Goodwood is one of England’s finest sporting estates. At its heart lies Goodwood House, the ancestral home of the Dukes of Richmond and Gordon, direct descendants of King Charles II. Today, it is lived in by the present Duke’s son and heir, the Earl of March and Kinrara, with his wife and family. Their home is open to the public on at least 60 days a year. The art collection includes a magnificent group of British paintings from the 17th and 18th centuries, such as the celebrated views of London by Canaletto and superb sporting scenes by George Stubbs. The rooms are filled with fine English and French furniture, Gobelins tapestries and Sevres porcelain. Special works of art are regularly rotated and displayed and the books can be viewed by written application to the Curator (there is a special charge for these viewings). The summer exhibition in 2011, entitled ‘The Horse’, will look at the role horses have played in Goodwood’s history. They are well represented in its art collection, from the great Wootton paintings of the 2nd Duke of Richmond’s hunters to Dame Elizabeth Frink’s lifesize bronze of a racehorse. Goodwood is also renowned for its entertaining, enjoying a reputation for excellence. Goodwood’s own organic farm provides food for the table in the various restaurants on the estate. With internationally renowned horseracing and motor sport events, the finest Downland golf course in the UK, its own Aerodrome and hotel, Goodwood offers an extraordinarily rich sporting experience.