Sir John Soane's Museum
A cluttered and astounding collection of ethnographic items
Category Unique Collections
Sir John Soane was an architect and dedicated collector. He established his museum for the benefit of "amateurs and students," and it has been open to the public since the early 19th century. The museum's building, which Soane built and lived in, houses his great collections and library. His vast collections include Egyptian, Medieval, Renaissance and Classical antiquities, sculpture, casts, timepieces, furniture, stained glass, paintings, oriental objects and 30,000 architectural drawings.
It is a treasure trove of a museum, lit by hidden skylights, reflected by mirrors and topped by a glass dome. The highlights of Soane's crammed-in collection of art, sculpture and antiques include the Egyptian sarcophagus of Seti l and a bevy of Hogarth paintings. There are also many rchitectural sketches, models, and items that inspired some historic buildings in London.
The architecture of the building is a highlight in itself, with different rooms featuring unusual details, such as a domed ceiling inset with convex mirrors, and the building's internal courtyards. The museum and its collection have been preserved to appear much as they would have in Soane's day.
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- Hours Tuesday-Saturday, 10-5. The museums also has evening candlelit hours on the first Tuesday of every month from 6-9.
- Website http://www.soane.org/history.html
- Address 13 Lincoln's Inn Fields, London
- Cost Free during normal business hours, 5 Pounds during Tuesday evening hours
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