Apsley House

Standing grandly at Hyde Park Corner, this bulky, 18th-century mansion once marked the western limit of London, which gave rise to its nickname -- No. 1 London. Today it's best known as the former home of one of Britain's greatest war heroes, the Duke of Wellington, conqueror of Napoleon at Waterloo in 1815, not to mention popularizer of the eponymous boot.

The house is crammed with mementoes of the general's life and boasts numerous art treasures, many of them given to Wellington by European monarchs as thanks for saving their thrones. These include two giant porphyry candelabra from Tsar Nicholas I of Russia, a thousand-piece silver service from the Portuguese court, and a Sèvres Egyptian dinner service originally intended as a divorce present from Napoleon to Josephine, his first wife, who refused it -- allowing Louis XVIII of France to present it to Wellington. There is also a collection of paintings bequeathed by King Ferdinand VII of Spain, the highlight being a Goya portrait of the "Iron Duke" -- ironically, this was originally intended as a portrait of Joseph Bonaparte, Napoleon's brother and briefly king of Spain, but was hastily repainted when Wellington came marching into Madrid in 1812.

Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.

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