The last Sunday in July brought some wonderful summer weather. Such a welcome change after months of grey, cold and wet weather.

And we celebrated an English summer day with a visit to Fenton House in Hampstead, a quintessentially English House set on Hampstead Hill , with wonderful views over London and the most beautiful traditional gardens, full of fragrant roses and colourful shrubs.

Fenton House is a 17th-century merchant's house bequeathed to the National Trust in 1952 by Lady Binning, its last owner and resident.

The interior houses the Benton Fletcher collection of early keyboard instruments, some of which are often played for visitors during opening hours, and collections of paintings (including the collection of Peter Barkworth paintings), Meissen, English and Chinese porcelain, 17th-century needlework pictures and Georgian furniture.

It also has fine portraits of King William IV (when Duke of Clarence) and his mistress Dorothea Jordan, as well as portraits of two of their illegitimate sons, Frederick FitzClarence and Adolphus FitzClarence, and one of William IV's brother George IV.

The brick mansion, with 1693 inscribed on its chimney breast, has a 300-year-old orchard, with around 30 varieties of apple trees. This was a lovely place to sit on this sunny day.

Philip Fenton, for whom the house is named, bought the house in 1793 and in the 19th century ordered much of the remodelling. This included alterations to the interiors and roof, the addition of an ornate portico and the pediment, new window frames and glazing. The sides of the building feature balustraded flat areas above the standard decorative ledge.

The building has original staircases with twisted balusters. Main rooms have original panelling, corner cupboards and decoratively carved marble fireplaces.

We had a lovely hour and a half exploring this fascinating family home, which is exactly how it felt. One could almost expect to find a family still in residence and I for one would have very much liked to live there! Although I think it would take a very serious win on the Lottery to be able to afford to do so.

Having investigated every corner and admired every musical instrument – including a hurdy gurdy! – we walked a few yards down the hill to the Holly Bush public house, where we had a traditional Sunday roast – with the largest Yorkshire puddings I have ever seen!, a glass of wine and some very delectable puddings. All in all, a very joyful day.