Sir John Soane’s Museum

I had so much fun here — a must see whether you’re visiting or live in the area. It reminds me of Mansion on O Street in Washington DC. The folks that work here are mostly really nice and excited to talk to you about the history. You can spend hours in the house itself and still discover new things. The architecture, design of light/​space/​mirrors, and of course the art inside are all quite amazing. On top of all that, it is free! There’s a charge for a tour and you have to get on a list (not sure if there’s a charge) to see the upstairs bedrooms + bathrooms. I didn’t get to see them this time, but look forward to returning to see those parts.
They do make you turn your phones off and pictures aren’t allowed. Any bags that you bring have to be stuffed into a clear plastic bag that they provide you (guessing this is for anti theft).
Make sure you explore each nook and cranny and ask the staff about Sir John Soane and the art work. Make sure you see the rooms where the doors open into more walls that are all covered in layers of different paintings!
One of the best museums I’ve ever been to in terms of unique, interesting, and free!

A great little museum at the house of a famous English architect. Surprised by the queuing outside the building, I’m told people may need to wait for more than 30 minutes to get into the museum in nice weather, but the things inside totally worth the wait !

Fun and quirky museum! Museum is Sir John Soane’s house and it looks pretty much as it did when it died. The collection has a lot and if you don’t like clutter then perhaps you should give it a miss. Personally I found it interesting and enjoyable and would highly recommend it to almost anyone.

This is a strange and beautiful little museum! Facing Lincoln’s Inns Fields its one of the typical town houses, but inside its ab treasure chest of antiquities and architecture drawings. Dark and gloomy in the front rooms, then overcrowded with artefacts in the back rooms, followed by light an airy in the front rooms. What a great little museum.

People who have a keen interest in architecture, eccentricity, classicism, or antiquities should put this on the top of their list. If you aren’t in those groups, get in the queue, put your belongings in the plastic bag they give you out front, and plan on spending maybe an hour here. There is a great deal to see here. Reading up on him beforehand or purchasing the audio– tour can help. If you bail out and it is a nice day, go chill in Lincoln’s Inn Fields, which has much to offer in its beauty and quiet. PS — Many of his most famously designed buildings are in London. It’s more than conceivable you have visited one or more without stopping off here, which like most houses of eccentrics, reveals much about its owner.

I think Sir John Soane’s was a little hyped up for me. When I found out they have a candlelit viewing once a month, I left work early one Tuesday to stand in line for about 2.5 hours in the cold to get in, then spent less than an hour there before they kicked everyone out — they were closing early for a Tube strike.
The house itself has some interesting stuff — as others have said, it’s basically a time capsule for an extreme collector (bordering on hoarder) especially of art. But when it’s candlelit, you can barely see anything, because there are no electric lights. I wanted to go in the shop, but it closed even before I left the museum.
If I had to pay for it, it would’ve given it one or two stars instead of three. As it is, I don’t recommend going to the evening opening they have once a month, and I kind of felt like I wasted an evening. Thankfully, it’s free, and may be worth going during a day visit if you have time — John Soane seems like he was an interesting man.

I really love the John Soanes museum, trapped in a time warp of his house. Everything remaining in its intrigueing and exuberant style as he left it. The property is home to a sarcophagus and the 8 canvases of «A Rakes progress» by Hogarth, hidden behind the walls of a gallery! Everywhere you look there are more nooks and crannys to see and find.
It is fairly small so don’t go expecting the natural history museum, but for something so small it holds a multitude of gems. Be warned you may need to queue as it gets busy and not many people are able to squish in at any one time.

