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Sir John Soane's Museum Review

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Sir John Soane's Museum

Address: 13 Lincoln's Inn Fields, Bloomsbury, London, WC2A 3BP | Map It
Phone: 020/7440-4263
www.soane.org

Category: Museums/Galleries
Location: Bloomsbury and Legal London

Write a review | Avg. member rating: 4.9/5

Fodor's Review:

Sir John (1753-1837), architect of the Bank of England, bequeathed his house to the nation on condition that nothing be changed. He obviously had enormous fun with his home: in the Picture Room, for instance, two of Hogarth's Rake's Progress series are among the paintings on panels that swing away to reveal secret gallery pockets with even more paintings. Everywhere mirrors and colors play tricks with light and space, and split-level floors worthy of a fairground fun house disorient you. In a basement chamber sits the vast 1300 BC sarcophagus of Seti I, lighted by a domed skylight two stories above. (When Sir John acquired this priceless object for £2,000, after it was rejected by the British Museum, he celebrated with a three-day party.) The elegant, tranquil courtyard gardens with statuary and plants are open to the public, and there's a below-street-level passage, which joins two of the courtyards to the museum. Because of the small size of the museum, limited numbers are allowed entry at any one time, so you may have a short wait outside.

Cost: Free, Sat. tour £5
Open: Tues.-Sat. 10-5; also 6-9 on 1st Tues. of month
Tube: Holborn

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Member Reviews and Ratings

Reviewed by bigboroboy from London on 1/17/09
My favourite museum in London (right next to my offices as well so I'm a bit biased). This is like walking around some mad collector's house and the Hogarth's are a highlight but not the only joys to behold. A rare treat indeed.

Member Rating: 4.8
Ratings details: Experience: 5.0 Ease: 4.0 Value: 5.0 Don't Miss: 5.0

Reviewed by bachslunch from US on 4/6/08
As historic houses go, this one's a winner. Has a lot of original furnishings and tons of cast copies of pediments and statuary, plus prints and such. Everything is stuffed in, yet because of Soane's applied architectural knowledge, the place seems surprisingly open and inviting (mirrors, skylights, lighting use, and trick panels put to good use). Eccentric, but definitely well worth the visit.