Perhaps not as spectacular or as instantly recognizable as the National Portrait Gallery or the Tate Modern, but the Geffrye is good at what it does. It's a museum recording and celebrating London interior design and decoration through the ages. With displays from the 1700's right through to the 2000's, it's a neat look at the evolution of the typical English home. You'll be hard pressed to spend more than an hour or two here and I recommend moving on if there are a school-load of students. It can get very loud. Do spend the £2 for the audio guide. It's well worth getting the additional background and detail that isn't mentioned on the display captions or the various postings. I'm glad I went, but I don't know that this is the sort of place you do a second time. read more

Geffrye Museum - 1830's home - Museums Near Me - London, XGL

Lovely museum that gives you an idea of what houses in London looked like across the centuries. Especially beautiful to visit during Christmas time with each room done up in era appropriate Christmas decorations. This museum closes for 2 years for refurbishment on 7 Jan 2018, so do visit before that. read more

Want to amble through 400 years of London interiors? What did it look like to live in a London home in the 1700s to the 1990s? Part of the almshouse structure has been turned in a series of rooms that allow you to literally walk through time. This part of the museum is very accessible for people with limited mobility. For a small donation you can go on an excellent tour of the almshouse. Senior alert: This requires climbing narrow and steep upstairs and downstairs. How did the existence of almshouses save the lives of elderly governesses turned out once children were gown, school teachers, and genteel widows fallen on hard times? Well written explanations accompanying displays and friendly, knowledgeable volunteers answer your questions. read more

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This little museum is absolutely different from the rest of London's museums. Firstly its never as packed and its cosy feeling makes you feel like you in a different part of England. If you are into interior design or you want to learn a bit more about history in a more interactive way are going to love this little gem. Each room is presenting a piece of history from the 1700's right through to the 2000's Don't forget to visit the back gardens, each of them displays a different period like the rooms. The best time to visit is on December were they decorate all the rooms based on the traditions of the different periods. read more

Geffrye Museum - Geffrye Christmas decoration 1 - Museums Near Me - London, XGL

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I love this museum converted from old almshouses originally set up as a charity to house poor elderly people. The museum specialised in interiors and home design through the centuries. The exhibits are displayed in room settings so you can see how design has evolved to reflect changes in ideas and technology. The museum also has extensive gardens to the front, sides and back. One garden is an attractive walled herb garden with shaded seating and a fountain bubbling away. Currently there is an interesting exhibition by a photographer who took photos of all the lounges in his block. It's intimate but interesting to see how people make their flat their home. Finally there is an attractive gift shop selling books, postcards and even ceramic plates from one of London coolest desgn teams (in my humble opinion) People will always need plates. read more

Geffrye Museum - View of Almhouses - Museums Near Me - London, XGL

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This a museum for all interior design buffs. The museum takes you through Britain's changing interiors from the 1700s right up to the present day. You start at the beginning and literally walk the museums length (so essentially going from the past to the future!). I found the way in which each room was laid-out, really interesting. The fact you are walking through each little time zone to end up in the present day was quite nice too, feels like you're time traveling a bit! I'd say, unless you are really interested in British history and / or interior design then this might bore you a little. These aren't my preferred subjects but I did enjoy myself. If you don't want to spend ages reading each room explanation then you can walk through this place pretty quickly. I wouldn't go out of my way to visit this place but if you're around the east and fancy it, then you should check it out. It's a gorgeous little building just beyond the hubbub of Hoxton and a little bit of calm amongst the bustle... read more

Geffrye Museum - Museums Near Me - London, XGL

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The ultimate museum for the middles classes! The Geffrye Museum exhibits the changing styles of the English Domestic interior from the last 400 years. How twee?! Basically it's a great chance to go gawp at posh peoples living rooms and wish you had the cash to buy an intricate mirror the size of your room and sumptuous velvet curtains. The best thing about this museum are the award winning gardens. They have benches, and a beautifully kept lawn so when Hoxton Square is crawling with people this is a welcome respite - somewhere to eat your sarnies in peace. Nice in the summer, I'd recommend a visit to go see how the other side live! read more

