what museums to visit in london

Europe Chevron

United Kingdom Chevron

England Chevron

London Chevron

The 25 Best Museums in London

By Sarah James , Connor Sturges , and Cordelia Aspinall

One of the many things our capital does very well is arts and culture—the amount of museums in London is pretty impressive. The city has such a bounty of world-renowned institutions that it can be hard to know which to visit first: from cutting-edge  London exhibitions  at the Tate Modern to Hope, the huge skeleton of a blue whale at the Natural History Museum. Alongside the big names, there’s also a trove of smaller, more eclectic London museums to explore, where you can find everything from a history of cereal packets to a taxidermy walrus with his own Twitter page. Discover the best museums in London, including the top free-entry spots.

Are all museums in London free?

There are a variety of museums in London that offer free entry, but a select few do require an admission fee. However, many of the best museums in London are free to attend, which means you can enjoy all the art and history the city has to offer without worrying about the cost. Be sure to explore the British Museum's (London's biggest museum!) sprawling galleries or lose yourself in the works of Georgia O'Keeffe and Andry Warhol at Tate Modern.

What is the most visited museum in London?

According to 2021 data , The Natural History Museum and the British Museum are two of the most visited museums in London. Both offer unique experiences, with The Natural Museum being the perfect visit for animal lovers, while the British Museum is an architect's dream.

Free museums in London

The Design Museum, Kensington

Founded by Sir Terence Conran in 1989 and relocated to Kensington in 2016, The Design Museum hosts cutting-edge contemporary exhibitions, from fashion and graphics to architecture and product and industrial design. As well as the fascinating displays of past, present and future design through pop-ups and temporary shows, the museum hosts an array of learning programs and activities aimed at children (aged 5-11 years) as well as opportunities for young people (aged 14-16 years) such as specialist courses, workshops and talks from leading experts in the industry.

Entry fee: Free entry; exhibitions cost extra; booking essential

British Museum, Bloomsbury

The domed glass-and-steel ceiling at the British Museum —the world’s first national museum opened to the public—lets light into the atrium-like Great Court below, bouncing off the blinding-white, sweeping staircases and marble walls. It’s one of the capital’s prettiest spaces, but beyond the impressive lobby, it has sprawling galleries dedicated to the Egyptians, the Greeks and the Romans. Artefacts including the Rosetta Stone, Pantheon Marbles (once a part of the original structure in Athens ) and more than 120 mummies draw millions of visitors every year. This is the city’s most-visited attraction, and it’s easy to see why.

Entry fee: Free entry; exhibitions cost extra

Tate Modern, Bankside

In what was once the Bankside Power Station, Tate Modern looms over the waterfront of the South Bank. Its permanent collections house a wealth of modern British art—see pieces from Damien Hirst and Jackson Pollock—and a range of international artists. The immense Turbine Hall is dominated by a changing display of site-specific installations: millions of handcrafted porcelain sunflower seeds filled the space in 2010-11, while Olafur Eliasson took over with The Weather Project in 2003 and a blinding sun installation. Head to the top level of the Blavatnik Building, which was added in 2017, to visit the free viewing platform—the London panoramas are some of the best you’ll find anywhere in the city. However, Tate Modern’s main draw is its changing exhibitions: displays have included works from Picasso, Georgia O’Keeffe and Andy Warhol.

Tate Britain, Pimlico

Tate Modern’s older sister focuses on British art and holds pieces from heavyweights, including Lucian Freud, Francis Bacon and William Hogarth, within its imposing Pimlico building archives. The museum hosts regular late-night events, and each one has a different theme each time: LGBTQ+ art, perhaps, or creative learning, with licensed bars in the galleries and a live DJ.

CNT Editors

Steph Koyfman

Shannon McMahon

5. Royal Academy, Piccadilly

Best museum in London for: seeing Britain’s art greats in one place

Founded by artists and architects in the 1760s, the Royal Academy has been in its current home at Burlington House for more than 150 years and has recently expanded to include the former Museum of Mankind on Burlington Gardens. Highlights of the permanent collection span more than two centuries, from William Turner to Tracey Emin. The annual Summer Exhibition is one of the main events in the London art calendar, held since 1769, making it the oldest open-submission exhibition in the world. Each year, one of the Royal Academy’s artists curates the display.

Address: Royal Academy, Burlington House, Piccadilly, London W1J 0BD Website: royalacademy.org.uk Entry fee: Free entry; exhibitions cost extra

Queer Britain, King's Cross

Although Queer Britain’s story as a physical museum only began at the start of 2022, things kicked off before the star-studded 2018 launch in the Hotel Cafe Royal’s Oscar Wilde Lounge. What was, for some time, a largely virtual and event-led celebration of queer culture now has a permanent exhibition space in Granary Square, King's Cross . The museum’s first long-term exhibition launched in summer 2022 – We are Queer Britain – with items collected from various sources in celebration of LGBTQ+ history and culture. Oscar Wilde’s prison cell door behind which he was incarcerated for sodomy, recently discovered erotic work by Duncan Grant, and a letter from Elton John to his younger self are all on display; powerful reminders of how far equality has come.

