Cracking Easter Open

To all of you scratching your heads over what to do during the Easter break, London-bound readers need look no further than the northern edge of Lincoln’s Inn Fields, to the delectable, newly furbished Sir John Soane’s Museum. During the eighteenth century, Soane (1753-1837) was the most successful of neo-classical architects. Having made his fortune, he became one of those delightful collectors of objets: paintings and drawings (check out Canaletto, Hogarth, Watteau, Turner and more), Roman sculptures and medieval carvings, furniture and, in the midst of all, an Egyptian sarcophagus. Visiting the JS Museum is like stepping into the mind of an eccentric, all grace and elegance above stairs, with the wonderful, strange and downright weird in the basement: check out a madly-grinning monk among the medieval carvings, the stuff as nightmares are made on. The Museum is open Wednesday to Sunday, 10 am to 5 pm. It is normally closed Monday and Tuesday, but does open on Bank holidays. Bookings are obligatory for groups of eight or more. Individuals do not need to book; just walk in and entry is FREE. However, queues do build up in the afternoon - you will soon find out why – so early arrival is recommended. Their shop is stocked with quality goods, and toilets are in the basement. No cafe is available but the Museum is just a walk away from High Holborn, a site of pubs and eateries too numerous to mention. And if the day turns out fine, you can always enjoy an after-stroll in the glorious, grass and floral-walk Square – what’s not to love? Whoever you are, whatever you do, a cracking great Easter to you.