Apsley House - English Heritage

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

Website

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

Telephone

020 7499 5676

All information is drawn from 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.
An exterior view of Apsley House
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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:

Historic house or home, Gallery

 Opening hours

Closed until 29 March 2015. Opening time after that date will be available nearer the time.

 Admission charges

Admission prices tbc.

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

Exhibition details are listed below, you may need to scroll down to see them all.

Apsley House Lecture Series: Wellington Portrayed

  • 5 May 2015 From 6:30pm

In the bicentenary year of Waterloo, the 9th Duke of Wellington explores the iconography of his famous descendent.

Admission

Price: £25 / Members: £20

Website

http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/apsley

Apsley House Lecture Series: Preparing For a Waterloo Banquet

  • 20 — 21 June 2015 11am-4pm

Prepare your toasts and perfect your speeches as the house is readied for the imminent return of the Duke of Wellington home from the Battle of Waterloo!

At 'Number One London' the house is buzzing as everybody prepares to welcome home England's hero from the Napoleonic Wars. Find out how to dress for the occasion and the sheer effort it takes to prepare the house for a banquet. Entertainment fit for a hero!

Suitable for

  • Family friendly

Admission

Adult £7.10 / Child £4.20 / Concession £6.40/ Family £18.60 / Members: Free

Website

http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/apsley

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.

Apsley House Lecture Series: Peter Snow - The Battle of Waterloo

  • 6 May 2015 6:30-7:30pm

Peter Snow will talk about his new book on Waterloo which is co-authored by his son Dan Snow. Peter will tell the story of Napoleons 100 Days Campaign, from his Elba escape to his defeat at Waterloo. A copy of the book is included in the ticket price and there will be an opportunity to get your book signed by the author.

Admission

Price: £55 / Members: £50

Website

http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/apsley

Apsley House Lecture Series: The Cutting Edge - Weapons at the Battle of Waterloo

  • 11 May 2015 2:30-3:30pm

Learn more about the weapons used at Waterloo with a chance to get 'hands-on' with some period weapons with Paul Wilcox, Director, Arms and Armour Research Institute, University of Huddersfield.

Admission

Price: £25 / Members: £20

Website

http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/apsley

Apsley House After Dark

  • 15 — 16 May 2015 6-9pm

Join us at Apsley House after hours as part of the nationwide 'Museums at Night' event series. Explore the resplendent rooms after dark in a guided tour and hear the tales of the house’s fascinating history brought to life.

Admission

Adult £7.10 Child £4.20 Concession £6.40 Family £18.60. Purchase your tickets today by calling our dedicated Ticket Sales Team on 0370 333 1183 (Mon – Fri 8.30am – 5.30 Sat 9am – 5pm).

Apsley House Lecture Series: The Duchess of Wellington - Managing the 1st Duke Households - Apsley House and Stratfield Saye

  • 19 May 2015 11am-12:30pm

Exploring the details of how the 1st Duke of Wellington ran his country estate at Stratfield Saye in Hampshire and his town house in London. The current Duchess of Wellington will provide a fascinating insight into the complexities of 19th century households.

Admission

Price: £25 / Members: £20

Website

http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/apsley

Apsley House Lecture Series: Lady Jane Wellesley - Wellington and Women

  • 20 May 2015 6:30-7:30pm

Did the women in Wellington's life have more influence on his character than the men?' Author Jane Wellesley continues her exploration of the 1st Duke of Wellington's life concentrating on Wellington's marriage and friendships with women.

Admission

Price: £25 / Members: £20

Website

http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/apsley

Apsley House Lecture Series: 200 Years - The Battle of Waterloo

  • 18 June 2015 11am-2pm

Join us at 'Number One London' as we celebrate the 200th Anniversary of the Battle of Waterloo! Hear the story of the battle like never before - told through a vegetable reenactment! Learn all about Regency clothes and dressing and prepare to celebrate when the Duke returns.

Admission

Adult £7.10 / Child £4.20 / Concession £6.40/ Family £18.60 / Members: Free

Website

http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/apsley

Waterloo Weekend

  • 4 — 5 July 2015 11am-4pm
  • 18 — 19 July 2015 11am-4pm
  • 25 — 26 July 2015 11am-4pm

Attention! Relive the drama and grandeur of the Napoleonic War as you are brought face to face with Wellington's Troops in the midst of the combat campaign. To celebrate the 200th Anniversary of the Battle of Waterloo join us this weekend for Red Coats marching, etiquette lessons and dressing the Regency way.

Suitable for

  • Family friendly

Admission

Adult £7.10 / Child £4.20 / Concession £6.40/ Family £18.60 / Members: Free

Website

http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/apsley

Regency Weekend

  • 29 — 30 August 2015 11am-4pm

Marching, dancing and merriment! From the heyday of the Prince Regent and the rigours of courtly life, to the regimes of the Red Coats during their combat campaign; experience life and laughter in Regency England. Join in with the etiquette lessons and find out all about dressing the Regency way. Make sure you bring your dancing shoes as you'll feel like you've stepped into a Jane Austen novel learning Regency dances!

Suitable for

  • Family friendly

Admission

Adult £7.10 / Child £4.20 / Concession £6.40/ Family £18.60 / Members: Free

Website

http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/apsley

Apsley House Twilight Tours

  • 7 October 2015 6-8pm
  • 14 October 2015 6-8pm
  • 21 October 2015 6-8pm
  • 28 October 2015 6-8pm

Guided by torchlight, discover the fascinating history and beautiful collection of art at Apsley House. Our twilight tours take place every Wednesday in October.

Admission

Adult £7.10 / Child £4.20 / Concession £6.40/ Family £18.60 / Members: Free

Website

http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/apsley

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.

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.

Getting there

Take exit 1 from Hyde Park Corner Underground Station

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