Charles Robert Darwin is one of the world's most eminent scientists. His groundbreaking book On the Origins of Species continues to be influential in the world. 2009 was the 200th anniversary of his birth and the 150th anniversary of the publication of On the Origins of Species.

Charles Darwin and his family lived in Down House, also known as Downe House, for forty years during which time Darwin wrote the majority of his major works including the most famous, On the Origin of Species. How to get to Down House? Down House is located in Downe in the London Borough of Bromley, a village 14.2 miles (22.9 km) south east of Charing Cross. It’s both available by train or by bus.

Things you can see at the Down House:

1. The Drawing Room

The focal point of the Drawing Room is Emma Darwin’s grand piano. It has been carefully conserved and replaced in the Drawing Room in approximately the same position it occupied when it first arrived over 140 years ago.

Beside the bookshelf there is a picture of Darwin and his sister. It was taken when he was a boy with a pot of plants in his hands that might forecast his future.

2. The Inner Hallway

One cupboard under the stars in the Inner Hallway was the place where Darwin deposited old manuscripts that he did not want to throw away, including a preliminary sketch of On the origin of Species.

3. The Old Study

In the Old Study, Charles Darwin usually worked in the early morning and afternoon and it was here that he wrote On the Origin of Species. The Old Study is preserved as it was during Darwin’s lifetime, using his original furniture and books.

4. The Billiard Room

The Billiard Room was used for Darwin to play Billiard with his sons and friends. There is one of Darwin’s portraits is now used for the current £10 note .

5. The Dinning Room

In the Dinning Room you can see a mahogany dining table placed next to large window panes, through which you can have a better view of Charles Darwin's garden. That said at lunchtime the family and sometimes as many as a dozen guests would be gathered the table. After lunch Darwin would rest on the sofa, either here or in the Drawing room.

6. The exhibition

There is an permanent exhibition about Charles Darwin biography, Charles Darwin autobiography, Charles Darwin books, the theory of revolution, the voyage of the beagle, Charles Darwin natural selection, origin of species, Darwinism, at the rooms in first floor.

7. The Garden

The garden contains lawn, green house, orchards, path, etc. Immediately behind the house lies a small area of lawn ornamented with a few flowerbeds as the previous look when Darwin was there. At the greenhouse, where Darwin did his research, there are many unusual tropical plants. The well-known part is the Sandwalk Copse, which was Darwin’s famous ‘thinking path’, along which he would take his daily constitutional walk, thinking and observing wildlife as he went. The trees in small gardens are good inspirations of creating your own garden.