London: Geffrye Musuem
 

This one looks to be a small jewel that might be worth a visit, even if it's a bit off the beaten track.

Any rants or raves? Can it be combined with other nearby attractions? What's the local area like?

I've included info below in case someone wants it for thier trip notes or further research:

The Geffrye Museum is set in an elegant 18th Century almshouses with delightful gardens. It is the only museum in the UK to show a specialist collection of English furniture and decorative arts in a chronological series of period rooms. The rooms reflect the changing social habits and values which have influenced the style of interiors over the past 400 years.

The Geffrye Museum is in Kingsland Road, London E2 8EA.
Buses: 242, 149, 243 or 67
Underground: Liverpool Street, then bus 242 or 149 from Bishopsgate.
Underground: Old Street (exit 2), 15 minutes walk or bus 243.

Telephone: 020 7739 9893
Fax: 020 7729 5647
Recorded Information: 020 7739 8543

E Mail: [email protected]

Open: Tuesday - Saturday 10am - 5pm
Sunday and Bank Holiday Mondays 12 - 5pm
Closed: Mondays (unless Bank Holiday)
Good Friday, Christmas Eve, Christmas day, Boxing Day, New Year's Day.

Facilities

Restaurant open 10.00 am - 4.45 pm

Shop open 10am - 5pm

Walled Herb Garden and period garden rooms open April to October during museum opening hours.

Hi Degas,

This one , at least to us, was a little gem. We are both interested in period furniture and Georgian architecture and this met all our requirements. It has great layout , moving from 1 period to another..right up into the 1950"s..nice cafe, garden and there are artists workshops on the lower floor. I can't really remember too many other places in the same area..but we didn't really look as we were visitng the many art supply and furniture restoration places around there and not doing the tourist thing that day! Maybe someone else can help with other attractions.

jody, my daughter has been known to pick up a paint brush from time to time and I used to restore furniture as a hobby, much of which I sold off too cheaply to pay for graduate school. Anyway, just walking around the area might be fun.

That's also my husband's hobby and he too has been known to sell things too cheaply! ANd if he'd stop fishing and get back into the garage and do some work , I might be able to get my car in there someday! Really , you can just poke your head into the restoration shops , they are all willing to talk...and talk..and talk!

In the immediate surroundings, not a lot - just a workaday bit of central London, a bit blighted by through traffic, and there will be some disturbance as they finally get round to building the extension to the East London Line. However, it is on the edge of Hoxton and Shoreditch, which are the new trendy-artsy areas, and a short bus-ride from Spitalfields Market and Brick Lane.

jody, how insensitive of you to expect a man to organize his prized junk just so you can get a car inside! Its a constant battle around here too!

Patrick, thanks for reminding me about the markets. I'll check them out.

One more vote for the Geffrye as worth a visit. A friend suggested it as a place to see shortly after arriving in London. Very pleasant to wander through and not too taxing on the jetlagged brain. I agree with PatrickLondon about combining it with a Sunday morning visit to Spitalfields and Brick Lane markets.

If you're into visiting art supply shops (I am), there's a nice little one on Kingsland Rd. not far from the Geffrye...Paintworks Ltd.

I have always liked the Geffrye. A bit out of the way, but worth it. It is especially nice around Christmas.

Degas - I also went to the Geffrye after my transatlantic flight. It is off the beaten track but worth it. I took one of the double decker buses from the Paddington area so it was like a mini tour. I was there in early December a couple of years ago and I think some of the rooms had Christmas decorations. I also went to the markets after but they were pretty much closed up. By the way, thanks for a lot of your recent questions re: small London museums as I am going back in October and will use some of your ideas. Have a great trip,
Mara

We loved the Geffrye, but be aware it is not in the prettiest of neighborhoods and it's a bit out of the way for most visitors to London. They have a small garden and also a cafe and the restrooms were very nice (a necessity when traveling). If this is your first time to London I'd see other areas first so that you are not disappointed in the area the Geffrye is in (not disappointed in the museum, it's great) but a first timer may be put off a little by the area, it is not what visitors think about when talking about London we've noticed (most visitors seem to think all London will look like the area around Parliment and/or Buckingham Palace!

I'd also recommend The Museum of London - great museum with wonderful exhibits and never very crowded (again, not on the main tourist trails).

Try and take in the Wallace Collection too, it's just behind Selfridge's (Oxford St) and very accessible to the Tube & buses. Lovely small museum with a new art gallery addition (and again, wonderful restrooms).

Well - it's unanimous. The Geffrye is an absolute jewel. It is small, manageable, and away from the crowds. The walk to/from Old Street tube can take almost as long as the visit. But no matter - it is very worthwhile. I've been there 4 or 5 times and the best way to get there is usually by bus.