You would never know that such a beautiful place was hidden in this little town. The eighteenth century landscaped park is situated in Cobham, Surrey. A 14 acre lake sits at the heart of the Painshill landscape. Stroll along the banks and enjoy the tranquillity of the calming waters, the lake was alive with nature from the geese, moorhens and other pond life it was bustling with energy.
Painshill also boasts a south-facing sloping vineyard from the top of which you can enjoy beautiful views across the North Downs. The grape varieties include Pinot Noir, one of the varieties grown by Hamilton in the 18th century, as well as the modern varieties Chardonnay, Seyval Blanc and Pinot Grigio.
We had a nice leisurely stroll around the scenic pathways taking in the beautiful views. The route was very buggy friendly and the ground was even meaning Noah was able to run and skip his way around the route. There was lots of historic follies along the way which were breathtaking to see.
A highlight for us was the spectacular Grotto is a magical, naturalistic cave with shimmering, bubbling water, rough rock and stalactites covered in sparkling crystals.
On a sunny day, shafts of light pierce the interior through carefully placed openings in the ceiling. The light makes the crystals sparkle as it bounces off the coral pools and lake water.
When we visited there was a special event on – Painshill’s Festive Heroes Trail. The Trail is centered around the accessible route which is roughly around 1.5 miles long, Noah had alot of fun running along the pathways to find the Hero’s who were hiding making the landscape. Although they did look a little out of place and I didn’t know who they all were it was a great addition to the walk.
I’ve never seen Noah so excited on a walk before, he was chatting away, jumping, pointing and getting very excited about the statues. Isabella was happily watching from the pram but was just as mesmerised taking it all in. Although we had dry weather for our visit there was alot of puddles from the previous days rain and Noah had lots of fun puddle jumping.
There is also a children’s play area made with materials from around the landscape garden, the Painshill natural play area includes a log house, dens, stepping stones and balance logs. On a warmer day there are also picnic benches around this area where you can sit and have a bite to eat.
We stopped off in the Painshill’s Tea Room to warm up with a yummy hot chocolate and a baby-chino. They also serve hot and cold lunches and various other refreshments too. Would highly recommend a visit to the park and if you have a dog you are also able to bring them along too on the lead.
Painshill has been chosen to represent gardens in various historical TV shows and feature films.
Notably among these are the 2009 Dorian Gray film, starring Ben Barnes and Colin Firth, and ITV’s Vanity Fair which aired in 2018. Of all the filming in recent years, Painshill is featured most prominently in Netflix’s Black Mirror. The lake, the Five Arch Bridge, the Ruined Abbey and the Gothic Temple are all very recognisable.
Most recently was Married At First Sight where Painshill was the location used for the couples to renew their vows.
