Summary
Leafy Sutton is among the southernmost boroughs in the capital and can often feel like rural countryside due to its abundant parks and golf courses.
Sutton High Street contradicts this perception as one of Greater London’s premier shopping districts, featuring a plethora of renowned retailers, diverse cuisines from around the globe, and a pub where the Rolling Stones received their initial break in 1963. The River Wandle weaves through the borough on its journey to the Thames at Wandsworth, fostering Medieval settlements and industries when Sutton was merely rural land.
The Wandle Trail follows the river all the way to the Thames.
If your visit coincides with the weekend, Carshalton is an antique enthusiast’s ideal day out, featuring the Honeywood Museum, the Georgian Carshalton Water, and the well-designed Grove Park, which is situated on what was once a Medieval estate.
1. Beddington Park & The Grange
Recognized as one of the most archaeologically important sites in London, Beddington Park’s history extends well before the Carew family established their deer park here in the 14th century.
Evidence of settlements dates back 5,000 years to the Bronze Age, while a Roman sarcophagus unearthed in 1930 indicates the existence of a Roman domus and baths on this land.
Dominating the eastern side of the park is the Tudor Carew Manor, currently occupied by Carew Manor School and council offices, while the Church of Mary the Virgin features memorial monuments dedicated to the Carews.
The Pavilion Cafe in the park operates seven days a week, offering a variety of amenities, including football pitches, six tennis courts, a half-pipe, a children’s playground, an outdoor gym, and barbecue areas.
2. Nonsuch Park
In the 1530s, Henry VIII embarked on what is said to be one of his grandest vanity projects.
The village of Cuddington was completely dismantled to make way for Nonsuch Palace, a representation of the power of the Tudor dynasty.
The name itself implies that there is no place like it on earth.
Henry VIII would not live to witness the palace’s completion, and Elizabeth I subsequently sold it.
The palace was torn down in the 17th century, and while no remnants remain in the parkland, portions of its interiors are housed at the British Museum and Loseley Hall in Guildford.
In the mid-18th century, the separate Nonsuch Mansion was constructed on the eastern side of the park.
Inspired by the design of the Palace, this mansion now hosts events and weddings and includes an adjoining café, the Nonsuch Pantry.
Within the mansion’s north porch is a stone from the palace inscribed in Latin, stating, “1543 Henry VIII in the 35th year of His reign.”
3. Honeywood Museum
The central museum for the London Borough of Sutton is located in an elegant house by Carshalton Ponds.
Honeywood House was constructed in the 17th century and includes Victorian and Edwardian extensions.
Within the museum, visitors can explore the drawing room, billiards room, and Victorian scullery.
Furthermore, one can delve into the history of Sutton and its industries along the River Wandle, observing how Carshalton transitioned from the hamlet of Aultone, as noted in the Domesday Book, to a modern suburban town.
In addition, detailed information about the property and the various residents is available, while the Childhood Room contains a comprehensive collection of toys from the Edwardian era.
You may also relax in the tearoom and museum shop and return for various talks and seasonal events.
4. Whitehall, Cheam
Located in the heart of Cheam Village is a charming weatherboard house with a history tracing back to the early 16th century.
The original Whitehall was likely a yeoman farmer’s residence constructed from wattle and daub on a timber frame.
This Tudor house was expanded in the 17th and later in the 19th century, while the distinctive white weatherboarding was added in the 1700s.
In addition to its foundational Tudor structure, the house showcases elements from the Georgian, Victorian, and Edwardian periods.
Whitehall serves as a museum, offering free admission on Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays.
The exhibits explore the history of the house and its occupants, including 17th-century merchant and philosopher James Boevey, as well as the Killick family, who resided here from 1741 to 1963. You can also learn more about Nonsuch Palace, visit the acclaimed tearoom, and stroll through the garden, which features a Medieval well from an earlier estate.
