Sir John Soane's Museum

A favourite among London visitors, the seemingly untouched home of neo-classical architect John Soane (1753–1837) — which has been a museum since the 1830s — inarguably offers something unique among the city's attractions. A wander around this upright but not quite eccentric townhouse amounts to a genuine-feeling historical experience. And there's much to look at, as the rooms are sensibly cluttered with Soane's personal belongings, including the sarcophagus of Seti I, Roman bronzes from Pompeii, Soane's architectural models, paintings by Canaletto and Reynolds, Hogarth's THE RAKE'S PROGRESS and much more. Sadly, candlelit viewings (first Tuesday of the month) are a thing of the past. Tube station: Holborn. The Soane Museum is free of charge and centrally located, with Covent Garden, Soho, Bloomsbury [including the British Museum] and the Strand all within easy reach.