About
Kelmscott House was the London home of William Morris from 1878 until his death in 1896. This elegant Georgian house on the Thames at Hammersmith became a creative hub for the Arts and Crafts Movement and a meeting place for early socialists. Morris established his Kelmscott Press in the coach house, where he produced some of the most beautiful books ever printed.
The house museum preserves the atmospheric basement rooms where Morris lived and worked, displaying examples of his wallpapers, textiles, furniture, and printed books. Visitors can see the room where Morris hosted meetings of the Socialist League, view original Morris & Co.
designs, and explore the coach house where the famous Kelmscott Press operated.
The William Morris Society maintains the house as a shrine to Morris's ideals of good design, craftsmanship, and social justice. The small garden overlooking the Thames provides a peaceful setting that inspired much of Morris's nature-based pattern work.
Categories:
Plan Your Visit
⏱️ Recommended Visit Duration
📅 Best Times to Visit
💡 Saturday afternoon for a Thames-side walk before or after
💡 Visitor Tips
- Very limited opening hours - only Thursday and Saturday afternoons
- The museum is small but perfectly formed - a true gem for Morris enthusiasts
- Combine with a walk along the Thames Path - beautiful riverside setting
- Book in advance if you want to see the Kelmscott Press room in the coach house
- Free entry but donations help maintain this special place
- The house is not wheelchair accessible due to steep basement stairs
- Visit nearby William Morris Gallery in Walthamstow for more Morris collections
Highlights
The Basement Museum Rooms
The atmospheric rooms where Morris lived and worked, now displaying original Morris & Co. wallpapers, textiles, furniture, and examples of his designs. The 'Willow Boughs' wallpaper still adorns the walls as it did in Morris's time.
Kelmscott Press Room
The coach house where Morris established his private press in 1891. The Kelmscott Press produced 53 works in editions of extraordinary beauty, including the magnificent 'Kelmscott Chaucer'. View examples of these masterpieces of book design and printing.
Original Morris Textiles and Wallpapers
Examples of Morris's famous designs including 'Strawberry Thief', 'Willow Boughs', and other nature-inspired patterns that revolutionized Victorian decorative arts.
Socialist League Materials
Documents, posters, and ephemera from Morris's political activism. The house was headquarters of the Hammersmith Socialist Society, and Morris hosted Sunday evening lectures here.
Collections
The museum holds examples of William Morris's designs including textiles, wallpapers, books from the Kelmscott Press, furniture, photographs, and documents relating to his life and work.
Collections also cover Morris's political activities and socialism, correspondence, and materials from the Arts and Crafts Movement.
The William Morris Society library and archives are available to researchers by appointment.
Explore the diverse collections housed in this museum.
Themes
Time Periods
Current Exhibitions
No current exhibitions. Please check the museum website for updates.
