Find inspiration at these artists' houses and studios

In 1916, painters Vanessa Bell and Duncan Grant moved to Charleston with Grant’s lover David Garnett, creating a home that became a centre for the Bloomsbury Group’s experimental artistic and social life. Bell and Grant painted furniture, walls, doors and fireplaces, transforming the farmhouse into an immersive work of art. The house offers a vivid glimpse of their unconventional approach to art and domestic life, while the garden reflects the same creative spirit. Today, Charleston continues to bring together the art, ideas and legacy of the artists who made it their home.

The only house commissioned, designed and lived in by William Morris, Red House was created with architect Philip Webb and became an early expression of Arts and Crafts ideas. Morris and his wife Jane furnished and decorated it with friends including Edward Burne-Jones, Dante Gabriel Rossetti and Elizabeth Siddal, filling rooms with murals, embroidery, stained glass and furniture. Its bold interiors and medieval-inspired architecture reveal the collaborative spirit behind Morris’s circle, while the garden was designed to complement the house.

Please note – Red House’s 2026 visitor season runs until 30 October, after which the site will close to visitors for the winter.

One of the most important sculptors of the 20th century, Barbara Hepworth lived and worked in the studio on this site from 1949 until her death in 1975. The studio and garden remain remarkably preserved, offering a rare insight into the artist’s life and working practice. On display are the tools she used to make her sculptures, including chisels and hammers, alongside her apron and a varied selection of works. Many of the sculptures in the garden remain in the exact locations Hepworth chose for them.

The former home and studio of 19th-century artist Frederic Leighton, this sumptuous house is a striking expression of his artistic vision. Leighton brought back curious finds from his travels, along with plenty of inspiration; visitors can marvel at the dazzling Arab Hall, with its fountain and golden dome, as well as the Silk Room, which he created to house his most recent and favourite art purchases. Although Leighton was one of the most prominent Victorian artists, few people believed they knew the man behind the polished social persona. His house provides an insight into an incredibly talented yet enigmatic figure.

Nestled in a quiet corner of Cambridge, the former home of Tate curator Jim Ede and Helen Ede houses a spectacular collection of artistic treasures, including works by Joan Miró, Ben and Winifred Nicholson, Henri Gaudier-Brzeska and many more. Now a thriving modern and contemporary art gallery, Kettle’s Yard is an homage to the vision of this creative couple, preserving their collection and exploring their legacy through exhibitions and events. Jim Ede applied his expert curatorial eye to his home as he did in his career, creating exquisite arrangements that continue to shape the museum today.

By the time George Frederic Watts and his wife, Mary Watts, commissioned a house and studios in the Surrey countryside, Watts was already an established artist. Limnerslease was completed in 1891 and became a creative retreat for the couple, who both worked there, providing refuge from Watts’ popularity and the London smog in equal parts. A place of great productivity, George painted some of his most ambitious works at Limnerslease, while Mary decorated the house with her own designs. Visitors can enjoy a gallery dedicated to Mary Watts, the recreation of George’s studio and the original red-brick Watts Chapel.

Once home to the celebrated Victorian photographer Julia Margaret Cameron, Dimbola Museum & Galleries is dedicated to her life and work while also presenting the work of international photographers. In the idyllic Isle of Wight location of Freshwater Bay, Cameron transformed the house into a beautiful home and working studio, photographing friends, family, visitors and local people within its walls. Today, the museum offers an insight into her pioneering approach to photography, alongside a changing programme of exhibitions by photographers from around the world.

Preserving the legacy of one of the most influential sculptors of the 20th century, Henry Moore Studios & Gardens offers a unique insight into the artist’s working practice and the landscape in which he created his work. Moore lived and worked at the Hertfordshire estate from 1940 until his death in 1986, developing studios and a working environment where he could make and display his sculptures. Wander the grounds and buildings where he lived and worked, including Hoglands, the family home, while monumental bronzes are scattered across the gardens and fields.

Please note – Henry Moore Studios & Gardens’ 2026 visitor season runs until 25 October, after which the site will close to visitors for the winter.