Apsley House

A marvel in the middle of London! I went today to visit with my husband, and what a joy ✨️ an elegant house full of beautiful art. One of the very few remaining aristocratic homes in London. Must See ArtworksAntonio Canova's colossal nude statue of Napoleon (as Mars the Peacemaker)a 3.45m tall marble sculpture at the foot of the grand staircase originally commissioned by Napoleon himself, but captured and given to Wellington. It's one of the most striking and iconic pieces in the house. The "Spanish Gift" paintings .Around 83 Spanish royal collection works (originally looted by Joseph Bonaparte and recovered by Wellington), including masterpieces by Diego Velázquez ( The Waterseller of Seville, Portrait of a Gentleman) Francisco Goya Titian, Rubens, Correggio, Murillo, Brueghel, and others These hang throughout the state rooms and are a major draw for art lovers. The Waterloo Shield! magnificent silver gilt presentation shield honoring Wellington's victory.Porcelains (like the Deccan dinner service), silverware, busts (including Canova works), military orders, swords, and gifts from emperors, tsars, and kings. My favourite was Yellow Drawing Room (or Yellow Room)one of the most elegant and beautiful. Original Adam fireplace, Wyatt interiors, delicate ornamentation, pier glasses, and artworks (including a Canova bust). I'm so happy that I went. I couldn't have left London without seeing this beautiful home. Every room is more beautiful than the last, with so much to see. If you are in London, do not miss this gem . It's near the Hilton hotel and easy to get to by bus or underground.

This museum houses the Duke of Wellington's magnificent collection, including a large collection of paintings, other works of art, and memorabilia associated with the family. It may be the only surviving example of an English aristocratic townhouse from that period. We thoroughly enjoyed our visit.

Some great artists on view, Thomas Lawrence, Reynolds, etc, and a few nice Golden Age dutch paintings (Photos attached). However the display and information about the paintings is old fashioned and not user friendly. (Except for the special exhibition). Helpful and friendly staff, but he house itself is unexeptional.

Former home of the Duke of Wellington. Downstairs is a display about the Duke's life including interesting artefacts such as the Duke's death mask and a handwritten letter to his wife. On the main and upper floor, you can listen to an audio description or find out more from display books for each room. Staff were friendly and knowledgeable. Toilets are located on the ground floor. Small selection of items to buy in the reception area. Photography is allowed - without a flash.

Well worth a visit if you’re a member of English 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Heritage, ground floor tells you the story of Duke of Wellington and some interesting artefacts . The upper floors are stunning with massive chandeliers in every room, the dining area has a huge table that goes from one end of the room to the other along with the silver centre table piece

Just like the Wellington Arch opposite, Apsley House feels hidden in plain sight. It was fulfilling to uncover the story behind the Duke of Wellington through the well curated exhibition downstairs - even if the space is modest - and through the audio guide in the rest of the house. There are some monumental spaces inside, including the staircase that hosts the statue of Napoleon, the Waterloo gallery, and a dining room with paintings of European leaders surrounding you from all corners. There are some great works of art here, and the Duke’s museum on the ground floor is home to an array of gifts bequeathed from European leaders grateful for his success against France. I visited with my English Heritage card but I also believe an Art Pass offers free entry.

Hidden gem with beautiful interior and paintings as well as history of the Duke of Wellington. Knowledgable and enthusiastic staff too. A rare old London house with all the original Victorian era decor. Well worth the entrance fee

Lovely English Heritage property that is the former home of the Duke of Wellington, now filled with artwork on the edge of Hyde Park. The 6 rooms upstairs, 2 on Ground, and 1 in the Basement can be seen in about 40 minutes, though longer if you wish to admire and read about the artwork more. It’s the former home of the Duke of Wellington (victor of the Battle of Waterloo), so there is a sense of grandeur from the dining room, ceilings, and general flow of the home - even if it’s now mostly artwork vs. furnished rooms. The artwork is quite impressive, with paintings by Velázquez, Rubens, Goya, and more. Both an audio guide and in-room books area available to provide more information about the pieces. The basement then has a one-room exhibition about his life. Seats are available in many rooms. Check the hours before going - it’s typically closed Monday-Tuesday, even in summer, then often only open in the weekend from January. No shop, though a few books for sale in reception. Toilets in the basement were fine.

The Apsley House has been the home for the Dukes of Wellington. The original occupant was Lord Apsley but he sold the house and since then, the Dukes have occupied it. Now these days, it just a house museum. If you have the London Pass, entrance to the Apsley House is already paid for. But I think it is cheap to come in anyway so if you're in the area, you should definitely stop by. Photography is not allowed. An audio guide is included since it does help out with the history of each room and its paintings. Lots of rooms in this house with very high ceilings filled with dozens and dozens of paintings, relics, Victorian style furniture and tables. It's the type of house where you would want to take off your shoes or put up the floor runners because you don't want to have the slightest piece of dirt in the rooms. It's a very nice and maintained house. They have hundreds and hundreds of parties here throughout the years and it looks like it's brand new.

