I thought that the trusty flat-pack wardrobe I’ve had since uni was looking good for its age, but it pales in comparison to the furniture that sits inside Sir John Soane’s Museum. This London townhouse-turned-museum (and all that sits inside it) hasn’t been touched since the owner died in 1837.
John Soane was a famous architect, famous for building the Bank of England and Dulwich Picture Gallery. By collecting items such as plaster casts, Roman marbles, antiquities, paintings, and architectural drawings; Soane transformed his spacious house into a treasure trove of historical objects and his own personal, live-in museum. Because, well, why not? He certainly wasn’t one for minimalism, jam-packing the house with a plethora of rare and random artefacts that can still be seen to this very day.
So adamant to keep his house as he left it; Soane went as far as negotiating an Act of Parliament to preserve his home exactly as it was the day he died. When Soane died in 1837, a board of trustees honoured his wishes, and Sir John Soane’s Museum was born.
Fast forward almost two centuries, and Sir John Soane’s Museum attracts visitors far and wide. As per Soane’s wishes, the museum is, still to this day, free to enter – and well worth a visit. Pretty much every inch of the house is filled with curiosities. Soane had an eye for spectacular objects (and a bank account big enough to afford them plus a home big enough to fit them – lucky for some, I guess). He collected artwork from the likes of Canaletto, Hogarth, and Turner, which are still on display. Amongst the most incredible antiquities he acquired is the sarcophagus of Egyptian king Seti I, which now sits alongside Peruvian pottery and Napoleonic art in the museum.
The museum is a great spot for a relaxed roam around. We’d recommend paying the £3 for the guidebook and also making use of the visitor assistants who are there to chat to.
The museum is a true snapshot in time and an ever-so shiny London gem. Here’s to absolutely nothing changing for another 180 years!
Find out more and plan your visit here.
📍 13 Lincoln’s Inn Fields, WC2A 3BP.