Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
▲
Apsley House (Wellington Museum)
Having beaten Napoleon at Waterloo, Arthur Wellesley, the First Duke of Wellington, was
once the most famous man in Europe. He was given a huge fortune, with which he pur-
chased London's ultimate address, Number One London. His refurbished mansion offers a
nice interior, a handful of world-class paintings, and a glimpse at the life of the great sol-
dier and two-time prime minister. Those who know something about Wellington ahead of
time will appreciate the place much more than those who don't, as there's scarce biograph-
ical background. The place is well-described by the included audioguide, which has sound
bites from the current Duke of Wellington (who still lives at Apsley).
Cost and Hours:
£
7, April-Oct Wed-Sun 11:00-17:00, Nov-March Wed-Sun
11:00-16:00, closed Mon-Tue year-round; no photos, 20 yards from Hyde Park Corner
Tube station, tel. 020/7499-5676,
www.english-heritage.org.uk
.
Visiting the House:
An 11-foot-tall marble statue of Napoleon, clad only in a fig leaf,
greets you. Napoleon commissioned the sculptor Canova to make it for him but didn't like
it, and after Napoleon's defeat, Wellington acquired it as a war trophy. It's one of sever-
al images Wellington acquired of his former foe to have in his home. The two great men
were polar opposites—Napoleon the daring general and champion of revolution, Welling-
