London: Apsley House Entry Ticket

A wonderful morning spent here. Art, treasure, impressive rooms. So much history conveying the personal and the professional life of the Duke of Wellington. It all came to life. The guides in the rooms were helpful and knowledgeable.

Somewhere you’ve probably been past many times but with no idea of what’s inside. Beautiful art, stunning interiors, impressive collections of china and gold and silverware. Lots of history brought to life for a very reasonable entry price. Definitely worth a visit

A delightful way to spend a few hours. Apsley is one of those London treasures that many tourists miss. This time of year it opens at 11, not 10. There are audio guides so you can follow the main features of each room in the mansion. The staff are friendly and helpful, and if you stumble upon the right one, exceptionally knowledgeable. For instance, there is a story behind the way the house was lit. One assumes a straightforward progression from candle to oil-lamp to gas lamp to electricity; the last came incredibly late (1940s). In reality, paraffin candles were competitive with oil and so Apsley reverted to candles at one point. The Spanish paintings are remarkable and Canova's Napoleon as Mars is striking, even if the fig leaf is probably a later addition, (for some reason, it has needed to be replaced occasionally!) All in all, we had fun. The only thing lacking is a tearoom nearby.