Parking at Polesden Lacey

The main overflow car park is located just behind the main car park. Our teams have been working on improving it since early summer and are making good progress. We have removed the old matting and metal pins, filled in potholes, added additional drainage and are working to make the surface level in readiness for hydro seeding. This establishes a hardy grass surface with a good root bed for new matting to be installed.

The work has been badly needed. Inclement weather rapidly reduces capacity in the main overflow car park, turning multiple rows to slippery mud. This has frequently resulted in vehicles having to queue on the driveway for autumn and winter visits. The new matting will allow most of the main overflow car park to be used consistently without mud closing rows down in wet weather. This will be especially beneficial during the busy Christmas season.

Summer parking

Polesden Lacey’s second overflow field is usually reserved for bank holidays or busy weekends. It is called Golf Course Field and is located on the left-hand side as you approach Polesden Lacey, just past the archway. As the main overflow car park is out of use this summer, we are using Golf Course Field to park as many extra vehicles as possible instead.

When parking vehicles, staff work to a system that accommodates the largest number of visitors possible. Once, the main car park is full, the team move to parking vehicles in Golf Course Field. Car park attendants are obliged to continue filling these spaces even when the main car park begins to clear. This is to ensure that the main car park has a healthy amount of parking availability before their shifts end – we cannot allow visitors to park in Golf Course Field without staff assistance.

Through tried-and-tested methods and long experience, we have found this vehicle parking system to be the best use of our resources and the most efficient for visitors arriving at and leaving the site.

Accessibility

Visitors with Blue Badges and those requiring accessible parking spaces will continue to be directed to the main car park, as well as people wishing to use the electric vehicle charging bays during their visit. When the volunteer-led accessibility bus is running, its drivers can pick up and drop off passengers just outside the entrance to Golf Course Field.

When resources permit, we are able to open the pedestrian gate that leads from Golf Course Field directly into Crab Apple Orchard and Summer of Play site. There is no till point at this entrance, so it is only for National Trust members who have their physical cards with them. When this gate is not open, or for visitors requiring an admission ticket, the visitor reception is a short walk away from Golf Course Field. The team will be happy to point you in the right direction and provide any other assistance required.

Thank you for your patience

Please bear with us as we complete this vital work in our main overflow car park. While there may be some occasions when vehicles might need to wait for a short while on the driveway before entering the main car park or Golf Course Field, we’re working hard to minimise these and get visitors parked as quickly as possible. Thank you for your patience and understanding.