Home of Charles Darwin, Down House is a Grade I listed Victorian house and garden in Luxted Road, Downe, in the London Borough of Bromley, managed by English Heritage as a paid visitor attraction. This guide covers opening hours, ticket prices, transport and parking, accessibility, and practical visitor tips for planning your visit.
This guide was last updated in March 2026 to reflect the 2026/27 admission prices, which came into effect on 28 March 2026. Other guides may still show the previous season’s pricing.
Quick facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full name | Home of Charles Darwin, Down House |
| Address | Luxted Road, Downe, Orpington, London BR6 7JT |
| Opening hours | Daily 10am–5pm (summer season); reduced days in winter (see below) |
| Adult ticket | £15.38–£19.29 depending on date and day |
| Nearest train | Bromley South (then bus 146); Orpington (then bus R8, Mon–Sat only) |
| Parking | Free on-site car park, 50 metres from the house |
| Time needed | 2–3 hours |
Down House opening hours
Down House is open daily during the summer season but operates on weekends only for most of the winter. The schedule for the 2026/27 season (valid 28 March 2026 to 16 March 2027) is as follows:
- 28 March – 24 October: daily, 10am–5pm
- 25 October – 1 November: daily, 10am–4pm
- 2 November – 12 February: Saturday and Sunday only, 10am–4pm
- 13–21 February: daily, 10am–4pm (February half-term)
- 22 February – 16 March: Saturday and Sunday only, 10am–4pm
- 24–26 December: closed
Last admission is 30 minutes before closing. The tearoom closes 30 minutes before the site closes.
Down House ticket prices
Admission prices to this English Heritage site vary by date and day of the week. The three pricing tiers for the 2026/27 season are shown below. English Heritage members enter free of charge. Concession prices apply to visitors aged 65 and over, students with a valid student ID card, and jobseekers showing relevant ID.
Super Saver — Mon–Fri, 28 Mar–22 May & 1 Sep–1 Nov; daily, 2 Nov–16 Mar
| Visitor | Price |
|---|---|
| Adult | £15.38 |
| Concession | £13.85 |
| Child | £7.65 |
Saver — Sat–Sun & bank holidays, 28 Mar–22 May & 1 Sep–1 Nov; Mon–Fri, 23 May–31 Aug
| Visitor | Price |
|---|---|
| Adult | £17.00 |
| Concession | £15.38 |
| Child | £8.50 |
Standard — Sat–Sun & bank holidays, 23 May–31 Aug
| Visitor | Price |
|---|---|
| Adult | £19.29 |
| Concession | £17.76 |
| Child | £9.60 |
Groups of 15 or more paying visitors receive a 10% discount. Down House is not currently included in the London Pass or any other city pass scheme. The most practical discount for regular visitors is an English Heritage membership, which also covers more than 400 other sites across England.
Ticket prices were checked on the official English Heritage website and last updated in March 2026.
Is it worth paying for English Heritage membership?
Entry prices for English Heritage sites, including Dover Castle, Stonehenge and Tintagel Castle, can seem extremely expensive. This is clearly a deliberate ploy to push visitors towards taking out annual English Heritage membership.
Membership gives free access to more than 400 sites across the country, and costs £82. That is, unless you get a special deal – there was a 25%-off Black Friday deal in November 2025, for example.
Whether that £82 is worth it depends on how many sites are near you (there are lots in the south of the country, not so many near me in Yorkshire). And, critically, whether you’re going to visit them with children.
Each member can take up to six children with them free of charge. Given the steep one-time entry fees, an adult member with two children is likely to recoup the cost of their membership by visiting just two or three sites within the year.
For an individual without children, I’d say English Heritage membership is worth it only if you’re planning to blitz a few sites in one year. For an individual with children, membership is a smart investment that will likely pay itself back within one school holiday. To me, it’s a no-brainer.
The real question is whether it’s worth renewing English Heritage membership after a year. That’s debatable, as you’re unlikely to go to many of these sites twice. I eventually renewed after I was offered 20% off the price. I’ll probably recoup the membership price visiting two sites in summer next year, even if I’ve ticked off most of the best ones near me.
