Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters

Take your next trip with Atlas Obscura!

Our small-group adventures are inspired by our Atlas of the world's most fascinating places, the stories behind them, and the people who bring them to life.

Visit Adventures
Trips Highlight
Central Asia yurt night stars
Uzbekistan • 15 days, 14 nights
Central Asia Road Trip: Backroads & Bazaars
from
A view of Brașov’s Old Town.
Romania • 12 days, 11 nights
Legends of Romania: Castles, Ruins & Culinary Delights
from
View all trips
Top Destinations
Latest Places
Most Popular Places Random Place Lists Itineraries
Add a Place
Download the App
Top Destinations
View All Destinations »

Countries

  • Australia
  • Canada
  • China
  • France
  • Germany
  • India
  • Italy
  • Japan

Cities

  • Amsterdam
  • Barcelona
  • Beijing
  • Berlin
  • Boston
  • Budapest
  • Chicago
  • London
  • Los Angeles
  • Mexico City
  • Montreal
  • Moscow
  • New Orleans
  • New York City
  • Paris
  • Philadelphia
  • Rome
  • San Francisco
  • Seattle
  • Stockholm
  • Tokyo
  • Toronto
  • Vienna
  • Washington, D.C.
Latest Places
View All Places »
Wolvenplain prison from the canal
Wolvenplein Prison
Side profile of the bomb prototype.
Petwood Hotel Bouncing Bomb
RAF Harrington
RAF Harrington
The Beaux-arts interior with Pool layout still visible.
Écomusée du fier monde
Latest Places to Eat & Drink
View All Places to Eat »
Cacio e pepe lasagna combines two classics.
C'è pasta... E pasta!
Spaghetto taratatà is named for the sound of rattling sabers.
Giano Restaurant
The gnocchi here get blanketed in a sugo with braised oxtail.
Cesare al Pellegrino
Romans insist you should feel the cracked peppercorns and cheese grains on your tongue.
Flavio al Velavevodetto
Tripe is fried to a crisp.
L’Osteria della Trippa
Recent Stories
All Stories Video Podcast
Most Recent Stories
View All Stories »
The Guy Bradley Visitor Center at Flamingo in Everglades National Park.
America’s First Game Warden Died Fighting for the Birds
16 minutes ago
Echo Park Time Travel Mart.
Atlas Obscura Presents: Traveling Back in Time for Coconut Cake With The Sporkful
1 day ago
One of the PATH’s many entrances.
A Supposedly Boring Mall I Might Actually Visit Again
2 days ago
People paddling in their wooden canoes on one of the lakes near the Allagash Waterway in the north woods in Maine
The Allagash Abductions: This State Park’s Most Famous Visitors ... Are Aliens?
3 days ago

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All the United Kingdom England London Leighton House Museum

Leighton House Museum

This artist's home turned gallery/museum preserves the creator's love of "Eastern" influences.

London, England

Added By
D Brewington
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
Leighton House Museum   Leighton House Museum
Leighton House Museum   Leighton House Museum
Leighton House Museum   Leighton House Museum
Leighton House Museum   Jim Linwood on Flickr
  SEANETTA / Atlas Obscura User
  Snowdrop68 / Atlas Obscura User
  Snowdrop68 / Atlas Obscura User
  Snowdrop68 / Atlas Obscura User
  Snowdrop68 / Atlas Obscura User
  Snowdrop68 / Atlas Obscura User
  Snowdrop68 / Atlas Obscura User
  SEANETTA / Atlas Obscura User
  Snowdrop68 / Atlas Obscura User
  Snowdrop68 / Atlas Obscura User
  Steve 55 / Atlas Obscura User
  SEANETTA / Atlas Obscura User
View from second floor   SEANETTA / Atlas Obscura User
  SEANETTA / Atlas Obscura User
  SEANETTA / Atlas Obscura User
  Snowdrop68 / Atlas Obscura User
Cast of artist’s hands   SEANETTA / Atlas Obscura User
Studio   SEANETTA / Atlas Obscura User
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

When you are a famous artist, you get to decorate your house in all the finery you want, and when we're lucky, these idiosyncratic personal spaces are preserved and turned into museums for future generations to enjoy. Such is the case with the Leighton House Museum.

The former home of painter Sir Frederic Leighton (best know for his piece Flaming June) dazzles visitors with its exquisite interior and insight into the Late-Victorian world and an obsession with "the East." Building on the home began in 1866 and continued via slow expansion for the next 30 years. 

Built in conjunction with architect George Aitchison, every inch of the building is imbued with the artist's touch. Decadent peacocks, spectacular blue mosaics, and Arabesque features make Leighton's home a delight to visit, and a true curiosity. In later extensions to property, special rooms like the "Arab Hall," where Leighton  displayed the artwork of others, were built as well. The house is more of a palace than anything.

Leighton's studio, shown at the end of the tour, is especially fascinating, with the artist's easels and works in progress on display. In addition to the house and its spectacular features, the museum doubles as a gallery for Leighton and his contemporaries' work, making it a must for any lover of the Pre-Raphaelites, those interested in Victorian splendor, or just anyone looking for a curious little museum.

Related Tags

Art Eccentric Homes Museums And Collections Museums Homes

Know Before You Go

Check website for current exhibitions in the temporary gallery. 

Community Contributors

Added By

dtheodora

Edited By

Akki14, Mike Portanova, SEANETTA, EricGrundhauser...

  • Akki14
  • Mike Portanova
  • SEANETTA
  • EricGrundhauser
  • Steve 55
  • Snowdrop68

Published

August 10, 2015

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Sources
  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leighton_House_Museum
Leighton House Museum
12 Holland Park Rd
John Islip St
London, England, W14 8LZ
United Kingdom
51.498656, -0.202976
Visit Website
Get Directions

Nearby Places

Kyoto Garden

London, England

miles away

Ancient Melancholy Man

London, England

miles away

Linley Sambourne House

London, England

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of London

London

England

Places 536
Stories 108

Nearby Places

Kyoto Garden

London, England

miles away

Ancient Melancholy Man

London, England

miles away

Linley Sambourne House

London, England

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of London

London

England

Places 536
Stories 108

Related Places

  • North Adelaide, Australia

    David Roche House Museum

    A vast and opulent collection of art and show dog memorabilia collected over one man's lifetime.

  • Inside the museum.

    Cuernavaca, Mexico

    Museo Robert Brady

    An incredible little museum of interior design full of artifacts collected from around the world.

  • House, art gallery, and museum.

    Puerto Varas, Chile

    Pablo Fierro Museum

    This fairytale house on the shore of a Chilean Lake oozes an eclectic mix of Chilote and German Cultural heritage.

  • Cabot’s Pueblo Museum

    Desert Hot Springs, California

    Cabot's Pueblo Museum

    The Hopi-style structure was built by the man who discovered Desert Hot Springs' famous mineral water.

  • The Sam Maloof Compound.

    Rancho Cucamonga, California

    Sam Maloof House

    A living museum dedicated to the legendary woodworker and his soulful furniture.

  • Stuffed bananas at the Banana Museum.

    Sierksdorf, Germany

    Bananenmuseum

    A museum dedicated to the silliest fruit.

  • Masitise Cave House Museum

    Quthing, Lesotho

    Masitise Cave House Museum

    This odd little home was built right into an African rock face.

  • The Morris-Jumel Mansion

    New York, New York

    The Morris-Jumel Mansion

    The oldest house in Manhattan is now a museum that remembers the home's sordid history of scandals, vice-presidents, and ghosts.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.