Bushy House

Bushy House stands in Teddington, on the edge of Bushy Park in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames. Built in 1714–15 for George Montagu, 1st Earl of Halifax, it replaced an earlier lodge from 1663. The house became home to King William IV and Queen Adelaide in the early 19th century after William was appointed Ranger of Bushy Park. After his accession in 1830, William and Adelaide lived there until her death in 1849. The building later became part of the National Physical Laboratory in 1902. The house is worth visiting for its royal connections and scientific legacy. William IV lived there for decades before becoming king, and the house was later used by early directors of the National Physical Laboratory. The ground floor and basement were converted into laboratories, while the upper floors remained as private rooms. Two small museums inside display historical scientific equipment from the laboratory’s early years. Visitors find laboratories on the lower floors and meeting rooms above, with the upper storeys overlooking Bushy Park. The house still contains historical scientific instruments from the National Physical Laboratory’s early work. The surrounding parkland, once part of the original estate, remains open to the public. The building’s grand rooms reflect its royal past, while its scientific role continues today.