Visiting London on a quick end-​of-​summer weekend trip, I checked out the John Soane Museum.
I am sorry to say that I did not enjoy my visit at all. The house is cramped, to put it mildly, packed with curios, objects, works of art, inscriptions, carvings, furniture, etc. making matters worse and more confusing, the house is also under renovation. Because of the cramped nature of the house, it was almost impossible for me to understand what was under construction, what was supposed to look like it was under construction, what was open to the public, where you could or could not walk, what rooms were open and what rooms forbidden, what path one could walk on from room to room.
The guards and the guides did their best to be helpful. But I found the museum to simply be overwhelming.
I am sure that many people would enjoy this museum, which is clearly packed with treasures. If you have any interest in John Soane or in his collection, please do not let my review stop you from visiting. Keep in mind that I had only a passing curiosity and have a very low tolerance for crowded, cramped spaces.

Quirky museum of a visionary architect, Sir John Soane’s that is literally trapped in time, as in the house and its contents remain intact from the time that Soane died in 1837, which is to say: it’s basically a time capsule.
Very limited access with the exception of cantilever stairs (traveling with a baby stroller here would be impossible) tin his odd museum. Still well worth a visit.
My advice is to reserve a tour online the day before (tours run at 3:30 pm) to avoid having to wait in a line. Its also worth it for the distinct advantage of a tour guide to point out oddities and share family stories, from the illustrious to the tragic.
There was major restoration work going on at the house, so not much light lluminates the building. Soane was a visionary, who got light into what would have otherwise been a very dark, London home using multiple skylights, and right now the scaffolding darkens up all that well-​engineered light, making the place very dark by modern standards.
Still, where else can you see the Tomb of Seti the First? Soane’s literally created a crypt in his personal home. Equally impressive is Soane’s Picture Room, which, at the time, had a collection that rivaled the newly created National Gallery. One can only imagine how small the collection was, because just over 100 paintings are hung in a tiny room, and the most impressive thing was how they got them in there –won’t ruin the surprise!
Book online, and you’ll get a one hour tour and wait in no lines. In London and in Europe in general, it seems like reservations (which are easy enough these days to make online) make things civilized, so plan just a day or so ahead.

Sir John Soane’s Museum is amazing. Truly amazing. Absolutely amazing.
Then why, you might ask, is it only four stars instead of a well deserved five stars, Alex? Well, let me tell you a tale.
So I came to experience the long awaited and highly coveted late night candlelit tour. First Tuesday of every month you tour the museum at night, beautifully. On the website, they specifically say «At 5.30pm we issue tickets to the first 200 people… Please use your own judgment to decide what time to arrive, as people always arrive earlier than any time we may suggest.» Ok, cool, so I got there at 4:15 just to be sure.
It turns out though, that you can’t even think about lining up till 4:30. The lovely matronly guardians of the door, very nicely, asked if we would wait across the street for 15 minutes until they were ready to let us line up outside, despite that they were standing outside and there was no one on the sidewalk. Really? Ok.
So we do, and then 15 minutes they wave at us across the street to come line up. Well, that was fun.
We wait the full hour, and on the dot at 5:30 they issue tickets. Awesome. And at 6 they start to let people in. Only, they do it slowly, one person at a time gaps between entrances. No worries, though, I am psyched and ready to go!
However, first, you must turn off your phone (no pics allowed inside, which is kind of a bummer.) And then if you have a bag, you have to put it in a clear plastic bag they give you. Apparently, because large bags were damaging the artwork. «But don’t worry,» the woman tells me as she crams my bag into the little plastic one, «there’s a coat check inside you can leave it if you want.» Alright, great.
We go inside and find a woman who signs us in. She says to make the first right door into the museum, but first we ask about the coat check. She points down the stairs. Ok, cool. We walk down and find… a coat rack. In the empty basement, with no shelves. We shrug and put our bags down under the coat rack, hoping museum patrons would be nice people and not steal it.
Now, we tour the museum… and this place is insane. Lovely, and insane, like the house of some art collecting madman (which isn’t so far from the truth.) John Soane was one of London’s premier architects and he filled his home with amazing artwork from all over the world. There’s mostly a Roman influence here, but you can’t miss things like the giant Egyptian sarcophagus of a former Pharaoh (the mummy long gone by the time he acquired it.) The house is in the same state as when he died, having turned it into a museum with the city before his passing.
This whole space goes on forever, and when you think it’s done, there’s another room, another painting, another model, another statue. There are even surprises within rooms — ask the caretaker in the painting room to open the walls, which fold out into more paintings and a beautiful atrium that looks down to the ground floor.
The whole thing was stunning, and made more so by candlelight.
We get to the end of the museum, loving the tour, and come down the stairs through the gift shop only to find… a coat check. A real coat check. What?
I exit the room and walk to the entrance, where I am stopped by a large white-​haired security guard. Our conversation goes like this:
«Hi, I need to go downstairs to get my bag. I think I left it in the wrong place,»
«Oh, is your bag missing,» he asks me, smiling in a self-​righteous way.
«No, I don’t think so. I haven’t gone down there yet,» I say. But it’s here I realise that he already knows my bag and has done something with it. Umm…
«Oh, so you leave a bag in the basement of a public building. I should have kept it and called the bomb squad and evacuated the building,» he says to me. «I should have called the police.»
Wait, what?
I’m actually taken back here and begin my apology. «I’m sorry. I thought that was where the coat check was.»
«So you just left your bag there, out in the open,» he says to me.
«Yeah, I asked the woman up front where the coat check was and she pointed downstairs,» I said. «And we found that coat rack.»
«You must have asked where the toilet was,» he said.
«No,» I said, knowing full well what I said earlier. «The coat check. I was told there was one after the woman put my bag in the plastic bag.»
«We expect you to hold your bag if we put it in the plastic one. If you don’t want the bag that’s when you check it.»
«Seriously, I’m sorry. The woman put my bag into it and then told me about the coat check. I am sorry if I messed it up and caused any issues,» I said, wondering if he was ever going to give me back my bag.
«I should have called the police,» he repeated.
«I’m sorry!»
«Well, don’t do it again though,» he said, finally handing me my bag.
So that was the strange end of a very pleasant day. Too bad too because the museum is great. Just know what you’re getting into and FOR GOD SAKE, DON’T PUT YOUR BAG IN A PLASTIC BAG IF YOU’RE GOING TO CHECK IT! I IMPLORE YOU!

