This is a museum like no other, it is full of architectural artifacts and was used partly as a study and library for himself and student architects. It is free, but expect to wait about 20 minutes to enter the home and do leave a donation or purchase a book to help support the museum. I especially enjoyed the Monk's parlor with it's gothic style and the dome area and corridor as these were packed full of artifacts. There is so much to look at, you may want to come again. read more

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Sir John lead an interesting life. He collected things from all over the world and brought them home. His house is an art collectors hoarding dream. Stuff everywhere. A little claustrophobic. Definetly should try this museum. Free admission. read more

What a cool place! There is SO much to see in a small space. I most loved seeing the sarcophagus and the architectural drawings and explanations on perspective in the upstairs portion. It's worth a visit for something a bit different. Located in a beautiful neighborhood, it's also fun to go inside just to see what those houses are like. read more

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This is basically a private museum (which means that you have to pay to go inside) and it is the home of an archeologist - or at least it was once the home of an archeologist, before it was turned into a museum. Like a lot of the old Londoners, this house contains a huge collection of stuff (which suggests that you can make money from Archeology, but then again, you are technically taking something that isn't yours in order to sell it for a profit). However, that aside, it's still pretty awesome. There are a huge number of artifacts on display here, as well as numerous works of art that are somewhat younger than many of the other items on display. Sure, there doesn't seem to be much or an order around these items, but honestly, they are still pretty cool. read more

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My all time favorite museum in London!!! I so appreciate the architecture & thoughtfulness. Rest in Peace Fanny!!! read more

Not so well kept secret massive collection from an architect with a true passion. Maybe he knew Marès who had a similar but different collection in Barcelona? Well worth a morning or afternoon & don't be afraid to ask the staff - In Every room, the volunteers can tell you crucial details about almost any detail. read more

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Absolutely fabulous museum. One of the best in London. You may have to wait a little to get in but it's worth it. The house is incredible. It is packed full of painting, sculpture, and other various objects. It is very tight in some places which is why they limit entry. You can't bring a large bag here. I recommend bringing no bag and no coat. It'll make your life easier! You can pay for a guidebook which is great. The guides in each room are also incredibly knowledgeable, kind, friendly and more than happy to answer your questions. I had a lot of fun here and learned a lot. I'd love to come back and take a guided tour. It's a special place and it's reflected in the staff's dedication. read more

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Sir John Soane's Museum is crammed with antiquities. Literally, one can barely make way through the space without fear of hitting something precious. It's no wonder that purses and backpacks get checked in at the entry; there's no "you break, you buy" policy in force here but they do what they can to limit the likelihood of breakage. They are, however, hemmed in by spacial constraints. Sir John Soane's might have been a hoarder of sorts but he hoarded things most people don't even dream of owning. So you will do this: Make a free reservation on-line for a specified time (easily made 1 day in advance). Walk through the lovely park across the street while waiting for your timed entry. Arrive and begin making your way through Sir John's home. There are no audio tours being sold here and there's no descriptions on display. There are people sitting in each space who may answer questions you have or provide you more information on certain pieces but in some spaces these people aren't at all helpful or interested in talking. Keep asking; there's a few who will engage and it'll make your experience far richer. Better yet, sign yourself up for a guided tour (which may or may not have an associated fee). Their web site seems designed to hide the fact that tours can be booked but now you know. They can and should if you hope to get everything there is to get out of Sir John's. Even without a guided tour I spent an hour winding through and around and checking out all of the architectural wonders crammed into the space. It reminded me of my garage if all that garbage out there were valuable. Sir John Soane's Museum is a cool, quirky place for a one-time visit. read more

What a fabulous and friendly, small-but-jam-packed museum! The fact that it has free admission only adds to this extremely strong recommendation. We were greeted by very friendly and helpful employees and quickly immersed in the fascinating (and visually stunning) world of John Soanes. These are the houses he lived in and actually used as a museum for his students. To say the place is full of interesting artifacts is an understatement. John Soanes was clearly an obsessive collector and it shows in a delightful way. Also, the guides situated throughout the museum were wonderful. Happy to answer any question, they are extremely knowledgeable and full of interesting and amusing (and sometimes tragic) details of Soanes' life. It's nice to find a museum that also has a sense of humor about itself. This is a friendly, amazing place and one of the great "secrets" of London (it wasn't too crowded when we visited at the height of tourist season.) read more

