Home | Dr Johnson's House
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Welcome to Dr Johnson's House

'...when a man is tired of London, he is tired of life'

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Discover the world of Dr Samuel Johnson, England's most distinguished man of letters

Opening Hours
Tuesday - Saturday 10am - 5pm

Sunday 12pm - 4pm

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Free Talks Every Wednesday & Friday

Join us for volunteer-led talks.
Wednesdays at 2:30pm - Dr Johnson’s Dictionary: an extraordinary feat of lexicography

Fridays 2:30pm - A City of Change: Living in 18th-Century London 

Included with admission.

Exciting Opportunity: Freelance Illustrator & Designer

Join us in creating Dr Johnson’s Alphabet, a vibrant visual project that introduces early years children to unusual and exciting words from Samuel Johnson’s dictionary. We’re seeking freelance illustrators and designers to make language playful, engaging, and fun.

Salon Series: UC8

Salon Series
Wednesday 25 March
5pm - 6.30pm

Join us for an intimate musical performance by UC8 in this salon-style concert in the historical home of Dr Johnson.

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Johnson, Crime and Punishment, in Four Cases

Thursday 26 March
6.30pm - 8pm​

Crime was rife in Georgian London, but so too was punishment. Hear how Samuel Johnson struggled to reconcile his compassion for people in desperate situations with his unwavering sense of Justice.

Craft Afternoon

Sunday 29 March
12pm - 4pm​

Enjoy a relaxed Sunday afternoon of creativity, where you can craft your own handmade greeting cards using delicate dried flowers and vintage papers.

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Boswell's Fascination with Freemasonry

Lunchtime Lecture
Tuesday 31 March
12.30pm - 1.45pm​

Join us over lunch to hear Pauline Chakmakjian, MA discuss Dr Johnsons' biographer James Boswell and his fascination with Freemasonry.

Walk & Visit

Wednesday 15 April
1pm - 3pm

Take a fascinating walk through the heart of literary London and visit the home of its most famous resident writer, Samuel Johnson.

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Museum Lates

Thursday 23 April
5.30pm - 7pm

Celebrate the return of light evenings with a Museum Late at one of London’s best-kept secrets!

Fleet Street Quarter Festival of Words 2026

The Age of Wisdom and Foolishness
Tuesday 12 - Saturday 16 May

Featuring an array of authors, journalists and thinkers across multiple genres, the Festival of Words once again celebrates Fleet Street Quarter as the place where stories have always been born.

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​Death Rituals & Grief: In Conversation with Sofka Zinovieff & Julia Samuel

Wednesday 10 June
6pm - 8pm

Join acclaimed author Sofka Zinovieff and leading psychotherapist Julia Samuel for a fascinating exploration of death rituals and grief.

Become a Member

Join us and enjoy unlimited free entry! Your Membership provides critical support for the future of Dr Johnson's House.

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Desks, Drudgery and the Dictionary: Samuel Johnson’s Garret Lexicography

Current Exhibition
Free with Admission

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We showcase new aspects of Johnson's garret lexicography, exploring why the garret was so important in Johnson's move to Gough Square.

Discover Johnson's Dictionary

​Explore the story behind Samuel Johnson’s groundbreaking Dictionary of the English Language and its lasting impact.

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Children Welcome!

We've been welcoming children since 1752, when 8-year old Francis Barber came to live with Samuel Johnson.

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