Sir John Soane's Museum

I had been told by a few of my friends that the Sir John Soane's Museum was a must see, an extraordinary piece of architecture filled with an enormous amount of treasures! So, finally, I decided to go and check it out for myself.



The museum is wedged between a row of traditional town houses, with only its protruding structure and the few small signs distinguishing it from the other uniform houses. The house was designed by the famous architect and lecturer Sir John Soane in 1792 and was used not only to live in but also to house the vast collection of sculptures and paintings that Sir John Soane had accumulated in his lifetime.

Unfortunately photography was prohibited inside, so you will just have to rely on my description. The easiest way to sketch out an image of this building would be to call it a labyrinth of curiosities. It not only contains 30,000 architectural drawings but also has a bizarre and maze-like layout, with each level of the building revealing new and strange wonders. The jumbled-up, overcrowded, mishmash of objects creates a childish, play-like feel to the building. The most exciting object displayed, and I am sure many would agree with me, is the alabaster sarcophagus of Seti I which can be seen on two different levels.

The 1833 Act of Parliament, negotiated by Soane, has meant that the building has been left untouched, in the same state as it would have been during Soane's lifetime. This museum is definitely a must see! It is a fun way to pass the time on a rainy day and admission is free!