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Eltham Palace had been on our list of places to visit for a long time, and we finally made it.
Although it falls within the Royal Borough of Greenwich, it’s pretty far from anything else worth visiting in London, but it’s worth the trip.
The Palace has a bit of a messy history in architectural terms, and what you see today is mainly due to the efforts of some wealthy individuals, rather than the Royals.
A Brief History of Eltham Palace
The Palace was a royal residence from the 14th to the 16th century, with Henry VIII being its most famous royal resident.
He spent much of his childhood at Eltham, but as time passed, he spent less and less time there, preferring instead to reside at Hampton Court and Greenwich during the 1530s.
Over the next hundred years or so, the Palace fell into disrepair and was subsequently sold by Parliament to Colonel Nathaniel Rich.
According to diarist John Evelyn, in 1656, the Palace wasn’t much more than a set of ruins.
Over the next 200 years, the land was used as a farm.
Fast forward to 1933, where the modern part of the story begins with some artsy millionaires and a 99-year lease from the Crown Estate.
Stephen and Virginia Courtauld leased the Palace and commissioned architects to create a modern Art Deco house around the medieval Great Hall, which has stood for over 550 years.
Characterised by its bold colours and geometric shapes, often incorporating elements from various cultures and artistic movements, the exterior of the house doesn’t scream Art Deco.
But the inside does, and it’s quite a contrast to the country house exterior.
The interior features some fantastic elements, including a piano that was being played, filling the air with its rich, powerful sound, along with an atmospheric photographic dark room and bomb shelter in the basement, and the unmistakable lobby with its bold Swedish design.
As you move upstairs, you will be met with bold colours in the bedrooms and bathrooms, which are pretty characteristic of the Art Deco era.
This means what exists on the site today isn’t what it was when it was a royal palace, and many of the features you see today didn’t exist before the 1930s.
Finally, and interestingly, Eltham Palace is still owned by the Crown Estate but managed by English Heritage.
The Great Hall
The Great Hall has stood the test of time, remaining standing since the 1470s when Edward IV built it.
Undoubtedly, it’s one of the best bits of the Palace, if not the best bit.
You will have the opportunity to see it in all its glory from the balcony during the tour of the upstairs of the Palace, and then again when you return to the ground floor, where you can explore every corner of it.
Many of the internal features aren’t original; however, they have been sympathetically restored to maintain the medieval feel, featuring intricately carved wood and stone work, as well as impressive stained glass windows.
Look out for the lemur (the Courtaulds had a pet lemur) in the stonework above one of the alcoves, too.
The Gardens
The gardens are another highlight of the Palace, where it’s possible to spend more time during your visit than inside the Palace itself.
Designed by the Courtaulds, the gardens blend the medieval ruins with the 1930s Arts and Crafts movement.
The gardens feature a Sunken Rose Garden, herbaceous borders, and a Rock Garden with pools cascading into the moat.
You can even see into London and might spot a few geese on your wanderings.
The gardens are colourful, peaceful and a great place to spend some time on a dry day.
Visitor Information
Aside from everything mentioned above, you’ll also find a visitor centre and cafe at the Palace, where you can pick up a spot of lunch or get your caffeine fix.
๐ Court Road, London, SE9 5NP
๐ท Free with English Heritage or Art Pass membership, otherwise paid entry
๐ Open daily, 10โฏamโ5โฏpm
๐ 02082 948 065
Photos
Here are a few examples of the photographs from our visit.
If you’d like to see more, head to our accompanying post, which contains all the Eltham Palace pictures.
See: Eltham Palace in Pictures
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