London is full of fascinating historic sites that tell the stories of its residents throughout the ages. And over in Mayfair, you’ll find a museum that brings together the lives of two ultra-famous musicians. Handel Hendrix House celebrates the lives of (as you might have guessed) Jimi Hendrix and George Frideric Handel – who share a surprising connection.
Ask a lover of classical music who the greatest composers are, and you’ll likely hear one name (among others) come up frequently: George Frideric Handel. Ask any lover of classic rock who the greatest rock band was, and you’ll hear one name almost above any other: The Jimi Hendrix Experience. In fact, ask any guitarist who the greatest guitarist of all time was, and they’ll likely say Jimi Hendrix.
But did you know the two musicians lived right next door to each other? Albeit a couple of centuries apart…
Handel Hendrix House
The Handel Hendrix House “cares for and presents to the public the homes of two of the greatest musicians ever to have lived in London.” The museum presents the two adjoining buildings “as an evolving celebration of Handel and Hendrix’s lives, sharing their music, their stories and [the museum’s] collections as a source of learning, enjoyment and inspiration for all.”
George Frideric Handel lived at 25 Brook Street in the early to mid-1700s, while Hendrix lived in a flat at number 23 in the 1960s. As you can imagine, the two had vastly different living situations. Inside the museum, visitors to the Handel Hendrix House can explore where they both lived. The museum features fastidious restorations of their homes.
Handel Hendrix House is also home to exhibitions and immersive displays, and frequently hosts live music experiences within the respective musicians’ residences. You can enjoy live performances of Hendrix’s music and other songs from that era at The Jimi Sessions. Or you can immerse yourself in Handel’s work and legacy at Handel’s Salon. There are also special activities, experiences, music lessons, expert talks, and even jam sessions for musicians.
At Handel Hendrix House, they celebrate the two musicians by diving into their respective pasts and lives, and also by continuing to fill the buildings with music.
Find out more about Handel Hendrix House here.
📍 Handel Hendrix House, 25 Brook Street, Mayfair, W1K 4HB.
🚇 The nearest stations are Bond Street and Oxford Circus.
