Eltham Palace

Eltham Palace is a historic royal residence in south-east London, combining medieval, Tudor and 1930s Art Deco architecture within a permanent display of its interiors and gardens.

The palace was a royal playground between the 14th and 16th centuries, when monarchs, including the young Henry VIII, spent time in its surrounding parks. In the 1930s, the couple Stephen and Virginia Courtauld remodelled the residence in the Art Deco style, so that the building now reflects several periods at once.

Visitors move through the Art Deco interiors and can take in the gardens, which include herbaceous borders, rose beds and a Rock Garden with pools and cascades running down towards the moat. The grounds cover around 19 acres, so the walk through the gardens is a substantial part of the visit.

The display suits anyone curious about architecture, decorative arts or English royal history, as well as visitors who simply want to spend time outdoors. The rooms and gardens are presented as a permanent collection, so the visit can be made at any point during the year.