Apsley House (English Heritage)

Apsley House
149 Piccadilly
Hyde Park Corner
London
Greater London
W1J 7NT
England

Website

www.english-heritage.org.uk/daysout/properties/apsley-house/

E-mail

joseph.saunders@english-heritage.org.uk

Telephone

020 7499 5676

All information is drawn or provided by the venues themselves and every effort is made to ensure it is correct. Please remember to double check opening hours with the venue concerned before making a special visit.

Apsley House, home of the 1st Duke of Wellington, is one of the capital's finest residences. Famously known as No.1 London, it was designed and built by Robert Adam between 1771-1778. Wellington made it his home in 1817 after a dazzling military career which culminated in his defeat of Napoleon at Waterloo. He enlarged the house, adding on the spectacular 90ft long Waterloo Gallery to create a setting fit for a Duke. It has been the London home of the Dukes of Wellington ever since. Apsley House boasts a remarkable collection of Spanish and Dutch masters paintings, including the world-famous 'Waterseller of Seville' by Velazquez.

Venue Type:

Heritage site, Historic house or home, Architecture centre, Gallery, Museum

Opening hours

1 April - 31 October; Wednesday - Sunday 11am - 5pm
1 November - 31 March; Saturday - Sunday 10am - 4pm

Admission charges

English Heritage members free.
Adults £6.50
Concessions £5.90
Children £3.90

Discounts

English Heritage
Cadw: Welsh Historic Monuments
Historic Scotland

Getting there

Take exit 1 from Hyde Park Corner Underground Station

The sumptuous interiors are filled with the 1st Duke’s magnificent art collection. This includes outstanding paintings (many originally from the Spanish Royal Collection) by Velazquez, Goya, Rubens, Brueghel, Teniers, Steen, de Hooch, Lawrence and Wilkie; sculpture, including the colossal statue of Napoleon by Canova; porcelain including dining services from all the major factories of Europe; silver, including the 26ft long Portuguese centrepiece; furniture, swords, medals and memorabilia. The collection is largely arranged as it was by the first Duke, against the silk wall hangings and lavish gilt decoration of his London palace.

Collection details

Architecture, Coins and Medals, Decorative and Applied Art, Fine Art, Personalities, Social History, Weapons and War

Events details are listed below. You may need to scroll down or click on headers to see them all. For events that don't have a specific date see the 'Resources' tab above.

Duke of Wellington's Music

21 May 2013 *on now

This concert is unusual not just for its musical content but for the two pianos featured in the recital. The first is the oldest surviving grand piano in the country made in London by Americus Backers in 1772, now on display at Apsley House and once owned by the 1st Duke of Wellington. The second is a 1781 Broadwood which belongs to our pianist for the night David Owen Norris, Professor of Keyboard at Southampton University. The concert also features soprano Amanda Pitt.

When

7-9pm

Admission

Tickets are available for £45 via our dedicated booking system. Please call 0870 333 1183 (Mon – Fri 8.30am – 5.30 Sat 9am – 5pm) to book your place.

Website

http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/daysout/events/music-of-the-french-wars-ah-21-may/

Waterloo Festival

1 — 2 June 2013

Join us every weekend in June at Apsley House as we run through significant events in the build up to the Battle of Waterloo. Bring the whole family this half term weekend and enjoy a vegetable based re-enactment of the battle and hands on activities.

Suitable for

Any age

When

11am-4pm

Admission

£6.70

Website

http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/daysout/events/waterloo-festival-ah-1-jun

Waterloo Festival

8 — 9 June 2013

Join us every weekend in June at Apsley House as we run through significant events in the build up to the Battle of Waterloo. This weekend meet our interpreters who will give you an insight into the dress and manners of this colourful era.

Suitable for

Any age

When

11am-4pm

Admission

£6.70

Website

http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/daysout/events/waterloo-festival-ah-8-jun

Waterloo Festival

15 — 16 June 2013

Join us this anniversary weekend at Apsley House as we commemorate the famous Battle of Waterloo, meet a selection of Wellington's soldiers and their wives and learn about life during the Napoleonic wars.

Suitable for

Any age

When

11am-4pm

Admission

£6.70

Website

http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/daysout/events/waterloo-festival-ah-15-jun

Waterloo Festival

22 — 23 June 2013

Join us every weekend in June at Apsley House as we run through significant events in the build up to the Battle of Waterloo. Meet Napoleonic gentry and hear accounts of our historic Victory at Waterloo and join in the celebrations with music and dance.

Suitable for

Any age

When

11am-4pm

Admission

£6.70

Website

http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/daysout/events/waterloo-festival-ah-22-jun

Waterloo Festival

29 — 30 June 2013

Join us every weekend in June at Apsley House as we run through significant events in the build up to the Battle of Waterloo. In this final week we look at the anniversary of the Battle of Vitoria 1813, this led to eventual Victory of the Peninsular War.

Suitable for

Any age

When

11am-4pm

Admission

£6.70

Website

http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/daysout/events/waterloo-festival-ah-29-jun

Resources listed here may include websites, bookable tours and workshops, books, loan boxes and more. You may need to scroll down or click on headers to see them all.

Face to face resources

Downstairs Diary

It's the children's first day as servants to the Duke. Mrs Perkins, his housekeeper is on hand to tell them what their jobs will be and how she expects them to behave. Find out if you have what it takes to work below stairs in a grand house!
Discovery visits last for 90 minutes and are charged at £90 for a group of 30. Please visit www.english-heritage.org.uk/education or call 020 7499 5676 ext 24 to book.

Think It Write It

Using portraits in the Apsley collection for inspiration and a story-teller, students will develop skills in creative writing and descriptive language. This active workshop explores creative writing through storytelling, writing and performance.
Discovery visits last for 90 minutes and are charged at £90 for a group of 30. Please visit www.english-heritage.org.uk/education or call 020 7499 5676 ext 24 to book.

Victorian Life with Hannah the Housemaid

It’s not easy being a servant in a grand house like Apsley. Hannah the housemaid will engage your class in role play, object handling and discussion about how her life at Apsley differs from their home lives today.
Discovery visits last for 90 minutes and are charged at £90 for a group of 30. Please visit www.english-heritage.org.uk/education or call 020 7499 5676 ext 24 to book.

What's In A Face?

A portrait tells much more than simply what a person looked like. Children work with an artist to discover the hidden information in the Apsley portraits, followed by a step-by-step guide to drawing portraits using key drawing skills such as face mapping and shading.
Discovery visits last for 90 minutes and are charged at £90 for a group of 30. Please visit www.english-heritage.org.uk/education or call 020 7499 5676 ext 24 to book.

printable map

Getting there

Take exit 1 from Hyde Park Corner Underground Station

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