Muddy Stilettos


<p>Not been to Polesden Lacey this year? Summer is officially here, and there couldn’t be a better time – it’s calendar is absolutely packed with good stuff.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-gorgeous-gardens">Gorgeous gardens</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img decoding="async" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2024/06/Polesden-Lacey-rose-garden.jpg" alt="The Rose Garden and Polesden Lacey, near Dorking in Surrey." class="wp-image-54629"/></figure>



<p>This imposing Edwardian home was something of a party pad in its heyday hosting royalty and celebrities of the time in its glittering gold saloon. The gardens had to match up to the glam interiors and are a wonderful place to take a stroll during the summer. For me, it’s all about the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/surrey/polesden-lacey/events/0e56f108-bf0f-4630-ba56-f35a5bf067cd" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">roses</a>&nbsp;– the lavish array of blooms won’t disappoint. There are over 2,000 roses in total, including more than 100 rambling roses on a single pergola. Note to rose enthusiasts – there’s some serious wow going on here. And they’re looking particularly good at the moment, especially the romantic Adelaide d’Orleans.</p>



<p>The blooms, including hybrid tea roses, floribunda and hybrid musk types, flower well into the summer. The outer borders of the rose garden are also full of salvias and roses.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-flower-power">Flower power</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img decoding="async" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2024/06/Polesden-Lacey-flowers.jpg" alt="The double herbaceous borders at Polesden Lacey, National Trust venue in Surrey." class="wp-image-54625"/></figure>



<p>While the roses are undoubtedly spectacular, the double herbaceous borders at Polseden Lacey are among the finest in England. During the summer and autumn it’s bursting with bright colours and heady scents – with summer colours like red and orange taking centre stage. You don’t have to love gardening to love these displays – though I always come away inspired.</p>



<p>Wander through the borders and take in the displays of red hot pokers, vibrant helenium and rudbeckia plus plenty of other stars. The bold planting also includes orange day lilies and purple Nepeta in front of climbing pink clematis, proving there’s no such thing as a colour clash in nature.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-fruit-flowers-and-vegetables">Fruit, flowers and vegetables</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img decoding="async" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2024/06/Polesden-Lacey-Sweet-peas-in-the-cutting-garden.jpg" alt="Sweet peas in the cutting garden at Polesden Lacey near Dorking in Surrey." class="wp-image-54630"/></figure>



<p>Fancy a kitchen garden? Then don’t miss the kitchen garden and cut flower garden at Polsden. The veg garden provides year-round produce, from peas to potatoes. Polesden’s garden team also tend to the cold frames, herb bed and the fruit cage in this part of the garden. Already the first crops of lettuces are making their way to the café kitchens.</p>



<p>The cut flower gardens is where blooms are grown for the arrangements in the house. It’s always a mass of eclectic and colourful blooms like dahlias, zinnias, gladioli, phlox and of course, the beautifully scented sweet peas.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-explore-the-rich-interiors">Explore the rich interiors</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img decoding="async" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2024/06/Polesden-Lacey-Portrait-of-Margaret-Greville-by-Carolus-Duran.jpg" alt="Portrait of Margaret Greville by Carolus Duran at Polesden Lacey near Dorking in Surrey." class="wp-image-54628"/></figure>



<p>The house at Polesden Lacey is a sight to behold – purchased by the Grevilles in 1907 and renovated by the architects of the Ritz hotel with no expense spared. It was designed to impress kings and maharajahs – from the glittering gold saloon and central hall with its wood-carved panelling to its collection of Fabergé, maiolica, and paintings by Dutch masters.</p>



<p>Downstairs in the dining room, don’t miss the gorgeous full length painting of Mrs Greville by the French society painter Carolus-Duran (nothing to do with Duran Duran but just as cool). It’s just returned from conservation and was the star of episode 2 of the&nbsp;BBC’s TV series&nbsp;<em>Hidden Treasures</em>.</p>



<p>In the upstairs galleries there’s a special display of Mrs Greville’s exquisite Fabergé and Cartier objets d’art, including Mrs Greville’s crowning glory, her Fabergé egg complete with a diamond clasp fashioned in the shape of a snowflake.</p>



<p>Look out for the pair of tiny frosted-quartz French bulldogs from the 1920s, with sapphire and ruby eyes, in the upstairs galleries. They’re strikingly in fashion still today! Who doesn’t love a smoky French bull dog?</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-take-in-some-art">Take in some art</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img decoding="async" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2024/06/Luke-Adam-Hawker-Drawing-a-tree.-Photogrpahy-Alex-Leggatt.jpg" alt="Artist and author Luke Adam Hawker" class="wp-image-54583"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Artist and author Luke Adam Hawker.&nbsp;<em>Photo credit: Alex Leggatt</em></figcaption></figure>



