After first visiting Osborne, England’s longest-reigning monarch wrote: 'It is impossible to imagine a prettier spot'. In 1845 the royal couple purchased the property with an estate of 342 acres, plus the adjacent Barton Manor to house equerries and grooms and to serve as the home farm.

Before the deeds had even changed hands, architect Thomas Cubitt had been approached - firstly to build a pavilion to house private apartments and then to demolish the old house and add further wings for the royal household.Once all the work was complete, an exquisite pair of Italianate towers dominated the landscape and looked out over passing ships in the nearby Solent.

Artistic interiors The interiors of Osborne House abound with opulence in both architectural design and decoration. Marble sculptures, commissioned by Victoria and Albert, line the classically designed Grand Corridor of the house and recall the royal couple's love of the arts. Portraits and frescos adorn the walls, serving as a reminder of the family's links to the crowned heads of Europe, and of the unrivalled supremacy of the British Empire. Family photographs on the desks of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert offer a further insight into the way they lived.

Queen Victoria's role as Empress of India is celebrated in the richly decorated Durbar Room. Constructed from 1890-91, the room served as an elaborate banqueting hall and every surface, from floor to ceiling, is ornately embellished.

The walls are decorated with symbols from India, including Ganesh - the elephant god of good fortune - and the deeply coffered ceiling is composed of fibrous plaster. The completion of the room coincided with the introduction of electricity, so the Indian-influenced lamp stands were designed to take full advantage of this emerging technology.

Italianate gardens Prince Albert worked with Cubitt on the Italianate designs for the terraced formal gardens which complement the house. Visitors can now enjoy the Walled Garden much as Victoria and Albert did, since English Heritage has restored it as part of the Contemporary Heritage Gardens Scheme.

The grounds also contain a summerhouse, a museum, and a miniature fort and barracks, as well as the Swiss Cottage, originally built as an educational tool where the royal children could learn domestic skills. There is a beautiful wild flower meadow near the Swiss Cottage, and rare red squirrels can be seen throughout the gardens. There is a courtesy minibus, with wheelchair access, to Swiss Cottage.

Queen Victoria loved to stroll through the gardens, and the primroses in the woods were her particular favourites.Most of the gardens are accessible on tarmac and compacted gravel paths.

The Terrace Restaurant has wonderful views across the terrace gardens down to the Solent. It has waiter-served lunches and afternoon teas. (Please note: for non-members, a minimum grounds charge applies for access to the Terrace Restaurant.)

The exhibition in the Petty Officers Quarters is the best place to start any visit. It covers various aspects of the sumptuously furnished house and magnificent grounds, as well as the lives and personalities of the Victorian royal family and the servants who cared for them. Here you will also find a café serving refreshments and light lunches, and a large shop.

A children's play area and picnic tables are located off the visitors' car park.

Guided Tours From Nov to Mar, the house is open for pre-booked guided tours, allowing visitors to enjoy a selection of rooms at a quieter time of year in the company of one of our expert guides. For details of our annual Christmas tours and events please call the house or visit www.english-heritage.org.uk/osbornehouse

The grounds also contain a summerhouse, a museum, and a miniature fort and barracks, as well as the Swiss Cottage, originally built as an educational tool where the royal children could learn domestic skills.

With only a few dates remaining for 2014, now is a good time to call!