Day Trip to Dorney Court

There’s something about Tudor houses. With half-timbered facades and intricate brickwork, they’re straight out of story books. Given how much I love them, today I’m off on a day trip to Dorney Court. This historic home in the English countryside is the perfect place to see an authentic manor from Henry VIII’s day. It’s an easy train trip from London, too. Read on for my guide. I’ve included a map as well.

Day Trip to Dorney Court

Nestled in the Buckinghamshire countryside, Dorney Court is one of the best stately homes near London. Dating back to the 15th century, this early Tudor manor house is Grade I listed and worth a special trip.

Dorney Court has changed little over its 600-year lifetime. Called ‘One of the Finest Tudor Manor Houses in England’ by Country Life, the home and its surrounding gardens offer a glimpse into the past.

Dorney Court is only open to the public on the spring and summer bank holidays and during the month of June. I feel lucky to be here during this limited window, and I can’t wait to explore the house and grounds.

Given I love taking walks near London by train, I’ve combined the visit with a ramble through the countryside. I’m excited to get to do both in one trip.

How to Get to Here

If you want to follow in my footsteps, there are direct trains from London to Windsor and Eton Riverside. They whisk passengers off to the famous town with the royal castle in under an hour.

Services depart from Waterloo station, and you can use contactless payment so you don’t even have to buy a ticket in advance. Easy.

Once in Windsor, you can get to Dorney Court on foot in around an hour and 15 minutes. The walk follows a beautiful riverside towpath, making it a pleasant stroll in addition to being a way to get to the manor house.

Alternatively, Dorney Court is a 50-minute walk from Taplow station, which is on the Elizabeth line. Apart from Sundays, you can reach the house and gardens after taking a train there.

I’ve chosen to walk from Windsor to Dorney Court and then from there to Taplow, making for a nice point-to-point walk with a stately home break in the middle.

If walking isn’t your thing, there are taxis available from both train stations. You can also drive to Dorney Court.

Windsor

When my train arrives in Windsor, I spend some time exploring the town before starting my walk to Dorney Court. I’ve been here a number of times, and the charming streets and stunning views of Windsor Castle never get old.

Along with neighboring Eton, which is home to a famous school of the same name, Windsor is a treat for the eyes. Full of shops, cafes, restaurants, hotels, and pubs, it’s a great place to walk around. The riverside area is pretty, too.

The Walk

After spending an hour in Windsor, I continue my day trip with a walk to Dorney Court. Following the riverside towpath on the Thames, I take in bucolic scenery and peaceful surroundings as I make my way to the house.

Some of the walk goes past Dorney Lake, the site of the Olympic rowing competition in 2012. Other parts of it pass by locks and weirs in the river, and still more go through beautiful landscapes.

At the end of the walk I find myself heading up the drive and standing front of the striking facade of Dorney Court.

Dorney Court

I start my visit with a tour of the house. Home to the Palmer family for hundreds of years (and counting), this place has been designated as being of outstanding architectural and historical interest.

Not only is Dorney Court an important Tudor home, but also the manor house of Dorney, a village that was first recorded in the Domesday Book in 1086.

Located in the Buckinghamshire countryside, Dorney Court has a history that goes as far back as the village around it. The current iteration was built around 1440, and it hasn’t changed significantly since then.

The result is a stunning Tudor house that has associations with prominent figures and events in British life.

Upon arrival, I take an hour-long tour of the house. As we go, my group learns about the history of the building, the furniture, and the estate.

From paintings to tapestries and sculptures, everyone from Lely to Kneller and Janssen is represented. There’s also a rare needlework that depicts the achievements of Palmer triplets in the 1600s.

The furniture mostly dates from the Restoration, as the contents of the manor house were looted by Cromwellian forces during the English Civil War in the 17th century. Highlights include four-poster beds, lacquer cabinets, and contemporary designs made from wood on the grounds.

We also hear that the house has been used as a filming location for movies like Bohemian Rhapsody, Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, and Sliding Doors, and TV shows like Bridgerton, Dracula, and Miss Marple.

Outside, the park and gardens are expansive. Ancient yew hedges and herbaceous borders divide green lawns framed by ornamental trees. There’s a Saxon Pike Pond with chestnut trees and a Norman ice house, and mature parkland all around.

To one side of the house, there’s a beautiful flower garden. The centerpiece is a contemporary fountain that takes the form of an Indian elephant showering itself with water. The flowers are in full bloom today, and it’s a treat to see them.

On another side of the house, the Dell features a shrub-fringed path and secluded greenery.

Elsewhere, an avenue of apple trees divides gardens from the parkland. It’s a reminder that during the post-war period, the park was a prize-winning commercial orchard.

After exploring the gardens, I pop into the estate’s Church of St James the Less. There’s been a house of worship on the grounds since at least the 12th century, and there’s archaeological evidence of a pre-Norman Conquest building, too.

The current church chancel dates from the 12th century, and at the west end of the nave there’s a Norman font with decorative designs carved into the stonework.

At the back is a massive Tudor tower, the top of which is the highest point in all of Dorney.

Not far from there is the Coach House Barn. It’s a reinterpretation of the Victorian brewery and building that once housed the carriages and coaches at Dorney Court.

Also on the grounds is the Dorney Court Stables, a professionally-run livery yard. There’s a tearoom and gift shop, too.

Train

After exploring the grounds, my day trip to Dorney Court continues with a 50-minute walk to Taplow station. It takes me through more of the English countryside, along the river, and past farms as I make my way into town for the ride back to London.

Soon I’m on board the Elizabeth line speeding towards the UK capital. It’s hard to believe the country manor house is so close to the urban center of London.

Day Trip Map

Dorney Court Day Trip

I hope you’ve enjoyed my guide and that it’s inspired you to visit this part of the UK yourself someday. Dorney Court is one of the best historic homes near London, and it’s worth a special trip.

You can read about more great rail journeys from the UK capital on my blog post about the best day trips from London by train. If you have additional time, my guide to weekend trips from London by rail can help inspire your next getaway. If you found this post helpful, buy me a coffee!

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