Ham House Museum

Address: Ham House and Garden, Ham Street, Richmond, TW10 7RS, England, United Kingdom

Website: https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/ham-house-and-garden

Hours: Seasonal: Mar-Oct daily 10:30am-5pm; Nov-Feb weekends and select weekdays (check National Trust site)

Admission: Adult £13.50 (approx), National Trust members free

Ham House is a 17th-century country house on the River Thames at Ham, in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames, England. It is noted for its well-preserved Restoration interiors and formal gardens and is managed by the National Trust.

The house originated in the early 17th century and was extensively remodelled and richly furnished during the mid to late 1600s, producing interiors that survive with many original fittings. The gardens and riverside terrace reflect formal 17th-century layouts with later changes.

Over the centuries the estate passed through aristocratic ownership with important alterations made in the Stuart and Restoration periods; its survival in a largely intact state led to later conservation and public ownership.

The house sits on the south bank of the River Thames near Richmond, southwest of central London, and is accessed from local roads and public transport serving the Richmond and Ham area.

• Management and significance: Operated by the National Trust, the property preserves one of the most complete sets of 17th-century aristocratic interiors in England.
• Best viewpoint: The riverside location provides clear views from the opposite bank of the Thames and from the house’s terrace and gardens, which are good vantage points for photography.

What to See#

• State Rooms: The principal state rooms on the river-facing side retain extensive 17th-century interiors and decorative schemes reflecting the house’s Restoration-period remodelling.
• Gardens and Riverside Terrace: The formal gardens and riverside terrace run down to the River Thames and preserve 17th-century garden layouts with later alterations; the riverside façade is a prominent feature of the estate.

Ham House is in Richmond, southwest London. From Richmond station (National Rail and District Line) it’s a 10-15 minute walk east along the river and Ham Street. By car, follow A307/Mortlake Road with local parking options limited; public transport is easiest.

• Enter through the riverside gate for one of the best first views across the formal garden toward the house.
• Look for the early 17th‑century plaster ceilings in the Great Chamber - conservators have painstakingly restored original pigments.
• Weekday mid-mornings are quieter than weekends; afternoon light makes the river-facing rooms glow.