Planning a trip to London?
Foursquare can help you find the best places to go to.
Sir John Soane's Museum
History Museum and Art Museum
Holborn and Covent Garden, London
Has a stamp of approval from Londonist and W magazine
"Great feee museum, a former residence of architect Jonh Soane"(6 Tips)
"dark to go downstairs &see the sarcophagus of Seti"(4 Tips)
"when the gloriously labyrinthine collection is lit only by candles."(3 Tips)
"A must visit for lovers of architecture and aspiring tomb raiders."(8 Tips)
61 Tips and reviewsFilter:
- architecture
- architect
- antiques
- sarcophagus
- labyrinthine
- (15 more)
Sort:
- Popular
- Recent
Maggie WalshDecember 1, 2015What a unique interior! If you are into architecture take a look! Also, make sure you have the guide tell you stories of the paintings in the painting room!
Upvoted Feb 17
Chris PhillipsFebruary 21, 2019Fascinating museum. Full of interesting architectural and historical artefacts, and wonderful works of art. Worth checking in advance if you can book onto the tours, as they're limited.
AngelaNovember 4, 2017A gem of a museum. Sign up for the tour of the private residences. Only a few people can go every hour or so. It’s a wonderful way to learn more about Soane and see his family’s quarters.
Jack DavisJuly 28, 2015Lovely little museum that captures the fashions of the 1800s in terms of art and interior design. Quite small so be prepared to sneak by people!
Time Out LondonMarch 27, 2012On the first Tuesday of each month, the museum opens late (6-9pm, last entry 8pm), and the rooms are lit by candles. Visitor numbers are generally high on these evenings, so early arrival is advised. Read more
Rachel ClarkFebruary 7, 2018Fascinating museum hidden on a side street—refreshingly uncrowded. Get a map or guidebook before venturing in to get the most of the experience; Sir John's collection isn't all that well-labeled.
Maggie FreegardNovember 10, 2017An invitation to explore from the dark brick facade, down the winding stair into a preserved world. Wish there were more atmospheric spaces to discover rather than the rooms dedicated to exhibition.
Julia AlmondJuly 11, 2017Amazing museum. Very cool to wander around and see all the amazing aspects of his home. Nice and knowledgeable staff! Definitely make a donation to keep it as is!
T.September 11, 2016Amazing house museum, well worth a visit. Soane's collection is stunning, there is even a sargofagus in the basement!
Allison KasicApril 7, 2018It’s worth the money to do a tour. Otherwise you are just walking around a house without much information.- Mariliis RetterDecember 17, 2012Awesome place!Noteworthy are the 4 W.Hogarth's election paintings& the lovely room upstairs with all Turner's Yellow interior.Also,wait for it to get dark to go downstairs &see the sarcophagus of Seti
- W magazineFebruary 4, 2015The best time to visit is at night, when the gloriously labyrinthine collection is lit only by candles. Read more
Hyun Jeong SeolNovember 4, 2017Such an amazing place! Love to see the sarcophagus of Pepi II. Look carefully the model of Eliza Soane’s tomb, which inspired the red telephone box of London.
Jonny WrightNovember 5, 2013There's an atmospheric candlelit late opening (until 9pm) on the first Tuesday of every month. Books say to arrive early so there's always a long queue from 6pm... BUT no queue at all from 8ish!
Fred SpofforthSeptember 10, 2023Amazing little museum showing the life and work of Sir John Soane. There are clever architectural techniques applied in this small house which also contains Soane’s eclectic collection.
- Gabriele GuidoniMarch 12, 2023Sepulchral chamber in the basement containing a vast sarcophagus that was built to entomb the Egyptian Pharaoh Seti I (died 1279 BC).
Guy CorbetNovember 30, 2021A wonderful place to browse through. Funny, extraordinary, stunning, intriguing, and more, all in equal measure. You could keep going for hours, and time and again…
Geoffrey MakstutisMay 28, 2010Soane was a unique architect for his day and his house (now a museum) shows an eclecticism and quirkiness that often peeks through in his other works. The Breakfast Room is a classic.
Mikey AllanJune 26, 2014Absolutely incredible place with a wonderful eclectic mix of antiquities - not your usual museum experience must see and it's FREE!!!
Graciela GamboaSeptember 26, 2015Try to go early, has there is the chance they close some rooms in the afternoon. And ask anything please; everyone can tell you in extreme detail about everything you see. A must!
