Carlyle's House
With a National Art Pass you get
Preserved in 1895 as London's first literary shrine, Thomas Carlyle's house was once a gathering place for writers, including Browning, Dickens and Tennyson.
Tucked away in the backstreets of Chelsea lies the former home of renowned 19th-century writer Thomas Carlyle and his wife Jane, described by Henry James as 'a most original and entrancing pair’. The unassuming terraced house, built in 1708, became a vibrant centre for Victorian intellectual life, attracting a host literary greats including John Ruskin and George Eliot.
Preserving a legacy
The house is now a historic house museum run by the National Trust. It was first opened to the public in 1895, thanks to a public campaign to preserve the literary landmark. The house's interior remains largely unchanged, with original feature, including a decoupage screen made by Jane in 1849.
Explore the house
Take a peak in in the drawing-room, adorned with William Morris wallpaper or head up to the spartan, soundproofed attic study where Carlyle penned many of his works.
Permanent collection
Carlyle's House boasts over 1,500 items, including Carlyle's personal library with nearly 800 titles. You'll also find furniture paintings and photographs that belonged to the couple, who lived in the house from 1834 until their deaths.
Literary encounters
The house frequently hosted renowned figures like Charles Dickens, John Stuart Mill and Alfred Tennyson. Keep an eye out for excerpts from Jane Carlyle's letters scattered throughout the house, offering witty and insightful anecdotes about these literary encounters.
Opening times at Carlyle’s House are limited and booking is essential.
Why you should go
Former home of Scottish historian of Thomas Carlyle
A time capsule of the Victorian era
Carlyle's personal library with over 800 titles
Visitor information
Address
24 Cheyne Row, Chelsea, London, Greater London, SW3 5HL
0207 352 5108
Opening times
Carlyle's House is open for pre-booked visits.
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.