Strawberry Hill House: fascinating London suburban villa

Do you know the English capital by heart? Get out of London to discover a real hidden treasure: Strawberry Hill House!

Strawberry Hill House is the story of a modest residence transformed into a sumptuous and extravagant mansion that does not go unnoticed. At the origin of this change? A man with an overflowing imagination named Horace Walpole, who was surrounded by talented architects, scholars and tasteful men.

Located in the chic suburbs of Twickenham, Strawberry Hill House is less than 20 kilometres west of London. This incredible neo-Gothic style villa is similar to a real castle. You will remain amazed by its imposing towers, its elaborate ornaments and its vaulted ceilings. Not to mention the rich art collections it houses!

Strawberry Hill House inspired Walpole, author of the first Gothic novel ( The Château d’Otrante - 1764). He continues to inspire filmmakers and English television series. They find unique and fancy decors. Its unique atmosphere and its unique architecture, they continue to attract the curious passages since its construction.

What if on your next visit to the English capital you abandoned Buckingham Palace, Westminster and his Big Ben to discover this impressive white house called Strawberry Hill House?

In the footsteps of Strawberry Hill House, London

Strawberry Hill House was built from 1749 by art historian, antiques, politician and English writer Horace Walpole. It is at the origin of the work The Château d’Otrante , considered the first novel of the Gothic genre. After the purchase of the site named “ Chopp’d Straw Hall “In 1747 Walpole created the “comity of taste” with John Chute and Richard Bentley. The transformation of the place was possible in 4 stages.

A house that attracts curiosity

Over the years, the house has been rebuilt, towers have been added, and then the decoration improved. Around 1776, what was initially a modest cottage became an elegant little neo-Gothic-style castle. Walpole renames him Strawberry Hill House.

Rapidly, the mansion, fascinates and attracts the curiosity of the inhabitants of the city, who wish to visit it. The owner therefore began to welcome visitors (four a day) to make them discover the place. He also received several foreign ambassadors, then members of the royalty and English aristocracy.

Walpole at St Mary’s Universiry College

After Walpole died in 1797, the house remained in the family. However, all his content was sold by one of his grandsons, George Waldegrave (1816-1846). We then talk about the “big sale of 1842′′. Ten years later, it was the widow of this successor, Lady Frances Waldegrave (1821-1879), who decided to make his superb at Strawberry Hill House. The house subsequently belonged to the De Stern family and then to St Mary’s University College. It is always the current owner of the place.

The castle, considered as the precursor of the Gothic Renaissance of the 19th century, is at the origin of the Strawberry Hill Gothic style.

What's behind Strawberry Hill House in London?

Strawberry Hill House is a 46-hectare land in the London suburbs of Twickenham. The land was built in a romantic garden. The beautiful house continues to fascinate, 2 and a half centuries after its construction.

A charming garden

Horace Walpole inspired William Kent to create his garden in a romantic English style. Shrubs and flowers were planted, then a terrace and roads leading to the Thames were built. Thanks to maps, writings and paintings of the time, the garden has been restored and regained its appearance of the past. The bench in the shape of a large Rococo-style shell in front of the Thames that Walpole was particularly fond of was also recreated.

Class II, this garden has its place in the register of historic parks and gardens. It is possible to visit it for free every day of the week. The garden of Strawberry Hill House is the ideal place to relax or picnic after visiting the house on a beautiful day!

An elegant villa

The interior decoration is unique and eccentric, like its owner who was a great art collector. Thanks to numerous donations from foundations and the local community, Strawberry Hill House was able to be restored and reopened to the public in 2010. As with the garden, Walpole’s many written descriptions, John Carter’s drawings and Heinrich Muntz’s paintings allowed this incredible home to regain its appearance, as imagined by its owner. It won the European Union’s cultural heritage award at the Europa Nostra Awards in 2013. Since February 2019, some of the works of the collection of Horace Walpole that had been sold and dispersed around the world have found their place within Strawberry Hill House.

To go

Are you interested? Place practical information!

How?

Whether you are in London or its surroundings, Strawberry Hill House is easily accessible:

• By train (about 40 minutes) Take a train from London Waterloo Station to Strawberry Hill (4 trains per hour from Monday to Saturday, and 2 trains per hour from Sunday). Strawberry Hill Train Station is a 5-minute walk from the villa.
• By metro : take the District Line to Richmond Station, then train to Strawberry Hill or R68 bus to Hampton Court to Michelham Gardens.
• By bus : from the Hammersmith bus station, Barnes train station, Richmond bus station or Twickenham city centre, take bus 33 towards Fulwell until Strawberry Vale stop. Departure from Kew Retail Park, Richmond Station or Twickenham City Centre, take the R68 bus to Hampton Court to Michelham Gardens.
• By car : free parking is available to visitors but the places are limited and quickly taken in peak times.
• Bike : bike paths allow you to reach Strawberry Hill House by bike from Kingston, Hampton Court, Richmond or Twickenham.
• On foot : the villa is only a 15-minute walk from the city centre of Twickenham, and 50 minutes from Richmond.

When?

Strawberry Hill House is open to the public from Monday to Wednesday from 11am to 3pm, and Sundays and public holidays from 11am to 4pm. The last entry is an hour before the closure and it is recommended to book its tickets in advance. If you want to enjoy a guided tour, a date is set every Sunday at 10am.

Finally, don’t hesitate to discover the program on Strawberry Hill House’s official website because events such as shows or exhibitions are regularly organized!

To sleep

On site

If you would like to stay close to Strawberry Hill House, we recommend you choose from book a hotel room in advance or Airbnb in the city of Twickenham . This will cost you from about 50€ for a private room in an Airbnb, or from about €1,000 for a room in a hotel (rend yourself to this hotel comparison to find the best deal!).

The nearby addresses

If you are planning to also visit the English capital, it may be better to choose accommodation closer to its city centre. You can find one private room in London in an Airbnb or book a hotel from about 45€.

To eat

On site

A café welcomes you all year round in the beautiful garden of Strawberry Hill House. In addition to offering you a menu with fresh, seasonal and home-made products, coffee offers an exceptional view of the garden. The atmosphere is warm, whether you go for lunch or simply for a tea!

The nearby addresses

Here is a small selection of local restaurants in Twickenham:

• Umi for Japanese cuisine
• Little Mumbai or The Cochin for Indian cuisine lovers
• The Bloomsbury, for an authentic English pub
• The Crown, a pub yes, but chic!

Twickenham is an easy suburb of London. Therefore the rates adopted by some restaurants can quickly climb!

What budget are you planning to visit Strawberry Hill House in London?

At your budget to accommodate, feed and move to London and its surroundings, you will have to add the entrance tickets to the villa. The rate is:

• £12.5 for adults
• £6.25 for students
• Admission is free for under 16 years

What I can discover in the region

If you already know all to make in London , enjoy the pretty chic suburbs west of the English capital! You can add to your list, including:

• Walk through the old oaks of Richmond’s immense park, and observe its wild fauna, like deer! It is a national nature reserve.
• Longer the Thames on foot or by bike.
• Visit the sumptuous mansion of Ham House in Richmond.
• Discover the palace of Hampton Court, known for being Henry VIII's residence.
• Take a tour of the world's largest tennis museum, the Wimbledon Museum.