Ham House and Garden, London | Local Adventures

Ham House is a unique 17th-century treasure trove built in 1610 by Sir Thomas Vavasour, Knight Marshal to James I. Sir Thomas died in 1620 but it wasn’t until 1626 when the house was bestowed to William Murray {1st Earl of Dysart} who between 1637 and 1639 remodelled the interior of Ham House.

The Ham House and Garden are located near Richmond London close to River Thames in the village of Ham. The National Trust considers the Ham House and Garden a rare example of 17th century life, treasures and architecture. Ham House and Garden have stayed in the family line until the 9th Earl of Dysart died in 1935.

Ham House and Garden, London

During our recent visit to London for a friend’s wedding, we decided to visit an NT property close to our location. Ham House and Garden were the closest, we were intrigued by the rare survival of 17th-century luxury Stuart house. The house is 10 miles from central London but what makes it even more appealing is its close proximity to River Thames.

It is customary for us when visiting NT properties to explore the house, the gardens, shops, cafes and restaurants available. When we entered the Ham House we were not disappointed, it was easy to see why the house is a treasure trove. The current design of the house is all thanks to Elizabeth, Countess of Dysart and her husband William Murray.

Things to do at Ham House

Like most NT properties, every season different activities start or end and it’s no different for Ham House. During spring, you can enjoy;

• House walks – free flow, volunteers are around the house to provide insight into the history of the house
• Spring Walks – explore the gardens of this gorgeous estate.
• Ham Walkies – both dogs and well-behaved humans are invited to walk about the gardens
• Architecture Walks – takes about 30 minutes talking about the exterior design of the house
• Garden tours – take 40 minutes discussing the history of gardens
• Children’s craft activities – held in the education room every weekend.
• Enjoy lunch at the Orangery cafe
• Buy some second hand books

Ham House and Garden is a luxury treasure trove filled with 400 years of Dysart family history. The front of the house does not look that impressive architecturally speaking but the inside and back are different stories. We were truly impressed by the gardens which on a gorgeous day are the best place to spend an afternoon.

We highly recommend visiting before mid-day so you can explore the house and garden at your leisure. The property is family friendly with lots of places for the kids to play and very educational too. We found ourselves spending more time in the gardens as they are beautifully maintained.