Fulham Palace is the historic home of London’s Bishops. The picturesque estate in West London dates to medieval times. This year, it was the only venue I was able to visit for Open City 2025, and it was so worth it. Miss V had an inset day, so we set off early Friday, commuting by bus. We sat on the top deck, acting like tourists taking in the sights from Wimbledon through to Putney Bridge. Little did I know it would take me back to All Saints Church, the 1976 Omen fame, and Bishops Park. The church backs onto the property of Fulham Palace. The palace was home to the Bishops from the 1300s to 1973. I was impressed with my visit. The Trust has created engaging displays that capture London’s church and cultural heritage. The garden is a floral oasis. Fulham Palace is the delightful historical gem you must visit.
Brief History of Fulham Palace
133 Bishops of London have lived in Fulham Palace. Although they were based there, they were responsible for ‘… the Diocese of London, an area north of the River Thames that includes many royal palaces, Westminster and the City of London.’ Today, the duty is the same.
‘The site has been a residence of the Bishops of London since AD 704, when Bishop Waldhere acquired the Manor of Fulham — a vast estate covering most of Hammersmith, Fulham, Acton, Ealing and Finchley. As bishops were called ‘Princes of the Church’, the estate became known as Fulham Palace.’
At least one of the bishops has a connection to the slave trade, BUT the current exhibition doesn’t shy away from that. I believe it’s part of The Bishops of London, colonialism and transatlantic slavery: resistance. It’s been running since spring 2023
For black history events and others, CLICK HERE.
The House
The house has a mix of architectural styles, which reflects the tastes of its notable inhabitants over the centuries. For example, the red brick Tudor courtyard and the great hall are the oldest parts of the surviving building, dating to around 1495. The most recent addition was the chapel built for Bishop Tait in 1860.
Restoration work is taking place in phases. It will be amazing to see what’s unveiled in the coming years.
The Garden
As with the house, the garden reflects the time and interests of palace inhabitants. It has always been an important part of the estate. It provides food and refuge from the busyness of London. In the late 17th century, Bishop Compton incorporated exotic plants while Bishop Robinson invested in edible plants.
Nowadays, the garden layout is greatly influenced by the changes Bishop Terrick made in the late 18th century. He relandscaped the garden to take advantage of the river views and created the current walled garden, incorporating an earlier Tudor wall.
Open City London And Fulham Palace
When I visited Fulham Palace during Open City 2025, Miss V and I explored the walled garden and part of the house. The house is now home to paintings of notable historical figures and exhibits from archaeological digs. There were also interactive displays. It was fascinating to view the exhibitions that share black history and heritage. The audio of the poem Hair written by Adisa the Verbalizer seriously touched me. Everything fit seamlessly together.
There’s a gift shop and café on site, but Miss V and I enjoyed our homemade sandwiches in the garden. It was a sunny day with bright blue skies. We had the opportunity to chit-chat and enjoy watching the mini beasts at play and spotting the wooden sculptures on the grounds of Fulham Palace.
The flowers in the walled garden looked so vibrant in the sunlight. One of my favourites was the bold red Dahlia ‘Show N Tell’. I’m not usually a fan of marigolds, but there was a bed of yellow ones which looked eye-catching against the green foliage and blue sky above. OOP, how can I forget the cutesy pumpkins?! Well, I say pumpkin, but they’re actually ‘Turks Turban’ squash.
Visitor Tip: If you plan to visit over the winter, note the change in closing time. Winter opening hours 10.15 – 15.45
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Have you ever heard of Fulham Palace? Would you plan a visit? Comment below I would love to hear from you.