Loved this museum. Lots of secrets revealed that you can only see when partaking in their tour so I highly suggest going on the tour. The guide is a great storyteller. A highlight and must when in Holborn. read more

What a lovely, if a bit overwhelming Museum. It's owner was one of the most successful architects and evidently, one of the wealthiest men in England at one point. He spent tons of money acquiring artifacts, which are jam-packed throughout this quirky floor plan. The paid tour is absolutely worth it, as you get exclusive access to spaces not open to all. Downer: no pix allowed inside. Boo. And you have to turn off your phone (wouldn't mind if every Museum did that) and you have to either check your bags/ coats at the door and/ or put them in a clear plastic bag to schlep around with you. Still, a very unique experience and museum. read more

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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. read more

This museum is absolute quirky fun! It's been on my London to-do list for a while, because it's not the type of museum everyone would enjoy, but I loved it. (In fact, I probably enjoyed it more visiting on my own, because I could absorb each room in private, without having to discuss the items or the history of the house with someone.) I highly recommend purchasing the Museum Guide at the entrance, as the maps and the general room overviews add to the experience, and they also highlight specific items of note on each floor. Other than that, just take your time, and immerse yourself in the house and legacy of Sir John. There are no photos allowed, so, for once, there are no distractions from trying to get that perfect, never-before-seen, social media pic. This delightful museum survives on donations, so drop a few coins in the box, and patronize the gift shop. There are lots of cute items available. One note of caution....if you are hoping to catch one of the private tours (like I was), you might want to call ahead to confirm the schedule. I was quite disappointed that the tour I hoped to join was cancelled due to lack of staff. But, it's just an excuse to visit again in the future, I suppose! read more

Sir John Soane's Museum - Make sure to visit the gift shop. Cute items, and it helps to support the museum! - Museums Near Me - London, XGL

The Soane Museum is the extraordinary house of Sir John Soane, one of the greatest English architects, who built and lived in it more than a century and a half ago. The Museum has been kept as it was at the time of his death nearly 180 years ago. It displays his collection of antiquities, furniture, sculptures, architectural models, paintings - including work by Hogarth, Turner and Canaletto - and over 30,000 architectural drawings. It's a vast, extraordinary collection, full of curiosities and surprises. It was my Mother's favorite museum on our recent trip to London as it was filled with objects in every nook and cranny both high and low. You'll never find a place like this anywhere else in the world. Definitely worth a visit once. read more

This is a GREAT museum! You get a view into how a (very well off) Londoner lived way back when. Not just any Londoner, but one that you would have wanted to be friends with. The drawing rooms and parlors are elegant, the back rooms stuffed with broken bits swiped from Roman and Greek ruins strike the perfect balance between cluttered and enticing. I don't know how to describe how deeply struck I was as I walked through these rooms. I wish I could have visited Sir John when he was alive, coming by for dinner and see his collection by candle- and lamp-light. It must have been magical. OK, if it is your first time in London you have to go to the Abbey, British Museum, National Gallery, etc--I get it. But on your SECOND trip to London, Sir John's has to be on your list! read more

Just to reitterate what other reviews say about Sir John Soane's family house. This is a must-see Museum/Gallery in London; Pure magic : esp when they open the secret interior shutters . enough said : shhh! Go see it. I adore this place. So English eccentric. So wonderful read more

Favorite museum in London! Very intimate and true to what it was like when the owner and architect of the home lived there. The home is truly extraordinary in design as well as content. Basically a 19th century dude had a lot of money working as an architect, collected a lot of stuff and put in the right effort to preserve his home and belongings by obtaining "an Act of Parliament in 1833, sponsored by Joseph Hume to bequeath the house and collection to the British Nation to be made into a museum of architecture, now the Sir John Soane's Museum."(according to Wikipedia). From drawings and sculptures to stained glass and catacombs, this place is truly unique and MUST-VISIT in my book. I won't say the ultra special part of the "tour", but definitely hang out in the painting room and listen to the museum attendant talk about all that in there. TIP: I'd sign up for the additional tour to view the upstairs part of the museum (apparently they just opened this year). It's the "apartments" where they slept and got ready for their day. THIS PLACE IS JUST SO COOL!! read more

I'm not a museum type of person, but this is one of the coolest things I've done while traveling. Definitely try to do the tour of his bedroom on Wednesday's and Sundays. read more

