Handel Hendrix House in Mayfair, London, is a unique double museum occupying two adjoining townhouses at 25 and 23 Brook Street. These are the former homes of George Frideric Handel (who lived there from 1723 until his death in 1759) and Jimi Hendrix (who rented the flat directly above Handel’s rooms in 1968–69, unaware of who had lived below).
This guide was updated in June 2026. One critical current alert on the official site that no older guide mentions: the lift is currently out of service. Visitors with mobility requirements should contact the museum before travelling, as all four floors of Handel’s house are now accessed by stairs only. The adult full-price ticket is £14.50 — many aggregators still show the older figure of £11. Book on Viator to confirm your entry.
Quick facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Address | 25 Brook Street, Mayfair, London, W1K 4HB |
| Hours | Wednesday–Sunday 10:00–17:00 (last entry 16:00) |
| Closed | Monday and Tuesday |
| Adult full price | £14.50 |
| Child (13–17) | £5.00 |
| Child 12 and under (family group, max 6) | Free |
| Student | £10.50 |
| Carer | Free |
| National Art Pass / Historic Houses | Free (no advance booking — show card at desk) |
| Lift | Currently out of service |
| Nearest Tube | Bond Street (4-min walk, Central and Jubilee lines) |
| Typical visit | 1–1.5 hours |
Opening hours
Handel Hendrix House is open Wednesday to Sunday only, 10:00–17:00. Last entry is at 16:00. The museum is closed every Monday and Tuesday. It is open on most Bank Holidays that fall Wednesday to Sunday — check the official website for specific dates.
The museum runs weekly events including talks, music rehearsals, guitar sessions, and family days; these are in addition to general admission and some require separate booking.
Ticket prices
All prices include VAT. Tickets can be booked in advance online or purchased at the reception desk on arrival.
| Ticket type | Price |
|---|---|
| Adult full price | £14.50 |
| Child (13–17) | £5.00 |
| Child 12 and under (as part of a family group, max 6 per group) | Free |
| Student | £10.50 |
| Group (10–20 people) | 10% discount per ticket |
| Carer | Free |
| Blue Badge Tourist Guide | Free (contact in advance) |
| National Art Pass / Historic Houses member | Free (no advance booking available — show card at the desk) |
A single ticket gives access to both houses — Handel’s house at number 25 and Hendrix’s flat at number 23. There is no separate ticket for each residence. Food and drink are not permitted inside the museum; only bottled water is allowed.
Book on Viator to confirm your admission in advance.
Why visit Handel Hendrix House?
- 🎵 The only place in the world where two musical geniuses lived in the same building: Handel composed Messiah here; Hendrix wrote songs in the flat directly above. The coincidence was only discovered when Hendrix moved in, and neither man knew the other’s music.
- 🏛️ Meticulously restored Georgian interiors: Handel’s bedroom, dining room, kitchen, and parlours have been returned to their 18th-century character, including furnishings appropriate to the 1720s–50s, making this one of London’s most complete Georgian domestic interiors.
- 🎸 Hendrix’s restored Mayfair flat: The top-floor sitting room where Hendrix wrote, rehearsed, and gave interviews has been restored to its 1968–69 appearance, with original and period-appropriate furnishings evoking the late-60s musical world in which he moved.
- 🎟️ One ticket covers both houses: The admission price gives access to Handel’s house, Hendrix’s flat, and all current exhibitions — a genuine two-in-one experience at a price lower than most comparable London heritage attractions.
- 🎭 Weekly live music and events: Talks, recitals, guitar sessions, and family days run throughout the year and are included in general admission or offered at modest extra cost, making repeated visits worthwhile.
How to get there
By Tube: Bond Street station (Central and Jubilee lines) is a 4-minute walk east along Brook Street. Oxford Circus station (Central, Victoria, and Bakerloo lines) is about 7 minutes on foot.
On foot from Oxford Street: The museum is one block south of Oxford Street’s east end. Turn onto Davies Street or Duke Street from Oxford Street and look for Brook Street heading east.
By bus: Numerous routes serve the Oxford Street/Bond Street corridor — routes 6, 13, 23, 94, 98, 113, 137, 139, 189, and others. Alight at Bond Street or Oxford Circus and follow signs for Brook Street.
The entrance to Handel’s house is at 25 Brook Street, directly next to the junction with New Bond Street. Ring the doorbell to be admitted. The museum is a working historic townhouse, not a purpose-built visitor centre — the entrance is a private-looking Georgian front door.
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Parking
Mayfair has no convenient public car park for visitors. On-street parking in the area is metered, subject to residents’ permit restrictions, and very limited. The museum specifically notes that disabled accessible parking is available on Grosvenor Street, one street south. Public transport is the standard option for all other visitors.
How long to spend
Most visits take one to one and a half hours to cover both houses and any current exhibitions at a comfortable pace. Visitors who attend a weekly event — a recital, a guitar session, or a talk — should add another hour for that programme.
Accessibility
The official visit page carries a live notice: the lift is currently out of service. As a result, all four floors of Handel’s house at 25 Brook Street are currently accessible by stairs only. The museum offers step-free, level access to the building from the street. Carers enter free of charge. Visitors with mobility concerns should contact the museum directly before travelling to understand which areas are currently accessible without the lift and whether any alternative arrangements can be made.
Large luggage is not permitted inside the museum. Small lockers are available near the entrance but do not accommodate suitcases. Bags must be stored before entering the exhibition floors. No food or drink — including hot drinks — is permitted inside the historic rooms. Only bottled water may be brought in.
