What’s it like to visit the Wallace Collection in London?
The Wallace Collection is London’s most beautiful museum you’ve probably never heard of.
After visiting the Wallace Collection for the first time, I kept coming back there again and again.
The Wallace Collection is in a very central location in London near Oxford Street, but somewhat hidden in a small, peaceful square.
If you like the idea of entering a grand Georgian mansion with room after room of some of the finest art and design, read on to find out how to visit the Wallace Collection.
Table of contents
What is the Wallace Collection?
The Wallace Collection is a world-class museum showcasing one of the greatest private art collections ever assembled, left to the British nation by Lady Wallace.
Here’s the history in brief:
The collection was built up over four generations by the Marquesses of Hertford and Sir Richard Wallace.
It was a family with aristocratic connections and a weakness for exceptionally beautiful things who acquired:
- French royal furniture
- Sèvres porcelain
- Elegant decorative items
- Medieval armour
- Some of the finest 18th-century French paintings
Many of these aristocratic treasures were acquired in Paris, often from collections broken up in the wake of the Revolution and the upheavals that followed.
The collection eventually passed to Sir Richard Wallace, the illegitimate son of the fourth Marquess, who added to it further and brought much of it to London.
When he died, his wife Lady Wallace made a decision to bequeath the entire collection to the British nation, including the paintings, the furniture, and all the beautiful decorative items.
Now the collection is free for everyone to enjoy.
There was one famous condition: nothing in Lady Wallace’s bequest was meant to leave the collection, which effectively froze it in time and stopped objects being sold or routinely lent elsewhere.
It’s a time capsule.
What’s inside? The Wallace Collection highlights
When I first entered the Wallace Collection, before seeing much of the art inside, I was impressed by the building itself.
I loved the grand staircase with the red carpet and the incredible wallpapers.
I visited the Wallace Collection twice by myself (on two different trips to London).
Having enjoyed it so much, on my third visit I decided to take a guided tour.
I love taking tours in London museums, they give context and perspective and it’s just nicer to interact with a real person rather than read some text on the wall.
The guide was knowledgeable and helped me notice small details in every object.
Almost every room has something that deserves more than a passing glance.
Remarkable things to see at the Wallace Collection
Here’s what to look out for.
The Great Gallery
At the far end of the upper floor you’ll find the Great Gallery, the Wallace’s showpiece.
High ceilings, natural light, walls covered in European masterpieces by Rembrandt, Velázquez, Poussin, Rubens.
The Laughing Cavalier
If you only remember one thing from your visit, it’ll probably be this.
Frans Hals painted this portrait of an unknown, wealthy Dutchman. He isn’t actually laughing, it’s more of a smirk.
Smiling portraits were almost unheard of at the time, which makes it feel modern even now.
Fragonard’s The Swing
Upstairs, look for Jean-Honoré Fragonard’s beautiful, pastel-soft painting The Swing.
The woman on the swing is kicking her shoe towards a statue of a bishop while her lover watches from the bushes below.
It’s a famous 18th century painting. A young aristocrat commissioned it as a private joke at his own patron’s expense.
The French decorative arts
This is where the Wallace Collection earns its reputation as the finest collection of French 18th-century decorative arts outside France.
The craftsmanship is so refined.
The collection includes furniture and decorative arts acquired in Paris after the French Revolution, including pieces associated with Marie Antoinette and the Petit Trianon.
The porcelain cabinets
The Wallace holds what many consider the greatest collection of 18th-century porcelain.
I skipped this room on my first visit, but on the tour I noticed the small details, and especially the gorgeous luminous turquoise tone (bleu céleste)
The Wallace clocks
Another small detail: the Wallace clocks. There are dozens of extraordinary 18th-century timepieces scattered throughout the rooms.
The Wallace Collection guided tour
I took a guided tour of the Wallace Collection because I felt a bit overwhelmed when seeing it by myself.
There’s information on the official website about the items. I read some of it, but I still needed a live guide to show me around and stop the FOMO.
The guide helped me notice the techniques and small details in the decorative items, such as a Rococo chandelier with an asymmetrical look, or the story of the decorated balustrade.
He put the items in their historical context. I got an interesting lesson on French history as the collection’s Victorian connoisseur was obsessed with France.
I got to ask questions about anything I was curious about and ended the tour feeling much more knowledgeable.
The tour was well-structured. It was quite long and I felt we made the most of every moment.
How to plan your visit to the Wallace Collection: FAQ
Is the Wallace Collection free to enter?
Yes, the Wallace Collection is free to enter.
Temporary exhibitions may have a separate admission charge, but the permanent collection is free.
How to get to the Wallace Collection
The Wallace Collection is in Hertford House on Manchester Square in Marylebone, about a 5-10 minute walk from Bond Street tube station, served by the Central and Jubilee lines.
Baker Street and Oxford Circus are also within walking distance.
What’s the best time to visit the Wallace Collection?
The nest time to visit is on a Monday morning.
The Wallace Collection is open daily, including on Mondays when many other London museums are closed.
I think this museum somehow flies under the radar of many visitors to London, so it’s usually not very crowded.
Still, weekends can get busier during the summer, so a weekday morning is often the best time to visit.
How long to spend at the Wallace Collection?
I’d allow 1-3 hours for your visit, depending on how deeply you want to explore it.
In one hour you can see some of the highlights briefly.
If you stay longer you can enjoy seeing more and noticing the small details. There’s a café in the museum if you need a break.
What is there to see near the Wallace Collection?
There are some popular attractions nearby, including Frameless, Moco Museum, Madame Tussauds, and others (more on that below).
Things to do near the Wallace Collection
The Wallace Collection is in Marylebone, a very pleasant neighbourhood to wander around.
From Manchester Square, it takes a few minutes to walk to Marylebone High Street.
It’s a relaxed central London high street that still has independent shops, not just chains.
The obvious first stop is Daunt Books, one of London’s most beautiful bookshops, inside a long Edwardian gallery with balconies and a skylight.
It specialises in travel writing and stocks books by country, well worth browsing.
From there, Marylebone High Street has good coffee, good food, and lovely boutiques.
There are some famous London attractions within walking distance from the Wallace Collection, so you can plan to see some of them on the same day:
The Sherlock Holmes Museum on Baker Street m, is about 10-15 minutes away. It’s a charming recreated Victorian townhouse at 221B with staff in period costume.
Madame Tussauds, the wax museum, is about 10-15 minutes away. Book ahead and go early to avoid the queues.
Frameless is about 15 minutes away. It’s an immersive art experience at Marble Arch with four rooms of floor-to-ceiling projected masterpieces with animation and sound.
Moco Museum is about 15 minutes away, also at Marble Arch. It’s a modern and contemporary art museum with big names like Banksy, Warhol, and Basquiat.
You can get a combined ticket for Moco + Frameless at a discounted price.
Twist Museum is about 15 minutes away on Oxford Street. It’s London’s optical illusion museum with a lot of fun, interactive exhibits.
Where to stay near the Wallace Collection
These hotels are within easy walking distance of the Wallace Collection:
The Zetter Marylebone: a characterful boutique hotel, a 5 minute walk from the Wallace Collection.
Dorset Square Hotel: a quiet hotel with beautifully designed rooms near Baker Street, a 12 minute walk from the Wallace Collection
The Marylebone Hotel: a large hotel with a pool and spa, 8 minutes on foot from the Wallace Collection.
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