About
The Wallace Collection is one of the finest collections of art ever assembled by one family, displayed in the magnificent Hertford House, a historic London townhouse. Built up in the 18th and 19th centuries by the Marquesses of Hertford and Sir Richard Wallace, this national museum houses world-class paintings by Titian, Rembrandt, Velázquez, Rubens, and Fragonard, 18th-century French furniture, Sèvres porcelain, and one of Europe's greatest arms and armour collections.
With 25 galleries of treasures in an intimate historic setting, and admission always free, it's a hidden gem in the heart of London's West End.
Categories:
Annual Visitors (2022)
423,000
Plan Your Visit
⏱️ Recommended Visit Duration
📅 Best Times to Visit
Quietest: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday
Busiest: Saturday, Sunday
💡 Weekday mornings or late afternoons
💡 Visitor Tips
- The Great Gallery on the first floor is spectacular - don't miss The Laughing Cavalier and Fragonard's The Swing
- The Wallace Restaurant in the beautiful glass-roofed courtyard is excellent for lunch or afternoon tea
- Pick up a free gallery plan at entrance - the house layout can be confusing
- Audio guide highly recommended to understand the remarkable family who created this collection
- Quieter than major London museums - perfect for a contemplative art experience
- Combine with a walk through nearby Marylebone Village and Regent's Park
Highlights
Frans Hals - The Laughing Cavalier
Iconic 1624 portrait of a richly dressed cavalier with enigmatic smile. One of the most famous paintings in the collection and British art history.
Fragonard - The Swing
Quintessential Rococo masterpiece (1767) showing a young woman on a swing, her slipper flying off as her lover admires from below. Playful, erotic, and exquisitely painted.
The Armouries
One of the finest collections of European arms and armour outside a royal palace. Features ornate suits of armour, swords, daggers, and firearms spanning four centuries.
Boulle Furniture Collection
Magnificent French 18th-century furniture by André-Charles Boulle and successors, featuring tortoiseshell and brass marquetry. The world's finest collection outside France.
Collections
The Wallace Collection contains approximately 5,500 objects assembled by five generations of the Hertford family. Major strengths include: Old Master paintings (works by Titian, Rembrandt, Rubens, Van Dyck, Velázquez, Poussin, Canaletto, Gainsborough, Reynolds), 18th-century French art (paintings by Watteau, Boucher, Fragonard; furniture by Boulle, Riesener, Oeben), Sèvres porcelain, medieval and Renaissance works of art, European and Oriental arms and armour, miniatures, sculpture, and gold boxes.
The collection is displayed in period room settings in Hertford House.
Old Master Paintings
17th-century masterpieces by Titian, Rembrandt, Rubens, Van Dyck, Velázquez, Poussin, and Canaletto
📍 First Floor - Galleries 19-22, 25
18th Century French Art
Rococo paintings by Watteau, Boucher, and Fragonard with magnificent furniture and porcelain
📍 First Floor - Galleries 20-21, 23-24
European Armoury
Arms and armour from medieval to 17th century, one of Europe's finest collections
📍 Ground Floor - Galleries 7-10
Oriental Armoury
Arms and armour from India, Persia, Turkey, and the Far East
📍 Ground Floor - Galleries 3-4
Princely Magnificence
Sculpture, Renaissance bronzes, maiolica, Limoges enamels, and medieval treasures
📍 Ground Floor - Galleries 11-16
British Portraits
18th and 19th-century British paintings by Reynolds, Gainsborough, Lawrence, and Landseer
📍 First Floor - Gallery 22
Themes
Time Periods
Current Exhibitions
No current exhibitions. Please check the museum website for updates.
Nearby Museums (5 within 6 miles)
Royal College of Nursing Library and Heritage Centre
History & Archaeology
London — ~6 min walk (0.3 mi)
RIBA Collections (Library, Drawings and Photographs Collections)
Art & Design
London — ~8 min walk (0.4 mi)
Handel & Hendrix in London
London — ~8 min walk (0.4 mi)