Lesser-known village with a ‘fairytale’ 18th-century manor only 30 minutes from London
- UK Hidden Gems
- Oct 14
- 2 min read
A peaceful village just 30 minutes from London has gained attention for its ‘magical’ 18th-century gothic manor, filled with history and links to writer and politician Horace Walpole.
It’s only a short stroll from the riverside and has easy train connections into central London.
The house was designed by Horace Walpole in the 18th century and has welcomed visitors for more than 250 years.
Walpole bought the property in 1747 and transformed it into his idea of a small ‘Gothic castle’, which became his summer retreat.
During his lifetime, Walpole invited locals to explore the house, which quickly became a curiosity for its unique design.
After his death, ownership passed to his cousin’s daughter, sculptor Anne Seymour Damer, and later to different members of the Waldegrave family.
A few years ago, the house underwent a huge restoration project, supported by £10 million in funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund, The World Monuments Fund, English Heritage, and local community groups.
It reopened to the public in 2010 and went on to win major awards, including the Georgian Group Award for best restoration of an 18th-century country house and the Europa Nostra Award.
Tickets are priced at £14.50 for adults when booked online, £10 for students, and £7.25 for children, with under-fives entering for free. Local residents, Blue Badge holders, and English Heritage members can also enjoy discounted entry.
Every September, the house hosts the UK’s most sustainable flower festival, transforming the building into a “fairytale world where imagination runs wild.” Over 50 leading flower artists create displays that fill the gothic-style rooms with colour and creativity.
Strawberry Hill’s five-acre garden is free to visit and open from Saturday to Wednesday, between 9am and 4pm.
The gardens have been carefully restored to resemble their 18th-century design, using old maps, paintings, and Walpole’s own notes. They are Grade II* listed and recognised for their national importance as a glimpse into garden history.
Visitors often rave about the house’s charm and fascinating past. One reviewer wrote on TripAdvisor: “I enjoyed this house more than any I can remember — and that’s a lot! Full of surprises, lovely guides, and a great café.”
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As with anywhere outdoors, kindly keep these areas pristine and wild by taking all trash with you. The amount of complaints we have seen since the pandemic is crazy. It's really not that hard to take your rubbish with you!
Litter tends to spread, so if you see any and are able to pick it up and dispose of it outside the hidden gem, it will help keep the area tidy.
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