At the moment I wish to convey you my information to taking a day journey to Polesden Lacey from London. This Edwardian home and property in Surrey was the house of Margaret Greville, a British socialite who entertained everybody from celebrities to royalty within the early twentieth century. Spending a day right here will mean you can see her nation retreat and surrounding gardens as you observe within the footsteps of kings and queens.
Day Journey to Polesden Lacey
Polesden Lacey is a simple day journey from London. The house was a celebration home for Margaret, who labored her manner up from an illegitimate beginning to a confidante of kings and queens. King George VI and Queen Elizabeth even got here right here on their honeymoon.
Polesden Lacey was bought by Margaret’s rich father, William McEwan, in 1906. He purchased it for his daughter, who married the Hon. Ronald Greville, one of many closest buddies of the long run King Edward VII.
After her husband’s demise in 1908, she used it as a weekend retreat for entertaining rich and elite friends together with Winston Churchill, Charlie Chaplin, Queen Ena of Spain, and generations of British monarchs.
A lover of every thing from tremendous jewels to witty dialog and splendid structure, Margaret made her mark on each her social circle and the English countryside.
When she died in 1942, she left the home to the Nationwide Belief and bequeathed her jewels to Queen Elizabeth. Many feminine royals nonetheless put on her earrings, necklaces, and tiaras as we speak.
Now Margaret Greville’s house at Polesden Lacey is a museum with lovely gardens and 1,600 acres (647 hectares) of grounds within the Surrey Hills.
Guests come from throughout to see the opulent rooms the place one of many biggest society hostesses of the age entertained friends.
Additionally they go to to stroll by means of the walled gardens and alongside the paths within the woods. Many convey canine, so preserve an eye fixed out for lovely pups!
Learn how to Get to Polesden Lacey from London
In case you’re questioning methods to get to Polesden Lacey from London, you may simply attain it by automotive or practice.
Polesden Lacey is positioned 25 miles (40 kilometers) from the UK capital in Nice Bookham close to Dorking, Surrey. It’s so near town you may even make it a half-day journey from London or add a late pub lunch to your itinerary.
In case you drive, the property is round 1 hour and quarter-hour away, relying the place in London you depart from and what visitors is like alongside the best way. There’s a small price for on-site parking.
In case you take the practice, Polesden Lacey is round an hour’s journey from London.
There are taxi ranks at each stations the place you may proceed your journey to the property.
Polesden Lacey Tickets
One other good factor about taking a day journey to Polesden Lacey is that there’s no have to pre-book tickets prematurely. You may simply present up and purchase them on the entrance desk once you arrive.
Higher but, it’s a Nationwide Belief property so you may go totally free in the event you’re a member. Membership grants free entry to all properties in Britain for a 12 months, and you will get it right here.
A good friend and I’ve bought our tickets on arrival, and now we’re excited to delve into this historic world of dreamy gardens and regal leisure.
Polesden Lacey Tour
After shopping for our entry tickets, we cease on the cafe within the Secure Courtyard for a fast chunk. Along with the espresso store by the parking space, it’s a great place to get foods and drinks right here.
Our appetites sated, we begin our tour of Polesden Lacey. We stroll beneath a tall brick water tower and observe an enormous map on the opposite aspect to get to the home in the midst of the grounds.
The Edwardian Home
As we stroll as much as the house, we take within the facade and the clock tower on prime.
As soon as inside we uncover rooms filled with tremendous artwork and spectacular decor. Margaret Greville needed this place to be match for entertaining the very best of society, and he or she succeeded.
She even had the interiors transformed by architects Mewes and Davis, who had simply refurbished The Ritz in London when she employed them.
The result’s inspiring. From rooms with ornate gilding to Italian maiolica pottery, books, tremendous French furnishings, jeweled animals by Cartier, and the biggest group of Faberge objects within the Nationwide Belief, it’s straightforward to see why kings and queens felt at house right here.
As we go from the eating room to Margaret’s examine and the library, we absorb partitions hung with work by well-known British artists like Allan Ramsay and Henry Raeburn. They’re punctuated by works by Dutch Masters and different spectacular names.
The piece de resistance is the Saloon. It was designed to impress maharajahs, and it definitely wows us. There’s gilding in all places, and the carvings, panels, and mirrors are opulent. There’s even somebody enjoying the piano whereas we’re right here.
There are guided excursions guests can take of the home, however we’re glad listening to from the useful volunteers in every room. They inform us tales about Margaret’s wit and character, in addition to the decor and historical past of the home.
Polesden Lacey Gardens
Leaving the house, we go by the Backyard Room second-hand bookshop as we stroll out to discover the grounds.
There’s a formidable array of areas to walk by means of, from walled gardens to orchards, herbaceous borders, and fowl hides. There’s even a small pet cemetery and a Kestrel Nook play space.
As we make our manner across the property, we absorb views of Ranmore Frequent and rolling parkland. The panorama right here is alleged to be practically unchanged since medieval instances, and it’s lovely to see.
We cross over footbridges and stroll down stone staircases, paying homage at Margaret’s grave within the Women Backyard and watching folks play croquet on the garden.
We finish our go to with a loop across the Protect Copse, the place we see the tall bushes on Admiral’s Stroll and the picnic tables by New Lime Stroll. Ultimately we go by the Blossom Garden and Walnut Garden as we work our manner again to the Secure Courtyard.
Earlier than we get to the exit, we are able to’t assist popping into the present store. It has a spread of native merchandise, books, crops, clothes, and backyard equipment on the market. It’s a enjoyable place to choose up souvenirs earlier than we hop within the automotive to drive again to London.
How A lot Time To Spend at Polesden Lacey
In all, we’ve spent 3 hours right here. We may have spent longer if we’d explored each inch of the grounds or taken time to sit down within the chairs on the South Garden and absorb the views of the Surrey Hills.
However we’re hungry and lunch awaits at a close-by nation pub referred to as The Previous Plow in Stoke D’Abernon. A 15-minute drive from Polesden Lacey, it has nice historic-meets-contemporary decor.
It’s the best spot to tuck into heaping plates of fish and chips and monkfish curry after an enormous morning of exploring Polesden Lacey.
Day Journey to Polesden Lacey from London
After lunch we get again in my good friend’s automotive for the drive again to London, watching because the countryside surroundings transitions into an city panorama as we go.
A lot in order that my good friend has already purchased a e-book referred to as The Maggie Greville Story by Pam Burbidge. I can’t wait to borrow it when she’s performed. If you wish to learn it, you will get it right here.
I hope you’ve loved listening to about our go to and that it’s impressed you to go to this spectacular home your self. It’s a enjoyable day trip from London, and an important place to get into each historical past and nature.
In case you’re serious about extra journeys like this, you may check out my weblog put up about the very best stately houses close to London. It has a lot of different homes you may go to close to the UK capital.
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