- Tat London
- 2 days ago
- 7 min read
Escape the City: Top National Trust Houses A Train Ride Away From London
Yes, “a train ride away” doesn’t narrow it down much, but most of these jaunts take under two hours — a small price to pay to see some of the finest houses in the land. You can’t say fairer than that. If you’d rather stay close to home, go to Ham House. It’s an extraordinary place, right on the river, where the air still smells faintly of the seventeenth century. Hard to believe you’re basically in London. And then there are the neighbouring houses — supposedly residential, though each looks quite ready to host a minor royal or two.
Ham Street, Ham, Richmond, Surrey, TW10 7RS
Drive: 1 Hour 5 Minutes
Nearest Train Station: St Margarets
Ham House is a charming 17th-century residence located in Richmond, on the banks of the River Thames. It was gifted to William Murray by King Charles I, and the house we see today reflects the vision of Murray, his wife Catherine, and later additions and transformations made by their powerful and highly interesting daughter Elizabeth, who later became the Duchess of Lauderdale. Ham House is an excellent example of Stuart-period architecture and is filled with a remarkable collection of paintings, rugs, and furniture dating back over 400 years.
