Eltham Palace |
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In 1933 Stephen Courtauld - millionaire, war veteran and patron of the arts - looked to the suburb of Eltham as the setting for a breathtaking new home. His vision was to link a modern, fashionable residence to the Great Hall of a medieval royal palace and to create a stunning home where his Italian wife could entertain with gaiety and flair.
The House
Eltham Palace is a feast of luxurious design ideas. You'll find concealed electric lighting, centralised vacuum cleaning and a loudspeaker system that allowed music to waft around the house. Authentic interiors have been recreated by the finest contemporary craftsmen. Their appearance has been painstakingly researched from archive photography and documents - and interviews with friends and relatives
of the Courtaulds. These stunning interiors are now open for you to enjoy.The dramatic Entrance Hall was created by the Swedish designer Rolf Engstromer. Bathe in the light flooding from a spectacular glazed dome, as it highlights beautiful blackbean veneer and figurative marquetry. The Entrance Hall is a tour de force only rivalled by the adjacent Dining Room - where an Art Deco aluminium leafed ceiling is a perfect complement to the birds-eye maple walls. Step into Virginia's magnificent gold-leaf and onyx bathroom, and throughout the house discover lacquered, 'ocean liner ' style veneered walls and built-in furniture. A Chinese 18th century sliding screen is all that separates chic '30s Art Deco from the medieval Great Hall. English Heritage has carefully preserved the restoration work carried out in the 1930s - which features a unique blend of archaeological reconstruction and Hollywood fantasy!
The Gardens
Appreciate a stunning mixture of formal and informal gardens created by Stephen and Virginia Courtauld. You will find a rose garden, pergola and loggia nestled around the extensive remains of the medieval palace. Refreshments are available in the Tea Room, newly created from the former Courtauld Kitchens. The gardens also offer many picturesque areas for you to enjoy a picnic: choose from enclosed garden 'rooms' or open lawns - approached via a timber moat bridge, springing from the foundations of the medieval southern entrance.Facilities
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Opening Times
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(2007 times)
1st April to 31st October 2007:Sunday to Wednesday 10.00am - 5.00pm. 1st November to 23rd December 2007: Sunday to Wednesday 11.00am - 4.00pm 24th December 2007 to 2nd February 2008: Closed. 3rd February to 19th March 2008: Sunday to Wednesday 11.00am - 4.00pm. Last admission 30 minutes before stated closing time. |
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Admission Charges
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(2007 prices)
House & Gardens:Adult £7.90; Concession £5.90; Child £4.00. Gardens Only: Adult £4.90; Concession £3.70; Child £2.50. Child under 5yrs, English Heritage and NACFM Members Free. And FREE with your Londonpass |
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Directions
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Train: 30 minutes from Charing Cross and Victoria to Eltham or Mottingham, both 1/2 mile. Car: junction 3 on the M25, then A20 to Eltham, off Court Rd, SE9. From Central London, A2. Bus: Telephone 0207 222 1234 for details. |
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Eltham Palace Postcode for SatNav: SE9 5QE |
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Nearby Attractions
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Firepower! Royal Artillery Museum
(3 Miles)*
Firepower! The Royal Artillery Museum, is located in the Royal Arsenal, Woolwich in South East London. |
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Chislehurst Caves
(3 Miles)*
There are over 20 miles of mysterious caverns and passages which have hewn out of the chalk over a period of 8,000 years. |
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National Maritime Museum
(3 Miles)*
Dive into the largest maritime museum in the world and you'll discover more than you could ever imagine. For the greatest day out in the whole galaxy, transport yourself to the Royal Observatory, Greenwich |
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