Kenwood House Summary

• Address: Hampstead Lane, London, NW3 7JR (Map)
• Tel: +44 (0)20 8348 1286
• Owner: English Heritage
• Administrator: The House Manager
• Website: Go to the Kenwood House website

Later Earls of Mansfield redesigned the parkland and Kenwood remained in the family until 1922. When developers attempted to buy the estate, the house and grounds were saved for the public by the brewing magnate, the first Earl of Iveagh. In 1928, when he died, he bequeathed the Kenwood Estate and part of his collection of pictures to the nation. From then the house became better known as an art gallery. For further information about visiting Kenwood, special events or entertaining there, do visit their Website.

Major developments at Kenwood:

In order to present its fine collection of paintings and splendid interiors to their best advantage, the east and west wings of Kenwood House have been re-presented for the year 2000, with new decoration, controlled heating, re-designed lighting, and new seating for visitors. The Dining Room features deep red velvet and matching curtains in the style of the late 1820s. The furniture, which includes a pair of sideboards and two neoclassical pedestals originally made for the room provide the perfect surroundings for the masterpieces which have been re-hung there - amongst them Rembrandt’s Self Portrait and Vermeer’s Guitar Player.

In the Dining Room Lobby, or Marble Hall as it is otherwise known, a painted floor-cloth has been created echoing the original marble floor that gave the room its name. The Music Room, originally created for the Countess of Mansfield, has also been redesigned to complement the portraits of Georgian ladies now hanging there. The curtains have been replaced with green silk and the suite of seat furniture made for Moor Park by Robert Adams has been newly upholstered to match.

Eat, Drink and be Merry:

A special event at Kenwood is the spectacular exhibition Eat, Drink and be Merry, The British at Table, 1600-2000. It celebrates the changing attitudes to eating and drinking in Britain from the reign of Elizabeth I to that of Elizabeth II. Accompanied by paintings, prints and decorative arts borrowed from public and private collections throughout Britain, a series of set-piece displays has been created using period tableware and food. From the baroque splendour of a Royal Feast to the intimacy of a Nursery Tea of the 1930s, the table settings reveals how the main meals of the day have developed over the past four centuries. Throughout the exhibition period the Brew House Café will be serving historic food to give you a chance to sample the mouth-watering delicacies which can be seen in the exhibition.

Filmed There:

Notting Hill starring Hugh Grant and Julia Roberts (1998) and Jane Austen's Mansfield Park (1999) starring Harold Pinter.

Mansion Cottage Visitor Information Centre:

Information about the history, wildlife and importance of the Kenwood estate is available at the Mansion Cottage Visitor Information Centre . As well as informing visitors about specific projects and work in progress, the Centre produces a What to look for at Kenwood display each month, highlighting areas of special interest to the visitor. Whilst it is the aim of the Centre to open for at least five hours per day on six days each week, this is dependent on securing sufficient volunteer support.

Hospitality at Kenwood House:

This magnificent villa remodelled by Robert Adam for William Murray, 1st Earl of Mansfield, houses a superior art collection of international renown. Kenwood House and its collections were bequeathed to the nation in 1927 by Edward Guinness 1st Earl of Iveagh. The rooms of this historic house have recently been re-presented to enhance the collection and to add to the sense of grace and luxury, and are now available for exclusive hire.

Opening Times - 2011

• 1st April - 30th September: daily, 11.30 am - 4 pm
• Park stays open later, please see site notices
• Closed 24th - 26th December & 1st January

Admission Prices - 2011

• Free Entry

All Photographs - 'Copyright English Heritage'.

Further information including opening times and prices

Image Gallery

Your Reviews of Kenwood House

Andrew Wyeth (12 January 2012)

I have visited both Kenwood House and Hampstead Heath many times, in fact I have been going up to Kenwood House and the heath since the 1960s. The house is very impressive and the numerous works of art and grounds instill in you a sense of grandeur. The grounds are very extensive and I have done conservation work on the fencing in the grounds. Kenwood House is not far from Jack Straws Castle or the Spaniards Inn, which is where Dick Turpin was. No-one can fail to like the house and grounds, there used to be open air concerts in the summer there. I once saw Richard Baker, the newscaster, in the Cafe and there used to be a carriage there. Also there used to be a gypsy caravan in the grounds.

Additional Info for Kenwood House

• Open All Year
• Parks
• Gardens
• Disabled Access
• Education
• Refreshments
• Picnics
• Guides
• Conferences
• Filming
• Live Entertainment
• Shop
• Car Parking

Heritage Groups

• English Heritage

Updating this Home

If you are the owner or manager of this property, now is your chance to update your information. In your interests, updates are checked to ensure that no incorrect information is entered from an unauthorised source.