When renowned architect and eclectic collector Sir John Soane died in 1837, his house was stuffed to the brim with paintings, sculptures, quirky furniture, sketches, and much more that fit his artistic mind. The house has been left untouched since then and now you can make your way through this maze of amazement.

What: A labyrinth of artifacts. They’re thousands of little details hidden all over as well as many standout pieces that’ll immediately catch your eye.

When: Wednesday to Sunday, 10 am to 5 pm. (last admission 4:30)

Who: Though anyone can visit, I’d strongly recommend against bringing younger children here as touching anything is strictly prohibited and it will definitely get boring for a child. I’d say teens and older would enjoy this place.

How Long: A bit over an hour should give you enough time to explore the entire house. If you’re going to be joining any of the small free tours (see below), add 20-30 minutes. With all the detail on display, an artistically minded person can spend hours on end here.

Highlights: At 11, 2, 3, and 4 o’clock they open the panels in the picture room. What basically happens is that there’s a small room with painting covering each wall, what you don’t notice though, is that the walls are actually panels, and open to reveal even more spectacular paintings and some sketches of Sir John’s plans for future designs. It’s a really cool hidden facet to this multilayered house.

Events: Daily, at 2 pm on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays; there’s a free tour of the private apartments, which take around half an hour. On Thursdays and Saturdays there’s a free tour of Sir John’s drawing office at 2:30. Neither of these tours are bookable online and both work on a first come first served basis, so if you’re interested in joining speak to the staff upon entering to see if there’s a spot.

Cost: Free

Accessibility: The one pitfall of being untouched since 1837 is that accessibility is anything but straight forward. There is a lift for step-free access but visitors with disabilities should email admin@soane.org.uk before visiting.

Notes: Though free, I would strongly recommend buying a guide book or downloading the Bloomberg Connects app. None of the objects are marked in any way so to learn what each thing is you’ll need a guide of some sort.

Nearby: The Hunterian Museum is just a two minute walk away. The raucous Novelty Automation is just a seven minute walk, as is the Museum of Freemasonry (in the opposite direction)