Van Gogh House
So much more than a monument to Van Gogh’s time in London.
87 Hackford Road, London, SW9 0RE
87 Hackford Road is a Grade II listed building, the South London boarding house that in 1873 a young Vincent Van Gogh made his home. The house has been renovated and conserved by the Wang family. Built in the 1820s, by 2012 the property had fallen into a state of disrepair. Bordering on dereliction, the building was purchased at auction by James Wang and Alice Childs, who saw the potential to bring this cultural landmark back to life.
Conservation works took place over 7 years, guided by an ambition to save as much existing material as possible, and making sensitive repairs where necessary. It was important for the house to remain first and foremost a dwelling – and not a museum, allowing it to remain in practical use as a home as well as a venue for artist residencies and exhibitions.
While Van Gogh’s brief tenancy at 87 Hackford Road has left a lasting legacy at the residence that contributed to its conservation status, the house has a rich history that both pre-dates and supersedes Van Gogh’s time in London. The story of Van Gogh House includes that of a child in the 1850s who hid all of his toys beneath the floorboards, of the landlady and her daughter, the object of Van Gogh’s unrequited love, of the postman on strike in the 1970s who discovered that the famous artist lived there and the 20th-century custodian Mrs Smith, who lived with the Van Gogh legacy for 40 years.
Today Van Gogh House is a non-profit contemporary arts organisation based in . More than a time capsule of Van Gogh’s year in Brixton, the house was established in 2019 as a site of creative production and hosts a programme of exhibitions, residencies and events that support artists in their lifetime.
Please note: The information on the Historic Houses website is advisory, but please always check the website of the house or garden you intend to visit before travelling.
From September – December every year Van Gogh House London is open, showing its annual exhibition, 5 days a week, Wed-Sun, 12-6pm.
From January – August we have Artist Residencies at Van Gogh House, and are closed to the public except for guided tours on the last weekend of every month.