A small, easily manageable museum, the Geffrye Museum in London presents a series of rooms set up to give the viewer a glimpse of English middle class domestic life from 1600 to the present day. Each room features furnishings and decorations of the period along with both a brief overview of the setting and more detailed descriptions, allowing the visitor to spend as much — or as little — time as he or she wants to. Taken as a whole, the rooms provide a fascinating overview of what it is we think makes a home a home, and how that view has changed over the years. From Victorian rooms filled with bric-a-brac to sleek modern interiors and more, it is all here. There is even an award-winning walled herb garden and a series of period gardens to complement the interior displays. Plus, with space for ever-changing temporary exhibits that further explore the history of interior design, there is always something new to explore.
The Geffrye Museum for Children
Designed to appeal to both children and adults, the exhibits at the Geffrye Museum are presented with a serious eye toward scholarship but have plenty to engage children, too. While you can't touch the exhibits, there are special children's guides that make a game of exploring the history the exhibits portray. The staff, too, is exceptionally accommodating and can, with advance notice, arrange special tours for school groups.
Eating, Meeting and Putting the Emphasis on British Craftsmanship at the Geffrye
The museum has a restaurant and a shop that features unusual decorative gifts (many made by British artisans) as well as meeting spaces, classrooms and a reading room. The museum also presents an ongoing program of seminars and workshops throughout the year, including engaging music and dance programs.
How to Get to the Geffrye Museum
Housed in 18th century almshouses on Kingsland Road between Pearson and Cremer streets, the museum is easily accessible by public transportation. From the Old Street tube station, it's a 15 minute walk or a short bus ride via 243. From the Liverpool Street tube station, take bus 149 or 242. You can also reach the museum on bus 67 or 394. If you arrive by car, you will find a limited number of metered parking spaces nearby.
When to Visit the Geffrye Museum
The museum is open Tuesday-Saturday from 10 am until 5 pm. On the first Saturday of each month, as well as the first and third Wednesday, one of the restored almshouses is also open, with admission by timed entry (groups should call ahead to book).
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