Sir John Soane's Museum

Over het museum

Sir John Soane (1753-1837), one of Britain's leading architects, rebuilt three houses on the north side of Lincoln's Inn Fields in London between the 1790s and 1820s. He used them as his home and office, and gradually filled them with antiquities, sculpture, paintings, books and architectural models and drawings that he used to teach his students.

Soane wanted his house to remain a place of study for architects and artists after his death. In 1833 he secured an Act of Parliament that handed the house and collection to a board of trustees, to be kept as nearly as possible as he left it. The museum has been open to visitors since his death in 1837, and its arrangement of rooms, top-lit spaces, mirrors and moving picture panels is still essentially his.

Among the best known objects are the alabaster sarcophagus of the pharaoh Seti I, which Soane bought in 1824, and William Hogarth's painting series A Rake's Progress and An Election. The Picture Room uses hinged panels that fold out to hold far more paintings than a normal gallery wall. The collection also includes tens of thousands of architectural drawings and a large group of models.

In the 21st century the trustees have restored several rooms and opened parts of the building, such as the private apartments and the Model Room, that were once closed to the public. Because of its fragile interiors and narrow corridors, the museum limits the number of visitors inside at any one time.

Hoogtepunten

• Sarcophagus of Seti I in the basement Sepulchral Chamber
• Hogarth's paintings A Rake's Progress and An Election
• The Picture Room with folding wall panels
• The Dome, Colonnade and the Breakfast Room
• Soane's architectural models and drawings
• The Private Apartments, shown on a free tour

Vaste collectie

• The House and Collection – Soane's home and working rooms are kept much as he arranged them, with antiquities, sculpture, paintings and architectural models displayed in a layered, theatrical setting.
• The Private Apartments – Rooms on the first floor, including the South Drawing Room, that Soane used as his family living space and are shown on a short free guided tour on set days.

Opgericht

1837

Beheerder

Trustees of Sir John Soane's Museum

Directie

Will Gompertz

Bezoekers per jaar

ca. 157.938 (2024)

Toegangsprijzen & kortingen

De toegang is gratis.

Entry is free and no booking is needed, but visitor numbers are limited, so you may have to queue. The free Private Apartments tour (Wed, Fri, Sun at 14:00, about 30 minutes, 8 people) and Drawing Office tour (Thu, Sat at 14:30, about 20 minutes, 6 people) are first come, first served. A ticketed Highlights Tour can be booked online. Groups of 8 or more must book in advance.

Toegankelijkheid

• Deels rolstoeltoegankelijk
• Lift
• Aangepast toilet: geen informatie
• Gehandicaptenparkeerplaats: geen informatie
• Hulphonden welkom
• Tastmodellen / voelbare objecten: geen informatie
• Rondleidingen in gebarentaal: geen informatie
• Informatie in eenvoudige taal
• Audiodescriptie: geen informatie

The building is Grade I listed and has narrow corridors, uneven floors and dark areas. Two platform lifts give step-free access but are staff-operated; visitors should call at least 24 hours ahead. Wheelchairs wider than 41 cm, deeper than 84 cm or taller than 82 cm must be swapped for the museum's narrow wheelchairs, and custom chairs can be borrowed if arranged in advance. Induction loops at the front desk and in the shop. Assistance dogs must be accompanied by a member of staff inside, so visitors should call ahead. A BSL tour film, large-print labels, a large-print or braille short guide, an Easy Read guide and a Visual Story are available.

Kinderen & gezin

Erg geschikt voor kinderen & gezinnen

• Gezinsrondleidingen & workshops
• Speurtocht, doeboekje of kinderaudiotour
• Kinderwagenvriendelijk: niet aanwezig
• Verschoonruimte

A family trail is available on arrival or to download, as the museum has no object labels. Free drop-in family workshops run mostly on Thursdays in school holidays, and day-long holiday workshops and monthly architecture clubs for ages 7 to 14 are offered. Prams must be left outside in the courtyard; baby slings are welcome. Baby changing is available in No. 12 Lincoln's Inn Fields.

Bereikbaarheid & parkeren

Santander Cycles docking stations are on Sardinia Street and Portugal Street, with bike parking at Lincoln's Inn Fields.

Service & horeca

• Museumwinkel
• Garderobe

Small bags can be left in a free cloakroom (limited space, no liability); large rucksacks, suitcases and bikes are not allowed. The shop is open during museum hours and online.

Evenementen & zaalverhuur

Private tours outside normal opening hours can be arranged.

Je bezoek plannen