Entry fee: Free entry; donations welcome

London Mithraeum , City of London

On a late summer’s day in September 1954, archaeological investigations into the rubble of post-war London uncovered a long-lost secret as a marble head showed itself for the first time in thousands of years. Further digs, supported by the likes of Winston Churchill, unearthed the remains of a spectacular Roman temple dedicated to the God Mithras. Revered by Roman citizens across the empire, the figure became the centre of a mystery religion that led to initiation ceremonies and worship practices being carried out at underground temples. While many Mithraic temples remain, this was still the first of its kind in Britain to be revealed. Now, more than two millennia after it was built, the mysteries of the past have been brought vividly to life through the power of modern technology in an immersive, multi-sensory museum space. Artifacts provide a glimpse into what life was like, while the Bloomberg tablets—a collection that includes the first known written reference to London—await visitor awe.

Entry fee: Free entry

Natural History Museum, Kensington

The ornate façade of the Natural History Museum is a love letter to Victorian architecture: a vast gothic building that looks more like a cathedral than a museum. Inside the lofty Hintze Hall (revamped in 2017 to strip it back to its 19th-century splendour), Hope, a ginormous blue-whale skeleton, hangs above the information desk, which doubles up as a bar when the museum throws late-night sessions. See dinosaur fossils, the first edition of Charles Darwin’s On the Origin of Species and casts from Pompeii among the museum’s 80 million specimens.

Victoria and Albert Museum , Knightsbridge

London’s largest art museum—the eighth-biggest art museum in the world—has more than 100 galleries displaying everything from photography to jewellery. It has put on some of the city’s most talked-about exhibitions in recent years: the curators have become known for their hot-ticket fashion displays of designers, including Christian Dior and Alexander McQueen. Make sure to visit the permanent Rapid Response Collection, which has contemporary pieces that react to significant moments in recent history, such as the 'pussyhats' worn at protests against the election of Donald Trump to a 3D-printed Extinction Rebellion coin.

National Portrait Gallery, Charing Cross

Following a three-year hiatus, the iconic National Portrait Gallery re-opened its doors to the public in summer 2023 with new spaces, collections and elevated dining options to boot. The refurbishment marks the most extensive transformation of the space since 1896, with key updates focusing on important contemporary figures such as Zadie Smith and Sir Steve McQueen. With a refurbished, light-filled café, glitzy underground basement bar Larry’s serving up bespoke cocktails in a mood-lit setting, and then Portrait, a rooftop restaurant by acclaimed Irish chef Richard Corrigan, the National Portrait Gallery’s hospitality offering might just be in a league of its own. Moreover, an increased focus on photography has seen the gallery flooded with visitors. Lucy Bruton

Price: Free entry; exhibitions cost extra

Imperial War Museum, Lambeth

Housed in what was once the site of Bethlem Royal Hospital (the psychiatric facility better known as Bedlam) and flanked by naval guns, the Imperial War Museum explores the role of British troops in conflicts that cross generations and countries. It’s full of often challenging exhibitions, from displays on World War I to the Holocaust.

Sir John Soane's Museum, Holborn

Untouched-Georgian-townhouse-meets centuries-old museum, this cabinet of curiosities was once the home of Sir John Soane, an 18th-century architect who designed the Dulwich Picture Gallery and was a professor at the Royal Academy. See his collection of antiquities, furniture and sculptures, as well as paintings by Hogarth and Turner. Book on one of the Highlights Tours, or see the historical property in a new light and embark on a candlelit tour at Soane late events.

The Wallace Collection , Marylebone

Fine art from the 15th to 19th centuries is displayed at one of London’s loveliest small art galleries, set in the 18th-century townhouse of Sir Richard and Lady Wallace, who collected fine paintings, porcelain, artifacts and furniture over generations. See paintings by Canaletto and Rembrandt, plus exhibitions on fashion, furniture, ceramics and more.

Horniman Museum and Gardens , Forest Hill

Founded in 1901 by Frederick John Horniman, a tea merchant who wanted a space to display his private collection of natural history, the Horniman Museum is a nature lover’s dream. See African art or visit the tiny aquarium. We especially like the conservatory, set in a grand Victorian glasshouse with views over the rolling gardens.

Museums with admission fee Museum of Comedy, Bloomsbury

Can you truly understand a culture without knowing what makes its people laugh? The Museum of Comedy is on a mission to acquaint us all with the ingredients that, when combined, make up the British sense of humor, one Ronnie at a time. More reference library than proper museum, it's a repository of seemingly every book, DVD, VHS and LP that could possibly make you laugh – literally hours and hours of non-stop silliness. Make sure you have a couple of hours to kill, then sit yourself down, kick off your shoes and let the fun begin. By the end of the visit, you'll be squawking Monty Python's Parrot Sketch by heart.

