Spencer House
With a National Art Pass you get
London’s finest surviving 18th-century aristocratic palace, built for the first Earl Spencer.
Spencer House was conceived as a ‘Temple of the Arts’ for the entertainment of the political, social and cultural elite, and considered the most sumptuous private residence ever built in London. Occupying a central space in the history of British architecture, the state rooms designed by John Vardy and James 'Athenian' Stuart were among the first neo-classical interiors in Europe.
The house contains a small but significant collection of Old Master paintings and 18th-century English furniture on long-term loan from the V&A and Temple Newsham, including original pieces designed by the architects and displayed in their 18th-century locations. Also on loan is an important group of five major historical paintings by Benjamin West from the Royal Collection Trust and important paintings and works from private and public collections including Tate, the Royal Academy, Royal Pavilion and Museums (Brighton and Hove) and the National Trust.
Visitor information
Address
27 St James' Place, London, Greater London, SW1A 1NR
020 7514 1958
Opening times
Spencer House is open to the public every Sunday (except during August) from 10.00 a.m. – 4.30 p.m. (last tour). Access is by guided tour which lasts approximately 1 hour.
Exclusions and safety measures
Closed throughout August
Refurbishments
Following several decades of commercial use and disrepair the House was extensively restored in the 1980s under the chairmanship of Lord Rothschild. The State Rooms were returned to their 18th-century splendour by a remarkable team of craftspeople. The House opened to the public in 1991 and it became celebrated for its hospitality once again. To learn more about the restoration visit http://www.spencerhouse.co.uk/history/restoration/
Visitor information
The more you see, the more we do.
The National Art Pass lets you enjoy free entry to hundreds of museums, galleries and historic places across the UK, while raising money to support them.