There are treasures to discover in every room of Leighton House, the home and studio of Victorian artist Frederic Leighton: paintings, ceramics, tapestries, books… However, the domed Arab Hall – a glittering chamber inspired by the inside of the Castello della Zisa in Palermo – is what most visitors come for. Decorated from floor to ceiling with mosaics, marble columns, and Middle Eastern tiles, it is pure Orientalist fantasy. Other highlights include the Silk Room – a sumptuous gallery space where Leighton hung paintings given to him by artistic contemporaries – and the newly restored Winter Studio.
Leighton began building the house in the 1860s with the help of renowned architect George Aitchison, but it was a project that would consume him right up until his death in 1896. Extensions were added as the artist traveled more and his collection of art, textiles, and pottery expanded, and at the same time other purpose-built studio houses began to pop up around it. This artists’ colony became known as the Holland Park Circle.
One other such property – Sambourne House in nearby Stafford Terrace – is also open to the public as a museum, and visitors can buy a joint ticket to get discounted entry to both. Tickets to Leighton House are sold on a ‘pay what you want’ basis on the first Monday of every month, and anyone with a National Art Pass can enter for free all year round.
Find your way with 282 Insider Tips from our Local Spotters
Loved this Spot?Join your international community. Share your favs and become part of our international community!
Tita's is like a little alien spacecraft in the middle of the park: from a tiny coffee cart comes well-crafted coffees & tea along with buns and biscuits.
by
A beloved East London classic, E Pellici offers hearty Italian–English food, strong coffee, and warm family-run charm to a lively mix of locals and visitors.
by
Simmos is a stylish, cozy café with small-roaster coffee, delicious pastries, and a warm community vibe. It's a great spot for a quiet, quality break.
by
A haven for book lovers, the London Centre for Book Arts isn't only a shop. It's a studio & maker space, fostering a community devoted to artisanal printmaking.
by
Housmans is a thoughtful little oasis where curious minds feel at home and every visit sparks a new path to explore. It's much more than a regular book shop.
by
A must try for me at Paradise Soho are the gigantic grilled ceylonese prawns - tender and smokey from the charring & the cashew curry along with a hopper.
by
As an independent wine bar their focus is on stocking wines from smaller producers, lesser known regions and grape varieties, and also female winemakers.
by
The team at the Penny Drop are real coffee geeks in the best possible sense of the word and go to great lengths sourcing the best coffee beans out there.
by
If you arrive in the morning you’ll find their popular morning buns with a variety of fillings, sticky buns, beignets, and more!
by
Rondo La Cave is a hip wine bar situated in the basement of the Hoxton hotel and has a charming rustic interior with dim lighting.
by
Quiet yet somehow buzzing, classy yet unpretentious, central yet hidden. What impresses me most is the concentration of great spots in such a small area.
by
282 Insider Tips from our local Spotters
Authentic Stories by Real People
Escape the Crowd & Travel Slow 🐌
✓ 0 Insider Tips from our local Spotters
✓ 282 Insider Tips