5. Mayfield Lavender Farm
If you associate lavender fields with the South of France, you may be surprised to discover that Mayfield in Sutton was once referred to as the Lavender Capital of the World.
Benefiting from the chalky soil, a thriving lavender industry flourished here from the 1700s to the 1900s, and this tradition was renewed in the early 2000s when a 25-hectare plot was replanted with two varieties.
The periods of blooming can vary yearly, but the fields at Mayfield Lavender typically flourish from mid to late June until early September.
Visitors can enjoy the pastel-hued blooms, browse the nursery and gift shop, and subsequently indulge in tea and cake at the café.
6. Wandle Trail
The River Wandle is a chalk stream originating in Croydon, Carshalton, and Beddington, flowing through Sutton, Merton, and finally Wandsworth, where it meets the Thames.
You can trace the river’s course from Croydon to its mouth along the 12.5-mile Wandle Trail, which traverses numerous parks as it winds through South West London.
Within the Borough of Sutton alone, the Wandle passes through seven distinct parks and wilderness areas, two of which, Beddington Park and Grove Park, have been highlighted previously.
The path is part of the National Cycle Network and features long stretches suitable for wheelchair access.
This trail is maintained by a collaborative effort of the main boroughs through which the river flows, which has published a map and description online.
7. Church of St Mary the Virgin, Beddington
A prominent landmark on the eastern side of Beddington Park, the Church of St Mary is a Grade II* listed building, rebuilt in the 14th and 15th centuries.
Its history is closely tied to the Carew family, whose current residence is now the Carew School located next door.
As you walk through the churchyard path, you will notice the unusually large west window in the Perpendicular Gothic style.
If you manage to enter, there is much to appreciate, including a Purbeck marble font dating back to around 1200 and 14th-century carved misericords featuring heads, shields, and foliage in nine of the choir stalls.
Also originating from the 14th century is the exquisite screen to the Carew chapel, which houses remarkable 15th and 16th-century monuments for members of the Carew family.
The pulpit is adorned with linenfold panels carved in 1611, while the organ screen (1869) was crafted by the studio of the Arts and Crafts master, William Morris.
8. The Grove Park
Located just around the corner from Carshalton Station is a tranquil urban park on a manor acquired by the council in 1924. Sutton Borough continues to utilize the 19th-century Grove House and its outbuildings for administrative purposes.
The park features a café, children’s playground, ball court, bowls green, and a miniature golf course.
A fascinating detail from the old manor is a millrace likely dating back to Anglo-Saxon times.
In the 1960s, this was transformed into a cascade, feeding the watermill known as the Upper Mill.
This mill has undergone renovations most recently in the 2000s following a fire, yet its presence has likely been felt here for over 1,000 years.
At the southern end, where the park transitions into Carshalton Ponds, there is an 18th-century bridge constructed from Portland stone, believed to have been designed by the Italian architect Giacomo Leoni.
9. Carshalton Water Tower
To the west of The Grove Park, Carshalton House dates back to the early 18th century and is presently home to St Philomena’s Catholic High School for Girls.
The house’s second owner, a sub-governor at the now-defunct South Sea Company, laid out the grounds in the 1710s, which included this remarkable late-Baroque monument.
The Water Tower housed a cistern providing water to the house, alongside an opulent tile-clad plunge bath, a suite of palatial rooms, and an orangery.
In the surrounding garden are remnants of the house’s former grounds, including a folly bridge and hermitage.
You can visit the Water Tower on Sunday afternoons during the summer months.
10. Sutton High Street
The sixth busiest retail district in London, Sutton High Street is pedestrian-friendly and extends north to south through the heart of Sutton.
This thoroughfare has been in existence since Sutton was a rural village and was a stop for coach traffic on the London to Brighton Turnpike.
An old milestone located along the High Street indicates the distance to Whitehall (11 miles) and the Royal Exchange (12 miles). The High Street has attracted shoppers since the Victorian era, offering all the brands you would expect from an urban retail area.
