William Gladstone was not the only esteemed guest to have enjoyed sojourns at Gladstone House, situated at the top of the hill near a lovely pleasure garden and duck pond. Mark Twain wrote: “I have never seen any place that was so satisfactorily situated,” adding: “'Dollis Hill comes nearer to being a paradise than any other home I ever occupied.” The 97-acre park contains two playgrounds, tennis courts, a café and The Stables Gallery and Art Centre. Clambering along the wooden “whale” sculpture and identifying the different animals is a favourite with the kids.
