An 18th-Century Wonderland
Painshill Park in Cobham is one of Europe’s finest 18th-century landscape gardens, created between 1738 and 1773 by the Honourable Charles Hamilton. The 158-acre park features a series of dramatic garden scenes designed to surprise and delight visitors, including the spectacular Crystal Grotto — a cave lined with thousands of crystals and semi-precious stones — a Gothic Tower, a Turkish Tent, a ruined abbey and a Chinese Bridge spanning the ornamental lake.
For families, Painshill offers waymarked trails through woodland and around the lake, a fairy trail for younger children, and a natural adventure play area. The scale of the park means there is plenty of space for children to run, explore and discover. Seasonal events include Easter trails, summer outdoor theatre, autumn fungi walks and a Christmas grotto experience.
How to Get There
Painshill is on Portsmouth Road (A245) in Cobham, with its own entrance and car park. It is close to Junction 10 of the M25 and a 15-minute walk from Cobham & Stoke d’Abernon station. The park is open daily except Christmas Day. Admission is charged, with discounts for families and children under five entering free. The Crystal Grotto is open on selected days only (check the website). A tearoom in the restored Gothic Tower serves light refreshments.