A diverse array of patisseries, restaurants, bars, and cafés can be found, serving cuisines from Malaysian to Mexican.
Many of the shops are located in two covered centers, Times Square and St Nicholas Centre.
At No. 265, the Winning Post pub (formerly known as the Red Lion) holds a notable place in rock music history.
It was here that Charlie Watts and Bill Wyman performed their initial gigs with the Rolling Stones in 1963, while the impresario Giorgio Gomelsky discovered the band at this venue and reserved them for his Crawdaddy Club.
11. Sutton Heritage Mosaic
At the southern end of High Street, in Trinity Square, is one of the largest pieces of wall art in the UK.
Nine meters high and five meters wide, the Sutton Heritage Mosaic (1994) was created by Rob Turner and Gary Drostle and features 19 panels symbolizing various elements of Sutton’s local history.
This mosaic consists of approximately 100,000 vitreous ceramic tiles, depicting Henry VIII’s palace at Nonsuch Park, the Carew family’s coat of arms, a mill on the River Wandle, the early railway, and Whitehall in Cheam.
While many of the images may be unfamiliar to most, a plaque was affixed in 2011, labeling all the panels for the first time.
12. Little Holland House
At the turn of the 20th century, the artist and designer Frank Dickinson (1874-1961) constructed this residence in Carshalton, integrating Arts and Crafts and Art Nouveau styles.
The exterior appears quite modest, apart from the gate and its foliate patterned capitals; however, this belies the extraordinary craftsmanship found within.
Dickinson drew inspiration from prominent Arts and Crafts figures such as William Morris and John Ruskin, and what is remarkable about this endeavor is the extent of his personal involvement.
Over two years, Dickinson crafted the furniture, painted the wall art, wove the fabrics, carved the beams and paneling, and forged the metalwork throughout the house.
Visiting hours are limited to the first Sunday of the month and bank holidays.
13. Charles Cryer Theatre
Following the recent closure of the Secombe Theatre in Sutton town center, Carshalton’s Charles Cryer Theatre has now assumed the role of the borough’s primary stage for live performing arts.
Previously a well-regarded producing venue with a studio-sized stage, the Charles Cryer Theatre has faced its own challenges, going dark in 2014 due to budget cuts by the council.
Its future remained uncertain until the end of 2018 when a 25-year lease was granted designating it as a community arts venue.
As of early 2019, no program had been announced, but it is anticipated that the venue will soon begin hosting plays, film screenings, live music, talks, and workshops.
14. Wilderness Island
In a residential area of Carshalton, there lies an island on the River Wandle at the confluence with the Wythe stream.
Wilderness Island is a nature reserve owned by Sutton Borough, comprising the island itself and the riverbanks to the south.
In the 1600s, copper mills operated on the water, and the island later transitioned into pleasure gardens.
This reserve displays a striking diversity of habitats, including wildflower meadows, wetlands, and woodlands, featuring oaks, willows, and mature horse chestnuts.
In the Wandle, one can spot barbel, chub, and sticklebacks, while this small oasis is home to a variety of birds such as kingfishers, reed warblers, three species of woodpecker, little grebes, and even tawny owls.
15. Golf
The farther south you venture, the more rural the borough becomes.
In this serene and hilly part of Sutton, you will discover all four of the borough’s golf courses located in a line along the Surrey boundary.
Three of these are private yet welcome visitors, while one, The Oaks Golf Centre, is accessible to the public.
Unlike many private courses, The Oaks invites players of all ages and skill levels to enjoy its 18-hole and 9-hole courses. It also features a 16-bay driving range and a well-stocked pro shop.
In a mix of hilly downland and parkland, Woodcote Park Golf Club, Banstead Downs, and Cuddington Park are all highly regarded.
Green fees at Banstead Downs are £45 for 18 holes (available Monday to Friday only), while Woodcote Park and Cuddington Park charge between £60 and £90, with restricted tee-off times on weekends.