If you buy membership through this link, I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
How to get to Down House
Down House is located in the village of Downe in the London Borough of Bromley, in TfL Zone 6. It sits on Luxted Road, off the A21 or A233, and is surrounded by single-track country lanes — visitors arriving by car should be prepared for a rural approach.
By train and bus (recommended): The two main routes from central London are:
- Bromley South (trains from London Victoria, approximately 20 minutes) → bus 146 to Downe Church stop, which terminates in the village approximately half a mile from the house. The 146 runs roughly once an hour and calls at both Bromley North and Bromley South.
- Orpington (trains from London Bridge or London Charing Cross, approximately 30 minutes) → bus R8 to Down House. The R8 does not run on Sundays. Check the TfL Journey Planner and confirm your return bus time before leaving the house.
By car: Down House is on Luxted Road, Downe (postcode BR6 7JT), accessed off the A21 or A233. The site falls within the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ). Check TfL’s website to confirm whether your vehicle qualifies before driving; a daily charge applies to non-compliant vehicles. An EV charger is located nearby — see zap-map.com for current locations.
By cycle: Bike racks are available on site. Cycling routes can be planned via the Sustrans National Cycle Network at sustrans.org.uk.
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Parking at Down House
Free on-site parking is available in a car park approximately 50 metres from the house entrance. Parking is free for all visitors, including non-members. The car park is accessible from Luxted Road. One coach bay is available in the grounds for group visitors and must be booked in advance via English Heritage’s group visits team. Dogs should not be left unattended in the car park.
How long to spend at Down House
Most visitors spend 2 to 3 hours at Down House. The house contains two full floors of rooms and exhibition space; the audio guide alone takes around an hour if followed throughout. The garden, sandwalk, and kitchen garden add a further 30–60 minutes depending on pace. Allow additional time for the tearoom and gift shop. The audio guide also covers the garden, so factor that in when planning your time outside.
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Accessibility at Down House
The ground floor of the house is step-free and accessible for wheelchair users. Accessible toilets with a baby changing table and an adult changing table are available on site.
The upper floors are only accessible by staircase; there is no lift. The first-floor exhibition covering Darwin’s life and work is therefore not accessible to visitors who cannot use stairs. Contact English Heritage before visiting if upper-floor access matters to your group.
Garden paths are partially accessible; some areas, including sections of the sandwalk, have uneven surfaces. Assistance dogs are welcome throughout the site. No other dogs are permitted at Down House, as the property is designated a Site of Importance for Nature Conservation and contains protected species including certain fungi. Dogs should not be left unattended in the car park.
A written transcript of the audio tour is available on request. Basic written guides are available in French, Russian, German, Japanese, and Spanish. Pushchairs are generally not permitted in ground-floor rooms; space is available in the hall area at busy times.
Inside Down House: what to see
Down House is the country home where Charles Darwin lived with his wife Emma and their ten children from 1842 until his death in 1882. The house and gardens have been restored to reflect their appearance during Darwin’s occupancy.
The first floor is home to an award-winning permanent exhibition on Darwin’s life, the voyage of HMS Beagle, and the development and reception of his theory of evolution. An audio guide narrated by Sir David Attenborough is included in the admission price and covers both the house and the garden. The master bedroom, opened to the public for the first time in 2016, has been restored to include reconstructions of the Darwins’ collection of art prints. A secondhand bookshop is also on the first floor.
The ground floor rooms include Darwin’s study, where he wrote On the Origin of Species, restored to its Victorian appearance. The billiard room includes a copy of The Times reporting on the publication of Darwin’s work. The tearoom is housed in the original Victorian kitchen — known as Emma’s Kitchen — and serves a seasonal menu of soups, sandwiches, daily specials, and cakes. A gift shop is located near the entrance.
The garden was used by Darwin as an outdoor laboratory and has been restored to its 19th-century layout with authentic Victorian planting. The sandwalk — a quarter-mile tree-lined path through meadows where Darwin walked three times daily — is accessible from the garden. The kitchen garden is also open to visitors. Free family discovery trail sheets for children are available from the main desk, and dressing-up activities are available in the bedroom on the first floor.
