What is it?
Dennis Severs’ House is a time capsule attraction which immerses visitors in a unique form of theatre. Part museum, part art piece, the ten rooms of this original Huguenot house have been decked out to recreate snapshots of life in Spitalfields between 1724 and 1914. An escorted tour through the compelling ‘still-life drama’, as its eccentric American creator Dennis Severs put it, takes you through the cellar, kitchen, dining room, smoking room and upstairs to the bedrooms.
With the hearth smoking, candles burning smells lingering and objects scattered around apparently haphazardly, it feels as though the inhabitants had deserted the rooms only moments before. It’s a real immersive experience, plunging you straight into the past.
There are a range of tours to pick from including self-guided silent tours, informal tours which are best for children, tours guided by actors and one-off behind the scenes tours revealing the hidden secrets of the place.
Why go?
This ornate Huguenot house tucked down a backstreet in Spitalfields is a real-life time capsule. If you’ve ever wanted to go back in time, this is the next best thing.
Don’t miss:
The house is particularly special over the Christmas period when all the rooms are covered with period decorations with gingerbread figures and figgy pudding mix laid out in the 18th-century kitchen, Christmas trees covered in crimson and a lavish holiday feast set out on the dining room table.
When to visit:
Fri 12 noon-9pm, Sat-Sun 12 noon-4pm, special tours curated by The Gentle Author of Spitalfields Life take place on Thu, Sat and Sun evenings.
Ticketing info:
relaxed and silent visit £16, silent night visit £25, Gentle Author tour £75, behind the scenes tour for up to 10 guests £750
Time Out tip:
For a truly atmospheric evening I’d recommend the silent night tours. These are silent, unguided tours that take place in the evenings and are entirely lit by candlelight. The silence means every noise from the ticking clocks to the creaking floorboards and the perfume and wood smoke smells are beautifully amplified, bringing the place to life. It’s a feast for the senses.
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