Discover more at Polesden Lacey
Find out when Polesden Lacey is open, how to get here, the things to see and do and more.
Eating and shopping at Polesden Lacey
There are three places to buy tasty snacks, meals, hot and cold drinks and ice cream at Polesden Lacey. So whether you're looking for a hot meal after a long walk, or a cream tea just as Mrs Greville enjoyed, we've got plenty to tempt you. Looking for a gift for a loved one or a treat for yourself? The gift shop is full of unique treats you won’t find anywhere on the high street.
Eating and refreshments at Polesden Lacey
The Coffee Shop
As you arrive from the main car park, you'll see the Coffee Shop, a great place to buy hot and cold drinks, cakes and snacks to take away. There is a selection of Cornish pasties, toasties, sandwiches, cakes and scones. Dogs are welcome in the Coffee Shop and there are seats both inside and outside.
The Café
In the Café, situated within the Stable Courtyard, you'll find the full menu, with a variety of hot and cold options. We also have a range of delicious cakes and classic cream teas. There are plenty of indoor tables as well as an outdoor seating area.
Kids feeling peckish?
After all the excitement of the day, the 'Beech Hut' is the perfect pit stop. You'll find hot and cold drinks, as well as snacks and cakes, located in the middle of the garden. Please note that opening hours at the Beech Hut are dependant on the weather.
Perfect picnic spots
If you just want to sit back and relax, there are plenty of places in the garden for picnics. Why not make up your own lunchbox in the Café and find the perfect spot?
The south lawn has beautiful views of the estate, the crab apple orchard has plenty of benches nestled in the grassy meadow, or head to Home Farm orchard for a lovely and peaceful picnicking place.
Allergen information
Most of the food and drink served is prepared on site in our kitchen, using a wide range of ingredients. As a result, we can’t guarantee that any of our food and drink products are completely allergen free.
If you have an allergy or intolerance and would like ingredient information about the food and drink served, please ask the staff, who will be happy to help.
Always check when you visit
Visited before? We sometimes change our recipes to improve quality and flavour, including the ingredients. When you visit, please speak to one of our team to check the current allergen information for your favourite dish.
Thank you
Every cuppa or tasty treat you buy helps us to continue looking after places for everyone to enjoy.
Shopping at Polesden Lacey
You’ll find the gift shop in the Stable Courtyard, selling a range of gifts, local products, plants and garden accessories.
Shop local
We're passionate about supporting Surrey-based makers, and we stock a large range of products by local creators. Choose from beautiful jewellery, toiletries, home fragrances, stylish wood-turned bowls, food, locally made gins, beer and ciders.
Tasty treats
The fruity jams, tasty curds, crunchy biscuits and very quaffable wines on sale in the shop are all UK-made and completely moreish. So if you’re looking for food and drink gifts, wine gifts, food hampers or just something delicious for your own table, there'll be something to tempt your taste buds.
Garden accessories
Find all manner of useful and decorative items to help make your gardens beautiful. Items include garden mirrors, wind spinners, metal sculptures and striking plant stakes.
Take a piece of Polesden Lacey home with you
For a truly unique souvenir, choose an item hand-made by the amazing Polesden Lacey Volunteer Woodworking team. They use wood found on the estate and leftover from conservation work to make items such as wooden chopping boards, decorative pieces, and even tables!
The Maggie Greville Story: the remarkable story of Polesden Lacey's last owner
With plenty of fascinating stories, this book traces the journey of Mrs Greville, British society hostess and philanthropist. She was the daughter of William McEwan, a successful brewer. Power, money, and tutoring created the new modern emancipated woman, who bought her own house in her own name. Written by Pam Burbidge, our very own Polesden Lacey Volunteer Tour Guide, Room Guide and Research Historian in Archives.
The book is available from the shop priced at £12.99.
Plants
As you walk through the Stable Courtyard into the property, you’ll find beautiful high-quality plants grown by UK suppliers. We work with the gardeners to ensure that what we sell in the garden shop is seasonal and reflects some of what you can see here in the gardens at Polesden Lacey.
Highlights include winter bulbs to connect with the stunning Winter Garden and plenty of spring colour. Summer roses including Rosa Banksia, which you'll find climbing the walls of the mansion and café walls. You can also find plants from Hairy Pots which are grown in hairy coir pots. These can be planted straight into the ground, and you won't have a plastic pot to dispose of! Plus, of course, the Greville Rose - inspired by Margaret Greville and developed for us by Peter Beales.
Second-hand bookshop at Polesden Lacey
You'll find the second-hand bookshop in a secluded corner on the west side of the mansion. It's a great place to while away a bit of time during a visit. We have a large selection of fiction and a wide variety of non-fiction including cookery, gardening, history, travel and much more. We also have a lovely children’s corner.
We have a good selection of collectable and vintage books available to buy. If you are interested in looking at these books, please contact us on 01372 452048 for more information and to book an appointment. We'd be very happy to show them to you.
Donate your books to raise funds for Polesden Lacey
Second-hand book sales contribute hugely to our fundraising efforts and collectable books can be sold at anything from £10 to over £100. In 2019 a book about The Titanic even sold at auction for £160.
If you have books you would like to donate to the second-hand bookshop at Polesden Lacey, then please get in touch. Speak to a volunteer in the bookshop or give us a ring on 01372 452048.
Thank you
It is through your purchases and support that we are able to continue to care for nature, beauty and history for everyone, for ever.
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Treat yourself
Looking for the perfect gift or perhaps you're in need of some retail therapy? You can browse our full range via our online shop.