This is honestly one of my favourite museums in London, so considering I study around the block it’s strange that I don’t stop in more often. The museum is just beautiful and filled with paintings, sculptures, and many other artefacts; barely any wall space is left unfilled. And of course, with it being free, it’s a place to spend a bit of time if you’re strapped for cash.
They do guided tours, as well as the free candlelit self-​guided tour on the first Tuesday of the month which I haven’t tried yet but plan to!
This is one of those places that pretty much anyone will find interesting, even if only for the wonder of how much could possibly fit in there.

Fantastic museum, all for free!
You can waste hours in here wandering around. When in the portrait room ask the attendant to open the portrait door, get a great view down!
Recommend not going when it’s dark though as there are no lights downstairs so you don’t get the best view of everything. Also, as there is no light I was a bit paranoid I was going to knock something over!

I ran into this museum as I was walking around Lincoln’s Inn Fields. I first thought that it was an old apartment building being remodeled, then I dared cross the street and found out that it is an old museum. Visiting Sir John Soane’s Museum was like time-​traveling for me, and it will be one of the most cherished memories of my London visit. A truly hidden gem!!!

Amazing museum! Each room is full of hidden treasures and exciting artefacts. The place is quite big and has loads of hidden cubbyholes and side rooms. Now one of my favourite museums in London.
it’s not a glamorous museum but it has the English quaintness of an old town house and it’s exactly how you would imagine an old library full of leather bound books to be. The people in there were super friendly and very knowledgeable about the Sir John and the pieces in the museum.
As much as I tried, I can’t properly describe it… just go check it out for yourself!

