National Trust - 2 Willow Road

If you visit 2 Willow Road knowing you are walking into the home of a 1930's modernist architect and not an english country mansion you will not be disappointed. The initial 10 minute video is very informative and the tours of small groups with an informative guide (in our case at least) are great. Well worth the trip and we had a nice lunch at the pub round the corner too.

Great example of modernist architecture by Goldfinger (better known for Trellick Tower) now owned by the National Trust. Ian Fleming didn't get on with the architect which is why he named an arch-villain after him.

This was the self built Modernist home of Erno Goldfinger's which he built just before the war. He was famous as a Brutalist Architect. Whilst he built the whole house, it is actually a row of three and the outer two were separate and still are (only the middle house is owned by the National Trust). The house inside is just as it was left as it has only had one owner. The house is generally visited by guided tour although I think there are more free form visits too,

Designed and lived in my the architect Erno Goldfinger, this 1930's modernist building was ahead of it's time in design style.
The quirky interior furnishing and art work have been left frozen in time, everything as would have been when the family lived here.
The house is only accessible by organised tour at 11.00am, 12.00 noon, 1.00pm and 2.00pm during opening times, but can be independently viewed between 3.00 and 5.00pm.
A 15 minute video provides a good introduction, the tour of the house then follows and can be upto an hour. The tour guide was very passionate and strident in her views of Erno's architecture and collections.
Not photographs allowed inside and no facilities eg toilet, Caffè or disabled access.
Good to combine a visit here with Fenton House (17th Century Property Nearby) as a complete contrast in architecture and furnishings.

My friend and I found this Modernist house an interesting place to visit. You see a 20 minute film first then have a guided tour round the house. It's not very big but nice to be shown round. If you need the toilet, the Freemasons Arms pub is round the corner. It opens at noon but the toilets are open to use, through the garden.

Absolute must visit for any architect or designer. Wow the details that went into the building and how creative the ideas were for the time is unimaginable. Very cool area and can enjoy Hampstead Heath on the same day. They have 1 hour tours which run on the hour which was really informative and not too long.

Interesting property designed and built in the 1930's. Left pretty much the same as the last owner left it. Very practical building design with some quirky furniture. Combine with a visit to Fenton House which is a 10-15 minute walk away, though uphill. No toilets on site but the pub next-door is very obliging!

An intimate look at the family home of this controversial architect and designer.