About
Fulham Palace is a hidden gem on the banks of the River Thames, serving as the residence of the Bishops of London for over 1,300 years until 1973. This Grade I listed building combines medieval, Tudor, Georgian, and Victorian architecture set within 13 acres of beautiful gardens and grounds. The museum tells the fascinating story of the Palace, its famous residents, and its role in London's history through archaeological finds, period rooms, and changing exhibitions.
The gardens include rare botanical specimens collected by plant-hunting bishops, a walled garden, and ancient trees.
Categories:
Annual Visitors (2022)
125,000
Plan Your Visit
⏱️ Recommended Visit Duration
📅 Best Times to Visit
Quietest: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday
Busiest: Saturday, Sunday
💡 Spring and summer for gardens at their best, weekday mornings for quiet visits
💡 Visitor Tips
- Visit in spring or summer when the gardens are at their most beautiful
- Allow time to explore the 13 acres of grounds - there are ancient trees and hidden corners
- The Drawing Room Café serves excellent homemade cakes and light lunches
- Combine with a Thames Path walk along the river
- Free Sunday guided tours at 14:00 - book in advance
- Check website for special events, outdoor theatre, and seasonal activities
Highlights
The Great Hall
Magnificent Tudor hall with original 16th-century features and beautiful stained glass. The atmospheric heart of the Palace where bishops entertained guests for centuries.
The Museum of Fulham Palace
Tells 1,300 years of history through archaeological finds from Roman pottery to Victorian artefacts, period rooms, and interactive displays about the plant-hunting bishops.
The Walled Garden
Beautiful walled garden with rare plants, herbs, and fruit trees. Originally the bishops' productive kitchen garden, now restored with heritage varieties.
The Moat and Archaeological Trail
Remains of the medieval moat that once surrounded the Palace. Archaeological excavations revealed Romano-British settlement and Saxon origins.
Collections
Fulham Palace holds significant archaeological collections from excavations on site dating from Romano-British to Victorian periods, including pottery, coins, building materials, and domestic items. The museum displays period furniture, paintings of former bishops, ceramics, glass, and an important collection relating to the Palace's botanical history.
The gardens themselves are a living collection with rare botanical specimens collected by plant-hunting bishops in the 18th and 19th centuries, including some of London's oldest trees.
1,300 Years: The Story of Fulham Palace
Permanent museum exhibition exploring the Palace's long history from Saxon origins to modern day
📍 First Floor Museum
The Tudor Great Hall
16th-century hall with original features and interpretive displays
📍 Ground Floor
The Georgian Rooms
Period rooms showing 18th and 19th-century bishop's residence
📍 Ground Floor
The Historic Gardens
13 acres of gardens including walled garden, moat, ancient trees, and botanical collection
📍 Grounds
Themes
Time Periods
Current Exhibitions
No current exhibitions. Please check the museum website for updates.
