Apsley House is a Grade I listed Regency townhouse at Hyde Park Corner, London, managed by English Heritage as a paid visitor attraction. Officially known as the Wellington Museum, it was the London home of the first Duke of Wellington and is one of only two aristocratic London townhouses open to the public. This 2026 visitor guide covers opening hours, ticket prices, transport and parking, accessibility, and practical visitor tips for planning your visit.
This guide was last updated in March 2026 to reflect the 2026/27 admission prices, which came into effect on 28 March 2026. Other guides may still show previous-season pricing. Note also that Apsley House opens at 11am, not 10am — an important difference from most other English Heritage sites that is not always reflected in older guides.
Quick facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Official name | Apsley House, The Wellington Museum |
| Address | 149 Piccadilly, Hyde Park Corner, London W1J 7NT |
| Opening hours | Wed–Sun & bank holidays, 11am–5pm (summer); Sat–Sun only in winter |
| Adult ticket | £10.79–£13.85 depending on date and day |
| Nearest tube | Hyde Park Corner (Piccadilly line), adjacent to the site |
| Parking | No general on-site parking; limited free disabled parking by advance arrangement |
| Time needed | 1–2 hours |
Apsley House opening hours
Apsley House is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays throughout the year, and is closed entirely over the Christmas period. This is different from most other English Heritage sites, which typically open daily in summer. Opening times also start at 11am, not 10am. The full schedule for the 2026/27 season (valid 28 March 2026 to 16 March 2027) is:
- 28 March – 23 December: Wednesday–Sunday and bank holidays, 11am–5pm
- 24 December – 1 January: closed
- 2 January – 16 March: Saturday and Sunday only, 11am–4pm
Last admission is 30 minutes before closing.
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Apsley House ticket prices
Admission prices vary by date and day of the week. The three pricing tiers for the 2026/27 season are shown below. English Heritage members enter free of charge. Concession prices apply to visitors aged 65 and over, students with a valid student ID card, and jobseekers showing relevant ID.
Note that because Apsley House is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays, the Super Saver rate only ever applies on Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays during the relevant date ranges.
Super Saver — Wed–Fri, 28 Mar–22 May & 1 Sep–1 Nov; daily (Sat–Sun), 2 Jan–16 Mar
| Visitor | Price |
|---|---|
| Adult | £10.79 |
| Concession | £10.03 |
| Child | £5.35 |
Saver — Sat–Sun & bank holidays, 28 Mar–22 May & 1 Sep–1 Nov; Wed–Fri, 23 May–31 Aug
| Visitor | Price |
|---|---|
| Adult | £12.32 |
| Concession | £11.56 |
| Child | £6.12 |
Standard — Sat–Sun & bank holidays, 23 May–31 Aug
| Visitor | Price |
|---|---|
| Adult | £13.85 |
| Concession | £13.09 |
| Child | £6.88 |
Groups of 15 or more paying visitors receive a 10% discount. Wellington Arch, the nearby English Heritage site also at Hyde Park Corner, uses the same pricing tier structure and is well suited to a combined visit in a single trip.
Opening hours and ticket prices were checked on the official English Heritage website and last updated in March 2026.
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How to get to Apsley House
Apsley House is at Hyde Park Corner, one of central London’s major road junctions, at the meeting point of Piccadilly, Park Lane, Knightsbridge, and Grosvenor Place.
By tube: Hyde Park Corner station (Piccadilly line) is directly adjacent to the site — the house is visible from the station exits. This is by far the most straightforward way to arrive.
By bus: A large number of bus routes serve Hyde Park Corner, including routes 2, 9, 10, 14, 16, 19, 22, 36, 38, 52, 73, 74, 82, 137, 148, 414, and C2. Stops are within a very short walk of the entrance.
On foot: Apsley House is approximately 15 minutes’ walk from Victoria station (National Rail and London Underground), and around 20 minutes from Green Park station. It is also accessible on foot through Hyde Park via the south carriage drive.
By car: Apsley House is within both the Congestion Charge Zone and the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ). Both charges apply to most vehicles entering the area. There is no general on-site parking (see below). On-street parking meters exist on Park Lane and in parts of Belgravia and Knightsbridge, but spaces are limited and charges are high. Public transport is strongly recommended.
Is it worth paying for English Heritage membership?
Entry prices for English Heritage sites, including Dover Castle, Stonehenge and Tintagel Castle, can seem extremely expensive. This is clearly a deliberate ploy to push visitors towards taking out annual English Heritage membership.
