One of London's best museums (Geffrye Museum (London))

Member Name: drifter

Product:	Geffrye Museum (London)
Date:	12/09/00 (137 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Fascinating portrayal of the history of furniture/decor in England over the centuries

Disadvantages: None

The Geffrye Museum seems to be one of London's less well-known museums/galleries, but it is one of the best.

Situated near the Shoreditch end of Kingsland Road, it is a beautiful 18th century building - a former almshouse - which houses a fascinating collection of English furniture and other objects. The collection is arranged in chronological order with a series of small rooms furnished in the typical styles of each era beginning with the 16th century and continuing up to the present day.

For anybody at all interested in interior design/decor and art history the collection is a must, but quite small children will like it as well (though it's very much a case of "don't touch" at all times).

I guarantee that when the displays for the 20th century are reached, comments along the lines of "we used to have one of those" will start to fly.

Admission to the museum is free (donations are welcome but the front-of-house staff are very friendly and do not browbeat visitors into giving money if they don't want to), and for this reason it repays repeated visits. The restaurant is very good and I would recommend it as a lunch venue even if you don't have time to look at the exhibits.

I should also mention the very pleasant gardens (both the front gardens and the Herb garden at the rear), and the well-stocked bookshop.

Public transport access is via the various buses which stop outside in Kingsland Road (eg routes 242 and 149 which can be caught from outside Liverpool Street station). There are no parking facilities, only metered parking in the nearby streets.

Summary: