Originally a red brick gothic manor from the 15th century, Knebworth House was remodeled in the Tudor style in 1816 and then remodeled again in 1845 to a Tudor Gothic architecture. It has been owned by the Lytton family since 1490, the most famous of which was Sir Edward Bulwer Lytton, English author known for the words, “It was a dark and stormy night,” and “The pen is mightier than the sword.”
Due to its architecture, the manor house has been featured in many films. The exterior was used to depict Bruce Wayne’s manor in the 1989 film Batman, and the magnificent staircase within was used for the staircase scene at the Yule Ball in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.
The grounds are often used for large-scale events, and concerts have been performed by such artists as Lynyrd Skynyrd, The Beach Boys, The Rolling Stones, Elton John, and Pink Floyd, to name just a few.
The Adventure Playground and Dinosaur Trail are both popular as family friendly activities. A zip line stretches across Adventure Playground and a bouncy castle is a favorite of children. Dinosaur Trail has more than 70 life-sized dinosaurs and other prehistoric animals hidden in the shrubs and trees.