Plan Your Visit

We are open 10.30am to 4.30pm, Tuesday – Saturday.

Two tours run daily at 11.00am and 2.15pm

The Museum, Chapel and Shop are open and free to visit during opening times.

Due to the nature of the site as a functioning almshouse, the Charterhouse may occasionally need to change opening times or the tour programme, or close at short notice.  We will endeavour to always give good notice of this on our homepage.

The Charterhouse
Charterhouse Square
London
EC1M 6AN

Please note: There is no access to the Charterhouse or Charterhouse Square from Clerkenwell Road or the Charterhouse Square Campus, if your directions are taking you there please use postcode: ‘EC1M 6AH’ instead. This is for the Malmaison Hotel which is right next door to the Charterhouse entrance.

Tel: 0203 818 8873

Please note that Charterhouse School is located in Godalming, Surrey.

Train

The nearest stations are Barbican and Farringdon. From Barbican tube, turn left out of the station, and then left again. You will walk into the south of Charterhouse Square, and the entrance is on the opposite side of the Square.  From Farringdon station, walk down Cowcross Street, turn left into Charterhouse Street, then fork left towards Charterhouse Square. Walk past Malmaison Hotel, and our Gatehouse, along the chequered wall and you come to our main entrance.

Bus

Buses 4, 56, and 153 stop in front of Barbican station on Aldersgate Street, a five minute walk from Charterhouse Square.

Parking

We have a small number of disabled parking spaces for Blue and Orange Badge holders. Please call us in advance to book a space on 020 7490 7738.

There are a limited number of places on the west side of Charterhouse Square.  Please see signs as charges apply.

There are many cafés and restaurants in the area but we are delighted to say that the local PAUL has very kindly offered our tour visitors 30% off their food & drink at the local Farringdon branch, and LEON in Cowcross Street has offered 15% off. Gordon Ramsay Street Burger is now also offering 20% off for tour visitors. All are just a few minutes minutes walk away and vouchers can be collected from the front desk on arrival.

NB if you are booking a Group Tour we can offer a selection of refreshments that can be ordered when you make your booking.

General accessibility

All public areas of the museum including the reception area, learning centre and cloakroom facilities are fully accessible for wheelchair users and people with limited mobility. The chapel is also fully accessible for wheelchair users. A wheelchair is available to borrow during your visit.

There are accessible toilet facilities and baby changing facilities in the museum reception area. (The nearest Changing Places toilets are at the Barbican Centre)

Large print guides are available in the museum and we welcome guide dogs. We have dedicated resources available for visitors with special educational needs. Click here to see our Visual Story.

Tour accessibility

Please note that the historic buildings of the Charterhouse include some uneven surfaces and a cobbled courtyard. Tours take place all year round and visit outdoor areas. Please dress appropriately for the weather.

There are easy alternative routes for wheelchair users on all stops on the tour, and we have portable chairs to take with you on the tour should you need one.

For more information about tours of the Charterhouse please visit the book a tour page.

Charterhouse Tour (60 mins):
Join a professional guide to discover the evocative remnants of the medieval monastery and the courtyards of the opulent Tudor mansion. Our tours cast new light on well-known stories from British history and introduce our visitors to the unique heritage of the historic Charterhouse – living the nation’s history since 1348.

Brother’s Tour (up to 90 mins):
Discover Thomas Sutton’s charity and life at the Charterhouse today in these historic surroundings. These tours are given from the perspective of each individual Brother – no two tours are the same. They provide an in-depth look at the long history of the site and the lifestyle of the Brothers through the centuries and are a unique opportunity to learn more about the nuances of this fascinating historical gem hidden in the heart of London.

