London, England, United Kingdom
Eltham Palace and Gardens is a fascinating place to visit if you want to combine some Tudor history with a peek at one of the best examples of art deco architecture. The home itself was built by the Courtauld family next to the ruins of Eltham Palace, where Henry VIII spent his childhood.
Eltham Palace is one of the very few important medieval palaces to remain relatively intact. The palace was originally a moated manor house, which was then acquired by Edward II in 1305. It was later expanded by Edward IV and Henry VIII was the last monarch to spend large amounts of his time there as the importance of the palace was later overtaken by Greenwich Palace.
Then in the 1930s a wealthy family acquired the property and added an impressive art deco wing that adjoined the Great Hall. Particularly impressive is the gold leaf and onyx bathroom and the technology that was beyond state of the art at the time. As well as the impressive early twentieth century design, the family also had lovely gardens laid out.
Eltham Palace is located in south east London. By car you can get there by taking Junction 3 on the M25, then A20 to Eltham, off Court Rd, SE9.
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