Volunteer complimentary guided tour of Leighton House
Friday 6 February 2026 (12.00 - 13.00)
Join us for a complimentary private tour of Leighton House!
Tucked away in Holland Park, a leafy neighbourhood in West London, stand Leighton House and Sambourne House. Combining living and studio space, the houses remain largely unchanged today. They are the extraordinary legacies left by two ‘celebrities’ of the late Victorian era – Frederic Lord Leighton (1830-1896) and Edward Linley Sambourne (1844 -1910).
Leighton and Sambourne lived as neighbours for over 20 years and had many acquaintances in common. They were widely known to their contemporaries; Leighton as the most prominent artist of his day, a celebrated painter and president of the Royal Academy of Arts and Sambourne as Chief Cartoonist at the infamous satirical magazine Punch. Their similar tastes were reflected in the furnishing of their homes, both filled with sculpture, blue and white ceramics and glassware. But if we delve beyond the physical artefacts, what do we know about these men, their lives and careers, and why do their former homes capture our imagination today?
This exclusive 60-minute guided tour will take us through Leighton House where we will explore the beautiful former home and studio of the leading Victorian artist Frederic, Lord Leighton (1830-1896). The house combined spaces for living, working and entertaining and the display of Leighton’s collections.
Please meet at 11.40 at the Leighton House visitor entrance for the tour starting at 12.00.
PLEASE NOTE THAT THE GUIDED TOUR OF LEIGHTON HOUSE (12.00 - 13.00) WILL BE FOLLOWED BY A GUIDED TOUR OF SAMBOURNE HOUSE (14.30 - 15.30 - Sambourne House is approx. 10 mins walk away) - PLEASE SIGN UP SEPARATELY FOR THE SAMBOURNE HOUSE TOUR IF YOU'D LIKE TO JOIN BOTH TOURS (optional) - thank you.
Event details:
This event is exclusive to Fulham Palace volunteers.
This tour is approximately 60 minutes long.
Accessibility: https://www.rbkc.gov.uk/museums/accessibility
We will meet at 11.40 at the Leighton House visitor entrance.
Getting there: https://www.rbkc.gov.uk/museums/plan-your-visit
After the tour, there is the option to have lunch or refreshments - the on-site De Morgan Cafe will be open - and join the Sambourne House tour at 14.30 - 15.30. PLEASE SIGN UP FOR THE SAMBOURNE HOUSE TOUR SEPARATELY IF YOU WISH TO JOIN BOTH TOURS - thank you.
Please book your space on the Leighton House tour here: https://fulhampalace.digitickets.co.uk/category/68959