Honeywood Museum
Honeywood Museum
4.5
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
About
Honeywood Museum is a Grade II listed building next to the picturesque Carshalton Ponds in the heart of Carshalton's Conservation Area. The family-friendly museum re-opened in May 2012 after a complete refurbishment following an HLF grant. It has beautifully restored period details including the Edwardian Billiards Room, Drawing Room and Bathroom. There are exhibitions which tell the fascinating history of the house and the people who lived there, and an on-going diary of events which illuminate the history of Carshalton, the Borough of Sutton, and a fascinating range of topics beyond. Look out for the delightful collection of Edwardian toys on display in the Childhood Room and visit the lovely tea room and the Museum's shop with its wide range of publications and unusual gifts. Entry is FREE.
Duration: 2-3 hours
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4.5
91 reviews
Excellent
49
Very good
27
Average
10
Poor
3
Terrible
2
sysolly
Norwich, UK258 contributions
Sept 2021 • Couples
We booked the Honeywood Museum Garden as part of Open House London, we arrived expecting to see a Victorian house with a garden on a lake but instead we walked through the museum into basically a walled garden. The guide explained that Carlshalton was built on a spring line and how the garden was drained using a number of culverts, where the stones used on the small walls bordering the garden came from but the only flowers in evidence were in a few poorly planted pots! The guide said that lockdown had effected the work in the garden but surely some annual Victorian flowers could have been planted in the flower beds. It was later to become apparent that the photo we saw on Open House London was of the front of the museum, a real disappointment.
It would have been helpful if the guide had started the tour in the museum itself as she constantly referred to exhibits and the history of the house.
It would have been helpful if the guide had started the tour in the museum itself as she constantly referred to exhibits and the history of the house.
Written 11 September 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jean F
Great Bookham, UK259 contributions
Sept 2020 • Friends
This is a review of the café at Honeywood, which is nicely situated overlooking Carshalton Ponds, with plenty of outside seating. Following the coronavirus lockdown, I met a friend here for lunch, chosen especially because we could sit outside. A very mixed experience, queue outside to order your food, indicate your choice of table which is then 'sterilised'. It was quite busy, so we had to choose a table located on a narrow strip of grass between a footpath and the water. Table and chairs were sprayed and we were told to wait 30 seconds. Obviously they didn't dry in that time, so we wiped them down with tissues - not a good experience as frankly they needed a jolly good clean. Thankfully our toasted paninis were hot and delicious, safely served on thick paper plates. Afterwards I tried to use the one unisex loo, the door didn't bolt and the floor was filthy - I didn't go further! Rather a shame, this place could have so much going for it, but needs more care and attention. We won't be back.
Written 13 September 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Tania H
London, UK5 contributions
Jul 2013 • Family
Looks so inviting and is....but the scones were served ice cold like they'd just come out the fridge.
Written 11 October 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
KWH53
London, UK59 contributions
Mar 2019 • Friends
Small museum/house in a lovely location by Carshalton pond, feels like you're in the countryside. Parts of the museum/house are very old and hearing about the history of the house is very interesting. The museum is run by helpful volunteers who give you a typed self-guided tour of the house which is easy to follow. You can easily get around in an hour or two. There's lots of local social history and fascinating facts and photos about real people from the area and the lives they would have lived. Interesting even if you're not from the Sutton/Carshalton area. Lovely little tea room with outside chairs by the pond if the weather is good or inside if not. We had a panini and scones which were fresh and delicious. They also have home made soup on the menu but you need to get in quick for that. All the prices were very reasonable. This museum would be interesting for all age groups and easily accessible by bus or train. A worthwhile afternoon out but there are quite a few staircases to negotiate in the house. Check opening days/hours before you come as they're not open all days of the week.
Written 29 March 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Master Jonjon
London, UK340 contributions
Oct 2018 • Solo
... since my exploration of Sutton the Borough, and throughout the period I was asking myself – would there be a local museum for this small, peripheral borough just until recently was engulfed into London? And it turned out that I had come to the right place. You could remember that we had already visited Whitehall for the small town of Cheam and Nonsuch Mansion for a previous glorious palace, and now it’s time for a little bit wider while staying in the present tense.
Find yourself in a historic house with a balance between paintings, history and artifacts. The history section presented Sutton as a fast-evolving town following the 19th century railway boom (the result of which still largely visible today, with it being the largest town of the area). You’d also realize that Carlshalton – just a few miles away – had been pretty much stagnant in terms of urbanization. You would then realize the power of land leases, for back then Carshalton Park’s landlord was reluctant towards laying railways on his land and the result was thus straightforward.