Practical visitor tips
| Tip | Detail |
|---|---|
| Visit on a weekday | Weekday visits outside peak summer months attract the lower Super Saver price. |
| Use the audio guide | The audio guide narrated by Sir David Attenborough is included in the admission price and covers both the house and the garden. Allow at least an hour. |
| Check the bus timetable | Both bus routes run roughly once an hour. The R8 does not run on Sundays. Confirm your return bus time before leaving the site. |
| ULEZ charges | Down House is within the ULEZ. Check TfL’s website before driving. |
| No dogs | Dogs (except assistance dogs) are not permitted anywhere on site, including in the car park. |
| Book in advance | Tickets are available online via the English Heritage website. Pre-booking is recommended at weekends and during school holidays. |
| Tearoom closes early | The tearoom closes 30 minutes before the site closes. Arrive early if you plan to eat on site. |
| Pre-book coach parking | There is only one coach bay. Group organisers must book in advance via English Heritage. |
| Parking is free | Unlike most London attractions, parking at Down House is free for all visitors. |
Frequently asked questions about Down House
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Is Down House suitable for children? | Yes. Free discovery trail sheets are available for children, and dressing-up activities are available in the first-floor bedroom. The garden and sandwalk provide outdoor space. |
| Do you need to book tickets in advance for Down House? | Advance booking is recommended but not always required. Booking online via the English Heritage website may also be cheaper than paying on the door. |
| Is Down House open on Sundays? | Yes, throughout the year except 24–26 December. Note that the R8 bus from Orpington does not run on Sundays; use bus 146 from Bromley South instead. |
| Are dogs allowed at Down House? | No. The site is a designated Site of Importance for Nature Conservation and dogs are not permitted. Assistance dogs are welcome. |
| Is Down House free for English Heritage members? | Yes. Members enter free, and each adult member can bring up to six children free of charge. |
| Is Down House included in the London Pass? | No. Down House is not currently included in the London Pass or any other city pass scheme. |
| Is Down House accessible for wheelchair users? | Partially. The ground floor is step-free and accessible. The upper floors are only accessible by staircase; there is no lift. |
| How do I get to Down House by public transport? | Take a train to Bromley South (from London Victoria) then bus 146 to Downe Church, half a mile from the house. Alternatively, take a train to Orpington and bus R8 (Mon–Sat only). |
| Is there parking at Down House? | Yes. Free on-site parking is available for all visitors approximately 50 metres from the house entrance. |
| How long does a visit to Down House take? | Most visitors spend 2 to 3 hours, including the audio tour of the house and a walk around the garden and sandwalk. |
Things to do near Down House
Down House is in a rural part of the London Borough of Bromley and is best treated as a dedicated half-day or full-day destination rather than combined with other central London attractions.
Biggin Hill Memorial Museum is approximately 3 miles away and covers the RAF station’s role in the Battle of Britain. High Elms Country Park (London Borough of Bromley), around 1.5 miles away via public footpaths, is a free country park with a nature centre and formal gardens. Quebec House (National Trust) in Westerham, around 6 miles away, is the birthplace of General James Wolfe and charges for entry. Chartwell (National Trust), Winston Churchill’s former home, is approximately 7 miles away near Westerham and also charges for entry. Chislehurst Caves, open for guided tours, are around 5 miles to the north. The village of Downe is a short walk from the house; Darwin is commemorated at St Mary the Virgin Church, where several members of his family are buried.
More London travel
Other London travel articles on Planet Whitley include:
- Plan a visit to the Golden Hinde and Tate Modern in Bankside, London.
- Explore the Charles Dickens Museum and Foundling Museum in Bloomsbury, London.
- What to know before visiting Sir John Soane’s Museum and the Hunterian Museum in Holborn, London.
- How to ride the Mail Rail at the Postal Museum in London.
- Plan your visit to English Heritage sites Jewel Tower, Marble Hill and Eltham Palace.