AnyTripJuly 18, 2011Free and totally unique places like Sir John Soane's Museum are what make London great! Get in the queue early (around 5pm) for the candlelight viewing on the first Tue of every month.
Joshua BoggsSeptember 30, 2018Free to enter the eccentric home of Sir John Soane. Such a strange old place. Well worth a quick visit.
Darryl EllsonAugust 24, 2014Hidden gem. Arrive early as it gets busy. Be aware no photography allowed inside. Bags must be left in cloakroom due to tight corridors. Not suitable for small children.
Simon RedfernJune 15, 2010Heard that this place was amazing and I wasn't disappointed. Went there on a Saturday morning, and it was pleasingly quiet. I had a 5 year old in tow who *loved* the labyrinthine nature of the place
Ian TSeptember 9, 2016Ask to see the Hogarth pictures The Rakes Progress and The Election hidden behind doors.- EvaDecember 19, 2014Great small museum - don't forget to check out the room with the paintings hanging on the double panelled wall.
hotel.infoSeptember 23, 2011V.intriguing exhibition esp. the sarcophagus - artefacts to look at in every direction! Ask questions about Soane's architectural drawings - the guide loves to talk about them! Read more
Amy RobertsonMarch 4, 2016Amazing collection of odd antiquities stuffed into a lovely house (and free!)
Rupi SinghMay 6, 2014If anyone gives you grief about being a hoarder, take them here and show them what hoarding is really like.
Debbi FrancisApril 20, 2011Wonderful museum. And I can highly recommend their painting courses too. The recent watercolour course I did - taught by James Willis - was excellent.
LondonistApril 28, 2010The world's most famous 'secret museum', the SJSM can't be described without using the words bric-a-brac, labyrinthine, or cluttered. A must-see for anyone who hasn't been.
David CobbMay 28, 2013If you're a Disney World fan, this place is what inspired the Adventurer's Club at Pleasure Island (which closed in 2008)
Evening StandardMay 14, 2012One of the highlights of the museum is the Election series of paintings by William Hogarth mounted on hinged panels which swing back to reveal a series of Piranesi drawings beneath. Read more
HISTORY UKFebruary 10, 2011Soane was a distinguished neo-classical architect who designed the Bank of England. After his death in 1837 his house became a unique museum of architecture and art.- Time Out LondonMarch 27, 2012You’ll never forget your first visit to the home of architect Sir John Soane. It’s stuffed with curios and is almost exactly as Soane left it when he died in 1837. Read more
Martin TiedemannJune 30, 201218 December: When Soane eventually died, he had collected so much he arranged for an Act of Parliament to allow him to bequeath it to the nation, and it remains to this day.
Dulwich Picture GalleryJuly 30, 2012Sir John Soane designed many great buildings around London including the Dulwich Picture Gallery
LisasShareMarch 5, 2012With the all the rooms left like the man himself has just popped out for more snuff. Eerie but a pleasure to see.
L KJanuary 3, 2015Weird in here. A little overwhelming. Seeing everything is impossible, so just appreciate what you do see.
- Morgans Hotel Group ManagerMarch 29, 2012Sir John Soane was a popular 19thC architect, not least for bequeathing his house as a museum to the nation when he died in 1837. Read more
Clea RomeoMarch 23, 2013Bring a book and an umbrella just in case. There always seems to be a queue to get in here
170 Photos
Foursquare © 2024 Lovingly made in NYC, CHI, SEA & LA
Sir John Soane's Museum
13 Lincoln's Inn Fields
London
Greater London
WC2A 3BP
United Kingdom
London
Greater London
WC2A 3BP
United Kingdom
Closed until 10:00 AM Wednesday (Show more)
- Wed–Sun
- 10:00 AM–5:00 PM
+44 20 7405 2107
Features
Credit Cards
Yes
See More
You might also like
Places people like to go after Sir John Soane's Museum
- 8.6
"Lovely hidden cafe inside the park - perfect for coffee and cake or lunch. Glorious in the sunshine"
Nikki - 9.4
"History and art museum, a place you must visit when you're in London"
Andrew BC 翁 ÔNG - 8.3
"Recommended: Not for the faint hearted, this two-floor museum offers both a brilliantly intellectual and educational experience - with everything from bones to pickled guts. Yum yum!"
Richard Gregory
Appears on 570 lists
Created by Time Out London
23 items • 778 followers
Late nights at London museums and galleries
Created by Time Out London
21 items • 311 followers
Created by Time Out London
34 items • 470 followers
