Leighton House Museum

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Victorian artist Frederic, Lord Leighton built this studio-home as a total artwork: a working atelier fronted by a jewel-box of Islamic-inspired interiors. The Arab Hall glows with 16th–17th-century Iznik tiles; a soaring north-light studio reminds you this was a place of making, not just display. Recently restored, the house reads like a manifesto for beauty across cultures. Allow 60–75 minutes; it’s compact but intensely crafted.

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Opening Hours

Sunday: 10:00 – 17:30

Monday: 10:00 – 17:30

Wednesday: 10:00 – 17:30

Thursday: 10:00 – 17:30

Friday: 10:00 – 17:30

Saturday: 10:00 – 17:30

What's not to miss inside?

Arab Hall

A Victorian dream in Iznik blue and gold

A domed, fountain-cooled room inspired by a palace in Palermo—tiles sourced from Damascus and beyond, set like stanzas.

Stand by the basin and trace one tile’s floral motif across the whole room—variations on a theme.

📍 Ground floor, west side

Leighton’s Studio

Where canvases met daylight

A vast, uncluttered room with balcony and pulleys—production line for Academy-scale pictures.

Face the window wall; squint to feel how painters judge tone from cool northern light.

📍 First floor, north-light atelier

Staircase & Narcissus Hall

Processional drama between work and wonder

Marble, mosaics and mirrors set up a slow reveal of colour and space.

Climb deliberately; note how the palette warms as you approach the studio.

📍 Ground to first floor

Basement Gallery & Context

Leighton among the Holland Park Circle

Sketches, loans and films place the house within a network of artist-homes.

Find one preparatory study, then go upstairs to imagine its scale in the studio.

📍 Lower level

🤓 Fun Facts

Leighton was granted a peerage in 1896—and died the very next day, making his title the shortest-lived in British history.

The Arab Hall’s design was inspired by the 12th-century palace La Zisa in Palermo; many of its tiles are genuine 16th–17th-century Iznik pieces.

Leighton lived as a bachelor; the ‘house of art’ prioritised studio and reception over bedrooms—an artist’s public life made domestic.

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