Kenwood House

KENWOOD, one of the treasures of London, is an idyllic country retreat close to the popular villages of Hampstead and Highgate. The house was remodelled in the 1760s by Robert Adam, the fashionable neo-classical architect. The breathtaking library or `Great Room' is one of his finest achievements. Kenwood is famous for the internationally important collection of paintings bequeathed to the nation by Edward Guinness, 1st Earl of Iveagh. Some of the world's finest artists are represented by works such as a Rembrandt Self Portrait, Vermeer's The Guitar Player; Mary, Countess Howe by Gainsborough and paintings by Turner, Reynolds and many others. As if the house and its contents were not riches enough, Kenwood stands in 112 acres of landscaped grounds on the edge of Hampstead Heath, commanding a fine prospect towards central London. The meadow walks and ornamental lake of the park, designed by Humphry Repton, contrast with the wilder Heath below. The open air concerts held in the summer at Kenwood have become part of London life, combining the charms of music with the serenity of the lakeside setting. OPENING TIMES Daily 11.30am - 4pm, closed on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day