Membership gives free access to more than 400 sites across the country, and costs £82. That is, unless you get a special deal – there was a 25%-off Black Friday deal in November 2025, for example.
Whether that £82 is worth it depends on how many sites are near you (there are lots in the south of the country, not so many near me in Yorkshire). And, critically, whether you’re going to visit them with children.
Each member can take up to six children with them free of charge. Given the steep one-time entry fees, an adult member with two children is likely to recoup the cost of their membership by visiting just two or three sites within the year.
For an individual without children, I’d say English Heritage membership is worth it only if you’re planning to blitz a few sites in one year. For an individual with children, membership is a smart investment that will likely pay itself back within one school holiday. To me, it’s a no-brainer.
The real question is whether it’s worth renewing English Heritage membership after a year. That’s debatable, as you’re unlikely to go to many of these sites twice. I eventually renewed after I was offered 20% off the price. I’ll probably recoup the membership price visiting two sites in summer next year, even if I’ve ticked off most of the best ones near me.
If you buy membership through this link, I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Parking at Apsley House
There is no general on-site car park at Apsley House. Visitors arriving by car must use on-street parking meters on Park Lane or in the surrounding streets of Belgravia and Knightsbridge. Parking in this part of central London is expensive and subject to both Congestion Charge and ULEZ fees.
Limited free disabled parking is available on site for visitors with a Blue Badge, but this must be booked in advance by contacting English Heritage directly. Disabled parking spaces are 5–15 metres from the entrance. Even with a disabled parking space, visitors should note that the entrance involves a cobbled forecourt and steps (see the Accessibility section below).
How long to spend at Apsley House
Most visitors spend 1 to 2 hours at Apsley House. The house has two main floors of accessible rooms, plus a basement gallery. The included multimedia guide adds depth to the tour but requires time to use properly. Visitors combining Apsley House with a visit to Wellington Arch next door should allow an additional 30–45 minutes for the Arch, which is a separate English Heritage site with its own admission charge.
Accessibility at Apsley House
Accessibility at Apsley House is significantly limited, and the site is one of the less accessible English Heritage properties in London. Visitors with impaired mobility are advised to contact the site in advance and to bring a companion.
The main entrance involves a cobbled forecourt followed by five steps up to the front door. There is no ramp available at the main entrance. A lift is available inside the building, but it is reached by going eight steps down from the main entrance hall before the lift can be used; the lift then provides level access to the first floor and the basement gallery. There are also three steps down to the basement gallery from the lift. Some rooms inside the house are dimly lit to protect the art collection.
Accessible toilets are available on site. Seating is provided in several of the main rooms including the Dining Room, the Piccadilly Drawing Room, the Waterloo Gallery, and the Red Striped Drawing Room.
The multimedia guide is available in English, German, Spanish, and British Sign Language (BSL), and is described as suitable for visually impaired visitors due to its detailed audio descriptions. A written transcript can be requested. Assistance dogs are welcome throughout the site.
Visitors must cross busy roads to reach the site from Hyde Park Corner tube station; pedestrian crossings are available but the junction is complex.
Inside Apsley House: what to see
Apsley House is also known as “Number One, London” — a nickname dating from the time when it was the first house encountered after passing through the Hyde Park Corner toll gates entering London from the west. The house is notable as the only English Heritage property where the original owner’s family still lives: the 9th Duke of Wellington retains a private apartment in the northern half of the ground floor.
The ground floor includes the entrance hall and gift shop, as well as the Portico Room and the Piccadilly Drawing Room, which retains its original Robert Adam design including the apsidal end and Adam fireplace. The basement gallery contains additional displays on Wellington’s life and campaigns, and is accessible via the internal lift.
The first floor contains the principal state rooms and is the main draw of the visit. The Waterloo Gallery is the centrepiece — a long, gilded room originally hung with paintings from the Spanish Royal Collection and used by Wellington to host his annual Waterloo Banquet, commemorating the 1815 victory. Eighty-three paintings from the Spanish Royal Collection, officially given to Wellington by King Ferdinand VII of Spain after the Battle of Vitoria, are distributed throughout the first floor rooms; they include works by Velázquez, Goya, Rubens, and Correggio. The State Dining Room contains an elaborate crystal chandelier and a gilt Portuguese table service, one of many treasures given to Wellington by grateful European monarchs after Waterloo.
