Leighton House

Step into a painter's world at Leighton House in Kensington.

Created as his 'private palace of art', the former studio-home of leading Victorian artist, Fredric Leighton (1830-1896), showcases an exceptional collection of 19th c. art throughout its unique interiors, including the iconic Arab Hall, with a golden dome and a calming fountain.

The house was developed gradually over the course of three decades by architect and friend of Leighton, George Aitchison. One of its most significant additions was the ‘Arab Hall’ extension in 1877-81, combining inspirations from Leighton’s travels across the globe. The architectural structure mirrors the 12th century Italian Palazzo della Zisa in Sicily, and the walls are lined by an immaculate Syrian tile collection sourced from a trip to Damascus in 1873. The gold mosaic frieze was made in Venice and skilled local craftsmen were commissioned to create the mosaics and marbles that adorn this spectacular space.

In 1896, Leighton's green silk-lined ‘Silk Room’ was completed, designed to display his extensive collection of paintings by his contemporaries, including masterpieces by John Everett Millais, John Singer Sargent and Lawrence Alma-Tadema.

Following Leighton’s death, his collection was sold off and the house was stripped of its original interior design. In recent years, extensive work to restore the historic interiors and Leighton's original collections have been recognised and in 2022 Leighton House completed a major redevelopment to ensure the space is fully accessible and sustainable for the 21st century. New free to visit areas include the De Morgan Café with views to the garden, historical displays and a striking 11-metre contemporary mural by Iranian artist, Shahrzad Ghaffari. The museum has been returned to its full splendour and is a stunning testament to Leighton’s life and work.