Plan your visit
Getting here
51.33025, 0.05227
About DOWN HOUSE
Down House is the former home of the English naturalist Charles Darwin and his family. It was in this house and garden that Darwin worked on his theory of evolution by natural selection, which he had conceived in London before moving to Down.
Read more on Wikipedia →Visiting this summer
Seasonal nature notes and what to look for now
Visiting this summer
Seasonal nature notes and what to look for now
- 🌞Midsummer — early morning visits most comfortable; look for deer fawns in quieter clearings
- ✦Historic character is a year-round quality here — summer brings its own atmosphere to the setting
- ☕Down House Tearoom — makes this an easy full-day family visit without needing to pack food
🌤️ Visiting this summer
- 🌞Midsummer — early morning visits most comfortable; look for deer fawns in quieter clearings
- ✦Historic character is a year-round quality here — summer brings its own atmosphere to the setting
- ☕Down House Tearoom — makes this an easy full-day family visit without needing to pack food
Good to know
- 🐕Dogs welcome
Best for
Wildlife
Very strong match
Multi-group wildlife — Birds, Mammals; Multi-group wildlife — Birds, Mammals
Heritage
Strong match
Historic site with public access
Bird watching
Strong match
Birds — Woodpigeon, Blackbird, Robin +40 more · last seen 2026; Birds — Woodpigeon, Blackbird, Robin +40 more · last seen 2026
Family friendly
Strong match
café, toilets
Foraging
Strong match
Traditional orchard — seasonal fruit, fungi and wild plants
Picnic day out
Strong match
café, toilets, car park
Trails nearby
Within roughly 5 km🚶Walking
13 signed routes nearby · 15 public paths nearby
Signed route nearbyPublic paths
Walking
Greenwich Meridian TrailWalking route440 km
A long-distance walk that follows the line of the Prime Meridian. Inaugurated in 2009, to coincide with the 125th anniversary of the Greenwich Meridian.
LOOP link to Hayes stationWalking route
Cudham Circular WalkWalking route
A rural route passing near to Down House, Darwin's home, and Downe village to which a diversion could be made. Passing near Biggin Hill airport on a ridgeline, it reaches the London LOOP coming into High Elms Country Park, finally ascending back to Cudham
Vanguard WayWalking route111 km
Tandridge Border PathWalking route
🚴Cycling
25 signed routes nearby
Signed route nearby
Cycling
Route 232Cycling route
LCN 22Cycling route
LCN 76Cycling route
National Cycle Route 21Cycling route
Waterlink WayCycling route12 km
Route 21Cycling route
Wildlife to spot
Photos
Looking towards Darwin's experimental greenhouse at Down House
Weather for this location
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Nearby places
Useful places within 5 km
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