The house at Osterley Park

The Long Gallery at Osterley Park and House, London — The Long Gallery at Osterley Park and House | © National Trust Images/John Hammond

The interior of Osterley House is one of the finest and most complete by Robert Adam still in existence. The delicate decorations, friezes and furniture were designed by Adam specifically for each room. See the luxurious state apartments and modest family rooms as you discover the mansion, and some of Osterley's stories and secrets.

Visiting the house

Discover Robert Adam's grand designs, created to impress the Child family's guests. Explore the extravagant Entrance Hall, picturesque Eating Room and 130 foot long Gallery.

The Entrance Hall

The east side of the original building was demolished by Adam and replaced with the transparent portico you see today. The Entrance Hall was relocated further back across the courtyard.

With influences of ancient Greece and Rome and a soft colour scheme of grey and white, this room would have been used to welcome guests as well as hosting dinners, parties and balls.

The Eating Room

This was where the Child family would have eaten and entertained their friends and guests. Almost every aspect of the room was designed by Adam, from stucco wall decorations to gilt mahogany sideboards.

The room looks unfurnished, as the tables and chairs were either placed against the walls of the room or stored in an adjoining corridor when not in use.

The Long Gallery

Spanning the entire length of the house, the Long Gallery on a sunny afternoon glows in soft shades of green and gold. The length of the room means it can take up to three days for the floor to be waxed and polished.

The Tapestry Room

The first of a series of rooms that make up the State Apartment, which were designed to impress important guests such as royalty.

The tapestries themselves took four years to complete and contain subtle references to Mrs Child’s love of her garden and animals – see if you can spot the white rabbit and her gardening hat among the birds and flowers.

The State Bedchamber

Described as a mixture of a classic temple and theatrical stage setting, the magnificent eight-poster state bed was designed by Adam to impress – and rumour has it Robert Child ripped up the bill after paying it, so no one would know just how much he had spent. Rarely slept in, if at all, Robert and Sarah Child had much more modest rooms upstairs.

The Etruscan dressing room

The final instalment of the State Apartment, Adam’s vision for this room was inspired by his four-year tour of Europe in 1754–8. His designs for the walls were copied onto paper, pasted onto canvas and fixed to the walls and ceilings. However, it’s not completely perfect – if you look close enough you can find a missing part of the design.

Below stairs

The ground floor would have been the real hub of the house, with staff busy making life ‘above stairs’ run smoothly. The kitchen, servants’ hall, steward's room and more all provide a glimpse into the forgotten world of scullery maids and footmen.