Nearest Station: Mottingham or Eltham
What happens when a rich family in the '30s gets hold of an old Tudor house in need of serious refurbishment? Eltham Palace is born! This English Heritage property is a must-see if you're an art deco fan, as lady of the house Virginia Courtauld had some seriously modern style, which she used to breathe new life into the old building. So it is that you walk from a new home that resembles a '30s cruise ship into a grand hall straight out of Reign. Everything has been beautifully kept (or restored) to make visitors feel as if they're arriving at the house just in time for cocktail hour. There's a quirky touch around every corner, from the secret door in Virginia's gold-leaf bathroom to the cage that held Mah-Jongg, the family's pet lemur. Plus, the gardens are gorgeous.
Image Source: POPSUGAR Photography / Gemma Cartwright