Danson House

This Palladian villa was built by one John Boyd, an East India Company director, in 1766. A 10-year restoration to bring the house back to its original Georgian style was completed in 2005, aided by the discovery of a series of fine watercolours of the interiors by the second owner’s daughter, Sarah Johnston, in 1805. Highlights include the dining room’s numerous reliefs and frescoes celebrating love and romance; the library and music room, with its functioning organ; the dizzying spiral staircase accessing the upper floors; and the Victorian kitchens (open only occasionally). The English-style garden is a delight, and on the large lake in Danson Park, which is flanked by some splendid art deco houses along Danson Rd to the east, you can hire rowing boats.