Mansions and private mansions to visit London

Home of Sir John Soane, the architect behind The Bank of England. A collector and art enthusiast, Soane amassed dozens of architectural pieces and small sculptures, which he installed throughout his house. Explore the new areas open to the public: catacombs, basement and hall. Overflowing with Egyptian, Roman, medieval and Renaissance curiosities, this museum is a little wonder. By reservation, one Friday a month, at dusk, this museum can be visited by candlelight. A magical atmosphere guaranteed!

This is the only house you'll be able to visit in this neighborhood, which is home to many examples of modernist architecture, and was designed by architect Ernö Goldfinger in 1939 for himself and his family. At the time, the area attracted many artists, including architects, who had their homes built in an avant-garde style. The tour takes in the interior, which has been left untouched and houses a fine collection of modern art, including works by Henry Moore, Bridget Riley and Max Ernst.

As you stroll through the grounds of Hampstead Heath, you'll come across Kenwood House, a sumptuous ^18th-century mansion once owned by the Earl of Mansfield. In 1925, the house was bought by beer magnate Edward Cecil Guiness, who installed his art collection here, including several paintings by British masters, as well as a set of four canvases by François Boucher, a self-portrait by Rembrandt, and works by Van Dyck and Vermeer. Outside, the beautiful English garden plunges into the park.