The London townhouse of the Dukes of Wellington occupies an imposing position at Hyde Park Corner. Apsley House was once the very edge of London and the first building that visitors to the city would see earning it the moniker “Number One London”.
It is a palatial building and a visit is not only an opportunity to see the Duke’s art collection inside the restored Georgian building but it also gives you an insight into how the Duke of Wellington would once have lived.
The London townhouse of the Dukes of Wellington occupies an imposing position at Hyde Park Corner. Apsley House was once the very edge of London and the first building that visitors to the city would see earning it the moniker “Number One London”.
Apsley House was built for Lord Apsley between 1771 and 1778 and the first Duke of Wellington moved in on 1817, several years after his victory over Napoleon Bonaparte at the Battle of Waterloo, and it has been home to the Dukes of Wellington ever since with Charles Wellesley, the 9th Duke of Wellington still living in the house.
It is a palatial building and a visit is not only an opportunity to see the Duke’s art collection inside the restored Georgian building but it also gives you an insight into how the Duke of Wellington would once have lived.
What to see at Apsley House
Apsley House features an opulent interior with a grand State Dining Room and the imposing Waterloo Gallery that was once used to host the annual Waterloo Banquet.
The house is home to the first Duke of Wellington’s impressive art collection of over 3000 works, which includes paintings by Rubens and Velazquez.
Aspley House is also home to several exhibits about the Duke of Wellington, which include important artefacts that are not normally on display to the public. These exhibits include Soldierly Splendour: The 1st Duke of Wellington’s military uniforms, where you can see five of Wellington’s military dress uniforms on display in the opulent Striped Drawing Room, and from May 2024, there will be a new display about the life and legacy of the Duke of Wellington including several important artefacts from the Battle of Waterloo.
Visiting Apsley House
Apsley House occupies a prominent position at Hyde Park Corner, at the busy intersection of Piccadilly and Park Lane. It is just a two-minute walk from Hyde Park Corner tube station.
It is cheaper if you pre-book your tickets online in advance and admission if free of charge for English Heritage members and also to visitors with a London Pass.
You should allow between one and two hours for a visit and many people combine a visit to Aspley House with Wellington Arch, which is located immediately across the road.
Book your tickets for Apsley House
Save time by pre-booking your tickets to Apsley House in London. Your tickets will be supplied by Get Your Guide and you may either print your voucher or show your tickets on your smartphone when you arrive at the attraction.
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Free entry to Apsley House with the English Heritage Overseas Visitors Pass
The English Heritage Overseas Visitors Pass gives you free entry to Apsley House and over 100 other historic buildings and monuments in England.
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