A delightful place to visit in itself, Down House is also a site of outstanding international significance. Here the famous scientist Charles Darwin lived with his family for forty years; here he worked on his revolutionary theories; and here he wrote On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection - the book which shook the Victorian world, and has influenced our thinking ever since.
In celebration of the 200th anniversary of Darwin's birth and 150th anniversary of the publication of On the Origin of Species, rare and unique collections, including many of Darwin's personal possessions, will be on display in a new exhibition on the first floor, covering Darwin's life, his scientific work and the controversy it provoked. Visitors can also have an intimate glimpse into Darwin's own scientific origins through an impressive and detailed replica of his cabin onboard HMS Beagle – the vessel which was to be his home for almost 5 years as he voyaged the world gathering evidence for his work. See the famous Beagle notebooks on display for the first time and interact with these rare manuscripts via exciting new digital interactive displays.