Pitzhanger Manor

Pitzhanger Manor is a Grade I listed country house in Ealing, west London, now run as a museum and gallery. Its real claim to fame is rarity: it is a building designed, built and lived in by the same person, Sir John Soane, one of Britain's most important neoclassical architects.

Who was Sir John Soane and why does this house matter?

By around 1800 Soane was prosperous enough to buy the Pitzhanger estate and shape it into his dream country home, paying £4,500 for it. Work ran roughly from 1800 to 1804 (sources differ slightly on the exact completion year). The result was a refined Regency house meant for entertaining guests and as a family seat for a dynasty of architects, beginning with his sons.

That plan never came to pass. Soane held the property for about a decade and sold it in 1810. Even so, the house remains one of the clearest expressions of his thinking about architecture, light and proportion.

What happened to the house after Soane?

In 1843 it was bought by Spencer Horatio Walpole, after whom the neighbouring park is named. In 1900 the local council acquired the house and surrounding land, and Walpole Park officially opened to the public in 1901. For more than 80 years the building served as Ealing's central library. It became a museum in 1987 and a gallery in 1996.

Restoration and the interiors today

The house reopened in spring 2019 after a three-year conservation project costing about £12 million. The aim was to return the interiors and layout to Soane's original designs, so visitors can see the house closer to how it looked in his day.

Walpole Park around the house

The manor sits within a park well worth including in your visit. Soane commissioned John Haverfield to reshape the grounds into a picturesque landscape, with a curving "serpentine" lane, a rustic bridge and a plantation. Today the park spreads around the house and gallery, and the cafe occupies the original walled garden.

Frequently asked questions

Where is Pitzhanger Manor? In Walpole Park, Ealing, in west London. Take the tube or a train to Ealing Broadway station.

Was this really Soane's own home? Yes. He designed it, rebuilt it and lived there himself, which is what makes it such a distinctive landmark.

What else is there besides the house? A gallery hosting exhibitions, the park with its former walled garden, and a cafe.

Do I need to check opening times? Yes. Hours and ticketing change, so confirm them on the official Pitzhanger or Ealing Council website before you go.

Who is it best for? Architecture fans, lovers of London history, and anyone after a calm outing away from the centre.