Although I have not yet attended the candlelit tour (the first Tuesday of every month), we decided one Saturday to check out Soane’s Museum, based on a friend’s recommendation. To start with, I was easily misled to think that it was just a small house as we walked from room to room, then floor to floor. This place is MASSIVE!
Everywhere I turned, there was something exciting to see: artifacts, artwork, models, photographs, furniture, etc. The large number of items in the house was just as surprising at how big the house was.
I was amazed at the design and layout of the house, with areas not easily accessible yet packed full of interesting things to look at. Even the inner courtyard, which was not open to the public, was extremely interesting!
I cannot wait to go back and try out the museum at night lit only by candles.

Hands down my favorite museum in London. Does it have the splendor and magnificence of some of the major museums? Maybe not. Does it have tons of awesome art works, sculptures, an Egyptian sarcophagus, all inside a famous architects house? Yes. Yes it does.
The admission here is free, but if you want a map/​guide, its 2 pounds. I always donate a bit and dont take the map, as I’ve been here almost a dozen times. Sometimes I’ll pop in just to look at my favorites and walk out. They now have a gift shop.
Makes sure you ask them to reveal the paintings behind the various walls in the side room (walk in and it’s the furthest room to the right). Some of the museum staff are very friendly and will let you ask questions etc. There are tours on some days, but I’ve yet to do one.
If you are in Russell Square area, which is almost certain if you are in London for an extended holiday, do yourself a favor and drop into this house of wonder.

Holy mother of God, there was this guy in 1800-​and something who made some money and decided to decorate his house with all types of cool old stuff (the stuff might have been contemporary back then though).
He collected so much stuff and arranged it all so well that after his death his house became a museum. He instructed his trust to keep it free at all times. And so it is.
I doubt I will ever see so many artefacts and pieces of history so densely packed anywhere else in the world. The fact that he was an architect means that there is an abundance of drawings and depictions of Architectural stuff. Plenty of fodder for those of you interested in the arguments between the Roman and Greek schools of architecture and different angles of looking at and the Paestum
.
Lovely place to spend a few hours. The staff are really friendly and know their stuff. Not a place for kids though as there are far too many things in close proximity if each other and requires a lot of care not to bump into or break anything.
Loved the architectural nature of the house as well. High ceilings and stained glass windows, plenty of natural light and interesting layout of things as well.

Es uno de esos museos londinenses donde el tiempo se paró y que pasa bastante desapercibido, pero aunque pequeño bien vale una visita por ser la casa donde vivió este arquitecto neoclásico londinense (desde 1792 hasta su muerte en 1837) y por la ingente cantidad de objetos que coleccionó durante toda su vida. Concibió la casa como vivienda familiar y también como almacén de todos los objetos que iba comprando y dispuso las obras en las diferentes plantas: en el sótano está la Cripta, el locutorio gótico del Monje y la Cámara sepulcral que alberga un sarcófago datado en 1.300 a.C. En el primer piso está la exposición de maquetas, planos, grabados, libros raros y una colección de medallas napoleónicas. Y en la sala de pinturas está la colección de cuadros donde sobresalen los de Hogarth (un pintor crítico de la moral de la época) JMW Turner y Canaletto (sin duda de la influencia de su visita a Italia en 1778 – 80) Los primeros martes de cada mes y de 6 a 9 pm se puede realizar una visita nocturna iluminado sólo por la luz de las velas.

My museum obsessed friend, Mary Anne, made me promise I’d come here, saying that she goes every time she’s in London.
I didn’t find it as impressive as she did, although it was fun to see an old house of an architect with a neat collection of odds and ends.
Near the British Museum and a few nice parks.

The museum itself was interesting and packed to the brim with interesting pieces, including world famous artwork. Highly recommend this museum to any and all, although there will be art students walking around making sketches… just walk around them.
The staff were lovely and highly disciplined in their knowledge, I did have issue with the man outside glaring over the queue (first time I have ever experienced a queue to get in).
This staff member was incredibly rude, sarcastic and in some serious need of a lecture from his employers. I have been more times than I can count over the years and always donate money. This time I left without doing so because of this unhappy little man.

Simply brilliant. This place is the epitome of the reason I moved to this country, and why I remain.
It’s all about Embracing the Idiosyncratic.