
Gunnersbury Park is considered by English Heritage to be one of the most important parks in the country. Originally a country estate, it is now bordered by Acton, Brentford, Chiswick and Ealing. Gunnersbury is jointly owned by Hounslow and Ealing councils and run by a not-for-profit company, Gunnersbury CIC.
The park has beautiful ornamental gardens with woods and lakes and a new sports hub with nine-hole golf, tennis courts, football and cricket pitches. The sports hub is currently open for outside activities and if the coronavirus roadmap goes to plan, will open fully on 12 April for indoor sports as well. Book activities online at www.better.org.uk/book
Images above: Gunnersbury Park; photographs Jennifer Griffiths
Gunnersbury Park Museum
The original Gunnersbury house was built by Sir John Maynard, a lawyer and politician during the time of Oliver Cromwell. In the 18th century Princess Amelia, daughter of George II, used it as her summer home. After her death the original house was pulled down and replaced by two mansions. Both were bought by the Rothschild family in the 19th century and purchased for the nation in 1926.
The house has had a major (£26m) refurbishment and reopened as a museum in 2018, with many of the rooms decorated as they were when the famous banking family lived there. There is also a collection representing the modern city all around the park, with exhibits on famous local celebrities such as musician Freddie Mercury and mathematician Ada Lovelace.
Images above: Gunnersbury Park; photographs Jennifer Griffiths
Gunnersbury Park hosts an extensive programme of activities in the house and outside in the park for people of all ages and interests, many of which can be found on our site in ‘Things to Do’. The Lovebox and Citadel music festivals were held in the park in 2018 and 2019.
SEE ALSO: Our This is Chiswick section for a feature about the museum.
All events in Chiswick
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