Apsley House
WHERE
London
What it’s like
The Duke of Wellington's old townhouse on Hyde Park Corner, open Wednesday to Sunday with a monthly guided tour worth timing your visit around.
This is Wellington's old address, right on the corner of Hyde Park, and it's shut Mondays and Tuesdays so plan around that before you get the tube out there. Wednesday to Sunday it's open 11 to 5, which gives you a decent afternoon slot without an early start.
If you can stretch to the first Thursday of the month between May and December, the Keeper of the Wellington Collection runs a 1.5 hour tour at 11.15am. No booking, just turn up and pay on the day, £10 for adults and children go free, but only 15 places so get there early if you want one. Outside of that it's the usual look-round-yourself setup, which is fine for older kids who'll sit through a house full of paintings and military history but probably a stretch for anyone under about seven.
English Heritage runs it on a donation ticket system, so you can ask for a ticket "without donation" and still get in on the same terms, which is worth knowing if the suggested amount feels steep for a family visit.
The building itself is the awkward bit. There's no on-site parking, the nearest is a paid car park on Park Lane about a quarter mile off, and the front door has five cobbled steps with no ramp. If anyone in your group uses a wheelchair or a buggy that can't be carried, it's worth knowing there's only one lift inside and access is genuinely limited, though disabled parking spaces close to the entrance can be booked ahead by phone.
Facilities
Need to know
- Parking
- No on-site parking. Charged car park on Park Lane about 1/4 mile away
- Wheelchairs
- Disabled access very limited with no ramps and only one lift
- Dogs
- Access and assistance dogs welcome
- Getting there by bus or train
- Victoria Station 10 minute walk
- Closed Mondays and Tuesdays, only open Wednesday to Sunday
- The guided tour only runs monthly from May to December, on the first Thursday
- Assistance and access dogs are allowed in
- Nearest stations are Victoria and Hyde Park Corner, both about a 10 minute walk or bus ride
Plan your visit
Do we need to book tickets in advance?
There's no booking link, just turn up during opening hours. The monthly guided tour is also pay-on-the-day, first come first served.
How much does it cost?
It runs on a donation ticket system as English Heritage is a charity. You can ask for a ticket without donation and get the same admission.
Is there parking?
No on-site parking, the nearest is a charged car park on Park Lane about a quarter mile away. Disabled parking is free but you have to phone ahead to book it.
Is it easy to get around with a buggy or wheelchair?
Not really. There's no ramp at the front, five cobbled steps to the door, and only one lift inside, so bring a companion if access is a concern.
How long do people spend here?
The guided tour alone runs 1.5 hours, so add time on top for wandering the rest of the house at your own pace.
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