Pitzhanger Manor & Gallery

About the museum

Pitzhanger Manor stands on Ealing Green in west London, on the site of a manor house that dated back to the 17th century. In 1768 George Dance added a wing, and the young John Soane worked on it as an apprentice. In 1800 Soane bought the property and rebuilt most of it between 1800 and 1804 as his country home and as a showcase for his architectural ideas, keeping only Dance’s wing. He hoped to found a dynasty of architects there, but his sons did not follow him, and he sold the house in 1810.

After Soane the house had several owners, and from 1843 it was the home of the daughters of the former prime minister Spencer Perceval. In 1900 it was sold to Ealing District Council and became a public library. A new library building, now the Pitzhanger Gallery, was added in 1939 on the site of Soane’s kitchen block. The manor and gallery opened as a heritage attraction in 1987, and contemporary art exhibitions have been shown there since 1996.

The site closed in 2015 for a major conservation project, which returned the manor to its Soane-era design, and it reopened in March 2019. Today the Pitzhanger Manor & Gallery Trust, an independent charity, runs the house, the gallery and the education spaces in Walpole Park. Visitors see the restored Soane rooms, a growing collection that includes works by William Hogarth and Julian Opie, and changing contemporary exhibitions.

Highlights

• Sir John Soane’s country house, built 1800–1804 and restored to his original designs
• Georgian Eating Room and Upper Drawing Room with hand-painted Chinese wallpaper
• Soane’s Suite with Breakfast Room, Library and Conservatory overlooking Walpole Park
• Pitzhanger Gallery with contemporary art exhibitions
• Permanent collection with works by William Hogarth and Julian Opie
• Wonder Room, a hands-on creative space for families

Permanent exhibitions

• Pitzhanger Manor – John Soane’s country house, built from 1800 and restored to its original design, with period rooms such as the Eating Room, Upper Drawing Room and Soane’s Suite.
• Permanent collection – A growing collection that includes prints by William Hogarth, Julian Opie’s Curly Hair and prints of the Roman frescoes of the Villa Negroni.

Founded

1987

Operated by

Pitzhanger Manor & Gallery Trust

Admission & discounts

Prices are standard admission without Gift Aid; a ticket with a voluntary Gift Aid donation costs about 10 percent more (£15.40 for an adult). Admission covers the manor and the exhibitions. Members, including Historic Houses members, enter free. Advance booking is recommended because tickets at the door depend on availability.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible
• Elevator
• Accessible restroom
• Accessible parking
• Service dogs welcome
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

The gallery entrance is level, with a lift to the lower floors and an accessible toilet on the lower floor. The manor can be reached from the gallery reception without steps, and a lift serves all floors open to the public; because of the lift size and weight limit, access for motorised wheelchairs and scooters cannot be guaranteed. Soane’s Garden Room is step-free. A wheelchair can be borrowed if reserved by email. There are three public disabled parking spaces on Mattock Lane that the museum does not control, and a drop-off point at the corner of Mattock Lane and Ealing Green. Service dogs are allowed inside.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
• Hands-on stations
• Playground / play area
• Kids’ birthday parties

The Wonder Room offers self-guided activities with craft materials, books, games and trails, and is included in general admission. Family workshops run in school holidays and on selected Sundays, and the Mini Makers sessions are for ages 0 to 5. Activity trails and sheets are available for children. Buggies are welcome in the gallery building but not in the manor, where they can be left in the gallery; there is a playground in Walpole Park and the Rickyard space can host children’s parties.

Getting there & parking

The museum recommends public transport. For sat nav, use Pitzhanger Manor & Gallery, W5 5EQ; there is a drop-off point on Mattock Lane.

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Museum shop
• Lockers

Bella Puglia Café in the gallery (Wednesday to Sunday 10:00 to 17:00) and Pitzhanger Pantry, a kiosk in Walpole Park by the playground. The shop and cafes need no ticket. Free lockers at the gallery entrance take backpacks but not large bags or luggage; visitors carry rucksacks in front of them inside the manor.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Private parties
• Corporate events
• Weddings / ceremonies

Up to 120 guests.

Rooms for hire include the Georgian Eating Room, Upper Drawing Room, Soane’s Suite and Conservatory, the gallery, and Soane’s Garden Room (up to 120 standing). Filming and location hire are also offered.

Plan your visit