Geffrye Museum - Museums Near Me - London, XGL

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I haven't been to this place for years, and I've been meaning to go back for ages! Somehow I always seem to end up walking past just as it closes at 5pm. Well, finally made it and glad I did. Though not in a pretty area, the museum grounds are lovely. There's open lawns and trees at the front, and a garden, including herb garden, at the back. This is closed during the winter, but can be seen through windows. The museum itself is a set of converted alms houses. As such the main part of the museum is a long line of rooms with household interiors from various periods from the 1600's. There's also displays of items to go with these, and sometimes interactive displays, such as material samples that you can feel. Halfway down the line you also come into what was the chapel for the almshouses (apparently attendance twice a day was compulsory). Down at the end there's a whole modern wing housing a café and the modern interior displays. It's quite a contrast to the older parts of the museum, but fitting in a museum about building interiors that the building should also display different periods! The café has some amazing light fittings and lovely airy windows over the gardens. I only made a quick visit, but there's lots of stuff to read everywhere. Good labelling The museum also seems to encourage further study. There's a reading room and library with books available (gardening, interiors, cooking, anything vaguely relevant!). In the modern wing there's a room with recent design magazines available to read. Only a small museum, but definitely worth a visit. read more

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A few minutes from our home this tranquil hideaway has been a favourite spot for escaping the bustle of Shoreditch life. Anyway, great little museum with good cafe and shop, lovely gardens and friendly staff. The star of the show is the range of activities for kids - all free - a staple of our plans for school holidays - based on themes from the museum - today we are busy decorating Japanese noodle bowls and clay chopstick holders. If you have kids this really is a must visit place read more

Geffrye Museum - Museums Near Me - London, XGL

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Bisi Yelp London Tour Three I was in Shoreditch to pitch a potential client, when I passed by probably my favourite museum when I was a kid. I can still remember that sunny afternoon when my class 4B of Shacklewell Lane Primary School, filed into the museum, holding the hands of our chosen friend and marvelled at that beautiful old building, set in elegantly manicured gardens. I felt so lucky just to be there. What made it so different from the other school trip Museums I had endured,was the way it transported you back in time via lots of rooms from different time periods. It was just like being there. This reality was reinforced by the excellent museum guide we had assigned to us, who didn't just blurt out endless historical facts, but involved us by asking what we did and comparing it, with what would have happened in the past. I am pretty sure that my curiousity for all things history and museums definitely stems from that one visit. If you want to experience what I did, walk through the period gardens and around the rooms, then make your way over to Special Exhibitions. My favourite, At Home in Japan - Beyond the Minimal House, is on until 29th August. You get to view a collection of images and objects and through them learn about the lives and living arrangements of a modern day Japanese homes, along with the traditions that exist within them. I defy you not to be captivated by it. Exhibition admission: £5.00 Concessions: £3.00 and under 16s free read more

I had a quick visit to this museum on a Sunday. As it was a lovely day, I didn't want to spend too much time indoors. I quickly browsed through the interiors from many years ago and headed straight for the cute museum shop to find a birthday present (I find that museum shops generally have a good selection of presents to buy for a family member outside of the UK). Although I didn't venture into the canteen/coffee shop it looked lovely with large windows that look out onto the garden, they also have a reading room inside this museum that has a good view of the vegetation, but to be honest the best place for reading (depending on the weather) is in the garden, there are wooden benches placed throughout. If you're lucky you might even forget that you are right next the busy Kingsland road. read more

Since "planned engineering works" put the kabosh on my Easter weekend plans, I was very happy that the Geffrye was open on Easter Sunday. It's a great little voyeuristic museum showing the living rooms of the middling classes. Starting in the 1600s, nearly every era is represented except the 40's--hmm, no surprise there. Currently (until 31 August 2009), there's an exhibit called Ethelburgha Tower. Photographer Mark Cowper took a photo of the living room of every apartment in the Battersea tower block he lives in. Forty six of the photos are on display. This is true voyeurism, and I love it. It's the same room over and over again, but completely different. Unlike the life-sized dioramas upstairs, we get to see real decour by real Londoners, not just the middling classes. Apparently, Cowper did not even allow the residents to clean their rooms before he took the photos. read more

