The National Trust bought the Tyntesfield estate in North Somerset last summer following a public fundraising campaign.

The public tours will start in April with the trust expecting more than 40,000 visitors throughout the year.

Elizabeth Eaton of the trust said: "It was a very busy start. Lines opened in the morning and by lunchtime 2,700 tickets had been sold. By Sunday night we had sold over 6,000."

It normally takes many years to bring a place like Tyntesfield up to our conservation standards Elizabeth Eaton

The 43-bedroom listed building set in 2,000 acres of land, has been described as the "last great Victorian house".

Its contents include an extravagant collection of Victorian furniture, paintings and porcelain.

"The programme we have put together should allow over 40,000 to visit this year," said Ms Eaton.

"Tours will be four days a week until the beginning of November with up to 14 tours a day taking place.

The interior decoration at the house, including painting and stencils, was largely done by John Crace, who redecorated Windsor Castle for the state visit of the Emperor Napoleon III in the 1850s.

'Public eye'

Tyntesfield was sold in 2002, following the death of its last owner, Lord Wraxall.

He was the great-grandson of William Gibbs, who made his fortune importing guano from Peru to be used as fertiliser.

"It is quite a bold step for the trust to be opening a property with the stature of Tyntesfield so quickly," said Ms Eaton.

"It normally takes many years to bring a place like Tyntesfield up to our conservation standards but we threw the book out with this one.

"A lot of the conservation work will take place while the property is open and under the public eye."