th-century Fenton House, a merchant's house that's home to an extensive range of porcelain, early keyboards and other instruments. Lady Katherine Binning bought the house in 1936 and filled it with her decorative collections of porcelain, Georgian furniture and 17th-century needlework.

Designed by Modern Movement architect Erno Goldfinger, this small 1930s house at Two Willow Road in Hampstead boasts an impressive collection of contemporary furniture and modernist paintings and sculptures.

Go for a wander in the stunning grounds of Claremont Landscape Garden. Still featuring its original 18th-century layout, this Grade I-listed garden is one of the earliest surviving examples of the English Landscape Garden.