Audio Tours

Visitors can learn more about the Museum, and enhance their visit around the Soane, by listening to an Audio Tour. Download these recordings to your MP3 player and use them as your personal guide on a fascinating visit to Sir John Soane's Museum.

There is a choice of four free Audio Tours: two general tours and two tours that focus on architecture in Sir John Soane's Museum.

General Tours:

The ‘Classic Tour’ is for adults and the ‘Junior Tour’ is for children and first-time visitors to the Museum.

Architectural Tours:

The ‘General Architecture Guide’ is suitable for anyone over the age of about twelve. The ‘Professional Architecture Guide’ is designed for professional architects, architectural students and those with a keen interest in architecture.

Introduction to the General Tour

Introduced by Stephen Fry

Both General Audio Tours are introduced by Stephen Fry. Use the controls below to listen to his introduction to the tours and to the Museum.

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The Classic Tour

Introduced by Stephen Fry and read by Tim Knox, Director of Sir John Soane's Museum

In this recording, lasting 1 hour, Tim Knox accompanies the visitor on an in-depth tour of the Museum, pointing out the highlights of the collection.

The tracks are organised on a room-by-room basis allowing the visitor to follow a set route or to see the rooms in any chosen order.

Download whole tour

Single MP3	MP3 (87MB)	ZIP (60MB)
Multiple MP3s		ZIP (60MB)

Download individual tracks

01 Overview	MP3 (4.9MB)	ZIP (4.3MB)
02 Introduction	MP3 (1.5MB)	ZIP (1.0MB)
03 Outside the Museum	MP3 (5.5MB)	ZIP (3.9MB)
04 Dining Room & Library	MP3 (9.2MB)	ZIP (6.2MB)
05 The Study	MP3 (1.3MB)	ZIP (0.9MB)
06 The Dressing Room	MP3 (2.3MB)	ZIP (1.5MB)
07 The Corridor	MP3 (2.7MB)	ZIP (1.8MB)
08 The Picture Room Pt. 1	MP3 (1.9MB)	ZIP (1.3MB)
09 The Picture Room Pt. 2	MP3 (2.9MB)	ZIP (2.0MB)
10 The Picture Room Pt. 3	MP3 (2.7MB)	ZIP (1.8MB)
11 The Picture Room Pt. 4	MP3 (1.6MB)	ZIP (1.0MB)
12 The Basement Steps	MP3 (1.7MB)	ZIP (1.1MB)
13 The Monk's Cell	MP3 (1.1MB)	ZIP (0.8MB)
14 The Monk's Parlour & Yard	MP3 (2.2MB)	ZIP (1.4MB)
15 Corridor to Ante Room	MP3 (2.1MB)	ZIP (1.3MB)
16 The Catacombs	MP3 (2.0MB)	ZIP (1.4MB)
17 The Crypt	MP3 (4.6MB)	ZIP (3.6MB)
18 The Colonnade	MP3 (2.4MB)	ZIP (1.6MB)
19 The Dome	MP3 (3.0MB)	ZIP (2.1MB)
20 Apollo Belvedere	MP3 (2.7MB)	ZIP (1.9MB)
21 The New Picture Room	MP3 (2.5MB)	ZIP (1.6MB)
22 The Ante Room	MP3 (3.7MB)	ZIP (2.3MB)
23 No. 12 Breakfast Parlour	MP3 (3.1MB)	ZIP (1.9MB)
24 Breakfast Parlour Pt. 1	MP3 (1.9MB)	ZIP (1.2MB)
25 Breakfast Parlour Pt. 2	MP3 (1.4MB)	ZIP (0.8MB)
26 Breakfast Parlour Pt. 3	MP3 (1.9MB)	ZIP (1.1MB)
27 The Staircase	MP3 (1.7MB)	ZIP (1.0MB)
28 The South Drawing Room pt. 1	MP3 (1.1MB)	ZIP (0.7MB)
29 The North Drawing Room	MP3 (2.2MB)	ZIP (1.3MB)
30 The South Drawing Room Pt. 2	MP3 (3.5MB)	ZIP (2.5MB)
31 The South Drawing Room Pt. 3	MP3 (3.3MB)	ZIP (2.1MB)
32 The South Drawing Room Pt. 4	MP3 (2.6MB)	ZIP (2.1MB)

The Junior Tour

Introduced by Stephen Fry and read by Eleanor Bron

In this atmospheric tour, lasting 59 minutes, the actress Eleanor Bron guides the listener through Soane's Museum, accompanied by sound effects and music. It is suitable for children and first-time visitors to the Museum.

