Kenwood House (London)

Kenwood House is a former stately home, in Hampstead, London, on the northern boundary of Hampstead Heath.

Summary

Free admission
Art and sculpture
Guided tours
Gift shop
Information provided
Gardens

Food and Drinks

Tea Room

Introduction

Kenwood House, also known as the Iveagh Bequest is a former stately home, in Hampstead, London, on the northern boundary of Hampstead Heath.

History to the present day

The original house dates from the early 17th century. The orangery was added in about 1700. In 1754 it was bought by William Murray, 1st Earl of Mansfield. He commissioned Robert Adam to remodel it from 1764-1779. Adam added the library (one of his most famous interiors) to balance the orangery, and added the Ionic portico at the entrance. In 1793-6 George Saunders added two wings on the north side, and the offices and kitchen buildings and brewery (now the restaurant) to the side.

It was donated to the nation by Lord Iveagh, a member of the Guinness family, when he died in 1927, and opened to the public in 1928. He had bought the house from the Mansfield family in 1925. Unfortunately the furnishing had already been sold by then, so the house is largely empty. Some furniture has since been added. The paintings are from Iveagh's collection. Part of the grounds were bought by the Kenwood Preservation Council in 1922, after there had been threats that it would be sold for building. In the late 1990s the house received approximately 150,000 visitors a year and an estimated 1 million people visited the grounds each year.

Grounds and gardens

The estate has a designed landscape with gardens near the house, probably originally designed by Humphry Repton, contrasting with some surrounding woodland, and the naturalistic Hampstead Heath to the south. There is also a new garden by Arabella Lennox-Boyd.

One third of the estate is a Site of Special Scientific Interest, particularly the ancient woodlands. These are home to many birds and insects and the largest Pipistrelle bat roost in London.

There are sculptures by Barbara Hepworth, Henry Moore and Reg Butler in the gardens near the house.

Arrival information and how to find us

Address: Kenwood House, London, , United Kingdom

Opening Times:

April- March: 11.30am-4.00pm, 7days a week

Prices:

Adult:Free

Children:Free

Concession:Free

House and grounds free, donations welcome