Legend has it that when Queen Elizabeth I stayed with Sir Thomas Gresham, she suggested his courtyard would look better divided by a wall. Gresham sent for workmen from London, and by morning the wall was standing!
That Tudor house became Osterley Park and House, one of the last great country estates still standing in London. It hides in Isleworth, west London, just a mile from a Piccadilly line station.
Today, DOYOUSPEAKLONDON takes you west, to the place where our family goes to recharge 🌿
The story of Osterley: from a Tudor banker to Robert Adam's masterpiece
Gresham, the merchant who founded the Royal Exchange, finished his "faire and stately brick house" in 1576. Almost nothing of it survives, except one building: the red-brick Tudor stables, still standing next to the house.
In the early 1700s, the estate passed to Sir Francis Child, founder of Child's Bank. His grandsons hired the star architect of the day, Robert Adam, who transformed the house between 1761 and 1780.
Adam designed everything, from the ceilings to the furniture. The result was so grand that Horace Walpole called Osterley "the palace of palaces"!
History didn't stop there. In 1940, the park hosted the very first Home Guard training school. In 1949, the 9th Earl of Jersey gave Osterley to the National Trust, and Hollywood later borrowed it for The Dark Knight Rises.
A day at Osterley: a magnificent house and a beautiful park
We've been to Osterley many times as a family. Sometimes we visit the house, sometimes we simply wander through the park. Both are lovely!
Inside Robert Adam's house
Inside, you'll walk from one spectacular room to the next. In the Eating Room, Adam designed almost every feature, from the stucco walls to the gilt mahogany sideboards.
The Long Gallery runs the whole length of the house. Come in the afternoon, when the sun turns its green and gold walls into a glowing picture gallery.
Then step into the Tapestry Room, wrapped in pink Gobelins tapestries finished in 1775. Look closely: they hint at Mrs Child's love of her garden and animals.
Next door, Adam's eight-poster state bed looks like a theatre set. Fun fact: it was rarely, if ever, slept in!
Through the gardens
Outside, the gardens lead you to the elegant Garden House, with its curved arched windows and potted olive trees. In late summer, the borders burst with pink and white cosmos.
Lakes, ancient trees and lots of animals
Then it's time for our favourite part: the park! Paths wind past two lakes, where ducks, swans and geese glide around.
We always keep an eye out for squirrels in the trees, and for the cows and horses grazing in the fields. Bring binoculars too: red kites, buzzards and even kingfishers live here!
Don't miss the Oriental plane tree, planted in 1755 and one of Osterley's oldest trees. Its huge branches sweep right down to the grass.
A break at the Stables Café
Fancy a break? The Stables Café sits right inside Gresham's Tudor stables, with picnic tables in the courtyard under the clock tower.
Why heading west to Osterley does you so much good
Most London days out pull you into the centre. But ride the Piccadilly line west instead, and the noise fades while the sky opens up!
For us, Osterley Park is a place to recharge. We come for the calm, the nature and the animals.
Where else can a 270-year-old plane tree, grazing cows and a Robert Adam palace share the same afternoon, a mile from the Tube?
If you're visiting London, it's a glimpse of English country life without leaving the city. Combine it with Syon Park or Kew Gardens for a perfect day out west.
So pack a picnic, say hello to the cows, and let Osterley recharge your batteries! 🐄
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Everything you need to know about Osterley Park and House:
Address: Jersey Road, Isleworth, TW7 4RB (sat nav: TW7 4RD)
Nearest station: Osterley (Piccadilly line), about 1 mile away. Isleworth station (South Western Railway) is about 1.5 miles away.
Opening hours: House Wednesday to Sunday, 11am to 3.30pm. Garden 10am to 5pm, park 9am to 5pm, Stables Café 10am to 5pm. Hours vary with the seasons, so check before you go.
Prices: House and garden £18 adults, £9 children (5–17), £45 family. Garden only (Monday and Tuesday) £10 adults. Free for National Trust members and under-5s.
Parking: £7 per car, paid through the JustPark app (free for National Trust members).
Booking: No need to book, just get your ticket at the Garden Kiosk on arrival.
