26 best historic houses and old buildings to visit in London in 2025

Discover the incredible history of the Tower of London. The historic site has been a palace, prison, armoury and powerful fortress, and even a menagerie. Now visit the priceless Crown Jewels and join an iconic Beefeater on a tour to hear the Tower's bloody tales.

Built in 1894, Tower Bridge is the most iconic bridge in London. Find out more about how famous bridge’s history at the Tower Bridge Exhibition, where you can also enjoy fantastic views from 45 metres (131 ft) above the Thames on the bridge’s walkways.

Visit Buckingham Palace for a glimpse inside one of the few working royal palaces remaining in the world today. During the summer you can tour the 19 spectacular State Rooms, and during the rest of the year you can still see the famous exterior of the palace and watch the Changing of the Guard ceremony.

Experience life as a 17th- and 18th-century royal courtier as you make your way up the King's Staircase or through the magnificent King’s and Queen’s State Apartments in Kensington Palace. Explore the rooms Queen Victoria used as a child and learn more about her extraordinary life from her journals.

The imposing Lambeth Palace has been the official London residence of the Archbishops of Canterbury since the 13th century. Lambeth has one of the largest collections of church records in its library, where visitors can take a guided tour along with the crypt, guard room and chapel.

Eltham Palace is a stunning art deco mansion on the grounds of a former medieval royal palace. The lavish interiors reflect the glamour and allure of 1930s fashionable society. You can also wander around 19 acres of beautiful gardens and medieval features, including London's oldest working bridge over the moat.

The most intimate of royal palaces, Kew Palace was built as a private house in 1631 and used by the royal family between 1729 and 1818. Visitors can experience a riot of colour in authentically re-created Georgian rooms, wander through the eerie upper floor, which has been left untouched for centuries, and visit the newly restored Royal Kitchens.

Situated on the bank of the Thames in Richmond, Ham House is Europe's most complete surviving 17th-century mansion. Its imposing exterior conceals centuries of royal and political secrets. Countless ghostly sightings make this house all the more mysterious! The fine interiors and historic gardens make Ham a great place to visit.

A spectacular mansion surrounded by parks and farmland, Osterley is one of the last surviving country estates in London. Originally built in 1575, it was transformed by Robert Adam into an elegant 18th-century neo-classical villa. Explore the stunning interiors with an audio-visual guide, then enjoy a stroll in the huge grounds.

You'll recognise the signature style of designer craftsman William Morris as soon as you step through the door. Red House in London is full of his decorative arts and is the perfect place for craft lovers to channel some inspiration. If the weather's good, you can head into the gorgeous gardens to pick up even more ideas.

Kenwood House is a magnificent stately home in Hampstead. It featured in the romantic comedy Notting Hill. The interiors, designed by Robert Adam, are beautifully restored and contain masterpieces by the likes of Rembrandt, Turner and Gainsborough. In summer, you can see live music concerts in the grounds.

Fenton House in Hampstead Village is one of London's most enchanting country houses. Exhibits include European, Oriental and English porcelain, 17th-century needlework and Georgian furniture. Music lovers should check out the collection of early keyboard instruments. Plus there's an orchard and a working kitchen garden.

Just steps away from Trafalgar Square, Benjamin Franklin House is where the scientist, inventor and Founding Father of the United States lived and worked for nearly 16 years. Visitors can explore the Georgian space, see original artefacts and learn about Benjamin Franklin’s inventions, writings and more.

Home to the famous Tulip Stairs, the first self-supporting spiral staircase in Britain, the Queen’s House is one of the most important buildings in English architecture. Discover design wonders including the impressive Great Hall – a perfect cube with a striking marble floor laid in 1635. You can also see an incredible collection of art, featuring works by artists including Canaletto, Rembrandt and Gainsborough.

A neo-Gothic mansion on Victoria Embankment, Two Temple Place was built in the 1890s for the businessman and politician, William Waldorf Astor. Here you can see many of the items he collected, including carvings of characters from his favourite novel, The Three Musketeers. Regular tours around the house guides visitors around the glittering, stained glass interiors.

 

Price: Free

Nestled in the Heart of Hampstead Village, Burgh House is a beautiful Grade I listed Queen Anne House. One of the highlights of the house is the Hampstead Museum, dedicated to telling the story of the local area and its people. Learn about the famous residents of the area, including George Orwell and John Constable, and see some of their personal belongings and works on display.

Syon House is the lavish London home of the Duke of Northumberland. Built in 1594, the house features a great hall based on a Roman basilica and a bedroom used by Queen Victoria. Visitors can also see the Grade I listed gardens landscaped by Capability Brown, including a collection of rare trees and plants, a rose garden and circular lakeside walk.

The official residence of the Lord Mayor of London, the Palladian-style Mansion House was built in the 18th century and has served many purposes over the years, including a court (the cellar once held prisoners' cells). In-house guides conduct regular tours around the house and its magnificent collections of plates and art.

 

Price: Free

Wander around the former house of artist Dennis Severs. Inside, Severs has created the atmosphere left behind by an imaginary 18th-century family. You can sense their presence by the things they've left behind, including the smell of food about to be eaten, and beds that have been slept in and left unmade.

The magnificent home of the first Duke of Wellington, Apsley House is known as Number 1 London. Inside you can see many aspects of the duke's life, including his art collection. Works by Velazquez, Rubens, Van Dyck and Goya hang throughout the first floor, alongside porcelain, silver, sculpture, furniture and stunning interiors.

Visit the 300-year-old townhouse where writer Samuel Johnson compiled his ambitious Dictionary of the English Language. The building boasts many original features, plus fascinating artefacts relating to Johnson, including manuscripts written in his own hand, portraits of Johnson and his contemporaries, and even the writer's walking stick.

Leighton House is the former studio-house of the great Victorian artist Frederic, Lord Leighton. Inside you can see extraordinary period interiors including the Arab Hall, and a permanent exhibition of Victorian paintings, drawings and sculpture by Leighton, Burne-Jones, Millais, Stevens and Alma-Tadema

Built in 1535 by Henry VIII's Secretary of State, Sir Ralph Sadleir, Sutton House retains much of the atmosphere of a Tudor home despite some more modern alterations. The oak-panelling, painted staircases and original carved fireplaces have been restored, and the house incorporates an arts and education centre for east London.

The William Morris Gallery is a public gallery devoted to the life and work of William Morris. Morris, a designer, craftsman, writer, conservationist and socialist was one of the founders of the arts and crafts movement in Victorian Britain. The grade II listed building was Morris's family home from 1848 to 1856.

One of Britain’s finest examples of Georgian Gothic revival architecture, the castle-like Strawberry Hill House was the inspiration for the first ever Gothic novel, The Castle of Otranto – penned by its owner, Horace Walpole in 1764. You can explore the historic rooms, collections and gardens on a self-guided tour.