Osterley Park and House – National Trust

Built-in the 1500s by Sir Thomas Gresham, Osterley Park and House is a ‘neo-classical manor house’ set in Greater London.

The peacefulness of this National Trust property contrasted with where it is situated in London is just incredible.

Hidden from the road by a brick wall is a Georgian mansion and estate, created in the late 18th century for the Child family by architect Robert Adam.

It was called the ‘palace of palaces,’ this 250-year-old gem is where cows graze happily in the fields and the entrance path wends its curving way around the lake.

Osterley House is a rare survivor of busy London, yet it still stands and the gardens act as a peaceful retreat with acres and acres of parkland to enjoy.

Various walks will guide you through Osterley’s gardens past the many lakes, which is now the home of nature and wildlife.

The dazzling colours of plants and flowers throughout the estate are outstanding; it allows you to totally forget and provides an escape from the hustle of the city.

The wealthy banker Sir Francis Child acquired Osterley in the 1700s to show this as his key to prosperity and enhance his status in society.

His grandson, also Francis Child, involved Robert Adam, the famous Scottish Architect, in the late 1700s to remodel and transform Osterley into the ‘Palace of Palaces’ that you see today.

Adam’s design of the interiors of the many rooms at Osterley can still be seen today; he had demolished the east side of the building and relocated the entrance hall further back to create a bigger courtyard. Which would have been used as an extravagant welcome to the many guests who would have visited the mansion?

 

The beautiful room – ‘the Long Gallery’ is 40 metres long; it also featured in the films The Young Victoria, The Dark Night, The Crown, Miss Potter and Belle, to name just a few– but Osterley was used for many other films and TV series.

 

Another room that stands out at Osterley is the state bedroom; it was designed to impress royals when they came to stay – however, Queen Elizabeth 1^st was the only royal to ever remain at Osterley.

The bed is still beautifully made and has not yet been restored by the National Trust, the guide in that room explained to us that its design is much more extravagant than any other room at Osterley.

The picture gallery is a wonderful space and there is also artwork that isn’t all from the collection that originally graced the house, there’s still enough to be impressed by.

The House and Gardens at Osterley have been owned by the National Trust since 1949, today the house is presented as it would have been in the 1700s, yet a few rooms have been restored and others are currently undergoing restoration.

The Gardens, however, have been restored to their former glory from the 18^th Century, since the Trust took over the maintenance.

The gardens feature a series of flower beds that radiate colour out to the Garden House (The semi-circle building, much like an orangery was also designed by Robert Adam), with a maze of pathways enabling you to enjoy every inch of the beautiful gardens.