{"id":14546,"date":"2024-08-21T08:53:00","date_gmt":"2024-08-21T07:53:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cityadventurers.co.uk\/blog\/?p=14546"},"modified":"2024-08-09T15:39:36","modified_gmt":"2024-08-09T14:39:36","slug":"apsley-house-and-wellington-arch","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cityadventurers.co.uk\/blog\/?p=14546","title":{"rendered":"Apsley House and Wellington\u00a0Arch"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

On\u00a0 one of the hottest days of the year a group\u00a0of us enjoyed a visit to Apsley House and the Wellington Arch. Apsley House is the London home of the Duke of Wellington. Just across the (very busy) road is the Wellington Arch. Both are owned by English Heritage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Apsley House<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Known as \u2018Number 1, London\u2019, Apsley was the first house on the north side of Piccadilly, located opposite a turnpike with toll houses. Nowadays this Grade I listed building stands alone at Hyde Park Corner, on the south-east corner of Hyde Park, facing towards the large traffic roundabout and the Wellington Arch. Getting to the venue is easy by public transport and, considering its location, it is not surprising there is no parking available on site. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Our group met outside the gates and crossed the cobbled forecourt to a small flight of steps to the front door. I had missed the note on the website that there is no ramp available. Luckily our companion with the walking frame was able to mount the stairs with assistance. As well as the five steps to the front door, there are also eight steps down, inside the building, to the lift. Luckily she managed those steps too. The staff at Apsley House were extremely helpful in getting her up and down steps and even provided <\/strong>us with a wheelchair to get her around the house.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The website notes that multi-media guides are included in the admission price, but we had a personal guided tour of the building. Our very knowledgeable  guide took us round the  highlights and recounted the history of the house, before leaving us to browse the treasures further by ourselves. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The staircase is home to an enormous statue of Napoleon, which was originally commissioned from the Italian sculptor Canova by Napoleon himself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"statue
Statue of Napoleon at Apsley House<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

In the Striped Drawing Room we were able to see five of Wellington\u2019s military dress uniforms. Four of them were given to Wellington by European nations in recognition of his victories during the Napoleonic Wars.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There is a vast collection of paintings there, far more than we\u2019d realised, and one of the biggest silver dinner services in the country. A number of the Duke of Wellington\u2019s paintings collection came from the Spanish Royal Collection. This had been rescued from Joseph Bonaparte, and given to Wellington by King Ferdinand of Spain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Silver
Silver on dining table at Apsley House<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

After the tour with visited the basement exhibition, which included an original plaster death mask, and the museum room.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tickets are available from https:\/\/www.english-heritage.org.uk\/visit\/places\/apsley-house\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n