Albury Park

Albury Park is a country park and historic country house in Surrey, England, close to Guildford. The estate covers more than 150 acres, about 130 hectares. The house is Grade II* listed, and the gardens hold the top Grade I listing on the Register of Historic Parks and Gardens.

What is Albury Park?

Within the grounds lies the old village of Albury, now just a few houses and a church. The River Tillingbourne runs through the estate. The mix of mansion, formal gardens and the outline of a former village makes it a rewarding stop for anyone interested in English rural history and architecture.

Where do the gardens come from?

The gardens date back to the 17th century. John Evelyn, the diarist and garden enthusiast, laid out the park with terraces, a canal, a bath and a tunnel. The terraces, the bath house and the tunnel from the mid-1600s still survive. In the 19th century the owner added exotic trees, which gave the park much of its present character.

Who remodelled the house?

Banker Henry Drummond bought the estate in 1819. Between 1846 and 1852 the house was remodelled by A.W.N. Pugin, the Gothic Revival architect, in a Tudor-Gothic style. The best-known feature is the set of 63 moulded octagonal brick chimneys. The work focused mainly on the exterior, so most of the earlier interiors by Sir John Soane survived. Some critics have judged Pugin's exterior harshly, which adds an interesting talking point for architecture fans.

Drummond was also a founder of the Catholic Apostolic Church, and Albury Park became a meeting centre for that group.

What happened afterwards?

Drummond's daughter Louisa married the 6th Duke of Northumberland in 1845, and the estate passed to the Percy family after Drummond died in 1860. In 1969 the house and six acres of gardens were sold to the Mutual Households Association. The Duke's family still owns most of the land as the Albury Estate. The house has been converted into retirement apartments and conference facilities, so the interiors are not a regular museum open to all visitors.

Who is it for?

Albury Park suits fans of garden history, Victorian architecture and Pugin's work, as well as anyone planning a quiet day out in Surrey. The riverside setting and the historic village make for a pleasant short walk with a story attached. Check current access arrangements before you go, because part of the land remains private.

Frequently asked questions

Where is Albury Park? In Surrey, in south-east England, near Guildford.

How big is the park? More than 150 acres, around 130 hectares.

Who designed the gardens? John Evelyn, in the 17th century. The terraces, bath house and tunnel survive.

Who remodelled the house? A.W.N. Pugin, between 1846 and 1852, for Henry Drummond.

Can I visit the interiors? The house now serves as retirement apartments and a conference venue, so access to the interiors is limited.

Is the site protected? Yes. The gardens are Grade I listed on the Register of Historic Parks and Gardens and the house is Grade II* listed.