Home of Charles Darwin - Down House

Open daily 10am-5pm until 24 October 2026, then 10am-4pm from 25 October to 1 November. From 2 November-20 December 2026, open Saturday, Sunday 10am-4pm. Check the official calendar for holidays, later dates and event exceptions.

Last entry normally one hour before closing.

EH members receive free standard admission with their membership card. National Trust membership alone does not cover admission. Advance booking is optional for ordinary admission; check special events separately.

Wheelchair access and a lift beside the tearoom to the first floor. Compacted hoggin paths, but uneven ground on the Sandwalk. Accessible toilet with baby changing and an adult changing table. Two Blue Badge bays; contact the site in advance for house-side drop-off.

Parking: Free visitor parking about 50m from the house, with two Blue Badge bays. Advance arrangements are needed for drop-off at the house and the single coach bay. Follow EH's current approach instructions; the site is inside London's ULEZ.

Directions: Driving pin: Home Of Charles Darwin (Down House) Parking, matched to the public/visitor arrival parking described by EH at https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/home-of-charles-darwin-down-house/directions/. Main attraction Google identity is stored separately. Walk from parking to admissions.

Image: Down House and its garden. Ajr50, CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Down_House_and_garden.jpg

Dogs at the location: Not allowed. No pet dogs anywhere on the visitor site, including house and grounds, because of protected species. Assistance dogs welcome. Dogs must not be left unattended in the car park.

Dog walks in the grounds: Not allowed. Pet dogs are not allowed in the gardens, meadow, greenhouse area or Sandwalk. The restriction applies throughout the visitor site; assistance dogs are excepted.

Dog walks in the surrounding area: Not confirmed. Not confirmed: a complete, current dog-permitted route outside the visitor site, including its access point, parking and any seasonal restrictions, was not established from the checked official visitor information. Nearby greenery or visitor reviews alone do not establish access rights.

Leads: Pet dogs prohibited throughout; assistance dogs excepted. Keep dogs under control around livestock and wildlife; site-specific livestock precautions beyond the stated guidance are not confirmed.

Seasonal dog restrictions: Not confirmed: no additional dated seasonal dog exclusions were established. Follow current signs and the year-round site restrictions.

Assistance dogs: Assistance dogs are welcome according to EH access guidance; contact the site about inaccessible areas.