Sir John Soane’s Museum on Lincoln’s Inn Fields is a free attraction that allows guests to explore the home of one of England’s greatest architects.
Open from Wednesdays to Sundays, between 10am and 5pm, guests can visit by walking in on the day.
However, guests can sign up for one of the museum’s highlights tours or book a group visit via the Sir John Soane’s Museum website.
Why you should visit Sir John Soane’s Museum
Sir John built and lived in the house two centuries ago. As an enthusiastic collector, the famed architect began repurposing his home as a museum for students of architecture.
The museum occupies three buildings, Nos 12, 13, and 14 Lincoln’s Inn Fields, which Sir John acquired and rebuilt during his lifetime.
Guests of Sir John Soane’s Museum can explore his collection of antiquities, furniture, sculptures, architectural models, and paintings.
Artwork on display includes works from William Hogarth, J. M. W. Turner, and Italian artist Canaletto.
Throughout the museum, there are more than 30,000 architectural drawings, with the collection described as “full of curiosities and surprises”, according to the Sir John Soane’s Museum website.
Recently, the museum completed restoring Sir John’s Drawing Office, which now stands as the oldest surviving example of its kind.
For the first time in its 200-year history, the drawing office is open for public tours as well as welcoming a new residency programme.
Twice a year, in Spring and Autumn, two artists will be hosted at the museum, where they will be able to work in the office and draw from the museum’s collection.
Sir John died in 1837, and as part of his will, he requested that the museum never change, and so it has been left in the exact design it was at the time of his passing.
The architect also requested that the museum remain free to all, which is still in place to this day.
What do visitors think of Sir John Soane’s Museum?
Sir John Soane’s Museum has an impressive Tripadvisor review rating of 4.5 out of 5 from more than 1,990 reviews.
One guest on the website said, “Fabulous, can’t believe I didn’t go here before. Incredible home of the Georgian architect of the Bank of England, full to the brim with amazing artefacts”.
Another guest wrote: “I had no idea what to expect when I visited the museum, and in some ways that’s the best manner to approach your visit”.
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Adding: “They [the staff] were all so friendly and eager to share their knowledge, so definitely ask questions”.
One more happy visitor said, “This collection is very special both in its content and presentation, but what really made the experience stand out for me was the deep knowledge and enthusiasm of the staff – they answered every question about items in the collection with fascinating insights and anecdotes, both into Sir John Soanes and his life and work, and the artworks themselves”.
Will you be visiting Sir John Soane’s Museum? Let us know in the comments.
