A rare chance to see a remarkable miniature replica of Leighton House will be offered for just six days this summer, as the museum celebrates the centenary of its opening to the public.

For one week only, from 15th to 20th July, visitors will be able to get up close to a one-twelfth-scale model of the historic house and its lavish interiors, created by model makers Mulvany & Rogers as part of Leighton House’s 100th-anniversary programme.

Measuring 2.5 metres wide when fully opened and standing more than a metre high, the miniature faithfully recreates some of the museum’s most celebrated spaces, including the Silk Room, Narcissus Hall and the spectacular Arab Hall with its golden dome, intricate ceramic tiles and central water feature.

Subtle internal lighting further enhances the effect, creating much the same sense of wonder as that experienced by visitors exploring the full-sized house.

The former home and studio of Victorian artist and President of the Royal Academy, Frederic, Lord Leighton, became a public museum in July 1926. Over the following decades, it served a variety of purposes, including as a children’s library and theatre museum, before extensive restoration of its interiors began in the 1980s.

To coincide with the display, the museum is offering a highlights tour of Leighton House, an introduction to the techniques and challenges involved in creating the miniature, and an exclusive close-up viewing of the model itself.

Tours available every day from 15th to 20th July at 11am and 2pm, cost £20.50 per person and are on sale here.