After the Museum of Childhood, we tubed it on the Central line from Bethnal Green to Holborn to visit the next scheduled stop: Sir John Soane’s Museum.
This museum is on the verge of becoming touristy – I’m quite sure of it. There are signs pointing to it from the tube station, it’s ideally located smack in the centre of town (one big reason, I think, why Broadway Market and the Museum of Childhood aren’t as big as they should be is because they’re not that easy to get to), it’s free, and it’s starting to find its way into guidebooks. Plus there was a queue to get in when we got there. They only allow a certain number of people in at once. I should really have taken a picture of the queue, but as you can see from the photo above it’s a common enough occurrence for them to have to put up a sign about it.
Very unfortunately, and to my immense frustration, we weren’t allowed to take photos in the museum. A very vigilant security guard made us switch our phones off before entering, and I deposited my bag at the front desk, so I was sans camera as well. We would have been ejected had I tried anyway, and it’s a small enough museum peopled with enough security guards for that to be a real threat rather than empty warning.
I did find some pictures on the internets, but I’m copyright-wary of reproducing them here wholesale, so I’m just going to link to them. That means the next post is picture free other than external links. You have been warned!
Filed under: photos, sir john soane's museum, soane
It’s not actually as touristy as you think. Hardly any Singaporeans I know that studied in London know about this museum (this, and the excellent Wallace Museum in Manchester Square off Oxford Street).
I’m so glad you found this museum though! It’s easily my favourite museum in London after the British Museum, and it’s such a madcap mix of artifacts that you really have to visit it several times just to get a gist of how *immense* the collection is.
ah i’m glad to hear that! yes i really loved it – i think the fact that it was so insane and scattered and ever so slightly disorganised added to its charm in spades. definitely going back for another look. they’re aiming to open up new wings of the soane in coming years
my feelings towards this place now are a bit like they were towards harry potter – part of me is glad it’s getting more famous because it’s a great place, but part of me is sad that soon it may not be a well-kept little secret anymore.
I’ve only ever encountered a queue in the two or three times I’ve been to the museum. If you go in the mornings before lunch it’s a bit quieter. I think the thing is because it’s such a small building, having about 50 people in it would violate some health and safety act. It is two London townhouses joined up together.
They do candlelight viewings once every month or so, IIRC. Didn’t have the chance to do it, but just imagine the room full of Greek pillars and artifacts and Seti’s sarcophagus lit by a few candles!!!
Did you see the magnificent picture room and its folding walls? FAVOURITE ROOM EVER. And omg, the Hogarths.
yes! there’s a candlelight viewing every month i think. it’s on the website. i do want to try and get down there for one of the candlelight viewings cos i think it’ll be really pretty. the picture room was gorgeous. i can’t decide which room i liked the best without going again