This large, comfortable family house was built towards
the end of the 19th Century and is situated on Fox Hill which
runs down from the Crystal Palace ridge.
The street itself was immortalised by the French
Impressionist painter, Camille Pissarro who lived locally and painted a
number of pictures in the area including the view up the hill in 1870.
This painting can be seen in the National Gallery. The tree in
Pissarro's picture can still be seen today and is directly opposite our
house.
Crystal Palace is the highest spot in London (and the
site of a vast glass building relocated here after the Great Exhibition
in Hyde Park of 1851) and offers quick access to the multitude of
attractions that London has to offer.
The interesting and varied architecture around here
dates from that time when people and families connected with this
project needed somewhere to live.
We have lived in different parts of the world and this
is reflected in our house and garden which are furnished with antiques,
textiles, sculptures and paintings.
I am a qualified British Tourist Authority Guide, have
also worked at the Chelsea Physic Garden and now work as a quilter and
artist (largely with textiles) - apart from my passion for my garden -
and my husband is a computer scientist who runs several charities
concerned with unemployed and homeless young people.
We are always happy to help you plan your stay to get
the best out of London and all that it offers.
Rooms:
We offer the following accommodation:
A large double bedroom with ensuite bathroom (which
has a bath and a separate shower cubicle) on the first floor, a
twin-bedded room and a single room which share a shower room on the
second floor.
Garden:
The garden has been redesigned and planted and has a
large pond (to house and attract wildlife) and a patio where meals can
be taken. On cooler evenings the air is perfumed by the Swedish
wood-burning stove in the drawing room whereas in summer the gentle
splashing of the fountain in the pond marks a soothing end to the day.
Location:
This part of London is full of trees and sky and apart
from the local foxes we also hear owls at night and are visited by
woodpeckers.
The local parks, shops and restaurants are good and a
walk along the high street is marked by breathtaking glimpses of the
city below.
Crystal Palace railway station is 7 minutes’ away on
foot and frequent trains take 20 minutes to reach either Victoria
mainline or London Bridge stations.
There are also very good buses to Westminster and Oxford
Circus. Parking is free. A local taxi company provides an airport
transfer service. It is sometimes possible for us to provide this
ourselves, at an additional cost. With prior notice, we are happy to
collect and deliver visitors to the station, if required.
Local places of interest include the Dulwich Picture
Gallery, the Horniman Museum and the Crystal Palace Museum.
Meals:
We provide a full English or continental with homemade
bread, jams, and marmalade.
A 3 course dinner with wine and coffee can be arranged
when required (please ask for current prices).
Additional Information:
Bookings can be daily or weekly and there is no single
supplement. Children are welcome and treated as adults. Where a put-u-up
bed is needed the rate is reduced.
The house is guarded by a large woolly dog, William, (so
no pets please) and smokers are not encouraged (except perhaps in the
garden). We offer access to the Internet which many of our visitors have
found helpful.
