While researching Fulham for my blog, I visited Fulham Palace House and Gardens on Bishop’s Avenue. Set beside the River Thames and close to Putney Bridge, the former home of the Bishops of London combines centuries of history with a museum, historic rooms, a botanic garden and a beautiful walled garden. With free admission to the house and grounds, it’s a great place to stop if you’re exploring this part of southwest London. If you’re looking for historic houses in London, free museums, beautiful gardens or things to do in Fulham, I recommend spending a couple of hours at Fulham Palace House and Gardens.
Fulham Palace House And Museum
The captivating history of Fulham Palace spans more than 1,300 years and 133 Bishops of London. The Palace sits within Bishops Park, which seems particularly fitting as it was the Bishops of London’s country residence for centuries. The site became associated with the Bishops of London in AD 704, although the Palace you see today is the result of centuries of alterations, additions and rebuilding. As you walk around, you’ll notice Tudor, Georgian and Victorian architecture, which makes the building much more interesting than somewhere preserved to represent a single period.
You can wander around the museum and historic rooms at your own pace, and when I visited during the week, it was pleasantly quiet. The rooms are quite bare rather than being crammed with furniture and objects, so it’s a relatively quick tour. The historic rooms include the Tudor Great Hall, Victorian Chapel and Bishop Porteus’s Library, along with rooms associated with Bishops Howley and Sherlock.
The museum doesn’t shy away from the more uncomfortable parts of its history either. It acknowledges the connections between the Bishops of London, colonialism and transatlantic slavery, including research into bishops who were involved with or benefited from the enslavement of African people.
After you’ve looked around the house, pop into the gift shop and stop for something to eat or drink at the café. The food is fairly basic, but the setting is lovely, especially if the weather is good enough to sit outside overlooking the lawn. In the morning, you can get a bacon bap, while lunchtime choices include quiche with salad and avocado on toast, along with cakes and other light bites
Fulham Palace Gardens
The grounds cover 13 acres and include the botanic garden and walled garden, so there’s plenty to see. The walled garden was one of my favourite areas. Enclosed by old brick walls, it feels quite secluded and has a colourful knot garden, productive kitchen garden, vinery and apple orchard. I enjoyed wandering along the paths and seeing the mixture of flowers, fruit and vegetables growing here. What you see will obviously depend on the time of year, which gives you a good excuse to return in another season.
The wider botanic garden has mature trees, lawns and an impressive variety of plants. Look out for the ancient holm oak and the unusual plants that hint at the Palace’s long horticultural history. Successive bishops took an interest in plants and gardening, with Bishop Henry Compton developing an important collection of rare and exotic species here during the seventeenth century.
I’d allow around two hours for your visit if you want to see the house and gardens without rushing, and longer if you plan to eat at the café. On a sunny day, you could easily linger longer in the grounds or continue your walk through neighbouring Bishops Park and along the Thames afterwards.
Helpful Information About Fulham Palace
Fulham Palace is on Bishop’s Avenue, Fulham, London SW6 6EA, a short walk from Putney Bridge Underground Station. Admission to the museum, historic rooms, and gardens is free, making it an excellent option if you’re looking for free things to do in London. Check the Fulham Palace website for full information and opening times. Don’t forget to stop by the café and the gift shop and explore those beautiful gardens. Afterwards, you can wander through Bishops Park, walk along the Thames Path, and end up at Fulham Pier. Enjoy.
If you want to explore the area, you may find these articles of interest:
Fulham London SW6 Helpful Area Guide
Ten Best Things To Do In Fulham
Author: Homegirl London. Photographs: Homegirl London.