Hidden behind massive walls, and next to a peaceful garden, the Geffrye has a lot going for it. Not too big or too small, it makes for an hour very well spent. Also, it's in Hackney, which means that few people make the trek, and you can expect to take your time, and read the wall text in silence. Unless of course, you're me, and find yourself stranded in line the one day all the neighbourhood's parents chose to bring the little family along. Arg. You can expect a lovely succession of interiors from the 17th century onwards, along with explanations and hypothetical schedules the house's families would have followed. Every two interiors or so you'll get a little corner focusing on specific objects, which you can interact with. Their various audio booth are inventive (a house-master describing his day, or a selection of music from the time period) but not necessarily practical. The focus on a time period's changing economy, and, of course, the repercussions on social classes are fascinating and a great insight into British society. A member of their staff invited us to an interactive game through which people discovered the history of London, it sounded great but we were quite shy, if that's your thing, stay put. Tidbit: on your right, on the windowsill, are large fan-like panels for you to consult: they highlight the use and origins of some items in the room. read more

Geffrye Museum - various types of flooring for you to touch - Museums Near Me - London, XGL

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I'm going to skip saying too much about the actual museum itself here, as for me, this place is all about the gardens and life saving school holiday activities. For such a niche museum this place has the most amazing free kids workshops perhaps in the whole of Hackney. They cater for all age groups all day long, it's nuts really. I have dragged so many weird and wonderful 'masterpieces' back from here. It's always educational and keeps the kids pretty wrapped for hours. I have been taking the kids I nanny here for a long time and it deserves a massive thumbs up. A total 6 week holiday life jacket.... read more

My favourite museum in Hackney - it's based in an old almshouse and takes you through the history of home interiors, from the 17th century to now. It gives a lovely feeling that you are nosying into people's homes, in a time travel-like way. It's really worth seeing the restored almshouse rooms too, one from the 1780s and one from the 1880s, lit with gaslight. Check the website tho cos these aren't always open. The café is excellent, and you can lounge in the reading room/gallery or catch the sun in the garden out back. read more

Geffrye Museum - Geffrye Museum - Museums Near Me - London, XGL

With only one day left to view the herb garden until next april, and i won't be here next april, i knew i had to get there the next day! After reading all these great reviews and having such a high expectation of this museum, i was a bit...disappointed. It was not that hard to find, just turn right when you exit Hoxton station and turn right again at the end of the street, when you reach the main street. I actually asked someone since I wasn't sure which direction it was when I was on the main street, though their ads are literally everywhere, but with just no directions. The museum is a long long building, with many rooms. There is also a sort of porch that has windows (it's an inside porch) where you can read and stuff, there are painting along the museum at certain parts, and I guess each "room" is portraying a specific year of old london. I looked, took pics and moved on. I was confused on how to get into the herb garden....you have to go back to where you entered and leave..the building. Walk straight down, like you are heading to the main street, then turn right before you actually make it. There's a sign! It's quite creepy, i think there are tombs when you enter the garden..I didn't have the heart to really stay and look, just walked right past and hurried to the garden. It was just okay, the bonsai trees were the most interesting, there were a lot of plants, pretty much it. I wouldn't go outta my way here unless you really want to see old rooms in life. It's not like you can sit in those old rooms....not my cup of tea eh? *also, there is a gift shop and a cafeteria in there. read more

I don't know what took me so long to go here. But I had seriously been meaning to go for the entire 2 years i have lived here. From the outside you can't really tell how big it is inside. Converted from old Almshouses they have knocked down all the walls and turned them into one long building with different "exhibits" showing a typical living room for a London house through out the centuries. If you are into design at all then I would really suggest this museum. I think my favorite part was the section with living rooms from the 21st century. The 70's house looked JUST like my aunts place today! :p I think they even have some kind of classes for adults, but don't quote me on that! DON'T QUOTE ME ON THAT! quote me on the aunt thing. read more

What a great find! We visited here following a recommendation on Emerald Street to see the Christmas Past exhibit - each room decorated according to how a typical middle class British family would have decorated/celebrated. Donation based, you can choose how much your visit will cost. You can spend as much or as little time walking through each room reading through all the information - For lovers of history or design, it's a great way to spend an afternoon wandering about and stopping for a tea/bite at the cafe near the gift shoot. Towards the middle of the exhibit there is also a reading room, including an offshoot with floor to ceiling windows overlooking the estate - what looked like a nice way to spend a quiet afternoon and escape the bustle of kingsway. So glad we stopped over following a necessary Sunday excursion to the Columbia flower market. read more

