Places linked to a character to visit London

A museum in a bunker? Funny idea! Yet it is underground that the museum dedicated to Churchill, the English political figure who marked the history of his famous speeches, is located. At the very place where the British Prime Minister took refuge during the Blitz and announced: "This is the room from which I will lead the war." Nothing has been touched and you will find personal items and work tools as they were used by this great character. Churchill's little sentences have not lost any of their salt...

If you're looking for an original visit, Dennis Severs' house should be just what you're looking for. You'll witness the daily life of a Huguenot family in the ^17th and ^18th centuries. The reconstruction is meticulous, with candlelight and open fire heating. The house has been brought to life by an artist, Dennis Severs, who, until his death in 1999, lived in this atmosphere, in the manner of the ^18th century, without any modern comforts. Every detail has been recreated. Please note that it is strictly forbidden to touch any of the objects!

This seemingly ordinary house contains a treasure trove of history. It was in this pretty Georgian building that a French Huguenot family took refuge in 1744, following Catholic persecution of Protestants in the second half of the ^16th century. They integrated into English society thanks to their talent for the textile trades, and their skills as dressmakers and weavers. In 1869, the Jewish community built a synagogue on the site of the garden where the children of the Ogier family once played. The synagogue is still there, and it's extraordinary to walk through the door of this seemingly anonymous little house and find such a religious edifice.

The building, after years of neglect, is in a rather dilapidated state and in need of financial support. The building has become a cultural center in the Spitalfields district, with the vocation of becoming a museum of immigration to London through the ages. For these reasons, the house is only open exceptionally throughout the year, by reservation and only for group visits. Admission is free, but a donation is more than welcome to help with the work and support all those involved in preserving and restoring this fabulous piece of history. You'll learn many fascinating things during your visit. A timeless and simply magical place for those lucky enough to visit!

Apsley House was the home of the Duke of Wellington, famous for defeating Napoleon at the Battle of Waterloo in 1815. After the battle, he even had a room built to celebrate the victory. A touch of English humor: this is where you'll find Canova's colossal nude statue of Napoleon. As this work was not to the emperor's taste, it was kept away from the official residences and eventually ended up in the home of his fatal enemy. Inside, you can admire period furniture and the Duke's art collection.

The father of psychoanalysis arrived in England in 1938 after fleeing Austria to escape the Nazis. He settled in this house and lived there for 18 months, until his death in 1939. It was here that he continued to write Malaise in Civilization. His daughter Anna occupied the house until 1986, and it was on her death and in accordance with her wishes that the premises were transformed into a museum. The tour revolves around Freud's library and study, and features the books he used and his collectables. The highlight of the tour: the famous couch!

For those nostalgic for the Beatles, a short detour to the St John's Wood district will allow you to see Abbey Road Studios still in operation and where the Beatles' presence remains tenacious. Pilgrimage for unconditional fans, because there is nothing to see or do except for the mythical photo of the pedestrian crossing slightly below on the eponymous album - be careful, there may even be a line to pass over the famous white stripes. If you want to bring back a souvenir, go to the Beatles Store on Baker Street instead.

This house was the home of Victorian writer and historian Thomas Carlyle and his wife from 1834 to 1881. It quickly became a social event in the literary world. Other Victorian personalities such as Charles Dickens or Alfred Tennyson also frequented the area. You will see the couple's kitchen, dining room, drawing room and bedroom, preserved as they are, as well as the garden where you can imagine the writer in meditation... And discover a true Victorian house.

Here's a chance to relive the district's glorious literary past, with a visit to the home of the great Romantic poet John Keats, whose life was as short (25 years) as it was productive. It was in this house that he spent his last two years and, despite the tuberculosis that weakened him, wrote his most famous verses. Here you can discover an important collection of manuscripts, books and annotated letters, not forgetting the engagement ring that Fanny, his bride, continued to wear until her death.

Separated by a wall and 200 years old, 23 and 25 Brook Street are the homes of two musicians who chose London as their home. Handel House was opened to the public in 2001. The museum is housed in the home of German-born composer Georg Friedrich Handel. Hendrix's space has been restored as it was when he lived there (1968-69). A permanent exhibition presents Hendrix's place in the musical and social world of 1960s London.

Built in 1866 by George Aitchison, this sumptuous house is the home and studio of Sir Frederic Leighton, a painter and sculptor at the Royal Academy of which he was president in 1878. One of the most fascinating rooms is the magnificent entrance hall decorated entirely with mosaics in an oriental style, sumptuous! The other rooms feature works by the artist and some of his friends. Temporary exhibitions and guided tours are organized throughout the year, so you can learn more!