He filled first one house, then another, then another. Objects from across time and spanning the globe are in this quirky (to say the least) collection of rooms. From the second you enter you are stepping into a very private world of an eclectic collector. The two rooms decorated in period are like breathing spaces of a sort from the near claustrophobic experience one can get. Excellent gift shop. Enjoy! read more

If big old London houses full of the weirdest things pilfered from around the world are your thing, then you'll love the decadence and elegant splendour of the Soames Museum. Carved busts, ornate mirrors, Egyptian sarcophagi, decorated chairs, marble urns, giant oil landscapes and Greek sculptures are all in abundance. Every last spot of wall is taken, every square inch of table-space accounted for. The place is truly Victorian clutter. If you've ever read TinTin - just think of the basement at Captain Haddock's mansion. It's EXACTLY like that, every corner brings more wonder. Highlights include Soame's vast and often rejected architectural plans for changing London, and a famous musket gun in a box that was presented from the leader of the Turks to Napoleon after their defeat. His oil painting collection is stunning too and has to be held in a wicked good Transformers-style room where the walls open away to reveal more walls with paintings behind - including many Turners, of whom he was an early patron. Don't forget to ask to see this. If you don't ask... you won't see. Also ask about the bullet hole in the corridor. There's a good story behind that (although it didn't turn out so good for the art thief who went home in a body bag). read more

A must see in London! Soane was a revolutionary architect and his ideas and visions are on full display in his charming/amazing/quirky home. Additionally, I am a fan of house museums (the good, the bad and the ugly), especially those that connect one to the brilliance of those that once called it home. The Soane Museum is the cream of the crop. With a plethora of large institutions to choose from, the Soane is a breath of fresh air and a wonderful antidote to museum fatigue. read more

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. read more

This museum was fantastic. My boyfriend's mother, who was very excited about my most recent work trip, warned me: it's the exact opposite of my home decor style. Which means: ornateness abounds and every wall of Soane's house is covered in stuff. But it is beautiful, artistic, historic stuff! I loved my experience checking it out. The museum opens at 10 am on the days that it is open, and I arrived promptly because I only had 25 minutes before I needed to be at the conference at LSE across the street. It was delightful being the second person inside: I could wander the rooms and have them all to myself. Soane stated explicitly that he did not want signage, so I am sure that I missed the symbolism and the significance of many things that I saw. Nevertheless, it was so fun to just take in each room with my eyes without worrying whether I was "getting" it from the explanations. There are also staff in each room who can provide useful information in a friendly manner. I am very grateful to the staff member who told me about the sarcophagus in the basement and about the placement of the statue of Apollo under the yellow glass to make him look extra delish. A staff member in the Monk's Parlor pointed out Soane's architectural models above the door, which he said often cannot be seen due to the lack of natural sunlight at other parts of the day. So many exquisite details to absorb and delight in! The museum is free, but donations are requested. Very nice. Just obey the rules: no photography. The museum is perfect Insta fodder, but my iPhone stayed in my purse, which stayed in the plastic bag they give you for your personal item. Before or after the museum, I highly recommend crossing the street into the Lincoln's Fields Inn for some most excellent fancy people watching. read more

It's a relatively small museum, but one worth visiting especially if you are at all interested in architecture, artwork, sculpture, furniture or artefacts I have been here twice since moving to London. My first visit was during the London Architectural Festival and the visit included a detailed tour of the house/museum including the private rooms on the top floor and Sir John Soane's studio.I would definitely recommend booking a tour as there are limited descriptions about all the many of the works found in the museum and the tour guide was clearly very passionate and knowledgeable about the information she was telling us. Tours cost £10. My second visit was for one of their evening openings. Every first Tuesday of the month the museum opens up from 6pm-9pm where guest can wonder around the house lit by candlelight. I arrived at 5pm and managed to get a ticket (they give these to the first 200 guest who are then guaranteed entry - you can't take one of these for a friend, they have to be there), at 5pm there where about 50 people in front of me. The host outside mentioned that they usually get everyone into the museum on Tuesday evenings and that the queue that day was not as long as she had previously seen. I decided to wait for my late friends and gave my ticket to someone else in the line. We ended up only getting in the house at 7:30pm. Once in the museum it was worth the wait as the sun had started to set and the candlelight effect became more apparent. I really enjoyed both visits and found the staff to be very welcoming. Just remember to switch your phone off and have your bags ready to be stored in plastic bags. Other useful information you will be able to find on their website. read more

