(Photo Credit: Christopher Ison)

On May 18, 2023, Händel’s London home reopened after undergoing extensive restoration.

Following a £3 million restoration project, which commenced in 2021, Handel Hendrix House has reopened the entirety of Händel’s residence to the public, including the basement, ground floor, and refurbished upper floors previously unveiled in 2001.

Visitors will have the opportunity to explore recreated spaces such as Händel’s basement kitchen, meticulously restored to its original state based on historical research and an inventory compiled shortly after the composer’s passing. The ground floor parlors, once an independent shop, have been meticulously refurbished, allowing guests to enter Handel’s home through the front door. The restored museum features rooms presented as they would have appeared in the 1740s.

Additionally, the renovated establishment features a collection of recently acquired artworks. New exhibitions will delve into Händel’s music, his collaborations with fellow musicians, and a mixed reality audiovisual display offering insight into the writing process of the monumental “Messiah” within the very room it was composed.

There will also be live performances with the opening week showcasing such artists as harpsichordist Nathanael Mander, recorder player Olwen Foulkes, and guitarist Laurent Judson.

Händel resided at 25 Brook Street from 1723 until his passing in 1759; it was here that he composed such works as “Messiah.” In 1968, Jimi Hendrix moved into the adjoining flat at 23 Brook Street.