Sir John Soane’s Museum is the former home and studio of neoclassical architect Sir John Soane, located at 13 Lincoln’s Inn Fields in Holborn, central London. The museum contains Soane’s collection of art, sculpture, architectural fragments, and antiquities displayed in his original interiors, preserved as they were at the time of his death in 1837.
This guide covers opening hours, admission, how to get there, accessibility information, what to see inside, and practical tips for planning your visit.
Quick facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Opening hours | Wednesday–Sunday: 10:00–17:00 | Closed Monday and Tuesday (open bank holidays) |
| Admission | Free (no pre-booking required) |
| Address | 13 Lincoln’s Inn Fields, London, WC2A 3BP |
| Nearest transport | Holborn Underground (5 min walk) | Chancery Lane Underground (6 min walk) |
| Time needed | 1.5 to 2 hours |
| Last admission | 16:30 |
Sir John Soane’s Museum opening hours
Sir John Soane’s Museum is open Wednesday to Sunday from 10:00 to 17:00. Last admission is at 16:30. The museum is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays but remains open on bank holidays. The museum has limited space and is very popular, which can lead to delayed entry during busy periods.
The Picture Room panels open at specific times: A Rake’s Progress on the north wall opens at 14:00, while the Picture Room Recess on the south wall opens at 11:00, 15:00, and 16:00.
Sir John Soane’s Museum admission prices
Entry to Sir John Soane’s Museum is free. There is no need to pre-book, and visitors can walk in on the day. Groups of eight or more must contact the museum in advance to arrange their visit.
Highlights Tours are available for £15 and take place at 12:00 daily, with an additional 11:00 tour at weekends. These ticketed tours guarantee entry at a specific time.
Opening hours and admission details were checked and updated in January 2026.
How to get to Sir John Soane’s Museum
Sir John Soane’s Museum is located in Holborn, close to several Underground stations. The nearest station is Holborn on the Central and Piccadilly lines, approximately 5 minutes’ walk from the museum. Chancery Lane on the Central Line is a 6-minute walk away.
Bus routes 1, 59, 68, 91, 168, 171, 188, 243, 521, and X68 stop on Kingsway. Routes 8, 25, and 242 stop on High Holborn. Santander Cycles docking stations are located on Sardinia Street and Portugal Street, or visitors can park their own bikes at Lincoln’s Inn Fields. Use the TfL journey planner for the most accurate route information.
Parking at Sir John Soane’s Museum
The museum is located within the congestion charge zone. A few pay-and-display parking spaces and green-badge bays are available in Lincoln’s Inn Fields, though availability is limited. Visitors with a Blue Badge can use designated bays in the square. Public transport is recommended for visiting the museum due to limited parking and congestion charge costs.
How long to spend at Sir John Soane’s Museum
Most visitors spend 1.5 to 2 hours exploring Sir John Soane’s Museum. The museum covers three interconnected townhouses across multiple floors, with densely packed displays in historic interiors. Visitors interested in architecture, neoclassical art, or Egyptian antiquities may wish to allow longer. Free tours of the Private Apartments (30 minutes) and the Drawing Office (20 minutes) are available on specific days and extend visit time.
Accessibility at Sir John Soane’s Museum
Sir John Soane’s Museum is located in a Grade I listed 19th-century building. The museum has internal and external platform lifts for step-free access, operated by staff. Visitors requiring lift access must call at least 24 hours in advance on 020 7405 2107 to arrange this.
Standard wheelchairs larger than 41cm wide, 84cm deep, and 82cm high are too large for the narrow corridors and doorways. The museum provides specially manufactured narrow wheelchairs for visitors who need them; call ahead to reserve. Visitors using crutches or walking sticks can access most areas, but some spaces are too narrow for walking frames.
Assistance dogs are welcome but must be left in a designated safe space with water during visits, or accompanied by a member of staff if taken into the museum. Contact the museum in advance on 020 7405 2107 to arrange this. Induction loops are available at the front desk and in the shop, and can be set up for lectures and events. The museum offers audio tours, large-print exhibition labels, and braille or large-print guides; book these in advance. Easy read guides are available for visitors with learning disabilities.
The museum has uneven flooring with grilles in some places, dark and narrow areas, and walls covered with fragile objects. Prams can be left outside the museum within the gates but cannot be taken inside. Baby slings and on-person carriers are permitted.
