Paxton House

📌 Paxton, Scottish Borders
★★★★

Paxton House is the 18th century residence of the Home family (pronounced Hume, as in fume), built by architect James Adam as part of Patrick Home’s grand plan to impress his Prussian love interest, Sophie de Brandt. The house contains one of the country’s most impressive collections of Chippendale furniture – rivalling Dumfries House in Ayrshire – with huge numbers of items attributable to the London firm. Some of the public reception rooms in particular are very grand indeed, with the hugely impressive Picture Room saved until the very end of the tour. It’s just a shame that photos aren’t permitted inside. Paxton House’s grounds stretch up and down the wooded northern bank of the River Tweed and are equally worthwhile. Allow at least an hour for this part, including a trip to the restored waterwheel on the other side of the mansion, plus a similar amount of time for the house tour.