Osterley Park

Situated in beautiful Isleworth, Osterley Park is a wonderful example of neo-classical design. As stunning as it is, some rooms did appear a little bare, likely because many of the paintings and objects inside are provided by other collections, such as the V&A. Therefore, the joy of the house mostly lies with the architecture and history of the building, which does make for a good photograph, especially for all the Greeks reading this who love a bit of classical archtecture!

As I hoped, volunteers were situated in almost every room, all brimming with historical information and interesting stories that really helped fill the bones of the house, which has convinced me once again that there is no substitute for human interaction in a historical house museum. I had a hilarious conversation with one volunteer called Mary, which involved critiquing the painting below. Osterley Park in this image is clearly depicted as being bigger and more imposing than it actually is, which was apparently common for commissioned paintings at the time. Experiences that expand my historical knowledge and involve meeting interesting people, are usually the most memorable.

 Image from the V&A website: View of Osterley Park from the East by A.T. Devis. 

The grounds were substantial for somewhere located in London and there was an interesting group of cows in an adjoining field, which appeared to be entertaining many children and me obviously.

The cafe/restaurant was a bit disappointing. It had few options and the space itself was a little cramped. However, there was quite a selection of cake and ice cream with vegan options available. The food experience in this place is more suited to grabbing a quick snack instead of a sit-down meal. Although, considering the house is located in bustling London, it’s not as if restaurants would be hard to find. Overall, certainly worth a visit and bringing a picnic to eat in the gardens would be a winning plan on a sunny day.