The Freud Museum was the final home of Sigmund Freud, the founder of psychoanalysis, and his daughter Anna Freud, a pioneering child psychoanalyst.
The Freud family came to England as refugees, having escaped Austria following the Nazi annexation in March 1938. The Freuds were fortunate to be able to bring all their belongings to London. The heart of the house is Sigmund Freud’s study and his famous psychoanalytic couch. Freud spent the last year of his life here, and died in his study at Maresfield Gardens.
The house remained the family home until Anna’s death in 1982. Anna bequeathed the house to become a museum. We opened our doors to the public in 1986. Read Anna Freud’s Story.
What We Do
Conserving Freud’s collection
The Freud Museum exists to promote the intellectual and cultural legacies of Sigmund and Anna Freud for the learning and enjoyment of all.
While caring for the house and collections, we aim to highlight the relevance of Sigmund Freud, Anna Freud and psychoanalysis in the contemporary world.
We are open to the public. Why not pay us a visit?
Exhibitions
Mark Wallinger, ‘Self Reflection’, 2016
We have been displaying contemporary art for over 25 years, and have a reputation for innovative, exciting exhibitions.
Artists who have responded to the house, its history and collections, and to the work of Sigmund and Anna Freud, include:
- Sophie Calle
- Louise Bourgeois
- Mark Wallinger
- Susan Hiller
- Gavin Turk
- Alice Anderson
Please note that we are not currently accepting unsolicited exhibition proposals.
Collections
Sigmund Freud’s Study
We display and preserve our collection of around 2500 antiquities from Sigmund Freud’s personal collection. The unique environment of Freud’s study, along with the collections, archives and libraries, tell the stories of those who lived in the house. Our newly re-catalogued archives give context to personal, individual stories as well as the broader history of psychoanalysis.
Events and Conferences
A Freud Museum conference
We are a place for debate and discussion of Freud and psychoanalysis in the arts, in culture, in ideas and in contemporary life.
Contributors to our lively events and conferences programme have included:
- Jacques Derrida
- Susie Orbach
- Grayson Perry
- Jacqueline Rose
- Edward Said
- Slavoj Žižek
We are committed to making recordings of all our public events available online, free of charge, via our podcast feed.
Education & Outreach
We are committed to promoting learning about Sigmund and Anna Freud, and psychoanalysis. Following Freud’s own vision, we aim to create opportunities for everyone
‘to learn something about psychoanalysis and something from it’.
Our busy education and outreach team welcomes a wide range of groups, from schools to professional, lifelong learning and community organisations. We bring psychoanalytic ideas to life through a range of engaging and accessible formats, such as tours, topical learning sessions, creative workshops, and so on.
We also form learning partnerships with universities, colleges, and a wide range of communities: refugees and ethnic minorities, mental health service users and workers, people with neurological conditions, carers, seniors, healthcare professionals, teachers, and heritage educators.
Shop
Terracotta baboons from the Freud Museum Shop – unique replicas of the marble baboon that sits on Freud’s desk
The museum shop offers bespoke gifts, fine art prints, t-shirts, books and more.
Every purchase supports the museum!
Hire
A drinks reception in the Dining Room.
The museum can be hired for meetings, private events and filming.
Our private hire activities directly support us in our work.
What To See
