On entering, visitors are immersed in the world of the museum's creator, Sir John Soane (1753-1837), the great architect of the Regency period. He lived at n°12 on this square; in 1805 he bought n°13 to house his collection and then had n°14 built. The museum has remained unchanged as John Soane stipulated, and amidst this indescribably sublime bric-a-brac (Egyptian sarcophagae, Chinese vases, paintings by Hogarth) there is undeniable magic.