The tracks are organised on a room-by-room basis allowing the visitor to follow a set route or to see the rooms in any chosen order.

Download whole tour

Single MP3	MP3 (87MB)	ZIP (60MB)
Multiple MP3s		ZIP (60MB)

Download individual tracks

01 Overview	MP3 (4.9MB)	ZIP (4.3MB)
02 Introduction	MP3 (2.2MB)	ZIP (1.5MB)
03 Outside the Museum	MP3 (6.6MB)	ZIP (5.3MB)
04 Dining Room & Library	MP3 (8.9MB)	ZIP (6.1MB)
05 The Study	MP3 (1.7MB)	ZIP (1.3MB)
06 The Dressing Room	MP3 (1.5MB)	ZIP (1.1MB)
07 The Corridor	MP3 (3.5MB)	ZIP (2.4MB)
08 The Picture Room Pt. 1	MP3 (1.8MB)	ZIP (1.3MB)
09 The Picture Room Pt. 2	MP3 (1.1MB)	ZIP (0.7MB)
10 The Picture Room Pt. 3	MP3 (2.7MB)	ZIP (1.7MB)
11 The Picture Room Pt. 4	MP3 (1.6MB)	ZIP (1.0MB)
12 The Basement Steps	MP3 (1.6MB)	ZIP (1.0MB)
13 The Monk's Cell	MP3 (2.0MB)	ZIP (1.5MB)
14 The Monk's Parlour & Yard	MP3 (2.0MB)	ZIP (1.9MB)
15 Corridor to Ante Room	MP3 (2.7MB)	ZIP (1.7MB)
16 The Catacombs	MP3 (2.3MB)	ZIP (1.7MB)
17 The Crypt	MP3 (4.4MB)	ZIP (3.3MB)
18 The Colonnade	MP3 (2.0MB)	ZIP (1.3MB)
19 The Dome	MP3 (2.2MB)	ZIP (1.5MB)
20 Apollo Belvedere	MP3 (1.3MB)	ZIP (1.1MB)
21 The New Picture Room	MP3 (2.7MB)	ZIP (1.8MB)
22 The Ante Room	MP3 (2.1MB)	ZIP (1.3MB)
23 No. 12 Breakfast Parlour	MP3 (2.5MB)	ZIP (1.9MB)
24 Breakfast Parlour Pt. 1	MP3 (1.9MB)	ZIP (1.2MB)
25 Breakfast Parlour Pt. 2	MP3 (1.9MB)	ZIP (1.5MB)
26 Breakfast Parlour Pt. 3	MP3 (1.3MB)	ZIP (0.8MB)
27 The Staircase	MP3 (1.4MB)	ZIP (1.1MB)
28 The South Drawing Room pt. 1	MP3 (1.0MB)	ZIP (0.7MB)
29 The North Drawing Room	MP3 (1.8MB)	ZIP (1.2MB)
30 The South Drawing Room Pt. 2	MP3 (2.2MB)	ZIP (1.8MB)
31 The South Drawing Room Pt. 3	MP3 (2.1MB)	ZIP (1.5MB)
32 The South Drawing Room Pt. 4	MP3 (3.2MB)	ZIP (2.5MB)

The General Architecture Guide

Read by Michael Palin,

In this recording, lasting 1 hour, Michael Palin accompanies the visitor on an in-depth tour of the Museum, using the Museum to explain some of the basic aspects of architecture. It is suitable for anyone over the age of about twelve.

The tracks are organised on a room-by-room basis allowing the visitor to follow a set route or to see the rooms in any chosen order and uses the Museum to explain some of the basic aspects of architecture.

Download whole tour

Single MP3	MP3 (59.6MB)	ZIP (55.3MB)
Multiple MP3s		ZIP (56.8MB)

