Down House, Home of Charles Darwin (Kent)

A fascinating day out awaits at The Home of Charles Darwin, Down House. Discover the home where Darwin lived and worked.

Summary 18th century buildings Gift shop Information provided Learning facilities Gardens Audio guide Free car parking (on site)

Food and Drinks Tea Room

Introduction

Set in stunning Kentish countryside and only 15 miles from London, Down House is a day out to inspire all the family. The home of Charles Darwin for 40 years, here you can learn about his life and work and see the award winning exhibition. Don’t miss the study where he wrote ‘On the Origin of Species’ and take a walk down his ‘thinking path’. You can also relax on the veranda and in the gardens or have a bite to eat in the tearoom.

History to the present day

A delightful place to visit in itself, Down House is also a site of outstanding international significance. Here the famous scientist Charles Darwin lived with his family for forty years; here he worked on his revolutionary theories; and here he wrote On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection - the book which shook the Victorian world, and has influenced our thinking ever since.

Darwin's work and personality are vividly reflected throughout the house and gardens. The ground floor rooms have been recreated as they appeared when he lived here with his indefatigably supportive wife Emma - a member of the renowned Wedgwood family - and their many children. Visitors are guided round Darwin's family rooms by a new hand-held multimedia tour, narrated by Sir David Attenborough. The tour now also includes the extensive gardens - Darwin's 'outdoor laboratory' and the place where he made many of his discoveries.

Food and Drinks

 The tea room serves a wide selection of light lunches and refreshments.

Grounds and gardens

Charles Darwin used the 7.2ha estate, including the Great House Meadow and greenhouses, surrounding Down House as an inspiration for his work and a test bed for his ideas. Though somewhat run down when acquired by English Heritage, the estate has survived in structure and extent almost unscathed since Darwin's death in 1882. English Heritage completed a five year restoration of the garden in the spring of 2003, which aimed to re-create the appearance and atmosphere of the garden as it was towards the end of Darwin's life.

Down House is Grade II on the English Heritage Register of Parks and Gardens. 
In the glasshouse Orchids include the Comet Orchid (Angraecum sesquipedale) for which Darwin predicted the pollinator 40 years before its discovery, based on his theory of evolution through natural selection.

Other facilities

Toilets: Accessible WC on ground floor. Shop: Level accessible. Sorry no picnics allowed in house or grounds. No dogs allowed.

Access to house: Disabled access via shop. All ground floor rooms are level with seats in every room. First-floor reached by lift and ramp to mount two steps.
Access to grounds: Most areas can be reached via gravel paths, including Darwin's 'thinking path' and greenhouses. The gravel can be slippery when wet. The rest of the area is lawn.

Parking: 50m from house with separate disabled bays. Disabled visitors may be set down outside the house by prior arrangement. Level path to house. At busy times an overflow car park is in use. This may not be open in wet conditions. Please travel by public transport wherever possible.

Visually Impaired Visitors: Interactive exhibition on first floor allowing visitors to touch and participate.

Arrival information and how to find us

Address: The Home of Charles Darwin, Down House, Kent, , United Kingdom

Address: Down House, Luxted Road, Kent BR6 7JT

Directions: Off A21or A233

Train Access: only 15 minutes from London Victoria or London Charing Cross to Bromley South, followed by bus 146 at 36 minutes past the hour. Also trains to Orpington followed by bus R8 (not on Sundays).

Bus Access: TFL 146 from Bromley South railway station (36 minutes past the hour); R8 fromOrpington railway station (not on Sundays).

Opening times 2011:  April 1st – 30th June: Open Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday 11.00-17.00

1st July – 31st August: Open daily 11.00-17.00

1st September – 31st October Open Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday 11.00-17.00

Please note on open days the ticket office, shop and grounds are open from 10.00

Prices 2011: English Heritage members: Free

Adults: £9.90 Concessions (60+/students): £8.90 Children: £5.90 Under fives: Free  Family (2 adults and up to three children under 16): £25.70

 

Photographs courtesy of English Heritage Photo Library.

More photos of Down House, Home of Charles Darwin

	The Garden	Charles Darwin	Replica of Darwin's cabin on HMS Beagle	Darwin's Microscope
Primate Skull