Eltham Palace (English Heritage)

would not recommend this for children we took our two granchildren as we read on the website there were things on for children rang up beforehand to confirm this and was told there were activities throughout the grounds that day when in fact it was confined to one area only was also told there would be a sandpit for the children to find burried treasure this trurned out to be a small tray not a pit but the biggest dissapointment was the tea room as it was school holidays we expected there to be meals available for children there was nothing when we asked the waitress what there was she suggested a ham or cheese sandwich which was only served on brown bread with seeds on everything else was geared up for adults surel y they are missing the point here everything was very expensive a miniscule slice of chocolate cake 2.95 staff not very helpful at all also on arrival they tried to charge us individual prices and only when we asked about a family ticket we were charged less in my opinion they charge a lot but the customer gets very liittle back if they are advertising childrens activities then   they should follow this through and not try to pull the wool over customers eyes all in all a very dissapointing day would not go again

Who doesn't like a bit of Art Deco?
This palace feels more like a large stately home, I guess the moat makes it more palace like than most. Beautifully preserved period features are the draw card here now, back in the day it was a medieval masterpeice, and with the changing of time it somehow reached the 1920's and froze.
Before you dismiss this place as some historical snore fest (and shame on you anyway for thinking so) you need note two things.

There is a gold plated bathroom, which is pretty special, and there is the history of Mah-Jongg.

Not the ancient game, but the lemur. Yep, the madhatters that occupied Eltham had a pet lemur that they bought form Harrods, no less! The Courtauld's built an internal cage, painted palm trees on it and paraded him about for their guests. He was so special to them he ended up with a memorial.

Let's be honest her though, she was the divorcee, the descendant of Vlad the Impaler with an epic snake tattoo on her leg, he can't have been too surprised when she came home with a lemur.

A small palace but actually a family estate. The visit is about the private rooms of the 1930s owners as much as about the medieval setting.

I've added a picture of the drawing room - wonderful art deco furniture! There is also a fair in spring.

Eltham Palace is well worth a visit to Eltham for! It has a fascinating history as there has been a palace on this site since the middle ages and it played host to many dignitaries over the centuries. The newer parts of the building provide an incredible example of Art Deco architecture as it was built and decorated by the oh so stylish Courtaulds in the early 20th century. Eltham Palace has provided a location for many recent film and TV dramas so you do have a sence of being somewhere very familiar (including the Maxwell drama of last year and the recent adaptation of Brideshead Revisited) and the gardens are lovely to walk round. A gem in the middle of deepest darkest south east London!

What a gem hiding in this non descript suburb of London. The great hall dates back to Tudor times and Henry eighth spent his childood here.In The 30’s the Courtaulds9 textile family) built a huge house which incorporated many ofthe historic remains.English Heritage have restored this house to its former glory and houses many excellent examples of the Art Deco movement. It is available for hire for weddings and functions and has been seen in many films. Well worth a visit

Eltham Palace is a fascinating historical site, tucked away in South East London. The buildings comprise a medieval great hall (Henry VIII’s spent part of his childhood here), which was restored in the 1920s and an Art Deco party house added to the site. The grounds are also beautiful. We have visited a number of times (I believe they sometimes have concerts etc. in the grounds too) and we got married there in 2006. I can thoroughly recommend it as a wedding venue, especially if you are looking for a London venue with good outside space. All our guests commented on what an amazing venue it was.

I now live in Eltham so this is just one of my local sites of historical interest. My family and I visited on the one day every year that they have free entry for locals. Normally it is quite pricey to get in. They have very good disabled parking very close to the main entrance and the staff were courteous and helpful and explained how to get around the building the best way in a wheelchair. This palace was once a haunt of Henry VIII however it’s a bit of a disappointment to find that only the great hall is original and the rest has been built on over the years. Still even with this minor setback we all found the whole day thoroughly enjoyable. The vistas from the top of the surrounding gardens are truly breath taking and on a sunny day you can pay to just go around the gardens which is well worth it. There are also exhibitions on special days of local history which are very interesting and make it a wonderful day out.

A surprise venue for Eltham but what a surprise this is. This art deco building is extremely beautiful. The Hallway is the most impressive of all where the furnishings and architecture have been left intact from this buildings hay day.

A stroll along the grounds is also enjoyable as they are well tended.

Make sure to use the promotions found in railway stations to get in here for 2-1 as this makes a difference. Use the money you saved in the coffee shop to treat yourself with a piece of nice cake.

I would give this venue 4 stars for the art deco and wow factor in the middle of Eltham. Allow 2 - 3 hours to tour around at a slow pace!

This is a grand old house, with lovely examples of art deco decor and furniture. I must say though that we have spent most of our time in the gardens - as English heritage card holders, we have visited here more than once, mostly in summer, just to stroll around the grounds and see the stunning array of blooms or to sit by the side of the moat and watch the fish.
We have also enjoyed the teas and treats on offer in the cafe - I can recommend the coffee cake!

Calling all Londoners with an interest in Art Deco! This place is incredible. Although it’s owned by English Heritage, you don’t have to be a member to go in. It might seem a trek from central London, but by train it’s an easy ride from London Bridge or Charing Cross. And you’ll see a self-vacuuming floor system, the epitome of 1930s technology! You will have to put overshoes on as most of the floors in the house are either polished white stone or parquet. The events here - 1930s themed fashion and cocktail evenings, etc - are lovely, and well worth a try. A great deal of fun, and an intimate picture of what it was to live the life of the very wealthy in the 20s and 30s in London.

Eltham Palace is well worth the short train ride from central London: it really is a ‘something for everyone’ attraction.

For those who like mediaeval history, there is the Great Hall where Henry VIII played here as a boy, back in the days when it was a royal palace. Although some features such as a minstrel’s gallery are more recent additions, the ambience and the incredible hammerbeam roof are authentic.

The palace was later abandoned, until it was eventually rebuilt by Stephen and Virginia Courtauld in the 1930s. As a result, Art Deco enthusiasts will love the dream home they created alongside the older remains. From the stunning round entrance hall to the little room inhabited by the couple’s pet lemur, a bathroom modelled as a temple to Venus and the payphones for guests’ use, every part of this house is fascinating and surprising.

Houses don’t appeal to you? Happily, there are gardens too - complete with formal gardens, rock gardens, wisteria and a mediaeval bridge. Not to mention friendly geese!

Finally, don’t miss out on the restaurant. The traditional English food is great and sensibly priced.

Eltham Palace is a wonderful place to see, it has Art Deco style throughout. I was also the home of the Courtald family. The gardens are spectacular in spring and autumn. It is a place not to miss.

This is a truly unique and wonderful house in England. It is one of the finest Art Deco homes which was once a medieval royal palace from Henry VIII time. Built for people who were rich the Palace reflects the glamour and allure of the 1930s.The interiors of the Palace are a show piece of cutting edge design reminiscent of the ultra-smart ocean liner style of living.