"I’d say this is a residence that was transformed specifically to become a museum. There are many skylights clearly designed to illuminate the collections, so I felt lucky to visit in the summer when the natural light really shines through!

There’s a visitor limit, and even on a weekday afternoon, I had to queue for about 20 minutes. But I think it’s a thoughtful policy to protect both the building and the exhibits, there’s really a lot packed inside.

What captured my attention most was not just the exhibits themselves, but how they were displayed and how the sunlight interacted with them. I definitely need a second visit."

Erin Y

"An excellent museum and a real joy to see! I am an avid museum goer and have worked in the sector myself for many years so it surprised me to discover how much I enjoyed looking at the objects in this museum with no caption descriptions whatsoever. It made for an authentic experience of wonder and curiosity where I was switching constantly between attempting to guess at what I was looking at and enjoying the overall aesthetic effect of the collection. There is a guidebook you can purchase which does tell you what you are looking at (for only £3) but in this case, I’m pleased I didn’t.

In practical terms, I would recommend setting aside at least two hours for your visit as on a busy day as you may spend the best part of an hour queuing. I really didn’t mind doing this however as for one, the museum is free and two, it meant that the house didn’t feel crowded and you could really look at everything without being in someone’s way. Having been to much larger houses/palaces (cough cough, Versailles) where you’re packed in like sardines and practically funnelled through the rooms without being able to stop, this was nicely done. Especially the rule about no phone calls/videoing. Altogether, these measures made for a peaceful and enthralling visit where the house had my unbroken attention.

The staff were very pleasant and were the right level of helpful - informative without being overbearing. Due to their conduct and the size of the house, it made for a personal and friendly experience."

Kate Douglas

"A museum unlike any other – mysterious, magical, and full of surprises

Visiting Sir John Soane’s Museum was like stepping into a completely different world – part historic home, part cabinet of curiosities, and entirely captivating. It’s not your typical museum with white walls and labelled cases. Instead, it feels like you’re walking through the mind of someone endlessly fascinated by the strange and the beautiful.

The house itself is an architectural puzzle – full of secret doors, narrow passageways, and rooms that unfold in unexpected ways. Every wall, nook, and crevice is filled with paintings, sculptures, architectural fragments, and oddities collected by Soane during his life. It almost feels like a treasure hunt, with each turn revealing something new and intriguing. At times, I honestly wasn’t sure what was real and what was illusion – the use of mirrors and light is so clever that the space seems to stretch and shift around you.

There’s a kind of quiet mystery to the whole experience. You’re surrounded by history, but in a way that feels intimate and alive rather than sterile. One of my favourite moments was the reveal of Hogarth’s A Rake’s Progress paintings, hidden behind panels in a small gallery room. You wouldn’t even know they were there unless a member of staff showed you – which only adds to the sense of wonder."

Shabnam Balouch