Keats House

Keats House is a museum dedicated to the Romantic poet John Keats, situated in the Hampstead home in which he wrote many of his most treasured poems.

Enjoy access to Keats House with The London Pass®

• Learn about the life and work of Romantic poet John Keats as you tour the characterful rooms of his London home.
• Take a stroll through the peaceful garden that inspired Keats to write some of his most beloved works during the Spring of 1819.
• Discover more about Fanny Brawne, the lady who moved in next door and would become engaged to the young poet.

The London home of John Keats between 1818 and 1820, Keats House is now a museum dedicated to the popular Romantic poet. Across charmingly restored rooms, a number of exhibits illuminate the life and works of Keats, shining a light on his passions, troubles, and loves.

 

Keats House history

Keats House—or Wentworth Place as it was then known—was built between 1814 and 1815. It was at first a pair of semi-detached homes, designed to look like a single, detached house. It was owned by Charles Wentworth Dilke, a critic and writer, and Charles Brown, a poet and close friend of Keats.

After the loss of one of Keats’ younger brothers to tuberculosis, Charles Brown invited the young poet to move in with him. Keats moved into the house in December 1818 and enjoyed a period of great productivity and inspiration. He wrote many of his cherished odes whilst resident at Wentworth Place, including ‘Ode to a Nightingale’, which he is said to have written whilst sat under a plum tree in the house’s garden.

When Dilke left the neighbouring home, Fanny Brawne moved in with her mother and siblings. Keats and Fanny fell in love, with Keats proposing in 1819. Keats became ill with tuberculosis, the same illness that had killed his mother and brother. When the cause of his ill health became apparent, the engaged pair could not meet in person, and were forced to communicate through love letters, passed between the two homes.

Keats left London for Italy in 1820, taking advice that the warmer climate may improve his health. He stayed in contact with his betrothed. His condition did not improve. John Keats died on the 23rd February 1821, unmarried and just 25 years old, in Rome.

The houses were joined together in 1838, and opened to the public as the Keats Memorial House in 1925.

Keats House highlights

• See the engagement ring that Keats gave to Fanny Brawne, the love of his life to whom he became engaged, but, tragically, never married.
• Take a stroll through the tranquil garden that inspired Keats to write many of his most famous poems.
• Witness a copy of Keats’ death mask, depicting the artist as he looked at the time of his death, aged just 25.
• Learn all about the life and work of one of the finest Romantic poets Britain produced, gaining insights into his inspirations, loves, and challenges.

Keats House facts

• Keats House is on Keats Grove, obviously named for John Keats. The previous name of Keats Road? John Street.
• Living in the house with his friend Charles Brown, Keats’ rent was £5 a month and half the liquor bill.
• Once he became a published poet, Keats was so dismissive of the earlier work that he gathered up all related papers and burned them.

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Guided Tour

Keats House run guided tours, subject to the availability of volunteer guides. These tours help bring Keats’ time at the house to life, with expert guides full of facts and anecdotes to aid your understanding. To check that the guided tours are running on your proposed visiting date, contact Keats House directly on 02073 323868.

Special Events

Keats House hosts numerous special events throughout the year. These include family days, with a whole host of activities for everyone to get stuck into, talks by poets and experts, and readings, performances, and plays. Some of these events will be included with The London Pass, but will still require booking. Other events will be charged separately. To find out the upcoming schedule and book, consult the official website here. 

Getting in: simply show your pass at the entrance.

Please note: there is wheelchair access to the ground floor. However, because of the listed status of the building, there is no lift to the first floor or down to the basement. However, you’ll find a touch screen on the ground floor which contains photographs and information relating to the other parts of the house.