Sambourne House

About the museum

Sambourne House at 18 Stafford Terrace was the home of the illustrator Linley Sambourne (1844-1910), chief cartoonist of Punch magazine. He moved in with his wife Marion in 1875, when the townhouse was almost new, and decorated it in the Aesthetic style with William Morris wallpapers, stained glass and a large collection of blue-and-white porcelain.

After Linley died in 1910 and Marion in 1914, their son Roy left the interior largely unchanged until his death in 1946, and later generations of the family also kept it as it was. Anne, Countess of Rosse, a granddaughter of Linley, campaigned to preserve the house, which led to the founding of the Victorian Society in 1957. The house was sold to the Greater London Council in 1980 and passed to the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea in 1989.

It is a Grade II* listed building and is now run by the council together with Leighton House. After a long restoration it reopened with the former kitchens turned into reception areas. Visitors see the rooms with their original furniture, pictures and decorative schemes, and learn about Sambourne’s work as a cartoonist.

Highlights

• Original Aesthetic-movement interiors of the 1870s
• William Morris wallpapers and sunflower stained glass
• Home of Punch cartoonist Linley Sambourne
• Blue-and-white Chinese export porcelain
• Joint ticket with nearby Leighton House

Permanent exhibition

• The historic interiors of Sambourne House – The Victorian family home with its original furniture, wallpapers, pictures and decoration, and displays on Linley Sambourne’s work for Punch.

Founded

1868

Operated by

Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea

Admission & discounts

National Art Pass holders get 50% off. Friends members, Blue Badge Guides, accredited press and ICOM and Museums Association members enter free. Tickets can be pre-booked online.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible: not available
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom: not available
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

There is no step-free access: the entrance to the lower ground floor reception has seven steps, and the historic house is not wheelchair accessible. Two gender-neutral toilets are on the lower basement level, also without step-free access. Only guide, hearing and assistance dogs are allowed. The sister museum, Leighton House, has step-free access.

Kids & families

• Stroller-friendly: not available
• Baby changing facilities: not available

Pushchairs cannot enter the house. A limited number can be parked in the basement, but they must be carried down a short, steep flight of steps. There are no baby changing facilities.

Getting there & parking

There are no cycle racks at the house, but racks are available on Kensington High Street, and Santander Cycles docking stations are nearby.

Amenities & dining

• Café: not available
• Museum shop
• Coat check: not available
• Lockers

A small gift shop is in the reception area. There is no cloakroom, only a few lockable racks with very limited space. Suitcases and bags larger than 55 x 40 x 20 cm are not allowed.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent

The house can be hired for filming and photo shoots; the council’s venue hire pages list further events mainly for Leighton House.

Plan your visit