More history was to follow on first floor, where the focus was on Carshalton and its River Wandle. The river was useful as an energy source for watermill factories until the advent of steam engines, which closed them down one by one.
And finally, the museum also housed a number of paintings by local artists (all indexed, in a bulky volume in the snooker room). This would include Frank Dickinson (1874-1961), the owner of Little Holland House (which I was yet to pay a visit to!).
Honeywood was built in the 17th century on an unusual site – right on top of a stream that was too weak to turn mills. Which means that it was there for a different reason possibly for the cold baths that the site would convenient provide.
The ground floor gallery showcased a rich collection of portraits by the photographer Knights-Whittome, who had shot photographic works numbering around ten thousand, for the early 20th century Sutton giving us a fair glimpse into the life here back then. The collection was recovered in his house in 1978, having been abandoned for long and shortly before it was demolished.
~master jonjon
Find yourself in a historic house with a balance between paintings, history and artifacts. The history section presented Sutton as a fast-evolving town following the 19th century railway boom (the result of which still largely visible today, with it being the largest town of the area). You’d also realize that Carlshalton – just a few miles away – had been pretty much stagnant in terms of urbanization. You would then realize the power of land leases, for back then Carshalton Park’s landlord was reluctant towards laying railways on his land and the result was thus straightforward.
More history was to follow on first floor, where the focus was on Carshalton and its River Wandle. The river was useful as an energy source for watermill factories until the advent of steam engines, which closed them down one by one.
And finally, the museum also housed a number of paintings by local artists (all indexed, in a bulky volume in the snooker room). This would include Frank Dickinson (1874-1961), the owner of Little Holland House (which I was yet to pay a visit to!).
Honeywood was built in the 17th century on an unusual site – right on top of a stream that was too weak to turn mills. Which means that it was there for a different reason possibly for the cold baths that the site would convenient provide.
The ground floor gallery showcased a rich collection of portraits by the photographer Knights-Whittome, who had shot photographic works numbering around ten thousand, for the early 20th century Sutton giving us a fair glimpse into the life here back then. The collection was recovered in his house in 1978, having been abandoned for long and shortly before it was demolished.
~master jonjon
Written 6 February 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Annthescribe
Sutton, UK15 contributions
Mar 2016 • Friends
It is a fascinating experience. I have been there several times with friends and grandchildren and the antique children's toys and game sand photos of old Carshalton are fascinating.
Written 14 February 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
jed103
81 contributions
Aug 2016 • Friends
A great museum, a bit about the local area some different exhibitions, I love the billiards room Great little cafe very friendly we wanted coffee at 4:55 on a Sunday afternoon and then sat and watched the ducks.
Even better it is free.
Even better it is free.
Written 22 August 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Wayne O
Sutton, UK39 contributions
Jul 2016 • Family
We go here all the time with our children, they love the themed arts & crafts facilities. The house is lovely & you can always read something different every time.
Written 25 July 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
garybons
Carshalton, UK557 contributions
Jul 2016 • Couples
Honeywood is a beautiful house located by Carshalton Ponds. It contains some fascinating insights into local history and some delightful works of art. We saw the "Acid Drop Copse" Somme reflection which contained some interesting and thought provoking pieces. Also worthy of note is the lovely cafe with its outdoor tables delightfully located overlooking the Ponds. Gorgeous.
Written 24 July 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Cecilia and Alice Rose
Sutton, UK15 contributions
May 2015 • Family
This is our local museum and we love it. My 4 year old daughter often asks to go to the museum. It's still very much like a house and you can walk through the rooms freely. There is a war time bedroom, a billiards room, a bathroom, play room as well as rooms with interactive exhibits about the local history. For kids there are toy trains, puzzles, blocks a dolls house and dressing up clothes. I love the liytle stories about what it was like living there. Because it has been added onto so many times the layout is strange with staircases everywhere which adds to its mystery. There is a nice little tea room too.If you go during a school holiday and check their website, you might find that they have craft activities. We have decorated a wave, painted a fish tank plate, made halloween decorations, painted snowflakes.... worth stopping for a look after a walk around the pounds. It might become a regular haunt like it did for us.
Written 5 June 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
It is free , a donation can be given . please go and have a look .
Written 30 March 2016
It's free to enter, and i think you'll be surprised how large it is on the inside.
Written 30 March 2016
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