During a week off work earlier this month, I paid a visit to Claremont Landscape Garden, a Grade 1, 18th century listed garden, close to the village of Esher, in Surrey.

I’d never been before, but after a week of job hunting and sitting in front of my laptop, I decided it was time to get out and about for some fresh air and to have a little explore.

Visits to all National Trust properties and gardens currently require bookings to be made ahead of time.

Claremont is easy to reach from London and has a car park which was easy to locate with plenty of available space on the day of my visit.

The History of Claremont Garden

Claremont has long been associated as a countryside retreat for heirs and queens. It was a playground for the wealthy and the influential.

Over the years Sir John Vanbrugh, Charles Bridgeman, William Kent and ‘Capability’ Brown, and Queen Victoria have all made their mark on the garden.

In 1709, Chargate Farm and Wood as it was then known, was purchased by Sir John Vanbrugh. Sir John Vanbrugh set about creating an idyllic retreat in the heart of the Surrey countryside.

In 1714, Sir John Vanbrugh sold the estate to Thomas Pelham-Holles, the Duke of Newcastle. Sir John Vanbrugh remained involved with the land, and it was he who turned Chargate Farm and Wood into Claremont.

There were a number of other wealthy owners who took on the house and gardens over the years, including royalty! From 1816-1922, Princess Charlotte and Prince Leopold made it their home.

Queen Victoria also used to visit her Uncle Prince Leopold here and loved playing in this idyllic setting.

In 1922, many of the buildings were demolished by housing developers. This just left the main house and 210 acres of land.

In 1949, Claremont and its remaining 49 hectares fell into the trusted hands of the National Trust.

Autumn Colours in Claremont Garden

On my visit to Claremont earlier this month, as I entered into the garden, I took a left-hand turn up a steep embankment towards the top of the amphitheatre. Amphitheatres were incredibly popular in the 18th century. Many were designed for entertainment purposes. But the amphitheatre in Claremont Garden had a different purpose. Designed as a viewing point, the amphitheatre looks out across the Serpentine Lake and the beautiful display of autumnal colours.

After spending some time standing, looking in awe looking at the amazing array of colours, I headed away from the amphitheatre towards the North Terrace. It’s a beautifully peaceful part of the gardens, ideal for sitting and pondering away an afternoon.

As the weather was still mild for November, I decided to take over one of the many benches in the gardens and sat reading a couple of chapters of a book until the temperature started to dip.

The Belvedere Tower

Once I started to feel the autumnal nip in the air, I packed my book away and headed off in search of the Belvedere Tower.

The Belvedere Tower is one of the main attractions at Claremont. Although sadly it was closed on the day of my visit. The Belvedere Tower now stands within the grounds of Claremont Fan Court School, who allow the National Trust to gain access to the Tower on set dates throughout the year.

The tower, built by Sir John Vanbrugh over 250 years ago, is a Grade II listed building.

On a clear day, they say you can see as far as Windsor Castle, The Shard and Wembley Stadium from the top of the tower.

The Serpentine Lake

From the tower, I headed through the woodland, back towards the Serpentine Lake. The woodland area is such a treat at this time of year. The autumn leaves offered such a fantastic display of colours, and the woodland smells were just divine.

Once I arrived at the water’s edge, I decided to take a stroll around the lake before heading home. The maples and the liquidambar make Claremont a magical place to visit at this time of year. The reflections of the yellows, greens and reds in the lake were something else.

I finished my visit to Claremont with a hot chocolate and a fruit scone from the cafe. Whilst it’s outdoor seating only at the moment, it’s a lovely spot to get a light refreshment at the end of your visit.

For anyone looking to visit, it’s £10 entry for adults, £5 for children or free if you’re a National Trust member. Members still need to book in advance to secure their slot. There’s only one set of toilets, so, if you have a weak bladder, go prepared! The toilet block is in the car park.

I thoroughly enjoyed my afternoon at Claremont Landscape Garden. It was lovely to get away from the stress of job hunting, and to experience autumn at it’s finest.