Dennis Severs House

I saw this house at night done up for Christmas which was a wonderful experience. Most of what I wanted to say has already been said but I feel it needs to be pointed out again that this is not so much a historical experience as an art experience. You can't ask questions of the rather scary staff (who should be regarded as performers) which is frustrating but you just have to accept that and look it up on the net afterwards. My friend and I took our 14 year old daughters - they both 'got it'. One loved it and the other was a bit spooked by it. I have recommended it to everyone and will definitely go back.

I've just got back from one of their evening 'candlelight' sessions. I went on my own, and was pleased to have done so, as I could linger and absorb the sounds, smells and sights of each room. I found myself resenting the intrusions of other visitors; I just wanted to be alone with my thoughts and impressions.

I still find it hard to describe this place; a museum? A work of art?To the casual passer by, you wouldn't know this place existed. The only clue is what appears to be a gas lamp over the front door in a road of electric lights.

Some rooms I probably 'didn't get'; the one where it's the painting 'come to life' irritated me in that if people had just left in a hurry as it seems to be depicting, why were coats hung neatly on the wall?

I found myself drawn in the higher I went. Climbing the stairs to the top floor and having to duck to avoid the lines of washing does make you feel you're trespassing in somebody's home. I liked that, and the comparisons of poverty with the richesse below. I think I enjoyed it on an historical basis rather than an artist's. It did make me consider what it must have been like to live without electricity. All those candles, and it was still dark. Not like the TV productions of 18th and 19th century life where you can still see everything clearly when it's supposed to be evening.

Oh, and the real cat disappearing under a door was a nice touch.

I wouldn't recommend taking children here. I certainly wouldn't take my 13 yr old. But I would love to go again if I could have the house to myself, and be able just to sit and listen to the clock tick, tick, ticking, and the far away peal of church bells.

I hestitate to write a review singing the praises of this very off beat place, because I don't want too many people to discover this gem. I've been to Dennis Sever's house three times, at different times of the year, and have always loved it. I've taken local mates who never even knew it existed and they really enjoyed the experience.

As they say on their website, you either 'see it'- or you don't, but if you're the type who looks at paintings in museums and wonders what it was like to be in the room with the artist, or secretly wishes you could just jump right into it and back in time, well this is the 'still-life drama' you've been searching for. Once inside, you're entirely removed from modern-day London despite being in the middle of it. The website pictures can't do it justice, as every room is amazing in it's detail, down to the smells and sounds. It took me a few minutes, the first time I was at the house, to realize there wasn't actually a cart and horse going by outside the window. All that and a really friendly caretaker and resident cat to add to your experience.

The opening hours are extremely limited so planning and reserving ahead are essential. Worth every penny, and a good hour to 1.5 hours of your valuable time.