Музей «Английское подворье», Museum of English culture in Varvarka Street, Moscow, Russia
The Old English Court is a stone building from the 16th century that documents trade relations between England and Russia across several centuries. The house displays original room layouts with furniture, documents, and craftwork from that period.
An English monarch granted this building to English merchants in 1556, establishing the first permanent foreign settlement in Moscow. From here the merchants conducted their business and shaped early trade routes between the two nations.
The rooms show how English merchants lived and worked during their time here, filled with furniture and everyday objects from their period. Walking through reveals the daily rhythms of a foreign community far from home.
The museum sits in Moscow's historic old town, easily reached on foot or by public transport. The interior spaces are relatively small and can become crowded on weekends, so weekday visits offer a better experience.
Renovation work uncovered parts of the original medieval architecture hidden beneath later layers, including stone walls and wooden beams. These discoveries show how the building was modified and adapted for new occupants over the centuries.
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