The house museum of Sir John Soane (1753-1837), a neo-classic British architect and avid art collector displays thousands of objects such as paintings, sculptures, books, and drawings.
Opening times and admission
Open Wednesday to Sunday from 10 am to 5 pm
Entry is free
A guided tour is available (£25) but needs to be booked in advance. Tours start at 12 pm.
How to get there
Sir John Soane's Museum is a 30-minute walk from London St Pancras, or a 7-minute walk from Holborn station (2 stops on the Picadilly line from King's Cross).
Other nearby stations are Covent Garden, Temple and Chancery Lane, all within a 9-10 minute walk.
Address: 13 Lincoln's Inn Fields, London WC2A 3BP
He established the museum during his lifetime and intended for it to be used as a museum for students of architecture (he was elected Professor of Architecture at the Royal Academy in 1806).
Sir John Soane's Museum Act, approved by parliament in 1833, made sure that upon his death, a board of trustees would preserve the house and collection and would continue to display it as it is, in perpetuity.
Apart from the museum building itself, which is Soane's design, some of his most well-known (still-standing) designs include the Dulwich Picture Gallery (the first purpose-built art gallery in Britain), St Peter's Church (Walworth, London) and Holy Trinity Church (Marylebone, Westminster).
Before going there, I had a vague idea of what to expect, but nothing could have prepared me for the abundance of objects displayed, their historical and cultural importance, as well as the manner in which they are exhibited.
On the first floor, surrounded by hundreds of statues and ornaments, you can see the Sarcophagus of Seti I.
In the Picture Room, you will find displayed an astonishing amount of paintings in a relatively small space, some of which are the works of Piranesi, Turner and Canaletto.
Every single bit of space is superbly organized. If you're passionate about history, art or architecture you can easily spend a vast amount of time admiring everything. Considering you're most likely not visiting just this museum on that day, I would recommend giving yourself a minimum of two hours so you don't feel rushed, and perhaps try and visit more than once during your trip.
This site contains affiliate links to products. I may receive a small commission for purchases made through these links, at no extra cost to you
If you're planning a day trip to London and need inspiration, you might want to check out Tate Modern or this itinerary idea.
Have you ever been there? If so, I would love to hear about your visit there, in the comment section below.
If you like this post or found it useful or entertaining, please click on the little heart below.
I hope life is treating you well.
Take care.