Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters

Take your next trip with Atlas Obscura!

Our small-group adventures are inspired by our Atlas of the world's most fascinating places, the stories behind them, and the people who bring them to life.

Visit Adventures
Trips Highlight
Puglia Italy - Matera
Italy • 8 days, 7 nights
Southern Italy: Castles, Caves & Coastal Treasures in Puglia
from
Turkmenistan Gates of Hell Darvaza crater
Turkmenistan • 10 days, 9 nights
Turkmenistan & the Gates of Hell
from
View all trips
Top Destinations
Latest Places
Most Popular Places Random Place Lists Itineraries
Add a Place
Download the App
Top Destinations
View All Destinations »

Countries

  • Australia
  • Canada
  • China
  • France
  • Germany
  • India
  • Italy
  • Japan

Cities

  • Amsterdam
  • Barcelona
  • Beijing
  • Berlin
  • Boston
  • Budapest
  • Chicago
  • London
  • Los Angeles
  • Mexico City
  • Montreal
  • Moscow
  • New Orleans
  • New York City
  • Paris
  • Philadelphia
  • Rome
  • San Francisco
  • Seattle
  • Stockholm
  • Tokyo
  • Toronto
  • Vienna
  • Washington, D.C.
Latest Places
View All Places »
Pinal Airpark
Note the chrysanthemum crests.
Hachiman Bridge
Clarendon War Memorial.
Clarendon War Memorial
This fried chicken is one of Bangkok’s most famous.
Gai Tord Jae Kee
Latest Places to Eat & Drink
View All Places to Eat »
This fried chicken is one of Bangkok’s most famous.
Gai Tord Jae Kee
Chefs Aruss Lerlerstkull and Atcharaporn Kiatthanawat lean into regional traditions.
Charmgang
The khao soi at Gedhawa comes with a rich, coconutty broth.
Gedhawa
At Nai Mong Hoi Thod, the oyster omelet is worth waiting for.
Nai Mong Hoi Thod
In this deceptively simple dish, top-quality ingredients are paramount.
Kor Panich
Recent Stories
All Stories Video Podcast
Most Recent Stories
View All Stories »
Haleakalā National Park’s summit region, shrouded in the pre-dawn fog.
Beware the Legends Behind These National Park Souvenirs
For Aguilar-Carrasco, nature is a powerful reminder of the interconnectedness of all life.
How Can National Parks Be Made Accessible to All? AO Wants to Know.
Podcast: Finding ‘The Great Gatsby’ in Louisville
Here’s which treats you can safely lug home without risking a fine.
Dear Atlas: What International Food Can I Legally Bring Into the U.S.?

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All the United Kingdom England London The House of Dreams Museum
AO Edited

The House of Dreams Museum

This wildly-tiled artist's palace is a living and growing account of the creator's life, loves, and labors.

London, England

Added By
Eric Grundhauser
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
CAPTION
The House of Dreams Museum   Michael Vaughan
The House of Dreams Museum   Michael Vaughan
The House of Dreams Museum   Michael Vaughan
The House of Dreams Museum   Michael Vaughan
The House of Dreams Museum   Michael Vaughan
The House of Dreams Museum   Michael Vaughan
The House of Dreams Museum   Michael Vaughan
  Steve 55 / Atlas Obscura User
  Steve 55 / Atlas Obscura User
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

Started in 1998, by the late artist Donald Jones and his surviving partner Stephen Wright, the House of Dreams Museum is home, art gallery, and personal record all displayed using the artist's far ranging obsessions.

The initial aim of the space was to embellish the entirety of the interior and exterior of their home and garden. However, as the project developed it became a diary of their lives. From childhood, through bereavement, love, and a spiritual relationship with Mexico, to which Wright feels a special affinity, each little detail holds special meaning. All of this is combined with influences from Haiti and South America.

Amongst the ubiquitous mosaics are large "Spirit" sculptures alongside shrines and hand-written memory boards recording events from the past, present, and future. The artworks are created from a wide range of materials such as dolls with disabilities, false teeth, used wigs, old toys, dirty used combs, and old wills, letters, and photographs collected from the junk markets of Paris, Brussels, Budapest, and other European cities.

Recently Vince Rogers, a filmmaker from the BBC produced a short film about the project using archive film going back to 1998. A Canadian TV Channel is also currently producing a short documentary about the House of Dreams Museum. Wright and his current partner Michael Vaughan have also recently produced a book about the home. Alongside these indelible documents of the cacophonous home, Wright's works have been bestowed to the National Trust so that when the death visible in so much of Wright's work comes for the artist himself, the House of Dreams will live on.

Related Tags

Art Eccentric Homes Mosaics Sculptures Homes

Know Before You Go

You must buy a ticket for the day of your visit. Check the website well before your intended visit as it's often sold out months in advance. The entry prices are £7 for children and £12 for adults (as of Sept 2022). There is usually one Open Day toward the end of every month.

Community Contributors

Added By

EricGrundhauser

Edited By

Simpluree, KovuCougar, Snowdrop68, cryptnymph...

  • Simpluree
  • KovuCougar
  • Snowdrop68
  • cryptnymph
  • Steve 55

Published

June 6, 2014

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Sources
  • http://dulwichonview.org.uk/2011/01/28/welcome-to-the-house-of-dreams/
  • http://outsider-environments.blogspot.com/2009/07/stephen-wright-house-of-dreams-museum.html
  • http://www.spacesarchives.org/explore/collection/environment/the-house-of-dreams-museum/
The House of Dreams Museum
45 Melbourne Grove
London, England, SE22 8RG
United Kingdom
51.459942, -0.079343
Visit Website
Get Directions

Nearby Places

Eko Brewery and Taproom

London, England

miles away

Nunhead Cemetery

London, England

miles away

One Tree Hill

London, England

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of London

London

England

Places 536
Stories 108

Nearby Places

Eko Brewery and Taproom

London, England

miles away

Nunhead Cemetery

London, England

miles away

One Tree Hill

London, England

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of London

London

England

Places 536
Stories 108

Related Stories and Lists

19 Places to Find the World's Creepiest Toys

List

By Molly McBride Jacobson

Related Places

  • Callejon de Hamel.

    Havana, Cuba

    Callejon de Hamel

    A colorful narrow alley in Cuba is full of street art and sculptures made of found objects.

  • Vincent City

    Lecce, Italy

    Vincent City

    An eccentric artist's abode in this small Italian town has been transformed into a surreal temple of mosaic madness.

  • Whimzeyland

    Safety Harbor, Florida

    Whimzeyland

    This home is decked out like a psychedelic explosion of colors and bowling balls.

  • Tijuana, Mexico

    La Mona

    Giant nude woman of Tijuana is also the artist's home.

  • Blue Sky Sculpture

    Newton, Kansas

    'Blue Sky Sculpture'

    This vivid painted ceramic sculpture evokes the expansiveness of the prairie sky.

  • Mosaic along the wall in the back yard

    Dunedin, Florida

    Mosaic House of Dunedin

    In this Florida couple's cottage, nearly every surface—inside and out—is covered in mosaic artwork.

  • Vera Cruz

    Santa Barbara, California

    Vera Cruz

    This house is a mosaic of tiled artwork sourced from local artists.

  • Seating on the tail.

    Nashville, Tennessee

    Dragon Park

    This popular park is home to a sea serpent sculpture that now overshadows the twisted history of its creation.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.