Eltham Palace and Gardens, London

The current house was built in the 1930s on the site of the original Eltham Palace, gifted to to Edward II in 1305, and incorporates the original Great Hall, which boasts the third-largest hammerbeam roof in England. Fragments of the walls of some of the original buildings remain visible around the gardens, and the 15th century bridge still crosses the moat. Eltham Palace reputedly has at least three escape tunnels, which emerge in various parts of Eltham. One used to exit in the garden of the vicarage, which was adjacent to Eltham Baths (now demolished), and another exits in Avery Hill Park.

In 1933 Sir Stephen and Lady Courtauld (née Virginia Peirano) acquired the lease of the palace site and restored the Great Hall while building an elaborate home, internally in the Art Deco style. The dramatic Entrance Hall was created by the Swedish designer Rolf Engströmer. Light floods in from a spectacular glazed dome, highlighting blackbean veneer and figurative marquetry.

The Courtaulds' pet lemur had a special room on the upper floor of the house which had a hatch to the downstairs flower room; he had the run of the house. The Courtaulds remained at Eltham until 1944 (during which time Stephen firewatched from the Great Hall roof, with the palace near the docks at Woolwich, a prime bombing target - in September 1940, the roof of the Great Hall was badly damaged by a bomb). In 1944 they moved to Scotland then to Southern Rhodesia, giving the palace to the Royal Army Educational Corps in March 1945; the corps remained there until 1992.

In 1995 English Heritage assumed management of the palace, and in 1999 completed major repairs and restorations of the interiors and gardens.

The palace is open to the public and can be hired for weddings and other functions. There are also a café and gift shop.

Opening Times

The palace opens at 10am. Open days and closing times vary throughout the year, please check the website.

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Ticket Prices

Adult: £9.30
Child : £5.60
Concession: £8.40
Family Ticket: £24.20
English Heritage Members: Free

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Disabled Facilities

Disabled access (and parking) via Court Yard entrance. Level access to ground floor (ramp into Great Hall). Stairs to the first floor are steep. There is a lift to the first floor. Access to Gardens: Most areas accessible over grass. Some uneven ground. Visually impaired visitors should be aware of many low walls and deep moat.

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More Information

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