What to see at Sir John Soane’s Museum
The Library-Dining Room on the ground floor features Soane’s collection of books and architectural models displayed on shelves and surfaces. The dining table sits at the centre, surrounded by classical sculptures and busts. The Picture Room contains folding panels that open to reveal works by William Hogarth, including the complete series of A Rake’s Progress and An Election. The panels open at specific times throughout the day.
The Monk’s Parlour and Monk’s Yard create a fictional medieval atmosphere with Gothic architectural fragments. The Sepulchral Chamber in the basement houses the sarcophagus of Egyptian pharaoh Seti I, along with other Egyptian antiquities and funerary objects. The chamber is dimly lit with coloured glass to create an atmospheric effect.
The Model Room contains architectural models of buildings designed by Soane, including the Bank of England. The room demonstrates how architects presented designs to clients in the early 19th century. The Drawing Office on the second floor is the oldest surviving example of its kind, restored and opened to the public in 2023. Free tours of the Drawing Office take place on Thursdays and Saturdays at 14:30.
The Private Apartments on the second floor were the family living spaces of Sir John and Eliza Soane. These rooms have been restored to their appearance when the museum was a family home. Free tours take place on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays at 14:00, subject to staff availability. The museum also contains fragments from the Palace of Westminster, classical sculptures, and an extensive collection of architectural drawings.
Practical visitor tips
| Tip |
|---|
| Arrive early or during weekday afternoons to avoid the longest queues, as the museum has limited capacity. |
| Do not bring large bags, rucksacks, or suitcases as they are not permitted inside due to narrow spaces and fragile objects. |
| The museum provides clear plastic bags (375mm x 450mm + 75mm deep) for carrying small personal items. |
| Photography is permitted without flash, but tripods, selfie sticks, large cameras, and filming are not allowed. |
| Do not touch any doors, surfaces, or objects throughout the museum to protect the historic collection. |
| Free tours of the Private Apartments and Drawing Office operate on a first-come, first-served basis with limited spaces. |
| The museum uses very little artificial light, so visiting during daylight hours provides the best viewing conditions. |
Frequently asked questions
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Is Sir John Soane’s Museum suitable for children? | Yes, children are welcome and entry is free. The museum has narrow spaces, fragile objects, and uneven floors, so close supervision is necessary. |
| Do you need to book tickets in advance? | No, entry is free and does not require advance booking. Walk-ins are welcome, though queues may occur during busy periods. |
| Is Sir John Soane’s Museum open on Sundays? | Yes, the museum is open on Sundays from 10:00 to 17:00. |
| Are bags allowed? | Small bags are allowed but large rucksacks, suitcases, and bikes are not permitted. The museum provides clear plastic bags for small items. |
| How long does a visit take? | Most visitors spend 1.5 to 2 hours exploring the museum and its collections. |
| Is there wheelchair access? | Yes, step-free access is available via platform lifts operated by staff. Visitors requiring lift access must call at least 24 hours in advance. |
Things to do near Sir John Soane’s Museum
The British Museum is an 8-minute walk north on Great Russell Street. The museum contains world history and cultural collections including the Rosetta Stone, Parthenon sculptures, the Rameses II bust and Egyptian mummies. Elsewhere in Bloomsbury, the Foundling Museum and Charles Dickens Museum cover fascinatingly distinct topics.
The Courtauld Gallery at Somerset House, a 10-minute walk south, displays Impressionist and Post-Impressionist paintings including works by Manet, Monet, and Van Gogh.
The Hunterian Museum at the Royal College of Surgeons, adjacent to Lincoln’s Inn Fields, explores the history of surgery and anatomy through specimens and surgical instruments. Lincoln’s Inn, one of London’s four Inns of Court, is located immediately next to the museum and offers historic architecture and gardens. Twinings Tea Shop and Museum on the Strand, a 12-minute walk south, is the oldest teashop in London and includes a small museum about the history of tea.
Quirky highlights elsewhere in the capital include the Florence Nightingale Museum, the Churchill War Rooms, Kensington Palace and the Horniman Museum.
More London travel
Other London travel articles on Planet Whitley include:
- Essential information for visiting the Cutty Sark and Royal Observatory in Greenwich.
- Visitor tips for going to the London Dungeon.
- A practical guide to visiting Kenwood House and the Freud Museum in Hampstead.
- Plan your visit to the London Transport Museum.
- Plan a visit to the Golden Hinde and Tate Modern in Bankside, London.
