Osterley Park

Most people's first impression of the Osterley Park estate will be of the long multiple avenue that leads to the house from Jersey Road. Reaching it via the car parks, the house can be seen on the other side of one of the three lakes that help define the landscape.

The house has the Pleasure Grounds to its north and east side. This includes a lawn with a collection of old and impressive trees on the south side of the house. Lawns and views to the east and west mark the other two sides.

There are three major long lakes that lie to the south and east of the house. Part of one of these has been cut off by the M4 motorway. There are also some monuments, including the 'Temple of Pan'.

A considerable collection of trees can be found through the grounds, including many large and notable trees. Of especial note are the many large and mature cedars, especially on the south side of the house. There are also many oaks of different types, including the tallest Hungarian oak in the country, and a notable large cork oak. Many of the trees are over 200 years old. An oriental Plane beside the house has been dated to 1759, though it is not particularly impressive as plane trees go, and there are better specimens elsewhere in the park.

Belts of woodland and the naturalistic lakes make Osterley Park an attractive wildlife watching location. The parkland was originally surrounded by farms. Much of this still remains as open land, farms, and golf courses, but the M4 now passes over the north of the estate, and cuts off part of the original estate.

Osterley House was first built in the sixteenth century, for Sir Thomas Gresham, a banker. There is little visible left of that original house, though parts of the outbuildings survive.

It came into the hands of Francis Child and his heir, Robert Child, in the middle of the eighteenth century. They employed Robert Adam to remodel and rebuild the house, in its current distinctive style. It dominates the park, with vistas and views to the east and west.

It is now open as a National Trust property.

The Pleasure Grounds date from Robert Adam's time. The Garden House which forms one of its focal points was designed by him. These gardens are situated just to the north-west of the house and its stable block. The gardens include a number of herbaceous and mixed borders. They also include a Walled Garden, which once held several glasshouses, but is now a working area.

The house originates from the 16th century, although most of what can be seen now is due to alterations by Robert Adam in the 18th century. The main elements of the landscape were created at this time, including the construction of the three lakes, and the planting of some of the mature trees that can be seen now.

The estate was donated to the National Trust in 1949.

In the 1960s, the M4 motorway was built across the estate. Although it was diverted somewhat from its most direct possible route to preserve the house, the north of the grounds, and part of one of the lakes have been cut off.

The park and house are managed by the National Trust. Contact 020 8232 5069.

Fees are charged for car parking, for entry to the house, and for entry to the pleasure gardens. There is no charge for entry to the rest of the grounds.

There is an informative unofficial website at Osterley Park, though as usual with such properties, it concentrates on the house rather than the park. The park is closed at night.

Facilities

• Information point
• Tea room
• Toilets

• Historic house and gardens
• Notable trees

• Fishing

Getting there

• Underground; to Osterley Station, then a walk of about 1km.
• Bus; routes H28 and H91.
• Car; paid car parking is available on site, entrance off Jersey Road to the south.