Museum Lates at Dr Johnson's House

Shake off the January blues with a Museum Late at one of London’s best-kept secrets. Enjoy fizz and explore Dr Johnson’s historic home!

Shake off the January blues with an evening visit to one of London’s best-kept secrets! Enjoy a glass of fizz and explore the beautiful historic home of the famous Dr Samuel Johnson, whose love of London led him to declare '...when a man is tired of London, he is tired of life!'

SHORT TALK: 6pm

Spotlight on...'Resolution'

RESOLU'TION. n.s. [resolutio, Lat. resolution, Fr.]

Fixed determination; settled thought.

Samuel Johnson's Dictionary of the English Language (1755)

It's New Year.... Have you made any resolutions...? Or perhaps you're thinking of making a fresh start...? Back in the 18th-century, Samuel Johnson often made New Year resolutions as a way of trying to keep on the straight and narrow! While he was famous for drinking tea by the gallon, he did like a night out with his friends...

Drop by the Withdrawing Room at 6pm to hear more! (The talk is 10-15 minutes duration)

Dr Samuel Johnson

Like many Londoners today Samuel Johnson was not from London. The son of a bookseller in Lichfield (Staffordshire), Johnson walked to the capital in 1737 seeking fame and fortune. He never left. While fortune evaded him, Dr Johnson rose to become one of the greatest writers of the Georgian era. Johnson's Dictionary of the English Language laid the foundation of modern English, and the House where he created it, is often referred to as the 'Cradle of the English Language'.

Experience a Georgian Townhouse

A stone’s throw from St Paul’s and St Bride’s in the City of London, Dr Johnson's House is one of London’s best-kept secrets. Built in the 1690s, soon after the Great Fire of London, the five-storey house at 17 Gough Square has survived many near misses over the last 300+ years (not least the Blitz!).

The house retains many original features, including a very quirky anti-burglary device. You can browse all the rooms in what was still the tallest building in the area during WWII.

• Grab a glass and explore the rooms from Parlour & Withdrawing Room, to Library & Garret
• Cosy up in a window seat and soak up the atmosphere
• See where Johnson created his great Dictionary in 1755
• Look up lost words like hotcockles, jiggumbob, and twittletwattle
• Try writing with a quill & ink!
• Browse the Gift Shop

Come along, walk through the gate, up the steps, open the door and prepare to be delighted!

Doors open at 5.30pm. Drop off your coat or bag, grab a glass and explore the House!

There is no specific start time, but the Highlight Talk is at 6pm (for 10-15 minutes).

You are welcome to arrive and depart as you like between 5.30pm - 7pm.