About the museum

The Freud Museum, at 20 Maresfield Gardens in Hampstead, was the home of Sigmund Freud and his family when they escaped Nazi annexation of Austria in 1938. It remained the family home until Anna Freud, the youngest daughter, died in 1982. The centrepiece of the museum is Freud's study, preserved just as it was during his lifetime.

It contains Freud's remarkable collection of antiquities: Egyptian; Greek; Roman and Oriental. Almost 2,000 items fill cabinets and are ranged on every surface. There are rows of ancient figures on the desk where Freud wrote until the early hours of the morning. The walls are lined with shelves containing Freud's large library.

The house is also filled with memories of his daughter, Anna, who lived there for 44 years and continued to develop her pioneering psychoanalytic work, especially with children. It was her wish that the house become a museum to honour her illustrious father. The museum is now being developed as a cultural and  Research Centre of outstanding value to the professional community. The Freuds were fortunate to be able to bring all their furniture and household effects to London: there were splendid Biedermeier chests, tables and cupboards, and a fine collection of 18th and 19th century Austrian painted country furniture.

Undoubtedly the most famous piece of furniture in all the collection is Freud's psychoanalytic couch, on which all of Freud's patients reclined. The couch is remarkably comfortable and is covered with a richly coloured Iranian rug with chenille cushions piled on top. Other fine oriental rugs, Heriz and Tabriz, cover the floor and tables.

The Freud Museum's central function is to celebrate the life and work of Sigmund and Anna Freud. To view the full mission statement and aims please click here. The museum organises active programmes of research and publication (link to Museum Publications List). It has an Education Service which organizes conferences, talks  and special visits to the museum.

There is a shop with books on the life and work of Sigmund Freud and contemporary psychoanalysis. Art prints, postcards gifts and souvenirs are also available.

The Freud Museum can be hired for meetings, buffets and formal dinners. It can also be hired for filming.