Painshill Park is home to a glorious Crystal Grotto. In London? Well, sort of. You’ll find this crystalline cave in Surrey, just within the boundaries of the M25, which means we’re claiming it for our own. So there.
When it’s this close, and it looks like this, we’re obviously going to be rushing to tell you about it. I mean, come ON, it’s the perfect excuse for a day out of your usual zone 1-3 life in London, if that is where you reside.
But where did this mysterious grotto come from?
This gorgeous landscape garden dates way back to 1738, and was the life’s work of Charles Hamilton, a well-to-do member of the Irish aristocracy. After touring around Europe and liking what he saw, he was inspired to fill his own plot of land with eccentric follies, Renaissance architecture and, yes, this rather lovely grotto.
By 1777, the work on the grounds was complete, and it’s safe to say that a lasting legacy has been left — with photo opportunities aplenty! Centered around a beautiful lake, the property features bridges, valleys, a Gothic Tower, an amphitheatre, statues, and whatever else struck Hamilton’s fancy at the time.
There are several miles of trails (much but not all of it on an ‘accessible’ route) which will take you around the various sites. You might also recognise some of the features from the Black Mirror episode Hang the DJ on Netflix (fortunately one of the more romantic instalments in the series…)
Guests are welcome to enjoy a picnic and generally take their time exploring the grounds, so it’s perfect for a sunny weekend visit. We may not be in the sunny season right now, but there’s no harm in planning a summer day out now!
As for the Crystal Grotto, it happens to be open all year round, looking glorious whatever the weather, on Tuesdays-Sundays between 10:30am-3:30pm.
While it may take a little longer to get to than your average day out in London, are you really going to pass up the chance to see the Painshill Park Crystal Grotto?
Location: Portsmouth Road, Cobham, KT11 1JE.
Entry: £11 for adults, £9.90 for concessions, £5.5o for children, under-5s go free. Painshill Park is also slightly cheaper when you book online.
More information: on their website.
Also published on Medium.