Down House, home of Charles Darwin: ‘An unstuffy educational day out’ – review
Darwin’s Kent home and garden Japanese Porn immerses visitors in his work and life, and proves a day trip where learning is also fun
Kari Herbert
@kari_herbert
Wed 30 May 2018 11.41 BST Last modified on Wed 30 May 2018 14.11 BST
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Charles Darwin, his wife, Emma, and their children lived at Down House for 40 years from 1838. Several rooms appear as if the family still live here: with croquet sets thrown into an under-stairs cupboard, a half-played game of backgammon on a side table and Emma’s knitting left on a chair in the drawing room. Upstairs, an exhibition showcases Darwin’s voyage aboard HMS Beagle, including a reconstruction of his cabin. Outside, visitors can explore the sheltered gardens which Darwin used as an open-air laboratory, and the greenhouse in which he cultivated rare plants and devised botanical experiments.
Fun fact
No room at Down House escaped Darwin’s experiments. In the drawing Jav Sex room he once placed a jar of earthworms on the grand piano to see whether they could hear.
Darwin’s study at Down House, Kent.
Facebook Twitter Pinterest Darwin’s study. Photograph: Jim Holden/English Heritage
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Unlike many Victorian parents, Charles and Emma encouraged their children to play freely. Listening to the multimedia tour (narrated by Sir David Attenborough), we could picture the kids careering around and whizzing down the inventive wooden slide that hooked onto the stairs. Darwin’s study is particularly special: crammed with his books, scientific instruments and papers, and the horsehair chair in which he wrote On the Origin of Species. We all enjoyed imagining that we were following in his footsteps through the gardens, too, and discovering his “thinking path”, which he strolled three times a day, formulating ideas. There are many activities for younger visitors, such as a trail, dressing-up closet, observation beehives and walled gardens to explore (sometimes additional activities during school holidays).
There are picnic benches in the gardens. Alternatively, the small tearoom serves drinks, sandwiches, and hot meals (from £4.95). A kids’ box, including sandwich, fruit, crisps, juice and a cookie costs £4.95. Cakes from £2.30.
Exit through the gift shop?
You have to enter and exit through the shop but it sells excellent nature-based toys, such as magnifying glasses at £4.50, butterfly kites (£2) and children’s books on nature and evolution.
Kari Herbert
@kari_herbert
Wed 30 May 2018 11.41 BST Last modified on Wed 30 May 2018 14.11 BST
Shares
30
Charles Darwin, his wife, Emma, and their children lived at Down House for 40 years from 1838. Several rooms appear as if the family still live here: with croquet sets thrown into an under-stairs cupboard, a half-played game of backgammon on a side table and Emma’s knitting left on a chair in the drawing room. Upstairs, an exhibition showcases Darwin’s voyage aboard HMS Beagle, including a reconstruction of his cabin. Outside, visitors can explore the sheltered gardens which Darwin used as an open-air laboratory, and the greenhouse in which he cultivated rare plants and devised botanical experiments.
Fun fact
No room at Down House escaped Darwin’s experiments. In the drawing Jav Sex room he once placed a jar of earthworms on the grand piano to see whether they could hear.
Darwin’s study at Down House, Kent.
Facebook Twitter Pinterest Darwin’s study. Photograph: Jim Holden/English Heritage
Best things about it
Sign up to The Flyer: weekly travel inspiration, emailed direct to you
Read more
Unlike many Victorian parents, Charles and Emma encouraged their children to play freely. Listening to the multimedia tour (narrated by Sir David Attenborough), we could picture the kids careering around and whizzing down the inventive wooden slide that hooked onto the stairs. Darwin’s study is particularly special: crammed with his books, scientific instruments and papers, and the horsehair chair in which he wrote On the Origin of Species. We all enjoyed imagining that we were following in his footsteps through the gardens, too, and discovering his “thinking path”, which he strolled three times a day, formulating ideas. There are many activities for younger visitors, such as a trail, dressing-up closet, observation beehives and walled gardens to explore (sometimes additional activities during school holidays).
https://www.javdoe.com/
What about lunch?There are picnic benches in the gardens. Alternatively, the small tearoom serves drinks, sandwiches, and hot meals (from £4.95). A kids’ box, including sandwich, fruit, crisps, juice and a cookie costs £4.95. Cakes from £2.30.
Exit through the gift shop?
You have to enter and exit through the shop but it sells excellent nature-based toys, such as magnifying glasses at £4.50, butterfly kites (£2) and children’s books on nature and evolution.
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