I really enjoyed my visit to the Geffrye Museum. You can't miss it from Hoxton station (although you do have to walk right round the corner to the entrance) with the gardens visible from the platform. The main museum itself is free with special exhibits at a nominal charge on the bottom floor. It's like nosing around your friends/coworkers/neighbors house - I wouldn't choose that lamp - oh look at that great fathers clock. But of course rooms set in different eras. There are a few interactive element which are interesting. There's also the gardens which are really very well laid out, maintained and very well signed. A perfect alternative to some of the bigger and much busier suburban museums. *top tip. if you want to eat in the cafe book ahead - no take away coffee offered. Bring some pennies for the gift shop. read more

This overlooked treasure is one of my favourite museums in London. The museum is housed in a beautiful 18th century almshouse and the peaceful grounds, especially the idyllic gardens out back, alone make it worth a visit for locals. Inside, the corridors depict how life has changed for the English middle class; presenting visitors with delightful full-sized models of living rooms from the 17th century to the present day. They even change the decor within the rooms to appropriately reflect the season - so you get a good sense of, say, what various Christmas decorations have been in vogue throughout the centuries. Toward the back there's a wonderful sitting room with walls covered in whimsical murals and that overlooks the garden... the room is basked in warm light and looking out, you feel as if you're about one step away from living Alice in Wonderland. There are benches to sit on and I keep meaning to come here for an afternoon with a good book - it seems the perfect setting. Like most of London's museums, entrance is free, and inside you'll also find a nifty little gift shop as well as a sunlit café that is an absolutely lovely place to have tea. I love them both so much that I often stop in even when I'm not perusing the exhibits. Their gift shop is a good place to find unusual presents - they have a interesting selection of post-cards with old newspaper cartoons and advertisements, plus intriguing books about how the East End and home design has evolved over the years. One last note, the museum also throws an annual Twelfth Night celebration that is simply wonderful - eat fruitcake, drink mulled wine, and sing carols around a bonfire - I can't think of anything better to add a dash a cheer to the dreary first week of January! read more

The Geffrye museum is interesting but not breathtaking, it is based around recreations of typical British middle-class living rooms from different periods in history - from the 17th century to the recent past. The museum is quite unexpected on the more shabby than chic Kingsland road, just past the gathering of Vietnamese restaurants and minutes from the perpetually busy Shoreditch High Street. It's set in lovely 18th century almshouses, with a nice bit of lawn in front that gets busy with picnics in summer, but some of the interior feels a bit 90s to be honest - all glossy surfaces, glass and stainless steel - despite being renovated a few years ago. The exhibition itself was interesting but could have been a lot more so - because you walk along one side of a lot of the rooms you couldn't get close enough to feel like you were really in them, and I felt like I was maybe missing out on some really interesting details. There isn't too much writing about things either - possibly to make it more child-friendly - but at times it seemed like I needed a bit more explanation. They have tried to cater for kids, and I'm sure the little ones would enjoy it for a while, but they might well be eager to roam where they're not allowed. The stuff from last century is probably most accessible and I imagine would be quite interesting from a nostalgia point of view for the adult visitors, but overall I was left a little disappointed. read more

Geffrye Museum - Museums Near Me - London, XGL

I went to the Geffreye as a last minute decision, with one day left on my last visit to London. I am so glad I did! The museum (which is free: spring for the 1 pound audioguide--well worth it!) displays period rooms of the middle class at various points in the past 400 years. The first room is from the early 1600s, and the last from the 1990s. It is absolutely fascinating! I am a history buff, so it was interesting to see how normal people lived at different periods. Anyone with an interest in design will also love it. There is a beautiful garden in the back, too. I sat in the courtyard in the front for a while, too (it was a lovely day). What an oasis of calm! The Geffrye is well worth the trip. I took the Tube to Old Street, and walked about 15 minutes to the museum. This gave the added bonus of a walk through Hoxton Square. read more

