Leighton House Visit

12 February 2025

On a somewhat miserable day in early February, a few of us were much cheered by a visit to

Leighton House, an art museum and historic house in the Holland Park area of Kensington, West

London.

A party of fourteen Gemini members and six Apollo members met at Cote for a wonderful three-course lunch with wine and plenty of chat before heading off for a short walk to the museum.

We had a fabulous tour guide who took us round this very interesting home, the first part being built in1866, full of wonderful paintings by Leighton, Millais, Edward Burn Jones and George FrederickWatts. It has quite a homely feel, beautiful tiles and an amazing area with elaborate decorative paintwork, Islamic style windows and small fountain!

The building was the London home of painter Frederic Leighton who commissioned George

Aitcheson to build a combined house and studio noted for its incorporation of tiles and other

elements purchased in the near east.

At the top of the house there is  a large art studio, very well lit for the artists, where we finished our

tour.

A visit is well worth it if you find yourself in this neck of the woods.

Wendy Catford