5 English Heritage locations to visit in London

London is certainly not short of terrific attractions to enjoy, whether you are a local or just visiting. As with all parts of the country, however, English Heritage manages their fair share of wonderful locations in London, providing fascinating excursions for all to appreciate. Most of London’s prized English Heritage locations come in the form of beautiful homes, parks, and gardens, and in this guide, we are going to highlight some of the very best. This guide also includes some pertinent accessibility information for each attraction, letting those with limited mobility, or a stair lift at home, know how accessible these locations will be for them.

Eltham Palace & Gardens

One of London’s most splendid English Heritage locations is definitely Eltham Palace, a wonderful Art Deco mansion set amongst 19-acres of award-winning gardens. Located in the Royal Borough of Greenwich, Eltham Palace has its own royal history, starting off life as a royal residence in the 1300s, it would go on to serve as a home to the likes of Henry VIII. Eltham still belongs to the Crown Estate and remains of the former royal residence can be seen in the medieval great hall.

The Art Deco mansion that exists today was added in the 1930s and visitors can enjoy the stylish interiors today, learn about the palace’s history, and then step outside into the glorious gardens, with a series of pools, cascades, and even a moat. There is a playground for the little ones to let loose in as well as a café to enjoy a tasty treat after exploring the grounds.

Franca, from the lifestyle blog, A Moment with Franca, has visited Eltham Palace & Gardens with her daughter and loved the experience. She shared what they enjoyed most about the visit: “Eltham Palace & Gardens was a lovely place to visit. I went with my eldest daughter a few years ago. What we enjoyed the most was their gardens. They are beautiful. My daughter enjoyed running around there. It is great for a picnic too.

“We also did a tour inside the house which was very interesting as it takes you from Art Deco modernity to a medieval masterpiece. It is very cool. They had audio visual guide tours for adults and kids, so this was very handy. The ones for kids come with extra activities which were fun to do. It also has a wooden outdoor play area which is perfect to let your children burn off some energy as well as a lovely cafe. I would definitely recommend a visit here as you will have a lovely family day out.”

Accessibility at Eltham Palace

In terms of accessibility at Eltham Palace, there are accessible toilets available, disabled parking, wheelchair loans, and assistance dogs are welcome. There is lift access into the building, however, the Great Hall dais and the Minstrel’s Gallery is only accessible via stairs. There is some undulation around the grounds but there are benches dotted around the premises.

You can read more about access at Eltham Palace here.

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Apsley House

Apsley House is the home of the Dukes of Wellington, an aristocratic family of enormous significance in British history. Located at Hyde Park Corner, the house is most certainly one of the grandest homes in London, run by English Heritage with the 9^th Duke of Wellington retaining use of part of the home.

Built in the 1700s, Apsley House is also known as the Wellington Museum and today visitors can enjoy exploring this testament to the dukes. A gorgeous Georgian mansion, it contains one of the finest art collections in London, including works by Velazquez and Rubens. The glittering interiors won’t fail to amaze and the chance to learn more about the man who defeated Napoleon, in his own home no less, isn’t one to pass up.

Accessibility at Apsley House

While Apsley House is one of London’s greatest English Heritage attractions, those who rely on the use of a wheelchair will find access to be very limited. There are no ramps in the home and just one lift, so English Heritage recommends a companion is brought along. There is disabled parking, however, handrails, and assistance dogs are welcome.

You can read more about access at Apsley House here.

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Ranger’s House

Image credit: Katie Chan

Ranger’s House is a grand red-brick Georgian mansion, situated adjacent to Greenwich Park, and built in the Palladian style. It is a Grade I listed building, built in 1722, taking its name from the royal appointment of the Ranger of Greenwich Park.

Beyond being a sumptuous home and setting of the Netflix period drama ‘Bridgerton’, Ranger’s House is itself home to the world-class collection of art known as the Wernher Collection. There are over 700 works of the most sublime art to be enjoyed, including French tapestries, medieval sculptures, Renaissance paintings, and ornate jewellery. It is one of the greatest surviving art collections ever assembled so anyone looking for a spot of culture in fine surroundings will not be disappointed.

Accessibility at Ranger’s House

There is lift access into Ranger’s House for those with disabilities, as well as a chair lift. There are wheelchair loans available, accessible toilets, and assistance dogs are welcome. There is, however, no disabled parking available.

You can read more about access at Ranger's House here.

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Kenwood

Located in Hampstead, Kenwood House was constructed in the 17^th century and was once the residence of the Earls of Mansfield. The Earl of Iveagh purchased the home in 1925 before donating it to the nation two years later. It has been open to the public ever since, become a popular location to visit, being a sumptuous house built in the Georgian and Neoclassical styles.

Kenwood is surrounded by tranquil, landscaped gardens, with 112 acres of grounds for visitors to stretch their legs after exploring the house itself. The architecture at Kenwood is simply amazing with breathtaking rooms around every corner, including the masterpiece that is the Grand Library, as well as a world-class art collection that boasts the likes of Rembrandt's 'Portrait with Two Circles'. That’s not all, however, as there are children’s activities available and a café to relax in.

Speaking of her experience at Kenwood, Tanya, from the blog Homegirl London, shares: “Kenwood House is a joy to visit and it’s absolutely free! It’s a must for all Londoners and visitors. I took my mum for a visit recently and she thoroughly enjoyed it, especially the pot of tea and slice of cake at the end of the tour! This former stately home is located on the edge of Hampstead Heath (Northern boundary) so it feels as though you are in the countryside.”

Accessibility at Kenwood

There is level access on the ground floor at Kenwood for the painting collection and there is a platform lift providing access to the upper floors of the house. There are handrails available inside the house for the staircase, disabled parking, accessible toilets, wheelchair loans, and assistance dogs are welcome. Some paths in the grounds may be difficult for wheelchair users, however, there are wide level paths available too.

You can read more about access at Kenwood here.

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Marble Hill House

Marble Hill House is one of the most beautiful locations in London. Located in Twickenham, this Neo-Palladian villa is a Grade I listed building that was built between 1724 and 1729. Overlooking the River Thames, it’s a truly peaceful spot with a much-loved park drawing frequent visitors in to relax. The house was built for Henrietta Howard, Countess of Suffolk, and was designed to be a retreat from the bustling streets of 18^th century London. It’s the perfect example of fashionable life in the Georgian era and while the house is currently under renovation, visitors can still enjoy a slice of tranquillity by roaming its grounds and exploring the 66 acres of parkland. Marble Hill is the perfect spot for a picnic and to just hit the pause button for a little while.

Accessibility at Marble Hill House

Accessibility at Marble Hill House is somewhat mixed. When the house is open to visitors, wheelchair access is restricted to the ground floor but there is a ramped entrance, disabled parking, disabled toilets, and assistance dogs are welcome. Outside, visitors with limited mobility can access 66 acres of level ground with tarmac paths and smooth grass.

You can read more about access at Marble Hill House here.

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English Heritage locations to visit in London

• Eltham Palace & Gardens
• Apsley House
• Ranger’s House
• Kenwood
• Marble Hill House

As you can see, there is plenty to look forward to when it comes to London’s English Heritage sites. You can put together many weekends’ worth of excursions via English Heritage alone and hopefully, this guide will give you the perfect starting point.

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