The House of Dreams

What might appear to be a typical terraced house in East Dulwich is actually anything but. The House of Dreams is a project by artist Stephen Wright, giving a new lease of life to a wide range of forgotten, discarded, and unloved objects. Wright has been living in the property since 1982 and began developing it into something more decorative in 1998. It's now become a lively personal art museum that's open to members of the public on selected Saturdays.

Despite having had a lengthy and successful career as an art director and textile designer, The House of Dreams is inspired by Wright's interest in outsider art. If you're visiting this museum it's best to expect the unexpected – think dolls with dented faces, mosaics, text pieces, clown masks, and lots of bright colour. The cacophony of items that fill up the space have been sourced from skips, flea markets, and stores from places all over the world including Paris, Mexico, and a little closer to home in Deptford. Fans of the museum also donate items for Wright to add to the collection, meaning the range of curiosities here is constantly expanding.

Wright opens up his home on select Saturdays, with various entry timeslots available. A ticket gives you 90 minutes to explore all the fascinating nooks and crannies in the space and meet the artist himself. Wright has bequeathed his museum to the National Trust so that visitors can continue to get an intimate glimpse into the unique workings of his mind long into the future.