Rick Steves Says This Unique Museum In The Heart Of London Is A Quirky Gem

London is a city riddled with historical sights and iconic museums. From the British Museum to the National Gallery, there are enough cultural stops to keep you occupied for days. While these bigger-name museums are worthwhile visits, they usually result in heavy crowds and long wait times. Luckily, several smaller museums offer a unique experience when compared to typical tourist haunts. In a blog post dedicated to Europe's best "time warp homes," or preserved homes from a previous time, travel expert Rick Steves spotlighted one underrated London museum that he thinks is a must-see.

Steves writes, "quirky Sir John Soane's Museum is a gem." Located just outside of Lincoln's Inn Fields, the home-turned-museum is the game-changing spot for history buffs. The museum was once the home of Sir John Soane, a professor of architecture at the Royal Academy from 1806 until his death in 1837. He transformed his house into the museum it has become today in 1833, sharing his stacked collection of artworks, statues, and ancient relics with the public. Steves notes his admiration of Soane in his post, writing, "I always leave wishing I'd known the man." This is your sign to avoid London tourist traps and head to Sir John Soane's Museum instead.

The museum has stayed mostly the same since Soane's death, in honor of the curator's wish for it to be preserved as accurately as possible. Like another one of Steve's London recommendations, an elegant, tucked-away museum called The Wallace Collection, Sir John Soane's Museum offers free admission to the permanent collection. Tickets to Soane's Museum are only required for select tours that take place at particular times of day. For example, the Highlights and Private Apartment Tour is £25, and shows Soane's living quarters while providing backstory on some of his most cherished pieces. The museum is open Wednesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.  All visitors are permitted to venture to the museum's basement and see the crown jewel of the collection, the 3,000-year-old sarcophagus of King Seti I, an Egyptian pharaoh and father to Ramses II.

In addition to its hefty in-person collection, Soane's Museum also offers a wide range of online-only exhibitions, perfect for people who are unable to visit in person. Some exhibits include Queer Revelations, an analysis of queer figures in Soane's collection, as well as Egypt: Influencing British Design 1775-2025, exploring Egyptian influence on British architecture and design over the past 250 years. However you decide to visit London's one-of-a-kind Sir John Soane's Museum, prepare to be immersed in a lifetime of art and history that will leave you fascinated and inspired.