Gregor G. recommended that I stop by this museum during my trip to London. I'm glad I did! Based on the descriptions provided in the £2 guide book, Sir John Soane was quite witty. My favorite room was the one with all of the paintings that told the story of the "Rake." Not a bad way to spend an hour to an hour and a half in London one afternoon. read more

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 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/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. read more

I made a beeline for the Soane Museum the first time I ever went to London, and completely fell in love with it. As a fan of antiquities and architecture, I was enthralled by the collection and how everything is displayed. In my fantasy world, where I was either born across the pond or am married to a handsome Brit, I have an eccentric relative whose country house is just like the Soane Museum--so I'm able to visit whenever I want! ;) This is still my absolute favorite museum in the world, and I encourage people who enjoy things a bit out of the ordinary to visit when in London! read more

Even after living London for a year I've never heard of this place. Apparently this Soane guy is a pretty big deal. (He designed the Bank of England). On the first Tuesdays of every month the museum is open from 6-9. If you would like to go after work please come early as they only allow a certain number of individuals inside so there will be quite a wait. I know I'm butchering how beautiful this place is but I'll give the 8 year old version of my experience. It felt like a haunted mansion with all the Windy stairs and hidden rooms. It's not a terrible big place so will not feel overwhelmed and rushed. An hour in there is perfect to see everything and in time to go to a nice dinner afterwards in Holborn and eat at Great Queen Street. read more

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. read more

Sir John Soanes Museum is quite lovely, and a nice, easy surprise for visitors whom I have dragged there. It is precisely what one would expect of it from the outside: a monument to Georgian elegance and ease, as well as a museum of architecture and design especially appreciated by students. Considering its history (apparently Soane negotiated with the city for the provision of it as a permanent museum) I would imagine that it would be free but alas, one must pay a small fee for entry. No matter. I find it well worth it. read more

Sir John Soane's Museum - courtesy http://www.soane.org/history.html - Museums Near Me - London, XGL

Peter and I decided to go see the Soane's house by a famous architect. It's cool cause it's very narrow and breaks most rules. Peter described it as a tree house for adults. We got through the place in under an hour. It was free by donation. read more

There are already plenty of reviews here which will tell you what you can find in this, my favourite London museum. So to keep it brief: I drag any friends, visiting from out of town/country, to see this magical place. I've yet to hear a negative response for doing so. Soane's House was first shown to me in 1990, and I've come back more times than I can count. When you visit, be nice to the guard upstairs on the gallery and he might show you the 'hidden paintings'. Also, be aware that there are stairs to climb. And don't miss the skeleton on the way downstairs. ;) read more

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. read more

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. read more

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! read more

Sir John Soane's Architecture can be seen all over London and this is essentially his home, a rather marvelous home that is packed to the rafters with his personal collection of the kind of things well healed men of the 18th century collected on their Grand Tour. Its an amazing treasure trove of antiquities and architectural salvage. A mini British museum packed into a 18th century home Soane designed himself. It's a fascinating journey into a frozen time and place in London's history. read more

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. read more

The best time to visit this wonderful tribute to one of England's most celebrated architect/designers is the first Tuesday of the month when candlelit tours of the delightfully murky building is available. You will have to queue, and put up with the inevitable throng of budding young architects, but once inside, one feels transported back in time to sometime in the 18th century. Of course, the John Soane museum is open during normal hours, but its so much more atmospheric at night. If you are in the area, and have the energy, I usually soak up even more faded London grandeur with a stroll through nearby Lincoln's Inns Fields. read more

Sir John Soane's Museum - Museums Near Me - London, XGL

Who John Soanes was, was not one of the things I discovered while looking around the museum. This townhouse is however, beautifully impressive, ornate, full of things to see and free to look around. There are very few houses like this open to the public in central London. I surely must have done most of the old and national trust houses dotted throughout the English countryside, but seeing such an impressive and historical building right in the centre of London is so much more relevant and inspiring. It is also a million times more practical, if you are in the area just pop in, and the people that work here are lovely. read more

Sir John Soane's Museum - Museums Near Me - London, XGL

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Small museum, but packed with a lot of stuff. Pretty high quality collection. There was a special exhibit of architecture drawing that were interesting. read more