If you are planning on visiting Eltham Palace and Gardens for yourself, please read on for more information about the venue, including how to get there and all attractions nearby.
Reasons to Visit Eltham Palace
Eltham Palace is a beautiful Tudor palace in South London, England. It was built in 1305 by King Edward II, and it’s owned by English Heritage. The palace has a lot of history behind it, but it’s also famous for being the place where Henry VIII spent many of his days together with his wife Anne Boleyn.
If you’re interested in history, you can see all the rooms at Eltham Palace with an audio guide available for purchase at the ticket desk. However, if you don’t have time for that or if you prefer to explore on your own, then simply follow the signs around the building and enjoy!
Admission Fees and Opening Hours
Admission to Eltham Palace depends whether you want to visit the gardens, the palace, or perhaps both. If you want to visit both, you will pay £17.50 (£10.60 for kids) to enter. Book your entrance online beforehand, as the garden visits run out really fast! The property is opened every day from 10.00 to17.00 with the last entry at 16.30.
Reaching Eltham Palace
Eltham Palace is a former royal palace, located in Eltham, Royal Borough of Greenwich, London. The full address is Court Yard London SE9 5QE, UK. You can grab a train to Eltham Palace every 25 minutes from London Bridge, Cannon Street or Charing Cross. The nearest station is Mottingham Station, which is located approximately an 11-minute walk away from Eltham Palace.
There are also frequent bus services running here from central London, as well as many other parts of London. If you want to take a taxi, you will need around 20 minutes and £70 in your pocket. Driving your own car is possible too as parking on site is free.
Art Deco Interior
Art Deco is a style of design that originated in Paris before World War I. The style was popularized by Hollywood films like the 1927 film, Metropolis, and the famous poster of King Kong. Art Deco became very popular in architecture and interior design across the world. It is characterized by geometric lines, curved shapes, stylized floral patterns and bold colors.
Eltham Palace of Stephen and Virginia Courtauld (1930s) has some beautiful examples of art deco interiors that were recently restored and are open to the public for tours. The Eltham Palace art deco interiors include: the sleeping quarters (with a special spot for the millionaires’ lemur), a map room. a walk-in wardrobe, a war bunker, the entrance hall with Scandinavian designs and Virginia’s luxury golden bathroom.
The dining room was transformed into a dining room after World War II when it was decided that it would be more practical to have all meals served in one room rather than having different rooms for breakfast, lunch and dinner. The dining room features decorative ceilings with gold leaf accents as well as a marble fireplace mantle decorated with carvings of cherubs, animals and leaves.
Things to Do at Eltham Palace Gardens
The gardens at Eltham Palace are a great place for a picnic, or for exploring on foot. There are many gardens on the premises, including the Sunken Rose Garden and the Rock Garden. Admire the flower borders designed by Isabelle Van Groeningen and enjoy the Chinese privet trees, dwarf evergreen bushes or Sarcococca confusas in the spring.
If you are there in the summer, get delighted by the musk rose scents in the Rose Quadrant. The fall and the winter are also great months to visit the gardens as you will be able to enjoy the Manchurian Cherries and Japanese Bitter Oranges. Which is your favorite season for Eltham Palace Gardens? Let us know!
Visitor Services and Final Tips
If you’re coming by car, there is a car park located at the Visitor Center. When full, visitors must park outside the park and walk through the grounds, which takes about five minutes. There are also two electric-car charging points available, which visitors can use for a few pounds for two hours.
Visitors can eat in the café or bring their own food to use the Picnic Room, which is a large room with tables and chairs at the Visitor Center that’s suitable for larger parties. You can get a private tour via Ye Olde England Tours and spend 5 hours visiting the unique landmarks of the area. A private tour will cost you around 250 pounds.
If you are the fun type of person, or you’re travelling with kids, you can try on clothes from the 20s and feel like a Lord of the manor. If you are a member of the English Heritage, admission to the ground of Eltham Palace is free of charge. If you’re travelling with dogs, only assistance furry friends are allowed on the premises.
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