Polesden Lacey
Surrey, England
Key facts
- Operator
- National Trust
- Condition
- Intact
- Access
- Staffed, ticketed
- Entry pass
- National Trust Explorer Pass
- Stays
- Overnight accommodation available
Pinpoint
Polesden Rd, Great Bookham, Leatherhead RH5 6BD
Telephone 01372 452048
Possible Opening Hours*
*Opening times change. Always check the official website before you travel.
| Monday | 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM |
| Tuesday | 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM |
| Wednesday | 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM |
| Thursday | 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM |
| Friday | 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM |
| Saturday | 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM |
| Sunday | 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM |
Visitor essentials
- Parking
- Main car park hard-standing, two grass overflow; members free, non-members £5 per day (JustPark app/cash/reception); ten EV charging outlets in main car park
- Access
- Grounds partly accessible; ground floor of house wheelchair accessible; courtesy shuttle/accessibility bus (volunteer availability); mobility scooters and wheelchairs to borrow; main route to house on a slope
- Facilities
- Café and coffee shop in Stable Courtyard, Beech Hut kiosk, gift shop, second-hand bookshop, toilets near car park and by café with baby change
- Dogs
- Dogs on leads welcome in selected areas of main grounds; off-lead on wider estate (on lead around livestock); assistance dogs only in formal gardens, house, café and bookshop
- Safety
- Steps scattered throughout gardens (marked on maps); uneven terrain especially in pleasure grounds and old kitchen garden
Polesden Lacey is a Regency villa in Surrey remodelled by Edwardian society hostess Margaret Greville, with an unusual interior including a golden leaf room and a garden dog cemetery, set in wide grounds overlooking a river valley. Reviews are mixed - some rate it a genuinely distinctive house and grounds worth the visit, while others found the gardens underplanted and were frustrated by limited toilet facilities and a closed top floor relative to the entrance price. Garden Cottage on the estate can be booked as a holiday let.
Worth the trip
The golden leaf room, singled out by reviewers as the most memorable and unusual interior in the house.
Before you go
Reviewers flag limited toilet facilities near the entrance and note the top floor of the house has been closed on some visits, so it's worth weighing against the entrance price.
Reviewers are largely won over by the house's unusual interior, singling out the golden leaf room and the wide views over the meadow and hills from the terrace, alongside knowledgeable and friendly staff. The gardens draw more mixed reactions: several visitors love the rose garden and dog cemetery, but one found them barren with little growing and felt the site offered little on a rainy day. Practical gripes recur too, including a top floor closed to visitors, limited toilets, and parking costs seen as steep on top of the entrance price. The cafe is generally well liked, with the soup singled out for praise.
Regency villa remodelled by Edwardian society hostess Margaret Greville
“Really nice themed Christmas decorations in the house, Alice in Wonderland. Met an incredibly interesting volunteer in the dining room, he made our visit extra special.”- Elaine Tibbit, visitor review
Practical notes from visitors
Quoted from individual Google reviews, not verified with the operator - treat as a steer, not gospel, and check before you travel.
- Facilities
- “We had lunch at the cafe and it was delicious and priced well.” - Danielle Sonnex
Common questions about Polesden Lacey
Where is Polesden Lacey?
Polesden Lacey is in Surrey, England, at Polesden Rd, Great Bookham, Leatherhead RH5 6BD.
Do you need a ticket to visit Polesden Lacey?
Yes - Polesden Lacey is a staffed, ticketed attraction run by National Trust. Ticket prices and opening hours change through the year, so check the official site before travelling.
Can you stay overnight at Polesden Lacey?
Yes - Polesden Lacey offers bookable accommodation, so you can spend the night in the stately home itself or within its grounds. See the Stately Homes You Can Sleep In guide for the full list and how each stay works.
What is the highlight of visiting Polesden Lacey?
The golden leaf room, singled out by reviewers as the most memorable and unusual interior in the house.
Is Polesden Lacey a ruin or still intact?
Polesden Lacey is largely intact - Regency villa remodelled by Edwardian society hostess Margaret Greville.
