Cost: £22
This 17th century mansion set in the South Downs National Park inspired countless artists, including arguably England’s greatest landscape painter, J M W Turner. In fact the film Mr Turner was filmed here in 2014 and this visit ties in nicely with the Town & Around visit to Turner’s house in Strawberry Hill in April.
The house displays, in the opulent state rooms and North Gallery, the finest collection of art and sculpture in the care of the National Trust, including world famous paintings by Van Dyck, Reynolds, Blake as well as Turner. Classical and neo-classical sculptures, carvings by Grinling Gibbons and fine furniture and ceramics can also be seen.
Outside is a woodland pleasure ground designed by ‘Capability’ Brown. The 700 acre park is home to the largest fallow deer herd in England and the wonderful ‘natural’ landscape was also the creation of ‘Capability’ Brown.
On arrival you are free to explore the property as you see fit. The Audit Room cafe serves light lunches, afternoon teas and homemade cakes and there is also a Servants’ Hall coffee shop and the usual gift shops.
We will leave Mitcham at 9.00am, Wimbledon at 9.30am and Raynes Park at 9.40 for the journey which should take just over an hour. Please be at the departure point 10 minutes before.
We will then depart about 4pm and, traffic permitting, would hope to be back by 5.30pm at Raynes Park.
DON’T FORGET YOUR NT OR VOLUNTEER CARDS