<p>While you’re there, don’t miss&nbsp;<em>The Last Tree and the Art of Nature</em>&nbsp;exhibition by best-selling author and nature artist Luke Adam Hawker. The exhibition invites you to discover the beauty of nature through original ink line drawings, prints, illustrations and pages from Hawker’s illustrated book The Last Tree. will take you on a gentle imaginative journey to a world without trees. Hawker’s illustrations are exhibited alongside the Fabergé egg and art collection in the upstairs galleries. It’s on until 25 Oct.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-see-a-film">See a film</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img decoding="async" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2024/06/Adventure-Cinema-Dirty-Dancing.jpeg" alt="Outdoor film screenings by Adventure Cinema showing Dirty Dancing." class="wp-image-54586"/></figure>



<p>Fancy a film, alfresco on the lawn in front of the house? It’s a gorgeous spot to unfurl your rug and set up a picnic. But you can also book the premium tickets for a luxury deckchair in prime position. There’s also an onsite bar and artisan food vans offering hot food and snacks. The billing includes&nbsp;<em>Dirty Dancing</em>&nbsp;on Friday 19 July,&nbsp;<em>Mamma Mia</em>! on Saturday 20 July and&nbsp;<em>Back to the Future</em>&nbsp;on Sunday 21 July. Gates open at 8pm, film starts about 9.30pm.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.adventurecinema.co.uk/venues/polesden-lacey" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Book here.</a></p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-walk-the-estate">Walk the estate</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img decoding="async" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2024/06/Polesden-Lacey-Griffin-sculpture-and-view-from-the-South-Terrace.jpg" alt="The view from the South Terrace at Polesden Lacey, near Dorking in Surrey." class="wp-image-54627"/></figure>



<p>With 1,800 acres to play with there are plenty of walking opportunities which take in two working farms, ancient woodlands, historic farmsteads and rolling downland, as well as the gardens.&nbsp;The walks range in length from 1.5 miles for the Chalk Pit walk to the four mile Ranmore Common walk.</p>



<p>There are four waymarked routes around the estate, each differing in length and difficulty, but all with stunning views of the Surrey Hills. You can download the walking routes&nbsp;<a href="https://nt.global.ssl.fastly.net/binaries/content/assets/website/national/regions/surrey/places/polesden-lacey/pdf/polesden-lacey-estate-map-2024_rs.pdf">here</a>.&nbsp;</p>



<p>The estate is home to a large variety of butterflies, in particular, and for the best views do the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/surrey/polesden-lacey/polesden-lacey-butterfly-walk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Polesden Lacey Butterfly Walk</a>. It’s a two-mile circular trail that takes about an hour and a half.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-lazy-jazz-sundays">Lazy Jazz Sundays</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img decoding="async" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2022/05/Polesden-Lacey-Jubilee_The-Polka_Dots_Credit-Toby-Merritt-Photography.jpg" alt="The Polka Dots Jazz musicians playing at Polesden Lacey. " class="wp-image-40013"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The Polka Dots who play at&nbsp;<em>Photo credit: Toby Merritt</em></figcaption></figure>



<p>On a Sunday afternoon, park yourself on the South Lawn with a picnic and enjoy the sounds of smooth jazz tunes drifting out from the terrace. It’s a perfect spot, with far-reaching views out over the Surrey Hills. There are some trees here (if it’s a shady spot you seek) but mostly you’ll be in the sun – so don’t forget the sunscreen and a hat. Some families set up small shade tents, so if you have one and it’s a super sunny day, it’s worth bringing it along. The event is free, but normal admission applies. The line-up includes The Indigo Trio, The Scott Bayliss Trio and The Polka Dots. Click&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/surrey/polesden-lacey/events/65846260-1991-4c2f-84c8-a05a2043fc41" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">here</a>&nbsp;for the full line-up throughout the summer.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-take-a-seat-and-relax">Take a seat… and relax!</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img decoding="async" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2023/07/Polesden-Lacey-AE-822.jpeg" alt="The view from the south lawn at Polesden Lacey, Surrey" class="wp-image-48863"/></figure>



<p>One of my favourite things too do at Polesden Lacey! Take a moment to relax in a deck chair on the South Lawn where the views out over Ranmore Common on the opposite hillside are superb.</p>



<p><em><strong><a href="https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/surrey/polesden-lacey">Polesden Lacey</a>, Great Bookham, near Dorking, Surrey, RH5 6BD</strong></em><br><em><strong>SatNav:&nbsp;Use the postcode KT23 4PZ</strong></em></p>


Nine reasons to visit Polesden Lacey this summer

You may also like