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

Leave modern London behind with a visit to one of the city's many historic sites, houses and palaces.

Visit one of London's many historic houses and opulent palaces to learn about the people who lived there, view art and antiques, find out about historical interiors and design or get inspiration from their exquisite gardens and grounds. Work out where to find them all using the London attractions map.

Historic buildings in London

London's historic buildings offer a glimpse into centuries of fascinating history, from ancient fortresses to iconic bridges. Discover some of the most famous historic landmarks in London below.

Explore the White Tower, home to the royal armoury, and the notorious prison of the Tower of London. ©Shutterstock/ Justin Black

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.

Where:

Tower Hill, City of London, London, EC3N 4AB

Price:

From £35.80

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.

Where:

Tower Bridge Road, London, SE1 2UP

Price:

From £16.00

Historic palaces in London

Explore all things royal and check out the most incredible palaces to visit in London. See iconic royal residences or lesser known palaces steeped in history.

Travel back in time with a visit to Buckingham Palace. Credit: Jon Reid. Image courtesy of visitlondon.com.

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.

Where:

London, SW1A 1AA

Price:

From £32.00

Enter former royal residence Hampton Court Palace via the Great Gatehouse. Image courtesy of Historic Royal Palaces © Historic Royal Palaces

Discover the magnificence of Hampton Court Palace, Henry VIII's favourite royal residence. As well as the breathtaking grandeur of William III's State Apartments, explore the vast Tudor kitchens, bustling Base Court and more than 60 acres of gardens, including its famous maze.

Where:

East Molesey, Surrey, KT8 9AU

Price:

From £28.00

Kensington Gardens in the autumn. Credit: Jon Reid. Image courtesy of visitlondon.com.

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.

Where:

Kensington Palace State Apartments, Kensington Gardens, London, W8 4PX

Price:

From £24.70

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.

Where:

Lambeth Palace Road, London, SE1 7JU

Price:

From £12.00

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.
Where:

Court Yard, Greenwich, London, SE9 5QE

Price:

From £17.60

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.

Where:

Royal Botanic Gardens Kew, Richmond, London, TW9 3AB

Price:

From £5.30

Stately homes in London

From grand mansions to Tudor dwellings, there are many stately homes in London that never fail to impress. Explore magnificent interiors and gorgeous grounds at London’s stately homes.

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.

Where:

Ham Street, Ham, Richmond, TW10 7RS

Price:

From £10.40

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.
Where:

Jersey Road, Isleworth, TW7 4RB

Price:

From £10.40

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.
Where:

Red House Lane, Bexleyheath, DA6 8JF

Price:

From £7.70

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.
Where:

Hampstead Lane, London, NW3 7JR

Price:

Free

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.

Where:

Windmill Hill, London, NW3 6RT

Price:

From £7.70

Historic homes of London's rich, famous and royal residents

Did you know London hosts many homes of the rich and famous? Draw back the curtains and discover the stories behind some of the most historic sites in London, and learn about the fascinating characters that once occupied them.

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.
Where:

36 Craven Street, London, WC2N 5NG

Price:

From £3.50

Visit the Queen's House Greenwich. Image courtesy of the Queen’s House Greenwich.
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.
Where:

Romney Road, Greenwich, London, SE10 9NF

Price:

Free

An exterior view of Two Temple Place. Photo: Julian Nieman. Image courtesy of Two Temple Place.

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

Where:

Temple Place, London, WC2R 3BD

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.
Where:

New End Square, London, NW3 1LT

Price:

Free

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.
Where:

Syon Park, Brentford, TW8 8JF

Price:

From £7.00

Historic houses in London

London isn’t short of magnificent buildings lining the streets of the city. Explore atmospheric rooms, impressive treasures and exquisite gardens at some of the grandest historic houses in London.

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

Where:

Mansion House, London, EC4N 8BH

Visit the former house of artist Dennis Severs. Credit: Lucinda Douglas Menzies. Image courtesy of Dennis Severs' House.
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.
Where:

18 Folgate Street, London, E1 6BX

Price:

From £15.00

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.

Where:

London, W1J 7NT

Price:

From £15.50

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.

Where:

17 Gough Square, London, EC4A 3DE

Price:

From £4.50

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
Where:

12 Holland Park Road, London, W14 8LZ

Price:

From £9.00

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.

Where:

2-4 Homerton High Street, Hackney, London, E9 6JQ

Price:

From £5.40

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.
Where:

Lloyd Park, Forest Road, London, E17 4PP

Price:

Free

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.
Where:

268 Waldegrave Road, Twickenham, TW1 4SX

Price:

From £10.80

What is the most famous house in London?

When it comes to famous living residences in London, Buckingham Palace sits atop the list. As a world renowned building and previous residence of the Queen, Buckingham Palace is a 775-room royal residence famed for its ornate exterior and lavish interior. Though the King doesn't live at Buckingham Palace, the building is used throughout the year for events, garden parties and even as a tourist attraction when it opens its doors during the summer months. 

What is the oldest surviving house in London?

The oldest surviving house in London is believed to be 41-42 Cloth Fair. Located in the City of London, this home is rumoured to be the only house in its area that survived the Great Fire of London in 1666 and also survived the Blitz during World War II.

What is the most mysterious mansion in London?

Malplaquet House is one of the most mysterious mansions in London, having previously been uninhabited for over a century. Built in 1741, the house was once hidden behind iron railings and immersed in mystery. Now, following a five year restoration project, Malplaquet House invites visitors to discover sculptures, taxidermy and historic portraits, including a rare painting by Sir Anthony Van Dyck.

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