Eltham Palace pairs a medieval great hall with a dazzling Art Deco home

Few places in London pack as much history into one visit as Eltham Palace. In south east London, a medieval royal palace and a glamorous 1930s mansion sit side by side, and this winter the site is hosting festive events for visitors.

The palace's royal story began in 1305, when it was given to Edward II, and it served as a royal residence for about two centuries. In 1400 and 1401 it hosted the Byzantine emperor Manuel II, with a joust held in his honour. Edward IV built the Great Hall in the 1470s, and the future Henry VIII spent his childhood here, meeting the scholar Erasmus in 1499.

The palace's second life began in 1933, when Stephen and Virginia Courtauld leased the site and commissioned the architects Seely and Paget to restore the hall and build a new home alongside it. The result, completed in the 1930s, is one of London's most striking Art Deco interiors.

Highlights include the Art Deco dining room, where the Courtaulds hosted many dinner parties, and Virginia's gold plated bathroom. The couple's pet lemur, Mah-Jongg, even had his own room upstairs and roamed the house.

The Courtaulds left in 1944, and the palace was later used by the Royal Army Educational Corps until 1992. English Heritage took over in 1995 and completed major restoration of the interiors and gardens in 1999.

The gardens mix medieval remains with Arts and Crafts influences, and the visitor centre has a shop, a café in the glasshouse and a children's play area.

This winter there are two festive reasons to visit. Wreath making with afternoon tea takes place on 24 and 26 November and 1 and 3 December, and a Christmas Fair runs on 5 and 6 December from 10am to 4pm.

Eltham Palace is open daily from 10am to 4pm, with last entry at 3.30pm. The lift is currently out of service, so upper floors are reached by stairs, and a virtual tour is available for those who cannot manage them.

Eltham Palace and Gardens is at Court Yard, Eltham, SE9 5NP. For tickets and events, visit the English Heritage website.