The Geffrye is a rare place: a museum that is fun for adults and kids. (they do a lot of work with local schools) Kids have lots to see, touch, smell, draw, find. Adults will enjoy the memories, or the perfect style which the room settings evoke. Restaurant is pretty good, too, and caters for all with good food at reasonable prices. Definitely one if you are ever at a loose end. On a sunny day, the courtyard makes a great picnic area, and the garden hidden round the back is missed by many. read more

Smashing museum (interiors show you how the middle classes lived) set in wonderful grounds. Take some time before you enter to visit the herb garden at the back. Once you've trundled past all the rooms you can either retire to the cafe (worth it), browse through the interior magazines and books (there is a lovely sunny room with flip down wooden seats for this) or visit their special exhibitions. Not the most well-known of museums, but a gem. Watch out for their seasonal activities too. read more

One of my favorites, i have been 3 times in the last 2 years. Its so cool to see how the uk middle class used to live for the last 400 years. They have a showroom for every 40 years or so. They also have a beautiful and very extensive herb garden at the back open from Spring till Autumn. The best is it is not crowded and its totally free!!!! If you live in Shoreditch it is a must!!!!!!!!!!!!! read more

Usually in museums you have to concentrate, read the tags, take in facts, look at objects - it can be quite tiring. You can do all that in the Geffrye Museum if you want - or just wander through a series of living rooms from 1600 to the present day, and emerge feeling inspired and informed. The museum was set up to inspire the craftsmen of Shoreditch with examples of high quality furniture. It's set in beautiful gardens and one of the original almshouses has been restored and is open certain days each month. At Christmas the period rooms are decorated in the style of the day. If even this undemanding museum has tired you out, you can revive yourself in the excellent teashop. The museum and gardens are free of charge. read more

Great small museum on Kingsland Road in an old almshouse. It's theme is decorative arts in English home life through the centuries. It has a wonderful garden in the back and a nice tea room. read more

I've lived a stones throw from this museum for the last 10 years and have alway thought to myself that I really must make the effort to do something cultural and walk round it one day. To be honest, I've always been slightly put off by the droves of middle class families walking through the gates with perfectly turned out children who still address their parents as "mummy" and "daddy" when they're 12 years old. However, a few weeks back, I was meeting up with a friend in Shoreditch and being early, thought I'd take the plunge and pop in for a mooch about (truth be told, it was actually pouring with rain and I needed to use the loo somewhere that didn't have a sign stating "toilets are only for paying customers"!) However, once inside and having carefully negotiated my way through the cunningly situated gift shop en route to earlier mentioned facilities, I found myself in a number of different sitting rooms and parlours from different time periods. Now, don't get me wrong, I'm no stranger to admiring art installations and appreciating their intent, it's just that I have a very short attention span and get bored very quickly but by the time I arrived at the 1980's room (a decade very close to my own heart) I realised that I was now not only late to meet my friend but if I didn't find the facilities soon, there may be good reason to use the Laura Ashley themed bucket standing in the corner of the 80's kitchen... On a serious note though, the place here has an amazing and humble history. It's interesting, has lots to look at - it's free for goodness sake (even the use of the loos, which are very clean and nice) I didn't have time to try the pleasant looking cafe but there were plenty of middle class families smiling whilst munching on what presumably was splendid carrot cake and herbal tea, so I don't doubt the fare there is as good as its surroundings. read more

one of the things i love best is houses, and how people choose to decorate their houses. i also adore history, and studied it to degree level at university. mix history + house interiors and you get one happy girl. add in the fact that it's free to view and you get one even happier (scottish) girl. hey, the stereotype that we're stingy has some basis in reality! this museum is so great. it's a little out of the way if you're not intending being in this area anyway (but make a day of it...east london is the perfect sunday hang out), and it is small, so it won't take you long to go around, but it's so good. a collection of rooms which aim to show how the UK middle classes decorated their halls/parlours throughout the ages. it's all in a beautiful almshouse which used to be used to house the elderly poor. it's so fascinating seeing how decor has changed over time, and you definitely get a good chuckle out of seeing the room-styles that were in fashion in the not-so-distance past (how did our parents EVER think that looked good?!) there is also a great museum shop, a lovely looking cafe, and beautiful gardens which would be just lovely on a sunny day. despite it not being an obvious museum to take kids to, the staff here have really made the effort to make it as kid friendly as possible with a "child trail" throughout offering fun facts and then an interactive kiddies area beside the cafe, with a staffed kiddy-helper on hand to help encourage the fun. read more

