Polesden Lacey was the country retreat of Margaret Greville, the brewery heiress and Edwardian hostess who remodelled the house in 1906, entertained Edward VII here and lent it to the future George VI and Queen Elizabeth for their honeymoon in 1923, before leaving it to the National Trust in 1942. Her gilded saloon, lined with panelling from an Italian palazzo, is the room reviewers remember, along with the servants' hall and attic bedrooms now opened upstairs. Outside, the walled rose garden and lavender beds sit above lawns with wide views across the valley, and the Long Walk leads through the 1,600-acre estate to the Squirrels play area. Dogs are welcome across large parts of the garden and estate. Regulars single out the dog cemetery, the seats beside the house facing the view, and a good cafe with plants for sale by the shop. Tips from visitors: pick up the free map at reception, and aim for late April or May for blossom and fresh greenery.
