Syon House and Park

Syon House is bursting with history. The magnificent turreted pile looks out over the Thames towards Kew. It was built on the site of a medieval abbey that was brutally dissolved by Henry VIII, and it was here that Henry's fifth wife Catherine Howard awaited her execution. Henry's coffin was later brought here in transit to Windsor Castle; as if by divine retribution, it mysteriously burst open during the night and the king's remains were found being licked by dogs. The rooms, designed by Robert Adam, are breathtaking (John Betjeman described Syon as 'the grand architectural walk'), from the grand Roman hallway in black and white marble to the Red Drawing Room, with its crimson silk walls and Roman statues. Its magnificently preserved grandeur has made it a popular filming location: 'The Madness of King George' was filmed here, as were scenes from 'Gosford Park' and Stephen Poliakoff's 'The Lost Prince'. Outside, children will love the restored nineteenth-century Great Conservatory, with its huge iron and glass dome - and if the extensive Capability Brown-landscaped gardens aren't enough for a run around, there's also indoor adventure playground Snakes & Ladders (an extra charge applies). Then there's the London Tropical Zoo enclosure, full of endangered animals like piranhas, snakes, crocs and poison tree frogs. A programme of family-friendly events includes demonstrations and re-enactments. In summer, movies are screened in the gardens (take a picnic to consume on the lawns before the film begins) and local craft fairs are occasionally set out on the front lawn.