575 Wandsworth Road
An extraordinary home and work of art
575 Wandsworth Road, Lambeth, London, London, SW8 3JD
Book a visit
Important notice
Opening times for 21 May 2025
Asset Opening time House Closed Book a visitNB: To help us look after the hand painted floors, you'll be invited to take off your shoes. Please bring thick gripped / non-slip socks or a pair of rubber soled, enclosed slippers to explore the house in.
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Ticket type With Gift Aid Without Gift Aid Adult (18+) £14.00 £12.00 Child (5-17) under 5s free £7.00 £6.00 Become a member and discover more than 500 places
- Assistance dogs only
- Guided tour
You must book in advance to see the house, and as there is no door number you may need to count down from other houses to find us. Please note there is limited on-street metered parking in the local area. 575 Wandsworth Road has no toilets, catering or shop on site. Please send us an email in advance for any particular access needs.
- Induction loop
- Narrow corridors
- Steps/uneven terrain
- Virtual tour
Please contact the property team directly on 575wandsworthroad@nationaltrust.org.uk to find out more
- By road
Wandsworth Road is a busy main road and there are few places to park. There is metered parking in St Rule Street. We recommend travelling by public transport as an easier option and to reduce car usage in the area.
Parking: There is no parking at the property. There are some parking meters in nearby roads, but we recommend accessing the site by public transport where possible.
- By train
Wandsworth Road Station is on the Overground. It is one stop from Clapham Junction. Exit left out of the station and walk a few minutes until you reach number 575 on your left.
- By bus
Frequent local services stop directly outside 575 Wandsworth Road. If travelling from Vauxhall, go to Vauxhall Bus station, and at stand G take the numbers 87, 77, or 452 and get off at Westbury Street. The bus journey should take under fifteen minutes and 575 Wandsworth Road is just a couple of doors down from the bus stop. If travelling from Wandsworth (via Clapham Junction), get off at St Rule Street stop and cross over at the pedestrian crossing. The house is directly to the left of a dark green building (no. 577).
- Cycling
The nearest Barclays Cycle Park is Wandsworth Road Isley Court. There are also places to park your own cycles nearby.
- Underground
Nine Elms Station on the Northern Line is the closest tube station, approximately 15-20 minutes walk away. Clapham Common Station is about a 20-25 minute walk, via Clapham Old Town, (the Common should be on your left and you should pass a paddling pool and bus terminus). Continue to Rectory Grove and walk down Matrimony Place past St Paul's Church and the Eden Community Garden. This brings you to Wandsworth Road and number 575 is just two doors to the right.
575 Wandsworth Road, Lambeth, London, London, SW8 3JD
Planning your visit
Check availability and book
You'll need to pre-book your visit. Tickets are released every Thursday for bookings up to four weeks in advance. 575 Wandsworth Road is open on Thursdays and Fridays for tours at 11am, 1pm, and 3pm, from May until October.
Booking your visit to 575 Wandsworth Road
Discover everything you need to know about booking your visit to this intricately decorated home and elaborate work of art, tucked away in the middle of London.
Can't visit us in person?
We are also able to offer virtual tours and talks for groups. Email 575wandsworthroad@nationaltrust.org.uk to learn more.
Highlights
House
Grade II-listed Georgian terraced house, which was turned into a work of art by Kenyan born novelist and civil servant, Khadambi Asalache.
Things to see and do
575 Ways to Create and Connect: Everyday creativity workshops inspired by 575 Wandsworth Road
575 Wandsworth Road is delivering free monthly creative workshops at Battersea Arts Centre aimed at fostering social connections and inspiring creativity at every age. 575 Ways to Create and Connect uses the theme of ‘everyday creativity’, with each session exploring a different creative prompt and medium linking to the story of the house. They can be enjoyed as a one off, or part of the wider programme and offers an accessible way of exploring our individual and collective creativity in an informal and welcoming setting. This year, our nature-inspired programme 'Common Ground' explores our connections with nature and each other.
Upcoming events
Sorry, there are no upcoming events at this place
About 575 Wandsworth Road
The hand-carved fretwork interior of this modest, early 19th-century, terraced house is enthralling and inspiring. 575 Wandsworth Road was acquired by the National Trust in 2010, because of the rich and striking interiors created by Khadambi Asalache (1935-2006), a Kenyan-born poet, novelist, philosopher of mathematics and British civil servant. He bought the house in 1981 while working at the Treasury, and over a period of 20 years (from 1986) turned his home into a work of art.
Prompted by the need to disguise persistent damp in the basement dining room, he initially fixed pine floorboards to the damp wall. He went on to embellish almost every wall, ceiling and door in the house with exquisite fretwork patterns and motifs, which he hand-carved from reclaimed pine doors and floorboards found in skips.
The house stands as he left it, with his painted decoration on walls, doors and floors and with rooms furnished with his handmade fretwork furniture and carefully arranged collections of beautiful and functional objects, including pressed-glass inkwells, pink and copper lustreware, postcards and his typewriter.
Book a visit
575 Wandsworth Road is open for tours from May-October. To look after our delicate interiors, places are limited to six people at a time so pre-booking is essential. It's a visit unlike any other National Trust day out, as you'll be invited to take off your outdoor shoes to protect our hand-painted floors. Please come prepared, wearing thick gripped socks or bring a pair of rubber soled enclosed slippers on the day. You can also purchase a guidebook with your ticket to pick up at the end of your tour, but please note we are unable to sell guidebooks on the day so please do add this option to your basket if you wish to have one.
You'll start your visit with an introductory talk around the dining table, before exploring the house with a member of the team. Help us look after this small and fragile house by not taking photographs and also travelling light. Bags and coats can be stored securely at the start of the tour. Please note, there are no catering facilities or toilets onsite.
History
The home and legacy of Khadambi Asalache
575 Wandsworth Road, London, was the home of Khadambi Asalache, a Kenyan-born artist, poet and civil servant who spent almost 2 decades transforming his home with intricate fretwork. Today, his home has become a source of inspiration for collaborators and creatives of all ages, forging social connections within its community and beyond.
Our work
Creative collaborations at 575 Wandsworth Road
575 Wandsworth Road has been home to a wide variety of artists and creatives who have developed deep and meaningful connections with the house over the last 10 years which have shaped the house's legacy and its impact on individuals and communities. 575 Wandsworth Road is a place where the idea of ‘home’ takes on a profound and transformative meaning, where connection thrives, and where the future holds endless possibilities.
575 Ways to Create and Connect
'575 Ways to Create and Connect' is a programme of everyday creativity workshops aimed at fostering social connections and inspiring creativity at every age. These workshops use the theme of ‘everyday creativity’, with each session exploring a different creative prompt and medium linking to the story of 575 Wandsworth Road.
Art and collections
Explore the collection at 575 Wandsworth Road
The contents of 575 Wandsworth Road stand as Khadambi Asalache left them, including his fretwork, furniture, and his carefully arranged collection of textiles, pink and copper lusterware and illustrations of African landscapes. Though small, 575 Wandsworth Road is home to thousands of wonderful objects carefully curated to transform the house into home.