Keats House Museum is a chalk white building nestled near Hampstead Heath. It was built in 1815 and was one of the first structures built in the area. It was originally two smaller houses, and the smaller half was where John Keats lived.

After the death of his brother Tom from tuberculosis in 1818, Keats became the boarder of his friend Charles Brown. Keats occupied a bedroom and an adjacent parlour that bordered the back garden and for this paid Brown £5 a month (roughly £250 in modern terms) and half the liquor bill. Keats lived in this house from 1818 to 1820. He then moved to Rome in the hope that the weather would help him recover from the tuberculosis he too suffered.

Sadly, Keats’ health did not improve abroad and in 1821 he died in Italy.

The years Keats spent at what was then known as Wentworth Place were perhaps the most productive of his career. “An Ode to a Nightingale”, “An Ode to a Grecian Urn” and “The Eve of St Agnes” are all poems created during this period.

Another important even that took place for Keats during this time was his meeting and courtship with Fanny Brawne. Miss Brawne was quite literally the girl next door, and they were engaged to be married. Sadly, this union was never to be as Keats died before the marriage could take place.

The Keats House was a private home for many years and eventually fell into great disrepair. It is currently managed by the city of London and recently was awarded a £424,000 grant from Britain’s Heritage Lottery Fund for badly needed renovations.

The museum reopened in July 2009 completely restored to how it had been back when John Keats was in residence. The wallpaper and paint are as they were originally and various artefacts from Keats’ life are displayed, such as the garnet and gold wedding ring he gave to Fanny Brawne, his books and his life and death mask.

Keats House Museum is a thoughtful tribute to the short but brilliant life of John Keats.

Visiting Keats House

Keats House, 10 Keats Grove, NW3 2RR

Telephone: 020 7332 3868

Email keatshouse@cityoflondon.gov.uk

Opening Times

Closed Mondays except Bank Holidays, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day & Boxing Day | Open New Years Day

Ticket Prices

£5 (Adult), £3 (Concessions), FREE (Under 16s)

Photo courtesy: goforchris

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