Garden Tour (60 mins):
Led by a gardener and a Brother, this is a rare opportunity to enter the enchanting secret gardens of the Charterhouse. Hidden away for more than 650 years, the Charterhouse gardens are now revealed in all their glory – an oasis of calm and great beauty where a collection of courtyard gardens gradually unfold, cleverly reflecting different moods and providing colour and interest throughout the seasons. (Spring and summer only)

House and Garden Tour (up to 120 mins):
An opportunity to take in the full splendour of the whole site, combining the two main tours described above. (Spring and summer only)

Family Tour (45 mins):
Join us on a journey through the Charterhouse as we look for Thomas Sutton’s missing Talbots. Discover medieval monks, regal royals, terrible Tudors and naughty schoolboys as we search high and low for cuddly, teddy Talbots. Can you help us find them all?

Art and Historic Interiors Tour (75 mins)
A closer and more detailed look at our historic room design and unique artworks collection including our wonderful Flemish tapestry collection, which is not included on any other tour.

The Charterhouse by Candlelight (60 mins)
A chance to experience the beautiful buildings lit by candlelight – discover the treasures of the Charterhouse in the early evening with a glass of wine. (October to March only)

British Sign Language Tour (60 Mins)

A British Sign Language tour of the Charterhouse led by our volunteer, Deaf BSL Guide, exclusively for Deaf and hard of hearing visitors, highlighting key features of the Charterhouse and bringing to life its 600 years of history, using BSL.

Book your tour here.

We very much welcome Group Bookings, with a capacity of 20 people per tour (when there are more of you we can arrange to split into two tours).  Do get in touch to see how we can accommodate your group travel plans.

Did you know you can now order home-made refreshments for a just a small extra cost per person (prices inclusive of VAT), this includes FREE exclusive hire of our Portal Trust Learning Centre! (Usual cost £250+VAT per hour)

Please fill out our online Group booking form and we will get back to you shortly. You can also email tours@thecharterhouse.org or call 020 3818 8873 to make an enquiry about group bookings.

Open your loved ones eyes to the hidden world of the Charterhouse by purchasing a tour gift certificate. These are available for guests to attend either a Charterhouse or Brother’s Charterhouse tour and can be redeemed up to one year after purchase. This gift voucher makes an ideal gift for anyone passionate about history and London.

To purchase a gift voucher please click here and choose a tour.

There is plenty for families to enjoy at the Charterhouse. We have Family Tours once a month, we have a free Family Trail, special seasonal trails, baby changing facilities and buggy parking. Why not bring a picnic to have in our lovely Charterhouse Square, and you can pick up our free outdoor nature trail to follow while you are there.  And look out for family fun activities in the holidays. Click here for more details.

Our Shop is open Tuesdays-Saturdays, 10.30am-4.30pm, with a range of Charterhouse souvenirs, gifts and books. We have something for everyone, from little children to grown-up gardeners. All purchases help keep the Charterhouse open to the public. Come and browse our online shop here.

The Chapel is currently open to visitors during Museum opening times, and also to those who would like to join our regular services. Please see our Chapel page for details.

We have designated every Wednesday lunchtime a special ‘Quiet Hour‘ when anyone can drop in, take a pew, and take time out in the tranquility of this peaceful space.

Photography is permitted across the Charterhouse site but we ask visitors to respect the residents’ privacy and not take pictures of people.  If you are posting your pictures on social media, please do tag us.  You can find our social media accounts linked at the bottom of this webpage.

Twitter @charterhouseec1, Facebook @theCharterhouseLondon, Instagram @charterhouselondon

If you are walking in the area, please do take a moment to enjoy Charterhouse Square, and you may like to explore some of the other interesting historical sites nearby, using a tour created by Geo Tourist as part of their Epic England series, which can be listened to if you download their app to your smartphone here.

The Charterhouse is just one of several monastic institutions which dominated the Clerkenwell and Smithfield area during the medieval period. The Monastic Walking Tour includes The Charterhouse, the Museum of the Order of St John, and the churches of St Barts the Great and The Priory and Hospital of St Bartholomew. The monasteries were all closed in the few years between 1536 and 1540 when Henry VIII broke with the Church of Rome but the legacy of these institutions lives on in Clerkenwell and Smithfield in the buildings that have survived and the philanthropic and caring work that is still a major feature of daily life at these landmark sites.

Book your walking tour of Clerkenwell’s Monastic Quarter here with Islington Guided Walks.