London's Smallest Museum

The Sir John Soane Museum is London's smallest museum and is centrally located in Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the Holborn area.
Sir John Soane was a distinguished architect, his most famous commission being the Bank of England building in Threadneedle Street. Soane actually designed 3 row houses in Lincoln's Inn Fields in the latter part of the 18th century and lived in one; it is now the museum.
The museum houses a surprisingly wide array of exhibits including 30,000 architectural drawings, 3 Canaletto's and the famous series of paintings by William Hogarth: 'A Rake's Progress'. This is an eight painting piece chronicling the slow but unstoppable downfall of Tom through a series of  poor life choices - a salutary tale.
The name Lincoln's Inn Fields perhaps does not evoke quite accurately what one will see there today. It's actually a formal square (the largest public square in London) with the centre being a good-sized rectangular park. I assume that originally the majority of structures that were built around the perimeter were houses, like Sir John Soane's. Today, however, many are used as professional offices, particularly law offices.
One nice feature is that Lincoln's Inn Fields is a very peaceful place, relatively speaking, and as such it's pleasant to stroll around, even though only one block to the west is the busy thoroughfare of Kingsway. I recommend taking the time to walk around the square. If you do, when you're at the south west corner, you'll run into Portsmouth Street. Walk down a few yards and you'll find 'The Olde Curiosity Shoppe', purported to be the inspiration for Charles Dickens' novel of the same name. Upon seeing it it's easy to see why.
To get to Lincoln's Inn Fields go to Holborn tube station on the Central line. Head south out of the station and stay on the east side of the street. After a few blocks you'll encounter Remnant Street; walk down it a short way and you'll be there.
FYI while in the neighborhood it's an easy, quick & interesting walk to Covent Garden. Go back to Remnant Street, cross over Kingsway, continue going west on Great Queen Street which morphs into Long Arce, then go south on Bow Street and you'll be right there. It'll take less than 10 minutes.
http://www.soane.org/