Apsley House is London's only aristocratic manor house open to the public.
This is the historic home of the Duke of Wellington, the "Iron Duke".
After defeating Napoleon at the Battle of Waterloo, he became the most famous man in Europe.
Today, discovering the history of the place as well as the things you can see there.
Apsley House: article summary
Apsley House: at a glance
Although Apsley House is located near the entrance to Hyde ParkYou may not even know it's there. Despite its distinctions, Apsley House remains a hidden gem in London. A place where you can admire world-class paintings in a sumptuous interior.
During a visit, you can explore the Duke's private quarters and state rooms.
You'll get a glimpse into the life of the great soldier and two-time Prime Minister, whose descendants still own a suite in the house.
What can you see in this neoclassical residence?
As you enter the museum, you'll see an 11-foot-tall marble statue of Napoleon, clad only in a vine leaf. It stands at the foot of the main staircase.
Napoleon himself commissioned the great neoclassical sculptor Antonio Canova to create it for him. Napoleon wanted imitating the Roman emperors who presented themselves as gods.
But he didn't like the final product. After Napoleon's defeat, Wellington bought it as a war trophy.
This is one of the many images of Napoleon he acquired for his home.
Stop by the museum hall
This room is filled with a large number of porcelain services given to the Duke by grateful European monarchs. It is essentially a private treasure.
The Prussian decor features military scenes from scenes of Wellington's life.
The central cabinet houses the most famous object: the Egyptian centerpiece. It was made for Josephine Bonaparte in 1809 on the occasion of her divorce from Napoleon. It was later given to Wellington by Louis VIII of France.
You can also see the enormous Waterloo shield, elaborate candelabras and swords in gold and silver.
The shield was inspired by Homer's description of Achilles' shield. It depicts Wellington in the center and his ten great campaigns in the surrounding relief.
Apsley House: spend some time in the Piccadilly lounge
The interior was designed by fashionable architect Robert Adam. It was later redecorated by Benjamin West.
Key features include yellow silk satin walls, ceiling frieze and marble fireplace.
Wellington loved music and used it as a kind of music hall. The famous opera composer Rossini even performed here.
There are some fine Dutch paintings in the room, as well as the Waterloo Dispatch. This is a large painting by David Wilkie depicting his victory over Napoleon, read aloud.
Discover the immense State Dining Room
It was here that the annual Waterloo banquets were held from 1821 to 1830.
It was a gathering for former generals and royal guests. In the center is a vermeil masterpiece.
The central figure represents four continents, paying tribute to the armies.
Wellington was reputed to be a fussy eater, neither eating nor drinking much. But he was known as a gracious host and a witty conversationalist.
Apsley House: the yellow lounge
At the time of the first Duke, this was used as an additional salon.
The original furniture included a Greek sofa in white and gold. Striped silk shelves decorated the walls.
There is a bust of Canova donated by the artist himself. It is one of four "ideal" heads created by Canova for British gentlemen. who helped return the treasures looted by Napoleon to the Louvre.
Stop by the striped living room
It was a room where Wellington and his guests relaxed before dinner.
This is also where the Duke exhibited his growing collection of portraits, becoming a personal hall of fame for his military friends.
There are three full-length portraits of the famous British artist Thomas Lawrence.
The decor is quite distinctive, with stripes everywhere. Certainly not to my taste.
Visit the impressive Waterloo Gallery
This gallery is one of the UK's largest and most sumptuous interiors.
It was added to the top of the house to accommodate the annual Waterloo banquet, the dinner organized to celebrate Napoleon's defeat.
With this addition, Apsley House went from aristocratic townhouse to palace status.
The architectural style of the room evokes the era of Louis XIV of France. The gallery windows have sliding shutters fitted with mirrors.
The gallery was designed to be lit by natural light. As a result, the ceiling has an iron and glass roof.
Much of the design is courtesy of Harriet Arbuthnot. But she didn't get her way when it came to wall color.
There are plenty of sofas to sit on and admire the magnificent room and paintings.
Apsley House is a must-see when you visit London. Here you can discover the chic style of the English aristocrats of the time.
What to do in London in 1 day, 2 days, 3 days, 5 days, a week?
Whatever the length of your stay, I invite you to download my special London guide.
It's free and in PDF format.
All you have to do is tell me below which e-mail address you'd like to receive it at.
EDIT: you can't enter your email?
Take the quiz at the top of this article and you'll be able to register your email address to receive the special London guide!
Leave a Reply