Eltham Palace

Take a look around historic Eltham Palace, the only English Art Deco home open to the public. 

Visit Eltham Palace with Go City®

• With us, there are no entry fees on the day – all you've got to do is show your pass.
• Admire the 20th-century millionaire’s mansion, designed in the ‘Renaissance’ style. 
• Step back in time to the 1930s, with the interiors of the main home restored to their Art Deco grandeur.
• Take in the stunning medieval Great Hall.
• Explore the 19-acre award-winning gardens.
• Your Go London pass gives you access to dozens more of the city's top attractions, so make sure to check them out!

Once the site of a royal retreat, Eltham Palace mixes medieval features with 1930s design in an intoxicating brew of British architecture, history and culture.

A young Prince Henry - later known as Henry VIII - spent much of his youth here in the 1500s and developed a real affection for the place. But, by the end of the 19th century, just the Great Hall, a bridge crossing the palace’s moat, and some original walls remained.

The site was acquired by high society millionaires Stephen and Virginia Courtauld in 1933. They commissioned leading architects and designers of the time to create a lavish modern palace on the site. The exterior is designed in the ‘Renaissance’ style and takes architectural cues from Hampton Court Palace, but the interior is pure Art Deco modernism. 

The stunning Entrance Hall features a fabulous glazed dome through which light enters dramatically, illuminating the entranceway. Elsewhere, the dining and drawing rooms, along with Virginia’s bedroom and ensuite showcase cutting-edge 1930s design.

English Heritage took on Eltham Palace in 1995, eventually opening it to the public. The contrasting of the medieval hall and the 1930s palace, along with the rich and varied history of the site, make Eltham Hall one of the most unique architectural attractions anywhere in the capital.

Eltham Palace highlights

Grand Entrance Hall – bask in the light flooding into the Grand Entrance Hall, designed with a real sense of drama by Swedish designer Rolf Engströmer.

1930s mansion – take in all the state-of-the-art technology and unique features of the 1930s mansion, including the extravagant, centrally-heated bedroom designed for the Courtalds’ pet lemur, Mah-Jongg.

Virginia Courtauld's walk-in wardrobe – step into Virginia Courtauld's walk-in wardrobe to see fabulous dresses, hats and accessories from the 1930s. You can even try on some vintage replicas yourself.

Basement bunker – head down into the basement bunker where the household took shelter during the Blitz.

Great Hall – visit the spectacular medieval Great Hall, dating back to the times of Edward IV.

Royal history – learn about the royal history of this unique site, where Henry VIII spent many of his formative years.

Movies – because of their characterful look, Eltham Palace has been used for the filming of many, many movies, TV shows and music videos over the years. See if you can spot it in Netflix’s The Crown, Hustle, Poirot, Brideshead Revisited and music videos by Florence and the Machine, Marina and the Diamonds and Jessie Ware.

Special Events

For event listings, check out the Eltham Palace website here.

Getting in: simply show your pass at the entrance.

For more information visit the Eltham Palace website.

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