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Welcome to No. 1 London, home to the Duke of Wellington since 1817. Pride of place goes to a massive nude statue of Napoleon.

ABOUT

Addresses don’t come much grander than 'Number One London', the popular name for Apsley House, one of the most interesting visitor attractions in London. Home to the Duke of Wellington after his victory over Napoleon at Waterloo, the interior of the house has changed very little since the days of the Iron Duke. It boasts one of the finest art collections in London, with paintings by Velazqu

ez and Rubens as well as a wonderful collection of silver and porcelain. Why not include a stroll through nearby Hyde Park, and a visit to nearby Wellington Arch for a great value family day out in London. This page is for visitors and fans of Apsley House to share photos, thoughts and recommendations. If you have any questions about Apsley House or English Heritage please email [email protected] or 'like' us at: http://www.facebook.com/pages/English-Heritage/173240995747 and post your question there, where we will be happy to get back to you as soon as we can. HOUSE RULES

This page is designed as a place to discuss Apsley House: The Wellington Collection - to share tips for a great day out at the house, upcoming events and news from the property. We love hearing the ideas and opinions of our social community, and encourage you to leave comments, photos, videos and links here on our page. However, in the interests of our whole community, by using this site you accept our House Rules and agree that any content posted by you on our page will follow these rules. Content posted on our page must not:

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If you have any questions about the house rules, Apsley House, the work of English Heritage, membership or queries that need a more in depth answer our Customer Services team would be happy to help. Please email us at [email protected].

31/05/2026

Face to face with the enemy…

Look past Canova’s commanding Napoleon and you meet the gaze of Wellington, sculpted by Benedetto Pistrucci.

Positioned as if confronting one another, yet each turned away. A fitting staging for two men who never actually met.

📷: Corinne Férault.

26/05/2026

In May 1851, the Great Exhibition opened in Hyde Park, becoming one of the defining cultural events of Victorian Britain. The exhibition brought together manufactured goods and inventions from around the world.

A suitable venue was secured when Arthur Wellesley, then Keeper of Hyde Park, supported plans for the site. The design of the Crystal Palace was even adapted to accommodate the park’s mature elm trees before construction began.

Visible for miles, the vast glass structure housed over 100,000 exhibits and attracted more than six million visitors to Hyde Park. The exhibition inspired a succession of international fairs across the world.

Images: Arthur Wellesley visiting the set-up of the Great Exhibition in April 1851. © Illustrated London News Ltd. The Great Exhibition in Hyde Park, Mayson Beeton Collection.

19/05/2026

Henry Paget, 1st Marquess of Anglesey, was the Allied Cavalry Commander at the Battle of Waterloo and second in command to the Duke of Wellington.

Paget joined the army in 1794 and served with distinction at the Battle of Corunna in Spain, before commanding the cavalry at Waterloo.

He is perhaps best remembered for the loss of his leg at Waterloo, surviving the amputation with the help of brandy, one of the few forms of anaesthetic available at the time. In recognition of his service, Paget was created 1st Marquess of Anglesey.

🖼 Henry William Paget, Thomas Lawrence.

14/05/2026

WATERLOO DAY AT APSLEY HOUSE

Join us for Waterloo Day, as we mark the anniversary of Wellington's most famous victory!

Step into history with a full day of talks and Q&As with leading historians and reenactors, bringing the drama of the Battle of Waterloo to life.

Whether you are a lifelong Napoleonic enthusiast or simply curious to learn more about the battle that shaped Europe, Waterloo Day offers a unique opportunity to experience history in Wellington’s own home.

📆 Saturday 20 June
🕚 11:00-17:00

This event is included with your admission to the house. English Heritage members go free!

01/05/2026

Happy 257th Birthday to Arthur Wellesley, the 1st Duke of Wellington, born in 1769!

Born in Dublin, Arthur was the fourth of nine children to Garret Wesley (later Wellesley), 1st Earl of Mornington, and Anne Hill. He spent part of his childhood at Dangan Castle, before the family later moved to London.

Swipe to see the earliest known image of the future Duke of Wellington, a silhouette made when he was about 11 years old, long before becoming one of the most celebrated military figures of the 19th century.

28/04/2026

Join us for an upcoming British Sign Language (BSL) tour with experienced guide Alan Murray at Apsley House and Wellington Arch.

The tours are included with general admission, which can be booked via our website. Members go free but must also pre-book tickets. Select the number of tickets required, then choose the date of the tour. You will then have the option to add the BSL tour to your booking.

📆 Apsley House: Sat 23 May, Sat 3 Oct
📆 Wellington Arch: Sat 27 June
🕚 11:00-12:30pm

Please see full booking instructions on our website. If you need any help with your booking, or would like further information, please email: [email protected].

22/04/2026

The Portico Drawing Room takes its present name from the Corinthian portico added to the exterior of the house in 1828, when Benjamin Dean Wyatt encased the brick building in Bath stone.

Identified by Robert Adam as the ‘2nd Drawing Room’, the space was originally designed to make the most of the house’s exceptional setting.

Before the Waterloo Gallery was added, three windows overlooked Hyde Park. Bathed in afternoon light and shielded from the noise of Piccadilly, the room was designed to create the illusion of a country-house saloon.

📷: Corinne Férault.

16/04/2026

In 1818, the Emperor Francis I honoured Arthur Wellesley by appointing him a Field Marshal of the Austrian army. Although the Duke did not command Austrian troops, they played a vital role in the allied coalitions against Napoleon.

Wellington may have worn his Austrian uniform only on select diplomatic occasions. In July 1819 for example, he attended a dinner hosted by Prince Esterházy, the Austrian ambassador in London, to celebrate the Emperor’s birthday, appearing in his Austrian Field Marshal’s uniform in honour of his hosts.

Wellington’s Field Marshal uniform is currently on display in the Striped Drawing Room.

Image: Christopher Ison, Illustrated London News.

11/04/2026

In April 1806, Arthur Wellesley and Catherine Pakenham were married in Dublin.

Wellington first asked for Kitty’s hand in 1794. After two refusals from her father, he left to join his regiment in India, vowing that if her family changed their minds, his would remain the same.

By 1804, Kitty wrote to him, concerned that she was “too much changed”, but Wellington renewed his proposal, declaring himself the “happiest man in the world”.

These miniatures were painted in 1814, by which time Wellington, aged 45, was already a national hero. Kitty, however, disliked public attention, and this is one of only four known portraits of her.

🖼 1st Duke of Wellington, Juan Bazil. 1st Duchess of Wellington, Louis-Marie Autissier.

05/04/2026

Stepping carefully this Easter … 🥚

Before Easter egg hunts, there was the egg dance. Jan Steen’s The Egg Dance captures a beloved springtime tradition in which participants danced among eggs on the ground, working them out of a chalk circle while damaging as few as possible.

One of Jan Steen’s more elaborate and ambitious compositions, the scene is filled with humour, capturing the energy and chaos of everyday life.

Please note that Apsley House and Wellington Arch will be open tomorrow, Easter Monday, 11am-5pm.

Address

London

Telephone

+442074995676

Website

https://www.wellingtoncollection.co.uk/, https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/apsley-house/

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