Five National Trust places to visit within 90 minutes of Croydon

Whether you’re looking for a walk with your dogs outdoors or fancy exploring a historic house, there are plenty of National Trust locations in and around south London for your next day out.

We’ve put together a list of five of our top picks for National Trust locations to visit and what you need to know about them.

Polesden Lacey

Where is it? Great Bookham, near Dorking, Surrey, RH5 6BD

Located 20 miles from Croydon, Polesden Lacey offers 1,600 acres of land to explore, along with an elegant Edwardian house, the former countryside retreat of Margaret Greville.

The grounds have plenty to explore from woodland areas to landscaped gardens, and lawns for picnicking in the summer.

If you get hungry there’s also an on-site café and coffee shop, and book lovers can enjoy a second-hand bookshop.

Polesden Lacey (Image: National Trust - Nick Meers)

Claremont Landscape Garden

Where is it? Portsmouth Road, Esher, Surrey, KT10 9JG

Located in Esher in Surrey, Claremont Landscape Garden is a Grade I listed landscaped garden dating back to the 18th century.

The garden is just a 50-minute drive from Croydon and offers visitors a chance to explore what was once a countryside retreat for royalty.

You’ll see some of the garden’s original historical features, including the large turf amphitheatre, serpentine lake, grotto, Camellia Terrace and Belvedere Tower.

Dogs are also welcome in the gardens on leads, and guided tours of the gardens and its history are also available on certain days.

If you get hungry, there’s also an on-site café in the garden too.

Claremont (Image: National Trust - Andrew Butler)

Osterley Park and House

Where is it? Jersey Road, Isleworth, Middlesex, TW7 4RB

Dating back to Tudor times, this west London estate features an opulent Georgian house along with 500 acres of land to explore.

The grounds have parkland along with an 18th century formal garden. Cycles are also available to hire if you fancy seeing more of the grounds.

The house itself is presented to appear as it would have done in the 1780s when it was designed by architect Robert Adam.

There’s also an on-site café, shop and second-hand bookshop, and dogs are permitted in the grounds on a lead and in the formal gardens during the winter months.

Osterley (Image: National Trust - Hugh Mothersole)

Standen House and Gardens

Where is it? West Hoathly Road, East Grinstead, West Sussex, RH19 4NE

Fans of William Morris and his work will love Standen House and Gardens, with its décor and interiors that heavily use designs from the famous designer himself.

The house is set up to appear as it would have done in 1925, when it was used as a weekend home for the Beale family.

There’s also a hillside garden to explore, in which dogs kept on leads are also welcome.

It’s located in East Grinstead, just a 50-minute drive from Croydon.

Guided tours are available and on the grounds, you will also find a shop, plant shop and second-hand bookshop, as well as a café.

Standen (Image: National Trust - Andrew Butler)

Nymans

Where is it? Handcross, near Haywards Heath, West Sussex, RH17 6EB

If you’re looking for a location that has that whimsical, romantic charm Nymans in West Sussex makes for a perfect day out.

Just a 45-minute drive from Croydon, Nymans was once the home of avid gardener and designer Ludwig Messel.

The house itself was originally built in the Georgian era in 1839 before it was eventually taken over by the Messel family in the 1890s.

Part of the building was damaged by a fire in 1947, however the ruins still remain to this day.

The Grade II listed gardens feature a range of rare and unusual plants originally planted by Messel himself, along with a woodland, lake and play glade.

Check out the Rose Garden inspired by Maud Messel’s 1920s design, featuring scents of vintage blooms.

Nymans (Image: National Trust - Clive Nichols)