Holland House

Holland House is a large manor residence in the southern section of Holland Park in Kensington, now partly surviving after heavy wartime damage. The east wing stands today as a habitable structure, while the south facade and ground-floor ruins of the main building frame the formal gardens.

The diplomat Sir Walter Cope commissioned the residence in 1605 and originally called it Cope Castle. After his death Henry Rich acquired it, renamed the building, and hosted regular political and literary gatherings there throughout the 19th century.

The estate took its name from Henry Rich, who held the title Earl of Holland and gave the house its present identity. The surviving rooms still show early 17th-century architecture with tall windows and stone details.

The ruins are freely accessible within the public park, where visitors can walk among the walls and along the facade. During summer the surviving structures serve as a backdrop for open-air theatre and concerts in the garden.

A German incendiary attack in September 1940 destroyed most of the building, yet the library in the east wing remained largely intact. Parts of the damaged stone walls were later reused in other London building projects.

Location: Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea

Inception: 1605

Website: http://rbkc.gov.uk/leisureandlibraries/parksandgardens/yourlocalpark/hollandpark.aspx

GPS coordinates: 51.50250,-0.20250

Latest update: December 5, 2025 22:26