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HALL PLACE & GARDENS, Bourne Road, Bexley, Kent Telephone: 01322 526574 Website: www.hallplace.org.uk Multimap location finder A fine Grade I listed country house built in 1537 for Sir John Champneys, a wealthy merchant and former Lord Mayor of London. The house boasts a panelled Tudor Great Hall, overlooked by a minstrel's gallery, and various period rooms. The 17th century additions and improvements by Sir Robert Austen include a vaulted Long Gallery and splendid Drawing Room with a fine plaster ceiling. Managed by Bexley Heritage Trust, this beautiful estate of 65 hectares stands on the banks of the River Cray at Bexley, surrounded by award winning formal gardens with magnificent topiary, enclosed gardens and inspirational herbaceous borders. In the walled gardens is a nursery selling plants grown in the Hall Place gardens, and a sub-tropical glasshouse where you can see ripening bananas in mid-winter. The house has been recently restored and new displays include an introduction to the house's history, children's interactive hands-on gallery of Tudor life, and exhibits from Bexley's fascinating museum collection. The new visitor centre in the grounds includes a riverside tea room, a gift shop, and tourist information. There is an extensive programme of events, art-based activities, concerts and theatre in the house and gardens. Several rooms are available to hire for meetings and events, including the Great Hall and Great Chamber, which are also licensed for civil wedding ceremonies. Bexley Heritage Trust runs a popular education and outreach service and organized activities during the school holidays. Parts of the historic estate are occasionally used for films and private hire. From this reason is sometimes necessary to close certain areas of the house and gardens. We recommend that you call in advance of your visit before travelling a long distance or to see a particular feature. Click here for event information. Opening Times:House open 1st Jan to 31st March (closed Monday and Tuesdays) 10am-4pm (11am-4pm Sundays and Bank Holidays). 1st April to 31st October 10am-4.45pm (11am-4.45pm Sundays and Bank Holidays), ist November to 31st December (closed Sunday and Monday in December) 1pm-4pm (11am-4pm Sundays and Bank Holidays). House and Visitor Centre closed Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day. Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve closed at 1pm. Gardens: Open throughout the year from 9am till dusk, closed Christmas Day and New Year's Day. Back