Sir John Soane's Museum

What to expect

Sir John Soane's Museum is the former home of the architect John Soane, on Lincoln's Inn Fields. A private Act of Parliament in 1833 required the house to be kept as nearly as possible as it was when he died, and it opened as a museum after his death in 1837. It is crammed with antiquities, casts, paintings and architectural fragments.

The rooms are small and dense, and light comes from above through domes and skylights. The centrepiece is the Sarcophagus of Seti I, which Soane bought in 1824. The Picture Room has movable wall panels that let it hold about three times as many paintings as a normal room of its size, including Hogarth's A Rake's Progress. Only about ninety visitors are allowed in at once, so queues are common. Entry is free, and most people spend about an hour.

Don't miss

• Sarcophagus of Seti I
• The Picture Room with its movable panels
• Hogarth's A Rake's Progress
• The Breakfast Room's domed ceiling with mirrors
• Dome and colonnade lit from above

Tips for your visit

• Arrive early, as a limited number of visitors are allowed in at once and queues form.
• Pre-booked tours guarantee entry.
• Labels are sparse and lighting is subdued, so take a guide or audio information.
• There is no café, so plan to eat elsewhere nearby.