About
Polesden Lacey is a magnificent Edwardian country house set within 1,400 acres of the Surrey Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, celebrated as one of the most glamorous house-party venues of the early 20th century. The estate, which dates back to 1336, was transformed by the Hon. Mrs Ronald Greville into one of England's most glittering social destinations between 1906 and her death in 1942. Margaret Greville, daughter of the brewing magnate William McEwan and a close friend of royalty, used Polesden Lacey to host lavish weekend parties attended by Edward VII, the future George VI and Queen Elizabeth (who spent part of their 1923 honeymoon here), Indian maharajas, politicians, diplomats, and the cream of Edwardian and interwar society.
The house itself, originally an 1820s Regency villa designed by Thomas Cubitt, was extensively remodeled and expanded by the architects Ambrose Poynter and later Mewes and Davis to create interiors of extraordinary opulence. Mrs Greville filled the rooms with her remarkable collection of art and antiques, including Old Master paintings by Raeburn and Perugino, fine French and English furniture, Chinese porcelain, silver, and Faberge pieces. The sumptuous drawing room, gilded saloon, and picture corridor demonstrate the lavish taste and considerable wealth that made Polesden Lacey the envy of Edwardian society. Her collection of photographs, guest books, and correspondence preserves a vivid record of aristocratic social life spanning four decades.
The grounds at Polesden Lacey are equally distinguished, featuring a celebrated walled rose garden with over 2,500 roses, an Edwardian parterre, herbaceous borders, a winter garden, and extensive lawns with panoramic views across the rolling Surrey countryside. The wider estate encompasses ancient woodland, chalk downland, and farmland threaded with walking trails offering some of the finest accessible countryside in southern England. Bequeathed to the National Trust by Mrs Greville in 1942 along with her art collection, Polesden Lacey preserves a remarkable snapshot of Edwardian and interwar high society, social ambition, and exquisite taste in one of England's most beautiful landscape settings.
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Plan Your Visit
⏱️ Recommended Visit Duration
📅 Best Times to Visit
Quietest: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday
Busiest: Saturday, Sunday
💡 June for peak rose garden displays, or autumn for woodland colors across the estate
💡 Visitor Tips
- Book timed house tickets in advance during summer weekends and school holidays as they sell out quickly
- Visit in June-July for the walled rose garden at its magnificent peak with over 2,500 roses in bloom
- Allow a full day to explore both the house and the extensive estate walks through Surrey Hills countryside
- The estate walks are free to access and offer stunning bluebell displays in April-May
- National Trust members enter free but still need to book timed house tickets during peak periods
- Combine with nearby Box Hill for a full day of National Trust countryside and heritage
- The courtyard cafe serves excellent lunches using local Surrey produce
- Wear sturdy footwear for estate walks as paths can be muddy after rain
Highlights
Mrs Greville's Drawing Room and Saloon
The principal reception rooms at Polesden Lacey showcase Margaret Greville's extraordinary taste and formidable social ambition. The drawing room, decorated in sumptuous Edwardian style with gilded mirrors, fine furniture, and silk hangings, was where Mrs Greville received her illustrious guests including Edward VII, who visited regularly.
The adjacent saloon, with its elaborate gilded ceiling and fine proportions, hosted the intimate dinner parties for which Polesden Lacey became famous.
Contemporary accounts describe evenings of witty conversation, fine wine, and political intrigue among the most powerful people in the British Empire. The rooms retain their Edwardian furnishings and arrangement, creating an authentic atmosphere of golden-age entertaining that few English houses can match.
The Picture Corridor and Art Collection
Mrs Greville's remarkable art collection, assembled with the guidance of leading dealers and connoisseurs, lines the house's impressive picture corridor and principal rooms. The collection includes significant Old Master paintings, Dutch Golden Age works, and fine portraits by artists including Sir Henry Raeburn.
The picture corridor, designed specifically to display paintings in gallery fashion, demonstrates how wealthy Edwardian collectors used art to establish cultural credentials and impress distinguished guests.
Chinese porcelain, Faberge eggs and ornaments, carved ivories, and fine silver complement the paintings, reflecting Mrs Greville's wide-ranging acquisitive tastes. The collection was bequeathed to the National Trust alongside the house, preserving the relationship between artworks and the domestic setting for which they were chosen.
The Walled Rose Garden
Polesden Lacey's walled rose garden is among the finest in National Trust care, containing over 2,500 roses planted in formal beds within a sheltered walled enclosure. The garden reaches its magnificent peak in June and July when masses of blooms in every shade from pure white through pink to deep crimson fill the air with fragrance.
The layout follows Edwardian garden design principles with structured beds, gravel paths, and climbing roses covering the warm brick walls.
Lavender hedging, herbaceous borders, and carefully chosen companion planting complement the roses and extend seasonal interest. The walled garden's microclimate, created by surrounding brick walls that absorb and radiate warmth, protects the roses and allows slightly tender varieties to thrive. This is one of Surrey's most visited garden features and an essential stop for any visitor.
Royal Honeymoon Rooms
The future King George VI and Queen Elizabeth (later the Queen Mother) spent part of their honeymoon at Polesden Lacey in April 1923, and the rooms they occupied have been preserved and interpreted to commemorate this royal connection. Mrs Greville, a close friend of the royal family, offered the house as a honeymoon retreat, and the Duke and Duchess of York spent several happy days enjoying the Surrey Hills countryside.
Photographs, correspondence, and contemporary accounts document the royal visit and Mrs Greville's close relationship with the royal family that lasted until her death in 1942.
The Queen Mother later recalled her honeymoon at Polesden Lacey with great affection, and this royal association remains one of the house's most popular stories with visitors.
Collections
Mrs Greville's House
Edwardian interiors furnished with original art collection, furniture, and decorative arts
Royal Connections
The 1923 royal honeymoon and Mrs Greville's friendship with the royal family
Life Below Stairs
Servant quarters and kitchen revealing the domestic infrastructure of Edwardian entertaining
Gardens and Grounds
Walled rose garden, formal terraces, and 1,400-acre Surrey Hills estate
Themes
Time Periods
Current Exhibitions
No current exhibitions. Please check the museum website for updates.