Wellington Museum (Apsley House)

Wellington Museum is a museum at Apsley House, Hyde Park Corner, London. It showcases memorabilia related to the Dukes of Wellington. The house was the former London residence for the Dukes of Wellington. Today it is maintained by English Heritage and open to the public as a museum and art gallery. The present 8th Duke of Wellington, Arthur Valerian Wellesley, still makes use of a small section of the house as his private part-time residence.

Apsley House, London
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Apsley_House_1.JPG
Author: Viosan


Wellington Museum provides the public a glimpse into the interior of an English aristocratic town house of its period. The house was originally built between 1771 and 1778 by Robert Adam for Lord Apsley, the Lord Chancellor. It was purchased by Richard Wellesley, 1st Marquess Wellesley, the elder brother of Sir Arthur Wellesley in 1807. However financial difficulties forced Richard to sell the house to Arthur, who had been made the Duke of Wellington, and who was in need of a house to be his London base.

The Duke of Wellington engaged architect Benjamin Dean Wyatt to give Apsley House a makeover. He added two bays westward, built the Waterloo Gallery to display his collection of paintings, and faced the red bricks with the finer quality Bath stone.

Another view of Apsley House
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Apsley_House_-_geograph.org.uk_-_792981.jpg
Author: Rod Allday


The Duke of Wellington also re-did the interior, according to his own interpretation of French style. One of the most important rooms in the house is the Waterloo Gallery, which celebrates the Duke's famous victory over Napoleon at the Battle of Waterloo. Every 18 June, a special banquet is held there to commemorate the date.

Apsley House was given to the nation in 1947 by Gerald Wellesley, the 7th Duke of Wellington, with the condition (Wellington Museum Act 1947) that the family has a right to occupy some parts of the house, for as long as there is a Duke of Wellington. The family quarters are on the north side of the house, on the second floor.

Visiting Wellington Museum (Apsley House)

Take the Piccadilly Line to the Hyde Park Corner Tube Station and walk a short distance from there.

The Wellington Museum at Apsley House is located at 149 Piccadilly, Hyde Park Corner, London W1J 7NT. It is usually closed on Mondays and Tuesdays. On other days, it is open from 11:00 am to 5:00 pm. Entrance fee is £6.30 for adults, £3.80 for children. Joint ticket for visiting the Wellington Arch is also available, at £7.90 for adults and £4.70 for children.

List of Museums in London

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