What to see at Handel Hendrix House
Handel’s House occupies the lower floors of 25 Brook Street and is presented as it appeared in the first half of the 18th century. The dining room is the most significant space — it was here that Handel rehearsed his singers and musicians, held informal recitals for neighbours, and received professional visitors. The bedroom is interpreted to reflect the working composer’s domestic life, and the recently restored kitchen and ground-floor parlours (completed as part of the Hallelujah Project) add rooms that were long inaccessible. Exhibition galleries in adjacent spaces cover Handel’s professional career, the baroque instruments heard in his music, and his place in Georgian London’s cultural world.
Hendrix’s Flat occupies the top floor of 23 Brook Street. The main sitting room is the centrepiece — restored to reflect its appearance between July 1968 and March 1969, when Hendrix shared it with Kathy Etchingham. This is where he gave interviews, wrote songs, and rehearsed. Exhibition displays throughout the flat cover Hendrix’s place in the London music scene of the late 1960s, his influences, and his enduring legacy.
Practical visitor tips
| Tip | Detail |
|---|---|
| The lift is out of service — check before you go | The official visit page carries this notice as of May 2026. Visitors who cannot manage stairs should contact the museum directly before booking. Book on Viator once you have confirmed access will meet your needs. |
| National Art Pass gives free entry — no advance booking | Art Pass and Historic Houses members enter free but cannot pre-book. Simply show your card at the reception desk on arrival. |
| Store large bags at the entrance | The historic floors cannot accommodate wheeled luggage or large backpacks. Small lockers are available at the entrance. Plan not to arrive directly from a hotel or station with full luggage. |
| Closed Mondays and Tuesdays | The museum is closed every Monday and Tuesday without exception. Plan your visit for Wednesday through Sunday. |
| Children 12 and under in a family group are free | Up to six family members can visit with no charge for children aged 12 and under. This is a genuinely good-value family option in one of London’s pricier neighbourhoods. |
FAQ
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Is the lift currently working? | No — the lift is currently out of service, as stated on the official visit page. All floors are accessible by stairs only at present. Contact the museum before visiting if you have mobility requirements. |
| Why are two such different musicians in the same building? | The coincidence was accidental. Hendrix was shown a flat at 23 Brook Street in 1968 by his girlfriend Kathy Etchingham. She recognised the Handel blue plaque next door — and Hendrix, a music lover, was fascinated. He lived there unaware that the flat was on the floor directly above Handel’s old rooms. |
| Is the adult price really £14.50? | Yes — per the current official visit page. Many aggregator sites still show £11. Book on Viator to confirm the current price. |
| Do I need to book in advance? | No — walk-up tickets are available at the desk. Booking in advance is advisable for specific events (recitals, guitar sessions) which have limited places. |
| Is food allowed inside? | Only bottled water. No food or hot drinks are permitted anywhere inside the historic rooms. |
Things to do nearby
The Wallace Collection is a 12-minute walk north-west in Manchester Square, housing one of the finest collections of French 18th-century art, furniture, and armour in the world. Entry is free and the armoury alone is worth the detour.
Claridge’s hotel lobby and tea room, half a minute’s walk from the museum, is the most famous Art Deco interior in Mayfair and a London institution. You do not need to book a room to take afternoon tea, though advance booking for tea is advisable.
Grosvenor Square is a few minutes’ walk south — the original heart of Mayfair with its elegant Georgian townhouses, now home to several embassies and a significant memorial garden.
The Royal Academy of Arts on Piccadilly is 10 minutes on foot, with major ticketed temporary exhibitions and free access to the permanent collection in the Fine Rooms.
Bond Street and the surrounding Mayfair shopping streets — including Mount Street and South Audley Street — offer some of the finest independent luxury shops, galleries, and antique dealers in London, worth an hour’s browsing after the museum.
What to visit tomorrow
Apsley House, Hyde Park Corner (~15-min walk): The Duke of Wellington’s London townhouse, managed by English Heritage, holds his magnificent art collection, battle memorabilia, and period state rooms. The contrast between a Georgian duke’s house and Handel’s townhouse — three streets apart — is illuminating.
Leighton House Museum, Holland Park (~25 min by Tube): The extraordinary studio-house of the Victorian painter Frederic Leighton, with its famous Arab Hall lined with antique Islamic tiles. One of London’s most opulent domestic interiors and among the best-kept secrets of the museum circuit.
Dennis Severs’ House, Spitalfields (~25 min by Tube): An 18th-century Huguenot weaver’s townhouse preserved as an immersive, candlelit walk through time — no interpretation panels, just rooms left as if the inhabitants have just stepped out. Open Wednesday evenings and selected mornings. Booking essential.
Keats House, Hampstead (~30 min by Tube): The Romantic poet John Keats lived in this Regency house in 1818–20 and wrote Ode to a Nightingale in the garden. Managed by the City of London, it is a beautiful and unexpectedly moving literary house museum.
Spencer House, St James’s (~10-min walk): The Palladian townhouse of the Spencer family (Princess Diana’s ancestors) is open on selected Sundays for public tours of its gilded state rooms — one of the grandest 18th-century interiors in London and open to fewer visitors per year than almost any comparable property.
More London travel
Other London travel guides on Planet Whitley include:
- Underrated London attractions: Apsley House, Jewel Tower and the Postal Museum.
- Maritime Greenwich: The Royal Observatory, the National Maritime Museum and the Cutty Sark.
- Bloomsbury and Holborn: The Foundling Museum, the Charles Dickens Museum and Sir John Soane’s Museum.
- The cultural treasure of Hampstead: Kenwood House, the Freud Museum and Keats House.
- Away from the centre: Eltham Palace, Charles Darwin’s Down House and Marble Hill.
