Accessible Britain

In 1842, when the young Charles Darwin needed a bigger house to accommodate his
growing family, this is where he moved to: Down House, a sturdy Georgian home in a
pretty Kent village. Darwin was to live, study and work here until his death, forty years
later. Preserved as a museum by English Heritage, it offers a fascinating glimpse into the
life and work of this remarkable British scientist.
Many of the ground-floor rooms have been meticulously restored to their 1870s appearance,
based on photographs and family accounts: the drawing room and billiard
room, in particular, retain the look and feel of a family home. Best of all is the study,
crammed with books, scientific instruments and various specimens, as well as the chair
and writing board on which Darwin wrote On the Origin of Species. Upstairs is given
over to a series of interactive exhibits, including a recreation of Darwin’s cabin on HMS
Beagle. Outside you can explore the estate grounds where Darwin conducted many of
his experiments.
There’s a car park with several disabled bays about fifty yards from the house. The
main entrance to the house involves a few steps; wheelchair access is via the shop.
Inside, the rooms are spacious and the doorways are wide; most ground-floor rooms
have level access, and there’s a good-sized lift up to the first floor. A hearing loop and
audioguides are available and all video displays have subtitles. Outside, most areas of
the garden are accessible, though the greenhouses are a bit cramped for wheelchairs
and the Sandwalk (Darwin’s “thinking path”) has an uneven surface; wheelchair users
may need assistance here. There’s an accessible toilet outside, next to the tearoom.
FOOD & DRINK aa Picnics are not allowed, but the accessible ground-floor tearoom is
attractive and inexpensive: offerings include soup and home-made cakes. On a warm
day you can eat outside in the shade of Darwin’s favourite mulberry tree.
THE SOUTHEAST
Down House, the Home of Charles Darwin
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