At the foot of the main staircase, dominating the central hall, is Antonio Canova’s colossal nude marble statue of Napoleon Bonaparte (1802–1810), standing over 3.4 metres tall. The statue was purchased by the British government and presented to Wellington after Napoleon’s defeat. A separate children’s multimedia guide and family activity trail are available from the entrance.
There is no café at Apsley House. Numerous cafés and restaurants are available within a short walk in Knightsbridge, Mayfair, and Belgravia.
Practical visitor tips
| Tip | Detail |
|---|---|
| Note the opening days | Apsley House is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays throughout the year. Visiting on a Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday outside peak summer months gives the Super Saver price. |
| Note the opening time | The house opens at 11am, not 10am. Arriving before 11am will mean waiting outside. |
| Allow time for the multimedia guide | The guide (included in the admission price) covers the house in detail. A children’s guide is also available. Allow at least 90 minutes if using the full guide. |
| Combine with Wellington Arch | Wellington Arch is a separate paid English Heritage site a few metres away. Both sites share the same pricing tier, making them straightforward to combine in one trip. |
| No café on site | There is no café at Apsley House. Plan to eat before or after your visit at one of the many nearby options in Knightsbridge or Mayfair. |
| Accessibility — call ahead | Disabled access is very limited. Visitors with impaired mobility should contact the site in advance to arrange disabled parking and discuss access options. Bring a companion. |
| ULEZ and Congestion Charge | Both apply at Hyde Park Corner. Public transport via Hyde Park Corner tube is strongly recommended. |
| Book in advance | Tickets are available online via the English Heritage website. Pre-booking is recommended at weekends and during school holidays. |
Frequently asked questions about Apsley House
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Is Apsley House open on Mondays? | No. Apsley House is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays throughout the year. It opens Wednesday to Sunday and on bank holidays. |
| What time does Apsley House open? | 11am. This is later than most English Heritage sites, which typically open at 10am. |
| Is Apsley House suitable for children? | Yes. A children’s multimedia guide and a family activity trail are available. The Canova Napoleon statue and the Waterloo displays are accessible to older children. |
| Do you need to book tickets in advance for Apsley House? | Advance booking is recommended but not always required. Tickets are available via the English Heritage website. |
| Is Apsley House free for English Heritage members? | Yes. Members enter free of charge, and each adult member can bring up to six children free. |
| Is Apsley House accessible for wheelchair users? | Access is very limited. There is no ramp at the entrance (five steps, no ramp alternative), and the internal lift requires descending eight steps to reach. Contact the site in advance if accessibility is a concern. |
| Is there a café at Apsley House? | No. There is no café on site. Restaurants and cafés are available nearby in Knightsbridge and Mayfair. |
| Can you combine Apsley House with Wellington Arch? | Yes. Wellington Arch is a separate English Heritage site a few metres away at Hyde Park Corner and uses the same pricing tier. Both can be visited in one trip. |
| Do the Wellington family still live at Apsley House? | Yes. The 9th Duke of Wellington retains a private apartment in the northern half of the ground floor under the terms of the Wellington Museum Act 1947. |
| Is parking available at Apsley House? | Not for general visitors. Limited free disabled parking can be arranged in advance for Blue Badge holders. All other visitors should arrive by public transport. |
Things to do near Apsley House
Apsley House sits at one of London’s most central locations and is within easy reach of several major paid and free attractions.
Wellington Arch (English Heritage) is a few metres away at the same roundabout and is a natural companion visit, with rooftop balconies and displays on Wellington’s defeat of Napoleon; the same pricing tier applies. Hyde Park and Green Park (Royal Parks) are both free and immediately adjacent. Buckingham Palace and the Royal Mews (Historic Royal Palaces) are around 10 minutes’ walk. The Victoria and Albert Museum, the Science Museum, and the Natural History Museum in South Kensington are free and approximately 20 minutes’ walk. The Household Cavalry Museum on Whitehall charges for entry and is around 20 minutes’ walk through the park or by tube.
More London travel
Other London travel articles on Planet Whitley include:
- Plan a visit to the Golden Hinde and Tate Modern in Bankside, London.
- Explore the Charles Dickens Museum and Foundling Museum in Bloomsbury, London.
- What to know before visiting Sir John Soane’s Museum and the Hunterian Museum in Holborn, London.
- How to ride the Mail Rail at the Postal Museum in London.
- Plan your visit to English Heritage sites Jewel Tower, Marble Hill, Down House and Eltham Palace.
