Background Information

When textile magnates Stephen and Virginia Courtauld built their 1930s Art Deco mansion by the Great Hall of medieval Eltham Palace, they created a masterpiece of 20th-century design.

Completed in 1936, the exterior of the house was built in sympathy with the older building, using a red brick design inspired by Hampton Court Palace. But the interior was (and remains) a showpiece of glamorous 1930s design. Visitors can revel in the eclectic mix of French-influenced Art Deco, ultra-smart ocean-liner style and cutting-edge Swedish design.

The dining room is a tour de force, with pink leather upholstered chairs, bird's-eye maple veneered walls and a silver ceiling. The distinctive black-and-silver doors portray animals and birds drawn from life at London Zoo.

Even more exotic is Virginia Courtauld's vaulted bathroom, lined with onyx and gold mosaic, complete with gold-plated bath taps and a statue of the goddess Psyche. Luxury also emanates from the centrally heated sleeping quarters of the Courtaulds' pet ring-tailed lemur, Mah-Jongg. A house with all the latest modern conveniences, the Courtaulds' home came with underfloor heating, a centralised vacuum cleaner and a built-in audio system.

Upstairs is a display which brings together discoveries from the Courtauld era, including original furniture and family photographs.

Stephen Courtauld was a director of the famous Ealing Film Studios. Now, for the first time, visitors can also enjoy an original 10-minute Courtauld home movie, restored using the latest technology. It gives an intimate glimpse of the millionaire's family swimming, admiring their gardens, and relaxing with their lemur and other pets.

As you leave the opulent 1930s house and enter the medieval palace, the interior presents a striking contrast. The Great Hall was built for Edward IV in the 1470s, and Henry VIII spent much of his childhood here.

The 19 acres of beautiful gardens surrounding the palace include both 20th-century and medieval elements. These include a rock garden sloping down to the moat, a medieval bridge, herbaceous borders inspired by modern designer Isabelle Van Groeningen, a sunken rose garden and plenty of picnic areas. The garden is special at any time of year, but visitors will delight in the Spring bulbs display and the wisteria cascading over the classical pergola in Summer.

NEW FOR 2008:

Our popular inclusive audio tour has now been updated. It now features the actor David Suchet, best known for his role as Agatha Christie's Poirot and recently appearing as the charismatic and tyrannical media tycoon Robert Maxwell in the BBC drama Maxwell.