Almshouse tours

1880s almshouse room - photography Hannah Taylor

The Geffrye is now closed for a transformational, two-year development. 

Although the main museum is closed, there are still reasons to come to the Geffrye. Throughout closure we will run a programme of events and activities in our front gardens. 

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Restored Almshouse 

Visit one of the Geffrye's 18th-century almshouses which has been fully restored to its original condition, offering a rare glimpse into the lives of London's poor and elderly in former times. Tours are led by our knowledgeable team of volunteers.

Tours are available on the following days:

• Saturdays**28 April, 12 and 26 May and 9* and 23 June 2018
• Tuesdays: 8 and 22 May and 12 and 26 June 2018
• Wednesdays: 2 and 16 May and 2 and 20 June 2018
• Thursday: 31 May 2018

Timed entries are at 11am, 12pm, 1pm, 2pm and 3pm with additional 4pm tours between April and October.

Tours are priced at £5 per person. For Friends of the Geffrye, disabled visitors (and their companion) and children under 16 tours are free. 

Get a coffee and cake for £5 from our neighbours at the Hoxton Cabin, by showing your stamped ticket when you finish your tour. 

Places are limited and are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. 

Please note that owing to the nature of the building, the restored historic almshouse has no step free access, however visitors can view a virtual tour here. 

** New Object Handling tours

Themed object handling tours will run on Saturday afternoons at 2 and 3pm, and 4pm from April.

• Saturday 28 April - Keeping home
• Saturday 12 May - Lighting and heating
• Saturday 26 May - Food preparation and eating
• Saturday 23 June - Lighting and heating

London History Day

Thursday 31 May, 11am - 4.30pm (last entry 4.15pm). Free

Join us for a special almshouse tour which reflects the theme of Ageing with Courage, and asks what was life like for pensioners at the Geffrye almshouse.

Open House Families

* Saturday 9 June, 10am - 4pm

Celebrating Open House Families with activities for all ages. 

Almshouse tours at 11am, 12noon, 1pm, 2pm and 3pm. Places are limited and allocated on a first-come, first-served basis

Explore our almshouse buildings and get a rare glimpse into the lives of London's poor and elderly in the 1780s and 1880s by joining a tour produced by young people that is especially designed for families.

Group visits to the almshouse

For advance booking for groups of 8 or more contact bookings@geffrye-museum.org.uk or 020 7739 9893.

Please note that a maximum of 10 spaces per tour can be reserved for pre-booked groups; if your group is more than 10 we can split your group over 2 tours. This allows us to keep 6 spaces for other visitors that turn up on the day.

Unfortunately we are unable to take advance bookings for tours on Saturdays.