Download individual tracks

01 Introduction	MP3 (1.1MB)	ZIP (0.96MB)
02 Lincoln's Inn Fields & The Museum Exterior	MP3 (5.8MB)	ZIP (5.5MB)
03 The Dining Room & The Library	MP3 (7.2MB)	ZIP (6.7MB)
04 The Study	MP3 (2.0MB)	ZIP (1.8MB)
05 The Dressing Room	MP3 (1.6MB)	ZIP (1.5MB)
06 The Corridor	MP3 (2.7MB)	ZIP (2.5MB)
07 The Picture Room (pt 1)	MP3 (1.8MB)	ZIP (1.6MB)
08 The Picture Room (pt 2)	MP3 (1.9MB)	ZIP (1.7MB)
09 The Picture Room (pt 3)	MP3 (1.2MB)	ZIP (1.1MB)
10 The Basement Steps	MP3 (0.45MB)	ZIP (0.40MB)
11 The Monk's Cell	MP3 (1.2MB)	ZIP (1.1MB)
12 The Monk's Parlour	MP3 (4.6MB)	ZIP (4.3MB)
13 The Monk's Yard	MP3 (0.98MB)	ZIP (0.89MB)
14 The Basement, Corridor & Ante-Room	MP3 (1.9MB)	ZIP (1.7MB)
15 Catacombs, New Court to The North West Corner	MP3 (1.6MB)	ZIP (1.5MB)
16 The Sepulchral Chamber & The Egyptian Crypt	MP3 (2.3MB)	ZIP (2.1MB)
17 The Colonnade	MP3 (1.7MB)	ZIP (1.6MB)
18 The Dome	MP3 (2.7MB)	ZIP (2.5MB)
19 The Breakfast Parlour (Pt 1)	MP3 (1.6MB)	ZIP (1.5MB)
20 The Breakfast Parlour (Pt 2)	MP3 (1.4MB)	ZIP (1.3MB)
21 The Staircase	MP3 (1.7MB)	ZIP (1.6MB)
22 The South Drawing Room (pt 1)	MP3 (0.59MB)	ZIP (0.52MB)
23 The North Drawing Room	MP3 (2.8MB)	ZIP (2.6MB)
24 The South Drawing Room (pt 2)	MP3 (2.0MB)	ZIP (1.9MB)
25 The South Drawing Room (pt 3)	MP3 (2.6MB)	ZIP (2.4MB)
26 The South Drawing Room (pt 4)	MP3 (1.7MB)	ZIP (1.6MB)
27 The Breakfast Parlour in Number Twelve	MP3 (2.7MB)	ZIP (2.5MB)

The Professional Architecture Guide

Read by Julia Somerville,

In this recording, lasting 1 hour, Julia Somerville accompanies the visitor on an in-depth architectural tour of the Museum. The tour is designed for professional architects, architectural students and those with a keen interest in architecture.

The tracks are organised on a room-by-room basis allowing the visitor to follow a set route or to see the rooms in any chosen order.

Download whole tour

Single MP3	MP3 (53.2MB)	ZIP (47.5MB)
Multiple MP3s		ZIP (47.6MB)

Download individual tracks

01 Introduction	MP3 (1.5MB)	ZIP (1.3MB)
02 Lincoln's Inn Fields & The Museum Exterior	MP3 (4.6MB)	ZIP (4.2MB)
03 The Dining Room & The Library	MP3 (5.2MB)	ZIP (4.7MB)
04 The Study	MP3 (1.7MB)	ZIP (1.6MB)
05 The Dressing Room	MP3 (2.5MB)	ZIP (2.2MB)
06 The Corridor	MP3 (1.9MB)	ZIP (1.7MB)
07 The Picture Room (pt 1)	MP3 (2.7MB)	ZIP (2.4MB)
08 The Picture Room (pt 2)	MP3 (2.2MB)	ZIP (1.9MB)
09 The Upper Drawing Office	MP3 (0.93MB)	ZIP (0.79MB)
10 The Basement Steps	MP3 (1.0MB)	ZIP (0.89MB)
11 The Basement & Monk's Parlour	MP3 (4.8MB)	ZIP (4.4MB)
12 Basement, Flaxman Recess, Ante-Room, Monument Ct	MP3 (2.3MB)	ZIP (2.1MB)
13 Catacombs, New Court to The North West Corner	MP3 (1.8MB)	ZIP (1.6MB)
14 The Sepulchral Chamber & The Egyptian Crypt	MP3 (2.3MB)	ZIP (2.0MB)
15 The Colonnade	MP3 (0.93MB)	ZIP (0.78MB)
16 The Dome	MP3 (3.9MB)	ZIP (3.5MB)
17 The Breakfast Parlour	MP3 (3.6MB)	ZIP (3.2MB)
18 The Staircase	MP3 (1.2MB)	ZIP (1.0MB)
19 The South Drawing Room (pt 1)	MP3 (0.48MB)	ZIP (0.39MB)
20 The North Drawing Room	MP3 (2.3MB)	ZIP (2.0MB)
21 The South Drawing Room (pt 2)	MP3 (3.3MB)	ZIP (3.0MB)
22 The Breakfast Parlour in Number Twelve	MP3 (2.1MB)	ZIP (1.9MB)

These audio tours have been written and produced by Simon Sharkey at Vocal Heroes, with the collaboration of Sir John Soane's Museum. The Museum is grateful to the BAND Trust for supporting this project.

Photograph of Michael Palin by John Swannell.