Osterley Park and House
- Architecture and design enthusiasts
- History enthusiasts
- Families with children
What Visitors Say
Originally built in the 16th century, as a home for Sir Thomas Gresham, a notable financier who worked for the Royal Court and founder of the Royal Exchange. It's claimed that Elizabeth 1st was one of many illustrious visitors. The house was re-designed by Robert Adam between 1761 and 1765 at which time the estate was purchased by Nicholas Barbon. The house was designed in a neo classical decor. The National Trust took control of the estate in 1991 and park and house are open to visitors.
This was a 'last minute,spare afternoon' visit. We absolutely loved the place! The house is interesting. The gardens, whilst not big, are really lovely. It's a lovely walk round the property.There are some magnificent trees. We would highly recommend a visit.
Great National Trust Property, set in extensive parkland in the west of London. The house opens at 11, and the cafe opens at 10. The park though is open from 9 for a good walk. The gardens close to the house are informal and lead naturally from house to open parkland with large ponds popular with local ducks. The house is a delight of traditional decoration. Do chat to the room guides they were so knowledgeable and brought the rooms to life. Thank you. We spent a good couple of hours in the house and immediate gardens/parkland, plus an hour in the cafe having a snack lunch and coffee. The lunch choices are limited to soup, pasties, hot sausage rolls and baked potatoes. If you want something more substantial I'm sure that there are local pubs and restaurants that would provide more.
I can’t believe there is a property like this within London. The vast garden area is stunning, filled with beautiful flowers and open fields that make it feel like a peaceful countryside escape. The huge Victorian house has so many interesting things to see and really leaves you amazed. The lake is also beautiful, and I especially loved seeing the swan. A truly wonderful place to visit.
Came here to celebrate BDay for my friend. We rent cycled £3 and cycled to explored the park as well the house. Easy to find car park. We had a truly fantastic day out at Osterley Park and House. The beauty of the parkland, stop in the middle of the park to see cows. Different type of cow. Then the pond with swans and relaxed in the garden, enjoying our lunch (picnic style) Plenty of bins and enough cafe to buy snacks and drinks. There are benches at shade area. We enter the house 2 hrs before it closed. The staff are very friendly and helpful us to keep our belongings while we're explored the house. The history within the house itself are worth the trip alone. The staffs were clearly passionate about the property and explain to us. Each room available to ask an info from the staff as they offer information and assistance, making us feel very welcome. We can't stop taking pictures and enjoy every details of the house. The carvings, the ceilings, the wallpapers, the old bedroom. All maintained well. We really enjoy exploring the house.
Highlights
The Entrance Hall
Adam’s ‘welcome with geometry’ momentCool stone, pale walls and a measured play of circles and right angles announce the house’s new 18th-century identity—Tudor mass with Neoclassical manners.
Ground floor, main door
Etruscan Dressing Room
Britain’s pioneering ‘Etruscan’ interiorPainted bands copy ancient vase decoration the Georgians called ‘Etruscan’—really Greek—and turn scholarship into fashion.
Family apartments, first floor
State Bed & Apartments
Sleeping as theatreA show bed hung in lush textiles and rooms choreographed for procession—status you could walk through, not just see.
First floor, east range
The Long Gallery
Perspective play on a grand scaleLight, mirrors and repeated ornament make distance feel elastic—the Georgians’ Instagram corridor before cameras existed.
Upper floor, garden side
Lake & Meadow Loop
Country air inside the M25Water, cattle and big oaks frame the house like a landscape painting; the banking show-home dissolves into rural calm.
From the garden gate, clockwise path
Opening Hours
Fun Facts
Osterley’s 18th-century ‘Etruscan’ dressing room is among the first British interiors directly painted from ancient vase patterns—scholarship turned into décor.
The makeover was bankrolled by Child & Co., who used Osterley as a living showroom—clients saw their banker’s taste before they saw his ledgers.
Beneath the elegance sits Tudor fabric: the 1760s refit wrapped and reorganised a 16th-century house built for Sir Thomas Gresham, founder of the Royal Exchange.
Film scouts love its time-travel trick: the same shooting day can deliver Tudor, Georgian and timeless ‘grand country house’ looks without leaving the site.
The parkland still runs cattle—one reason birdlife is so good here; hooves open ground for seeds and invertebrates that pull in herons and wagtails.
