National Trust houses and other properties in England will start to reopen their doors to visitors from Monday as restrictions are lifted.

And this is great news for residents in Basingstoke who are keen for a change of scenery. The Vyne in Sherborne St John will be opening back up again or for those willing to venture further afield, Uppark near Petersfield, and Mottisfont near Romsey.

Highlights include The Vyne’s exquisite Tudor chapel, Uppark’s sumptuous Georgian interiors, and Mottisfont’s Whistler room where artist Rex Whistler created his famous tromp l’oeil artworks.

Staff and volunteers have been working behind the scenes to get properties ready to reopen safely.

Some small properties or rooms which can’t accommodate social distancing will reopen later once Covid restrictions are lifted or when repair or redisplay work is completed.

Hilary McGrady, director general, National Trust said: “This is a big moment that we have all looked forward to for months as we welcome people back safely, to spend time together at their favourite properties."

“Hundreds of our parks, gardens and countryside locations have already reopened, but we know how much our members and supporters have been looking forward to returning to see our houses and collections again.

“Our places are nothing without our visitors there to enjoy them and our staff and volunteers have been working hard behind the scenes, cleaning chandeliers, polishing floors and dusting books, to get everything ready. It is a matter of huge relief, pride and gratitude that the places in our care can start to reopen following closure due to the pandemic. Not a single place will be lost to the public. The cultural treasures that are our shared inheritance are waiting – for everyone.”

The reopening of houses also coincides with the Trust’s focus this year on its collections and the one million items it looks after, with many properties featuring in a new book celebrating 125 treasures in the charity’s care.

These include:

The Vyne – 16th-century stained glass in the Tudor chapel; the finest in the National Trust’s care and considered to be among the most beautiful in Europe. Famous for its jewel-like clarity, the glass depicts portraits of a young King Henry VIII (who visited The Vyne on several occasions), his first wife Catherine of Aragon, and his sister Margaret. Little could owner William Sandys have known how quickly the design would become updated, as the monarch went on to have five further marriages. Legend has it that the glass was removed, and packed and sunk in the gardens’ fish ponds to protect it from ransacking Roundheads during the English Civil War.

The Vyne – a set of 16 beautiful milky-white glass plates, commissioned by owner John Chute in Venice, to remind him of his trip of a lifetime. They would have deeply impressed British admirers in the 17th-century, and now, they are amongst the most important Grand Tour objects in Britain. The painted red enamel scenes, which include views of the Grand Canal and St Mark’s Square, helped to popularise Venice as an iconic travel destination.

Sandham Memorial Chapel – an epic series of 19 large-scale wall murals by the acclaimed war artist Sir Stanley Spencer – one of the greatest painted schemes of 20th-century British art. The paintings were inspired by Spencer’s First World War experiences as a medical orderly and soldier. They are peppered with personal and unexpected details and show the everyday activities rather than the horrors of war. Scenes such as hospital interiors and kit inspections, sorting laundry and fill tea urns. The paintings are considered by many to be Spencer’s finest achievement.

Andy Beer, director of operations, National Trust said: “Our houses have been closed and treasured collections haven’t been seen for some time. But a lot of work has been going on behind the scenes. As a result of some of the changes we’ve had to make during the last year we have looked at new ways to present and share places and their individual stories.

Ms McGrady added: “We could not reopen so many of our places or carry out essential conservation without the patience and support of our members, visitors, donors and government schemes throughout this pandemic. And we are enormously grateful to our volunteers for the roles they have played, and will be playing again, as they return to our properties.

“All the support we have received has made the difference to the National Trust being able to continue its work and ensure that our places remain here for everyone to enjoy.”

Entry arrangements for houses will vary so please check www.nationaltrust.org.uk before visiting.