Not bad and not that great, I was slightly disappointed having to leave the museum with little knowledge about the houses in London. The museum is divided into 11 rooms with each exhibiting interiors and furnishing through the centuries. My favorite parts of the museum was the chapel, reading room and the garden area. read more

Alas, I never found it! After leaving the correct tube station, I wandered and got a bit lost. Next trip.

I went to the Museum and Gardens on Sunday. The sun was shining and the herb gardens and gardens through the ages were an absolute delight. The Museum is housed in old arms houses which exhibit period style living of the middle classes from the 17th to 21st Century. Relaxed and informative, this Museum is not stuffy at all and offers a really refreshing insight into lives in bygone eras. Recommended for couples, friends or families. It's a free day out in beautiful surroundings hidden away in Shoreditch. What more could you ask for from your Summer Sunday afternoon? read more

Smashing little museum of furniture and style, with each room done out in different historical periods, set in an old almshouse. It has a pleasant garden, a shop and a rather over-priced cafe. Free entry, there is no car park but close to public transport read more

Growing up in Hackney there weren't many cultural and historical places to go but then I discovered the Geffrye museum and for about a year my Saturdays became exciting and memorable. You see every Saturday the Geffrye museum held a wonderful arts and crafts workshop for kids, it was just a great day out, with lots of fun activities and every kid had a great time. Apart from that, the museum itself is a wonderful snapshot of life in the past. Each area you come upon is a different hystorical timeline laid out in precise detail. The furniture they have is exquisite and the attention to detail is amazing. It's like walking through a living timeline. The staff are helpful and being in a wheelchair is no problem as it's all set out over one floor and is very easy to navigate. The Geffrye museum is surely one of London's and Hackneys unsung heroes. read more

We visited the Museum a couple of times during the current holiday period. They had a good variety of free workshops for the children to enjoy and they loved it. We had a little 'tour ' to the beautiful herb gardens and saw a couple of behives too. read more

Geffrye Museum - Museums Near Me - London, XGL

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This museum shows us how Londoners have lived over the years. It shows us how middle class people lived in London. Just wonder down the rooms showing how people lived from the 1600 up till now. This museum has beautiful gardens. The wonderful thing is to see how people lived and the style of furniture they had in those days. This place also boast an excellent shop where you can have tea after you finish walking through the museum and garden. read more

This is one of London's most unique and charming museums. The Geffrye takes us through the history of the English domestic interior from the 17th century to the present day. A series of period rooms containing fine collections of furniture and art displays how the tastes and styles of the urban middle classes have changed over time. The museum is set in 18th-century almshouse buildings with luscious gardens, including a walled herb garden and series of period gardens. Special themed exhibitions are run throughout the year. Its really is a different and interesting day out and is also free as an added bonus. read more

Another good museum with lots of history. Nice gardens good for half term trips

I absolutely love this hidden museum gem, which amazingly displays daily London life over the past 300 years for FREE. It is rather small compared to the big ones in central London, but therefore very interestingly arranged and really interactive. Before you enter a period room you have a look at a room which tells you a lot about a specific period (political situation, how houses in London were built at that time and what the rooms typically consisted of, original artefacts from that time etc.). You can even listen to people talking about their daily lives at that period (mostly citing letters and diaries) via the phone. Being very inactive also makes this museum a good place to go to with children. After you have visited all the rooms in the building you can continue your journey through time by visiting the back gardens, each of them displaying a certain period, just like the rooms. I am planning to go back in December, when they will decorate all rooms for Christmas and offer special exhibitions about Christmas traditions in the different periods. read more

I went here on a rainy day and had a really good time. Not only is it free, but the Geffrye is pretty unusual and so offers something a bit different to the other museums in London. The gardens are beautiful, as is the house. I enjoyed a delicious coffee in the delightful tea room, which overlooks more gardens that are full of colour. Well worth a visit. read more