Predominantly taken up by the sprawling grounds of Polesden Lacey, which includes the Great Bookham Equestrian Club, this Surrey neighbourhood is a sleepy rural village sitting between Effingham and Leatherhead. The leafy suburban streets that carve through fields are lined with relatively modern detached homes with large gardens, as well as mansion blocks above shops. The small high street has a couple of local independent shops including a butcher’s and a greengrocer’s, as well as a small supermarket. Nearby Bookham station runs semi- regular services into Waterloo, which, along with the good local schools, makes the village popular with commuting families.

The house of Polesden Lacey, which occupies the southern part of the village, was built in 1824, though the first house was built on the site in 1336. The estate was bought by Anthony Rous in 1630, before it came into the hands of Richard Brinsley Sheridan, the poet and playwright, in 1804. The house was rebuilt in 1824 by Thomas Cubitt and purchased by Sir Clinton Edward Dawkins in 1902. The Duke and Duchess of York spent their honeymoon at the house in 1923 after being invited by the then-owner Margaret Greville. The house and its grounds were left to the National Trust in 1942.

The house has featured in a number of television shows, including Antiques Roadshow, which was filmed in the grounds multiple times, and was also featured in the Jeeves and Wooster series.

The neighbourhood can feel rather isolated due to its distance from the city and its poor transport links. Some residents like this feature though, as it keeps the area peaceful and clean.

Apart from the relatively recent refurbishment of Polesden Lacey, this quiet village hasn’t seen a great deal of development in its recent history; however, the nearby town of Leatherhead has a number of projects underway that are set to increase interest not only in Leatherhead itself but in Bookham too. These include the development of Leatherhead’s Riverside Quarter that borders the River Mole, which will bring apartments, restaurants, and cafes. Leatherhead’s Swan Centre is also in the process of receiving significant improvements, which include a larger car park, and plans for more varied shopping space and a roof garden. In Bookham itself some locals have expressed concern about the council identifying two nearby sites as potential locations for new homes and traveller pitches. However, the position of these sites in greenbelt land near a conservation area means that these developments will likely take place elsewhere in the borough.