Home of Charles Darwin - Down House

IMPORTANT TRAVEL UPDATES: ROAD CLOSURES

There are several road closures in the surrounding area. Luxted Road, leading to Down House through Downe Village, is closed due to emergency gas repairs. Cudham Lane is also closed due to a burst water pipe on Berry’s Hill. We apologise for the inconvenience caused. The only route to Down House is via Jail Lane. Alternatively, you may park in Downe Village and walk up.

The exterior of Charles Darwin's former home with the manicured gardens in the foreground.
A room in Charles Darwin's former home filled with books and scientific objects.
Direction Map

Open daily, 10am - 5pm (last entry at 4pm)

See full prices and opening times
Address
Luxted Road, Downe, Kent, BR6 7JT

What's On

Muffins in a tray, some chocolate, some topped with oats

Food and drink at Down House

The café at Down House serves up hot and cold drinks, delicious cakes, ice creams, alcoholic tipples and children’s lunch bags. For lunch, you can tuck into homemade baguettes from April to October and soups from November to March. We use produce from the kitchen garden for our baguette fillings when in season.

You’ll find the café in the old kitchen, where all the Darwin family’s meals were prepared. There’s plenty of indoor seating in the kitchen and the Butler’s Pantry. If the sun’s shining, there’s outdoor seating on the patio, where Darwin used to receive his regular ‘water cures’.

Take a tour of Charles Darwin's Gardens

Discover Darwin's 'living laboratory', which helped formulate his theory of evolution.

Down House on the English Heritage Podcast

Find out more about family life at Down House on the English Heritage Podcast.

Guidebook: Down House

Price: £5.00

Buy Now

Membership starts from £44

Membership gives you unlimited access to castles and gardens, historic houses and abbeys, and kids go free...

Join Now

UNLIMITED ACCESS TO OVER 400 HISTORIC PLACES

Live and breathe the story of England at royal castles, historic gardens, forts and defences, world-famous prehistoric sites and many others.

FREE ENTRY FOR UP TO SIX CHILDREN

Free entry for up to six children accompanied by an adult member (under 18 years and within the family group).

FREE HANDBOOK TO PLAN INSPIRING DAYS OUT, WORTH £12.95

Complimentary full colour handbook worth £12.95. Plus our award winning Members’ Magazine delivered three times a year.

FREE OR REDUCED ENTRY TO OUR EXCITING EVENTS