Apsley House (English Heritage)

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

Website

E-mail

joseph.saunders@english-heritage.org.uk

Telephone

020 7499 5676

All information is supplied by the venues or providers 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
Guided tours icon Shop icon Study area icon Visual disability facilities icon Wheelchair access icon

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 Nov-31 Mar Sat-Sun 10am-4pm , Closed 24-26 Dec & 1 Jan

 Admission charges

6.30/5.70/3.80, Apsley House & Wellington Arch joint ticket 7.90/7.10/4.70/20.50

Discounts

  • English Heritage
  • Cadw: Welsh Historic Monuments
  • Historic Scotland
 General services and facilities
  • Foreign language audio guide available
  • General audio-guide available
  • Guided tours
  • Pre-booking service for groups
  • Shop
 Children and families
  • Events and resources for children and families
 Disability access
  • Wheelchair access to some public areas
  • Wheelchairs available for loan
 Schools services and facilities
  • Direct teaching services for schools
  • Member of staff available with responsibility for education
  • Primary school education service available
  • Secondary school education service available
  • Education facilities available
 Research and adult learning
  • Adult lectures and courses held
  • Teaching/resources available for HE/FE students
  • Research facilities for academics
  • Study facilities

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

Website

E-mail

joseph.saunders@english-heritage.org.uk

Telephone

020 7499 5676

All information is supplied by the venues or providers 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.

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

Collections services

  • General guide to collections available
  • Object identification and/or written enquiry service
  • Specialist publications on collections available
  • Object study facilities available (enquire in advance)

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

Website

E-mail

joseph.saunders@english-heritage.org.uk

Telephone

020 7499 5676

All information is supplied by the venues or providers 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.
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.
Portugese Silver Dinner Service

Conservation in Action: Housekeeper's Secrets

2 March 2012

Have you ever wondered how we maintain our stunning collections? Come and join us at Apsley House for a practical look at conservation in action and learn some of our housekeeping secrets. Light refreshments included.

Suitable for

  • Any age
  • Family friendly

When

11am-1pm

Where

Apsley House

Admission

English Heritage members only £15

Website

http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/daysout/events/conservation-in-action-ah-02-mar/

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

Website

E-mail

joseph.saunders@english-heritage.org.uk

Telephone

020 7499 5676

All information is supplied by the venues or providers 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.
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.

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

Website

E-mail

joseph.saunders@english-heritage.org.uk

Telephone

020 7499 5676

All information is supplied by the venues or providers 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.

Related teaching activities

Key stage 2 history, Small project

Historical interpretation

Working in small groups, carry out research into monuments in England. What do monuments signify and why were they constructed?

Key stage 2 maths, 1 lesson

Ma2 Number

Look at images of Apsley House with the whole class. How many different types of windows can you find? Make a list of the features of each type and discuss why they are different.

Key stage 2 maths, 1 lesson

Ma2 Number

Look at the external structure of Apsley House. What was important in the design of the building? Look for symmetry, number patterns and proportions.

Key stage 3 design and technology, Small project

1.3 Creativity

Apsley House was designed and built by the architect Robert Adam. Carry out research into a period of architecture and make a list of the typical features of this architectural style.

Key stage 3 English, Small Project

En2 Reading

Historic houses and homes have inspired creativity in writing and art for many centuries. Using Apsley House as a starting point, work in groups to research and discuss other historic properties that have been used in art and literature.