"Samuel Johnson's House" London Off The Beaten Path Tip by Maria81

This is the house (complete with a memorial statue to his cat!) where Dr. Samuel Johnson has compiled his dictionary - one of English language's most famous books. In keeping with Dr. Johnson's sometimes strained financial circumstances, there is not too much furniture - but you still get many paintings and artefacts that belonged to him. One of the most interesting rooms is the library (originally Samuel Johnson's bedroom) which also features a facsimile of the dictionary itself.

The audio guide really helps in the museum by putting the objects you see into context, giving you the lowdown on Dr. Johnson, his friends and acquaintances - such as Mrs Thrales, whose beautiful tea set (Samuel Johnson was very fond of the drink) is on display.

Practicalities

To visit, take the tube to Chancery lane and walk towards Fleet St. - about 5 minutes away