Osterley Park and House
Osterley Park and House
A short hop from central London by tube but a world apart. Stroll up the tree-lined drive, past the grazing Charolais cattle and you'd think you're in the country, not urban Hounslow.
Surrounded by gardens, park and farmland, Osterley is one of the last surviving country estates in London.
Once described by Horace Walpole as 'the palace of palaces', Osterley was created in the late 18th century by architect and designer Robert Adam for the Child family to entertain and impress their friends and clients.
Today the house is presented as it would have looked in the 1780s; enter the house as the family's guests would have via the impressive stone steps leading up to the portico.
Stroll through the colourful formal gardens, transformed during our six year long project from an overgrown wilderness back to their 18th century grandeur of herbaceous borders, roses and ornamental vegetables beds. Look out for the original Robert Adam summer house full of lemon trees and highly scented shrubs.
Grab some lunch in our stables tea-room, or why not get it to take away and spend some time spotting some of the resident wildlife by Middle Lake?
Take the woodland walk and uncover the forgotten boathouse or wander back through the ancient meadow, bursting with wildflowers and butterflies.
We can also provide you and your students with fabulous workshops.
Victorian servant Key Stage 2 sessions
Ever wondered what life was like for a domestic servant in Victorian times? At what age did you start work? How early did a kitchen maid have to get up in the morning?
Find out the answers to these questions and more whilst you try your hand at beating carpets; all under the watchful eye of resident housekeeper 'Mrs Bunce'.
Join us on a mini-beast hunt
This fun-packed session involves pupils investigating the insect life in our grounds. This activity includes first-hand investigation of woodland leaf litter, species classification and recording - all set in the beautiful and well-maintained gardens.
Outdoor education area
New this year, you can book in with the education team to use our new outdoor classroom. Teach pupils about the food chain, and how plants grow and how we harvest them. Give children first-hand experience of growing fresh produce and learning where our meals come from.