Syon Park, the beautiful country estate with 40 acres of gardens to explore, is the perfect place for a day trip if you don’t want to travel too far.
Syon House, London’s last surviving ducal residence and home to the Duke of Northumberland, boasts 40 acres of lovely gardens within an incredible 200 acres of wider parkland, as well as the stunning Great Conservatory. (? by stu smith/edited)
Here’s what you can do while you’re there:
? Take a peek inside Syon House
Comprising of some magnificent interiors, Syon House has been home to the Percy family for over 400 years. Designed by Robert Adam, a Scottish neoclassical architect and interior designer, the building is known for being some of his best work. It’s also home to an extensive art collection, including antiques collected by the Percy family over a number of centuries. Every room is spectacular, for example: the Great Hall, a seriously impressive palace-like entrance hall, with a stunning black and white marble floor and statues of Roman nobles; the Long Gallery, which is a stunning place with secret doorways to the lawns and portraits of Dukes, Duchesses and Earls running the length of the room; and the inner courtyard, which was formerly used for entertainment and is now a beautiful green space designed by Lady Salisbury, with geometric design, gravel paths and parterre beds.
? Explore the Great Conservatory
Designed by Charles Fowler in the 1820s, the Great Conservatory is a picture-perfect botanical paradise.
? Get lost in the gardens
If you’ve had enough of the big city, this is the perfect place to visit. A trip to Syon’s Park and Gardens feels like you’ve travelled for hours to reach the peaceful countryside but, in reality, you’ve just hopped on a thirty minute train from Waterloo. There are 40 acres of superb gardens to explore, surrounded by 200 acres of parkland, which, between them, have over 600 years of history.
The parklands are home to a diversity of habitats in a comparatively small area (although it is technically seen as part of a larger expanse of green space, including Kew Gardens and Richmond Park), which means there’s a huge variety of wildlife living in the grounds. Syon’s Tide Meadow – 40 acres of tall grass washland – is actually considered a Site of Special Interest.
There are also some incredible trees scattered around, dating back to the 18th century at most. These include over twenty Champion trees; the largest specimens in the Country.
? Where to eat and drink at Syon Park
For any refreshments, head to the Garden Kitchen Restaurant inside the Wyevale Garden Centre, which you’ll find on site. They’ll serve you a quick coffee, a speedy snack, or a relaxed meal to curb your hunger for the rest of the day.
If you’re looking for a restaurant nearby, you’ll find: Marco Pierre White’s Steakhouse if you’re after something fancy; Syon Lounge for smashing shisha and sushi; or the Coach & Horses for chilled pub vibes and excellent grub.
? When to visit Syon Park
Syon Park is open from mid-March until late October every year.
During this period, the gardens are open seven days a week, from 10:30am – 5pm (with last entry at 4pm). The house is open Wednesdays, Thursdays and Sundays from 11am – 5pm (again, with last entry at 4pm).
Another fantastic time to visit is for Syon Park’s Enchanted Woodland event in November, when the park is illuminated with fantastic lights and visuals, forming a trail around the lake and ending at the Great Conservatory. It’s a truly breathtaking affair. Tickets cost £12 (or £10 on Fridays) and you can book for this year’s Enchanted Woodland here.
ℹ️ Visitor details
Location: Syon House, Syon Park, Brentford, TW8 8JF. The pedestrian entrance is via Half Moon Close opposite Royal Mail. (Please note that, at the time of writing, The Duchess Gate entrance was closed for restoration. Visit the Syon Park website for updates.) Nearest stations: Syon Lane or Brentford. See it on Google Maps.
Price: To visit the House, Gardens and Great Conservatory, tickets cost £13 for adults, £6 for children under 16 or £30 for families (2 adults, 2 children). For just the Gardens and the Great Conservatory, tickets cost £8 for adults, £4.50 for children under 16 or £18 for families.
More information: on their website.