Name: Kenwood
Address: Hampstead Lane, Hampstead, Greater London, NW3 7JR
Telephone: 0370 333 1181

Kenwood House and grounds are open. Measures are still in place to keep everyone safe, and you need to book your free visit to Kenwood House in advance. The cafes and shops are also open. Find out more below.

Find out which sites are open from 29 March

Read our FAQs

The magnificent Great Library at Kenwood House, designed by Robert Adam

Keeping you safe

What to expect on your visit

FREE

See full prices and opening times

Address

Hampstead Lane, Hampstead, Greater London, NW3 7JR

Book Your Visit

Get your art fix for free

Immerse yourself in our stunning collection of internationally renowned artworks displayed in beautiful historic interiors. Admire world-class works including masterpieces by Rembrandt, Vermeer, Gainsborough, Reynolds, Turner and Constable as well as the Suffolk Collection of Stuart portraits. Marvel at the striking neoclassical architecture including the magnificent Library designed by Robert Adam, restored to its original 18th-century splendour.

Discover our collection

Please note: the first floor of Kenwood House will remain closed to ensure social distancing.

What you need to know

We've made some changes to help keep you safe, and things might be a little different when you visit. Here's everything you need to know.

Do we need to Book?

Advance booking is now essential to visit Kenwood House. We have introduced limits on visitor numbers to help keep everyone safe, and you won’t be able to visit without your booking confirmation. Your ticket will be free, but you still need to book in advance. Make sure you've read our ticketing FAQ before you book.

Book Tickets

Booking FAQs

What parts of the site are closed?
To comply with the social distancing guidance, some areas of Kenwood are currently closed. This includes:

The first floor of Kenwood House

How are you keeping us safe?

We've made a number of changes to help keep you safe. Although things might be a little different when you visit, you’ll still be able to enjoy exploring the places where history really happened. And you’ll still be given a warm and safe welcome by our friendly – if socially distant – staff and volunteers.

You can visit our reopening page for information on general safety measures we've taken to help keep you safe.

General Safety Information

Do I need to wear a face covering?

Face coverings must be worn in all indoor areas. We won't be able to provide you with a face covering, so please come prepared so you don't miss out.

I still have questions.

The answers to all frequently asked questions can be found on our FAQ page.

Read our FAQs

Things to do and see

What's On

Luna Cinema

Tue 20 - Sun 25 Jul Gates open at 7.45pm and film starts at 9:15pm
The Lord Chamberlain's Men present Macbeth at Kenwood

Sun 15 Aug 2021 Gates open 6pm, performance starts at 7pm
GCE Heritage Live: Rag'N'Bone Man + RAYE

Thu 19 Aug 2021 Gates open at 4pm, performance ends at 10.30pm
GCE Heritage Live: JAMES + Feeder + Maximo Park + The Snuts

Fri 20 Aug 2021 Gates open at 3pm, performance ends at 11pm

Kenwood Timeline

1616-90Brick House

The first house on the site is probably a brick structure built by John Bill, King James I's printer.

Find out more about the history of Kenwood

1690-1705Enlargement and Transformation

Brook Bridges buys the house. His son transforms it into a two-storey red-brick building with large sash windows.

18th CenturySuccessive Owners

Kenwood passes through many owners before being bought by John Stuart, 3rd Earl of Bute.

1746Garden Additions

Bute adds the orangery to the west of the south front and introduces new plant species to the grounds.

1754Country Retreat

William Murray, 1st Earl of Mansfield, buys Kenwood for £4,000. He uses it as a weekend retreat.

1764Adam's House

Adam adds a new entrance and attic-storey bedrooms. He also modernises existing interiors including the library, one of his finest interiors.

Read a description of Kenwood

1766Larger Family Home

Murray commissions Robert Adam and his brother James to remodel the house to make room for more family members.

1793Creation of the Landscape

Murray's nephew David, 2nd Earl of Mansfield, expands the house with two brick wings, and enhances the grounds with the help of Humphry Repton.

1815Home Improvements

Another David Murray appoints architect William Atkinson to add second-floor service-wing rooms. Atkinson also installs additional bookcases in the library.

1909-20Important Tenants

Kenwood is leased to wealthy tenants, including Grand Duke Michael Mikhailovich and American millionairess Nancy Leeds.

1922Contents Sold

Alan David Murray, 6th Earl of Mansfield, sells the contents of the house, including some of the original furnishings.

1925-9Iveagh Bequest

Edward Cecil Guinness, 1st Earl of Iveagh, buys the house to display highlights from his collection of paintings. After this death, the Iveagh Bequest Act requires Kenwood to be opened freely to the public.

See highlights from the collections at Kenwood

1939-49Second World War

Kenwood houses servicemen during the Second World War. After the war it is handed over to London County Council.

1986-PresentConservation Project

English Heritage takes over and carries out repairs and conservations part-funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund. Kenwood is reopened to the public in 2013.

Learn more about Kenwood