Today I want to share my guide to visiting Apsley House and Wellington Arch. Located right on Hyde Park Corner, these two English Heritage sites in London manage to hide in plain sight.
Apsley House and Wellington Arch
Right in central London, these twin landmarks are the residence of the Duke of Wellington and the arch commemorating his victory over Napoleon at the Battle of Waterloo in 1815.
Apsley House and Wellington Arch are both museums that are open to the public. They offer free entry to those with English Heritage passes, too. You can get one here.
Apsley House
I’ve passed by Apsley House a million times without really noticing it. Surrounded by a giant roundabout and dwarfed by the enormity of Hyde Park, its somewhat subtle facade struggles to stand out from all the distractions.
But now that I’m inside, I start to understand why this place deserves its historic address, “Number One, London”. The Duke of Wellington’s house in London is lavish.
It’s also one of the only stately homes in London to have survived the 20th century, when many others were sold off and redeveloped.
Apsley House is not only structurally intact, but also retains its impressive collection of art. The Waterloo Gallery alone has many paintings from the Spanish royal collection, including works by Goya, Velazquez, and Ribera.
The oldest surviving English grand piano calls Apsley House its home, too.
As I make my way past Canova’s larger-than-life marble sculpture of Napoleon and famous works like David Wilkie’s Chelsea Pensioners Reading the Waterloo Despatch, my multimedia guide tells me about the Duke of Wellington’s annual Waterloo Banquets, held each year on the date of the victory.
Wellington Arch
But to really understand how he achieved his victory, I head across the street to Wellington Arch.
The triumphal monument in the center of the Hyde Park Corner roundabout is another landmark I’ve walked by many times without realizing I could go inside.
Up three floors is a small museum dedicated to the Battle of Waterloo.
From Wellington’s sword and handwritten notes to paintings and multimedia displays, the battle between Napoleon and the Allies is mapped out and analyzed in detail.
The museum even has the original Wellington Boots—the inspiration for today’s wellies—on display.
At the top of Wellington Arch, doors open onto a terrace with views of the gardens at Buckingham Palace and the war memorials dotted around the arch in the middle of the roundabout.
Across the street, Apsley House sits peacefully as the cars and buses drive past.
Apsley House and Wellington Arch in London
Which is fitting, because the defeat of Napoleon ushered in an unprecedented period of peace in Europe much like the one we’re enjoying after a rather tumultuous 20th century.
Apsley House and Wellington Arch are great places to celebrate it.
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22 Comments on Lady’s Guide to Visiting Apsley House and Wellington Arch
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I’ve been meaning to go to Apsley House, but it was still closed every time I looked into it. Good to know that they’re open now. It looks like a very interesting place to visit. And I also had no idea you could go into the Arch! Must have been a great view.
Yeah, I’ve had the same experience with the closure. Glad it’s open again. You’ll love visiting!
Wow, look at those blue skies! I’ve seen the arch loads of times, so I guess I’ll have seen Aspley House, I’ve probably admired its handsome facade without knowing what I’m looking at!
What a fabulous address, definitely something I’d check out, very interesting and so much history.
Yeah, it’s worth a visit!
Oooooh I’m so glad for this post! I’ve never even heard of Aspley House (bad Londoner. BAD) and this is right up my boyfriend’s street, I’m so going to take him there on our next date! Lovely photos as always x
Jasiminne
Thanks! Glad you found it helpful!
That’s one strategically well-sited fig leaf!
Ha!
The one thing I remember about this house was the incredible painting showing the absolute terror of the poor horses going into battle and their death.. I lived across the road from there, (Wilton Row) and often inagined my gt Grandfather, an artist, standing in the middle of Hyde Park corner, painting as he must have done with his easel Hyde Park Corner, Rotten Row, etc, which depict a London sadly very much gone..
Yeah, I bet he would have had a very different view!
Looking forward to visiting too! I pass it constantly on the bus – there just isn’t any excuse. (I hear the June celebration will involve a fight re-enactment but using vegetables so as not to scare the kids. I adore the UK sometimes.)
Haha, I love that idea!
Gorgeous! Thanks for sharing pictures of the Apsley House and Wellington Arch.
You’re welcome!
I’m ashamed! I’ve also passed by Apsley House a zillion times and always ignored it. Thanks for showing us what we’re missing, definitely a place I’ll be checking out in the next couple of weeks. 🙂
You’re welcome!
I had absolutely no idea you can go inside Wellington Arch! All those times I’ve walked and driven past it!! And I also never realised that’s why Wellington boots are so called! Learning lots from your blog Julie ☺
Yeah, I can’t believe I walked by so many times and didn’t know it had an inside! I hope you enjoy visiting if you go!
FAB blog & pictures. I love history…and you describe Apsley House with passion. My Hubby ‘s birthday is 18th June – the anniversary of Waterloo…..so he has always been fascinated by Wellington. I think, based on your blog, we shall have to have a trip VERY soon. Thank you. 🙂
That’s great! I hope you enjoy it!
No idea there was a museum there!
Yeah, it seems like a lot of us didn’t!