The Wallace Collection is a free art museum in Hertford House, a historic townhouse on Manchester Square in Marylebone. Its European paintings, furniture, porcelain and sculpture span the 15th to 19th centuries, alongside a striking display of arms and armour. Look for works by Rembrandt, Titian and Frans Hals, including Hals’s The Laughing Cavalier, then take in the ornate rooms as well as the objects they hold. The intimate setting makes it easy to explore at your own pace, and a glass-roofed courtyard café gives you a place to pause.
A townhouse collection in Marylebone
The Wallace Collection is housed in Hertford House on Manchester Square, in Marylebone. This was the London home of the Hertford family, whose art and decorative objects were gathered over generations. The collection became a public museum in 1897, after Sir Richard Wallace’s widow gave it to the nation.
The setting shapes the visit. Instead of moving through a modern, white-walled gallery, you pass through rooms in a historic townhouse, with paintings, furnishings and decorative objects shown among ornate interiors. The collection covers European art from the 15th to the 19th centuries.
Paintings, furniture and porcelain
The collection includes Old Master paintings, sculpture, miniatures, ceramics and furniture. French 18th-century painting and decorative arts are particular strengths, including porcelain and furniture associated with the French court. Some pieces were once owned by Marie Antoinette.
Look for works by Rembrandt, Titian, Frans Hals, Velázquez, Rubens, Gainsborough and Fragonard. Frans Hals’s The Laughing Cavalier is among the paintings on display. The range gives you plenty to look at beyond the canvases, from finely made furniture to small decorative objects.
The arms and armour galleries
Arms and armour form a distinct part of the collection, with objects from Europe and beyond. Displays include swords, daggers, helmets, shields and chain mail, as well as horse armour. The galleries add a change of scale and subject from the paintings and domestic interiors, and are a useful stop if you are visiting with children or have a particular interest in armour.
Planning a visit
The permanent collection has free admission. Temporary exhibitions may have a separate charge, so check the museum’s website if one is part of your plans. The museum is open daily from 10am to 5pm. Weekdays can be quieter, giving you more room to take your time in the galleries.
Free guided tours are available. Ask at the entrance for current details. The building has wheelchair-accessible entrances and restrooms, and there are lockers for larger bags near the basement restrooms. A café in the covered courtyard serves light refreshments, making it a convenient place to stop before or after exploring the rooms.
FAQ
Is the Wallace Collection free to visit?
Admission to the permanent collection is free. Temporary exhibitions may have a separate charge.
How long do you need at the Wallace Collection?
Allow around 2 to 3 hours to explore the paintings, decorative arts and arms and armour.
Where is the Wallace Collection?
It is at Hertford House, Manchester Square, in Marylebone, London.
Are guided tours available?
Free guided tours are available. Ask at the entrance for current details.