Home of the "Iron Duke" of Wellington. Tons of paintings in the house. Interesting items that he collected. The huge statue of Napoleon at the staircase is interesting, to say the least. 2 for 1 train ticket deal, so I only paid £10 for me and my wife to enter.

Also known as Apsley House, this mansion on the southeast corner of Hyde Park has the ultimate address: #1 London. It was given to the Duke of Wellington as a reward for beating Napoleon at Waterloo - a feat that made him the most famous man in Europe! Though it is one of the less-visited museums, Apsley House offers one of the best palace experiences. Upon entering, you'll be greeted by an 11-foot marble statue of a nearly naked Napoleon. Downstairs includes tons of goodies from the Duke's life, including his beloved and now widely popular Wellington boots (aka "wellies"!). The real treasure, however, can be found upstairs, where the Duke's many paintings are on prominent display surrounded by a rich, lush interior. £5.50 for entry, and the included audioguide is quite nice.

Also known as 'Number One London' (the popular name for Apsley House), this has to be one of the most interesting visitor attractions in London. Home to the Duke of Wellington after his victory over Napoleon at Waterloo, the interior of the house has changed very little since the days of the Iron Duke. It is still home to the 8th Duke of Wellington who still uses part of the building as a part-time residence. It is allegedly the only preserved example of an English aristocratic town house from its period. In 1807 the house was purchased by Richard Wellesley, 1st Marquis Wellesley, the elder brother of Sir Arthur Wellesley, but in 1817 financial difficulties forced him to sell it to his famous brother, by then the Duke of Wellington, who needed a London base from which to pursue his new career in politics. The magnificent collection of 200 paintings includes 83 which were acquired by the first Duke after the Battle of Vitoria in 1813, the paintings were in Joseph Bonaparte's baggage train. The paintings were from the Spanish royal collection and were given to Wellington by King Ferdinand VII of Spain in recognition of his victories in Spain against the French. The gallery, (reportedly one of the finest art collections in London), includes paintings by Velazquez and Rubens as well as a wonderful collection of silver and porcelain, with pride of place going to a massive nude statue of Napoleon. At £6.90 to get in (adults), it is very good value for money. I spent approximately 2.5 hours in the house but could easily have doubled that if I had spent more time viewing the large amount of amazing art work that was on display. The electronic guided tour on hand held devices is a must (and is at no extra cost).

Apsley House is the stunning residence of the Duke of Wellington. The house is located just inside Hyde Park, on the west end of Picadilly. When it was built, it had the great address of Number One London. The rooms are beautiful, and very luxurious---gorgeous decoration in each of the rooms open to the public. (Wellington's descendants still live here, so the entire house is not open to the public.) This is the grandest house I've visited in London. If you're looking for a palace experience without leaving London, Apsley House is a good choice. In addition to the beautiful rooms, Apsley House has a very extensive art collection, as well as items related to the Duke himself (swords, plate, etc.) The Duke of Wellington was rock star famous, and his home fits that level of accomplishment and fame. I was somewhat suprised the house didn't have more visitors: I was there on a Saturday, and there were handfuls of visitors but no crowds. I liked that, though: the house is quiet and a nice escape from the bustle of Hyde Park and Picadilly. Definitely worth a visit.

Apsley House is one fo the most palatial mansion and is still the residence of Wellington's descendents. Inside you can view many aspects of his life and have alook at his amazing art collection.

I was checking an email on my phone, when a rude staff interrupted me, reminding me "not to take photos." This is ridiculously disrespectful. Most staff seem to suspect that normal people would intentionally take photos - strange enough. Only recommended if you visit for free.

Surprisingly, this was one of my favorite places during our week in England. We only went because we could get two for one with our train tickets, but it was a fascinating home with an excellent audio tour and a great talk by the docent in the dining room. We happened to get there right at the time he was giving a talk, but we would plan ahead next time to catch it again. Compared to the tourist-swamped main attractions, this was almost empty, so we had plenty of time to look at everything and get up close. Beautiful architecture, lots of amazing fine art, and a ton of history, all in one. I'd just read Georgette Heyer's An Infamous Army about Waterloo, so this was right up my alley. Definitely an underrated treasure in London!

Apsley House is a beautiful old residence right next to Hyde Park and the Wellington Arch. Home to the Duke of Wellington, it is also called Number 1 London as it is essentially the first house you would see in London after entering via the Knightsbridge toll gate. It is an English Heritage property, but you don't need to be an EH member to enter. The most striking thing I remember is the 6 foot statue of Napoleon gifted to the Duke after the battle of Waterloo, that Wellington had placed at the foot of the stairs, so that he could greet his former enemy every morning as he came down for breakfast! It's an imposing building with a 200 year chequered history - the windows in the long gallery had to be boarded up during riots as they had been broken so often that the owners found them too expensive to replace!

This one is difficult to mi but many do, all the same. It's right on Hyde Park corner, by marble arch and isn't a particularly attractive but obviously holds some importance as a national trust building.