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OutdoorsFree entry

Chiswick House and Gardens

London
Courtesy of Chiswick House and Gardens

ENTRY

Free

SETTING

Outdoors

WHERE

London

What it’s like

Free gardens to roam, a historic kitchen garden to explore, and a house you can only get into Thursday to Sunday.

The gardens are the main event here and they're free, open from 7am until dusk (a bit later in September, 7:30pm). That's a proper chunk of the day for wandering, and with dogs welcome throughout you can bring the whole household, four-legged members included. The Kitchen Garden is the bit worth building your visit around, historic beds and paths that kids can actually poke about in, and on Thursdays and Saturdays from 11am there's a produce cart selling whatever's been grown there that week.

Chiswick House itself keeps shorter hours, Thursday to Sunday, 10:30am to 3:30pm, and only until 27 September, so it's not a turn-up-any-day sort of visit if you want to see inside. It's also sometimes closed for private hire, which is the kind of thing that could catch you out if the house is the whole reason you've driven over.

For younger children there are art classes for the 5 to 12 crowd and holiday camps mixing multisports with arts and crafts, run alongside outdoor activities with the local community. None of that is a daily drop-in thing from what's listed.

Parking is on site, 60 spaces including 3 disabled bays, but it's pay-by-phone from 8am to 6pm daily and there's no free option, which stings a bit for a free attraction. If you're coming by train, Chiswick station is a 13 minute walk and Turnham Green tube about 20 minutes, with the E3 and 533 buses also stopping nearby. Cyclists can ride in on the tarmac paths at the edge of the grounds but have to get off and walk once they're properly in the gardens.

What’s on here

Facilities

Bike parking
Blue badge parking
Café
Dog friendly
Parking
School visits
Toilets
Wheelchair accessible

Need to know

Best for
Younger children, with art classes aimed at 5 to 12 year olds
Parking
60 spaces (incl. 3 disabled), Pay-by-Phone 8am-6pm daily, no free parking
Dogs
Welcome throughout the grounds and gardens
Getting there by bus or train
Chiswick train station 13 min walk
  • Fresh produce from the Kitchen Garden is sold Thursdays and Saturdays from 11am
  • The house closes for the season after 27 September
  • Cyclists must stick to tarmac paths, no riding on the grass
  • No coach parking on site, coaches drop off on the A316 near the Hogarth roundabout

Plan your visit

Is it free to get in?

The gardens are free and open daily from 7am until dusk. The house has its own separate hours and is only open Thursday to Sunday until 27 September.

Do we need to book?

There's no booking link listed, so it looks like you can just turn up for the gardens. School visits and workshops do run to set session times though.

Is there parking?

60 spaces on site including 3 disabled bays, but it's pay-by-phone from 8am to 6pm daily. No free parking here.

Can we bring the dog?

Dogs are welcome throughout the grounds and gardens.

What can kids actually do there?

There's the Kitchen Garden to explore, art classes for 5 to 12 year olds, and holiday camps mixing multisports with arts and crafts.

Can we cycle round the gardens?

Cyclists are welcome but have to stick to the tarmac paths at the edge of the grounds, no riding on the grass or the walking paths.

What if we want to see inside the house?

Check it's actually open before you set off. It only runs Thursday to Sunday, 10:30am to 3:30pm, until 27 September, and it's sometimes closed for private hire.

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