Apsley House

Surprisingly, this was one of my favorite places during our week in England. We only went because we could get two for one with our train tickets, but it was a fascinating home with an excellent audio tour and a great talk by the docent in the dining room. We happened to get there right at the time he was giving a talk, but we would plan ahead next time to catch it again. Compared to the tourist-​swamped main attractions, this was almost empty, so we had plenty of time to look at everything and get up close. Beautiful architecture, lots of amazing fine art, and a ton of history, all in one. I’d just read Georgette Heyer’s An Infamous Army about Waterloo, so this was right up my alley. Definitely an underrated treasure in London!

In the 19^th century, Arthur Wellesley, the then Duke of Wellington, cracked skulls at the Battle of Waterloo and several centuries later, he remains revered, since in addition to having streets, beef dishes and boots named after him, his descendants still live in the ancestral home he was granted after winning that battle. Although photography was not allowed and the top floor was closed off (the current Duke of Wellington and his family still occupy rooms here) the house itself was still a worthy site, not so much for the mild opulence it held but because the paintings, furniture, moldings and grand staircase tell a story of a time, a place and man who earned his place in history by beating the French.
Admission is free with the London Pass and due to its proximity to Buckingham Palace, Hyde Park and the Hyde Park tube station, it deserves at least a small walkthrough. That being said, without that Pass, admission is $ 17 in American currency (the pound is worth twice our dollar) and that can be better spent elsewhere, so look for a deal if you wish to enter (they also have 2 for 1 offers listed on the Internet).

This one is difficult to mi but many do, all the same. It’s right on Hyde Park corner, by marble arch and isn’t a particularly attractive but obviously holds some importance as a national trust building.

The Apsley House has been the home for the Dukes of Wellington. The original occupant was Lord Apsley but he sold the house and since then, the Dukes have occupied it. Now these days, it just a house museum.
If you have the London Pass, entrance to the Apsley House is already paid for. But I think it is cheap to come in anyway so if you’re in the area, you should definitely stop by. Photography is not allowed. An audio guide is included since it does help out with the history of each room and its paintings.
Lots of rooms in this house with very high ceilings filled with dozens and dozens of paintings, relics, Victorian style furniture and tables. It’s the type of house where you would want to take off your shoes or put up the floor runners because you don’t want to have the slightest piece of dirt in the rooms.
It’s a very nice and maintained house. They have hundreds and hundreds of parties here throughout the years and it looks like it’s brand new.

Also known as ‘Number One London’ (the popular name for Apsley House), this has to be one of the most interesting visitor attractions in London.
Home to the Duke of Wellington after his victory over Napoleon at Waterloo, the interior of the house has changed very little since the days of the Iron Duke. It is still home to the 8^th Duke of Wellington who still uses part of the building as a part-​time residence. It is allegedly the only preserved example of an English aristocratic town house from its period.
In 1807 the house was purchased by Richard Wellesley, 1^st Marquis Wellesley, the elder brother of Sir Arthur Wellesley, but in 1817 financial difficulties forced him to sell it to his famous brother, by then the Duke of Wellington, who needed a London base from which to pursue his new career in politics.
The magnificent collection of 200 paintings includes 83 which were acquired by the first Duke after the Battle of Vitoria in 1813, the paintings were in Joseph Bonaparte’s baggage train. The paintings were from the Spanish royal collection and were given to Wellington by King Ferdinand VII of Spain in recognition of his victories in Spain against the French. The gallery, (reportedly one of the finest art collections in London), includes paintings by Velazquez and Rubens as well as a wonderful collection of silver and porcelain, with pride of place going to a massive nude statue of Napoleon.
At £6.90 to get in (adults), it is very good value for money. I spent approximately 2.5 hours in the house but could easily have doubled that if I had spent more time viewing the large amount of amazing art work that was on display. The electronic guided tour on hand held devices is a must (and is at no extra cost).

The most famous Duke of Wellington, Arthur Wellesley, called Apsley House home and the current Duke of Wellington spends some time here as well.
Upon entering, I recommend using the audio tour for commentary about various objects on display throughout the house. A military history buff is sure to enjoy the items from and around the epoch altering Battle of Waterloo. Art fans will like the gallery of paintings that adorn the walls. An interesting anecdote about the walls of a particular room is that the Duke of Wellington insisted that they be painted yellow which did not go well with the golden picture frames. Being the Iron Duke, he had his way and it wasn’t until his death that the walls were changed to red.
A giant statue of Napoleon awaits as you enter a room where «Napoleon as Mars the Peacemaker» by Antonio Canova is on display. No pictures permitted.
Admission is £6.30 for adults.
There’s enough material here for the non-​Napoleonic wars enthusiast for a brief visit. I’d recommend making Apsley House a stop on a tour that includes other nearby sites.

Also known as Apsley House, this mansion on the southeast corner of Hyde Park has the ultimate address: #1 London. It was given to the Duke of Wellington as a reward for beating Napoleon at Waterloo — a feat that made him the most famous man in Europe!
Though it is one of the less-​visited museums, Apsley House offers one of the best palace experiences. Upon entering, you’ll be greeted by an 11-​foot marble statue of a nearly naked Napoleon. Downstairs includes tons of goodies from the Duke’s life, including his beloved and now widely popular Wellington boots (aka «wellies»!).
The real treasure, however, can be found upstairs, where the Duke’s many paintings are on prominent display surrounded by a rich, lush interior.
£5.50 for entry, and the included audioguide is quite nice.

Apsley House is a beautiful old residence right next to Hyde Park and the Wellington Arch. Home to the Duke of Wellington, it is also called Number 1 London as it is essentially the first house you would see in London after entering via the Knightsbridge toll gate. It is an English Heritage property, but you don’t need to be an EH member to enter. The most striking thing I remember is the 6 foot statue of Napoleon gifted to the Duke after the battle of Waterloo, that Wellington had placed at the foot of the stairs, so that he could greet his former enemy every morning as he came down for breakfast! It’s an imposing building with a 200 year chequered history — the windows in the long gallery had to be boarded up during riots as they had been broken so often that the owners found them too expensive to replace!

Apsley House is the stunning residence of the Duke of Wellington. The house is located just inside Hyde Park, on the west end of Picadilly. When it was built, it had the great address of Number One London. The rooms are beautiful, and very luxurious — gorgeous decoration in each of the rooms open to the public. (Wellington’s descendants still live here, so the entire house is not open to the public.) This is the grandest house I’ve visited in London. If you’re looking for a palace experience without leaving London, Apsley House is a good choice. In addition to the beautiful rooms, Apsley House has a very extensive art collection, as well as items related to the Duke himself (swords, plate, etc.)
The Duke of Wellington was rock star famous, and his home fits that level of accomplishment and fame. I was somewhat suprised the house didn’t have more visitors: I was there on a Saturday, and there were handfuls of visitors but no crowds. I liked that, though: the house is quiet and a nice escape from the bustle of Hyde Park and Picadilly. Definitely worth a visit.

Apsley House is one fo the most palatial mansion and is still the residence of Wellington’s descendents. Inside you can view many aspects of his life and have alook at his amazing art collection.