Entry fee: Varies; book online or via the phone

Museum of Brands , Notting Hill

Go on a jaunt down memory lane at this museum, just around the corner from Portobello Road Market in Notting Hill . Take a deeper look at your favorite brands, including British stalwarts such as Marmite and Cadbury, in the permanent Time Tunnel exhibition created by consumer historian Robert Opie. From changes in packaging, branding and the advertising behind each product, see how these classics have evolved over the past 150 years. The museum is an immersive visual journey from the Victorian era to the present day, and shows the impact of social and cultural changes on everything from consumer society, right down to a chocolate bar’s wrapper. Learn how technological and societal transformations in TV and cinema , fashion, games, the prevalence of plastic, and the emancipation of women have shaped our commercial world today. You will leave more knowledgeable about the historical context of many well-known household names, and about earlier times.

Entry fee: £9 for adults; £5 for children

Jewish Museum London, Camden

Following the atrocities of the second world war and the placement of Jewish people across London, two museums came together in the early 1980s—The London Museum of Jewish Life and The Jewish Museum. In what is now known as the Jewish Museum once again, a showcase of Jewish life awaits. Permanent exhibitions include Judaism: A Living Faith , which places ceremonial art and artifacts including historical Torah decorations and Passover plates. Elsewhere, History: A British Story uncovers the stories of Jewish Britons from 1066 to the current day, while The Holocaust Gallery tells the story of Leon Greenman OBE, the anti-fascism campaigner and Auschwitz survivor who passed away in 2008. Regular events include community kitchen sessions, talks, and events for friends of the museum, while children often attend in groups to learn about Jewish practices.

Entry fee: Adults from £7.50; Children aged 5-16 from £3.50

The Old Operating Theatre Museum and Herb Garret , London Bridge

Just a short stroll from London Bridge Station, through the door of the historic St Thomas’ Church, a narrow spiral staircase can be found. Ascend—carefully, mind—and arrive in a space that lay concealed for almost a century before being rediscovered in 1956; the old operating theatre and medicinal storage rooms. While St Thomas’ has taken many forms, it has provided shelter and relief to the sick and needy since the 12th century. Before the age of modern medicine, antibiotics, and anesthetics, surgeries were carried out by doctors with comparatively little knowledge of human anatomy, while bodies were carved open and displayed to eager students on the tiered platforms. Now, the space is a museum for fans of macabre and medicinal history, with details dialled down for children and school groups to attend talks and sessions. The website has lots of information and even games for little ones – there is lots to learn before your visit, should you so wish.

Entry fee: adults from £7.50; children from £4.50

Fashion and Textile Museum, Bermondsey

Founded by designer Zandra Rhodes, who displayed 50 years of her fashion line here in 2019, the Fashion and Textile Museum runs a roster of temporary exhibitions rather than having a permanent collection. In between shows, the museum—set in a colourful converted warehouse in Southwark—is closed and completely made over. Past exhibitions have focused on knitwear, Jazz Age fashion, T-shirts and Riviera style—while other shows have put the spotlight on designers including Orla Kiely , Mary Quant, and Terence Conran.

Entry fee: Varies; check the latest exhibition for more details

London Transport Museum, Covent Garden

For anyone who races Citymapper’s proposed route home convinced they can hack public transport, or for those who feel smug when a question on the underground comes up at a pub quiz, head to the London Transport Museum , packed with impressive travel ephemera and facts. See a line-up of red Routemaster buses through the ages, climb aboard one of the very first tube carriages and see stylish retro posters from the past 100 years. Keep an eye on its website for the Acton depot open days, when there’s a rare chance to nose through old Transport for London signs and posters and step aboard vintage tube trains.

Entry fee: £22 for off-peak adult annual passes, £24 for unlimited adult annual passes

Dennis Severs' House , Spitalfields

Another house-museum hybrid, this time featuring the residence of a fictional family dreamt up by eccentric Dennis Severs, who lived in this East End house in the 1970s. The house takes visitors through 10 rooms, transporting them from 1724 to the start of 1914. It’s as though you’re walking into a painting of East London life in the 18th and 19th centuries—tours through the sets, which look as though the occupants of the house have just popped out—are done in silence.

Entry fee: From £15 per person

Leighton House, Holland Park

Stepping into the Arab Hall, you'd be excused for expecting a fez-wearing shopkeeper to hand you a glass of mint tea. Down a quiet side street in Holland Park, Leighton House appears to be quite a standard-looking Victorian townhouse. Yet, so over-the-top were Pre-Raphaelite painter Sir Frederic Leighton's interiors that even his biographer questioned his Britishness. Maybe it was the ceramic-tiled walls, gilt-painted dome, or stained-glass windows that caused all the fuss. Whatever it was, it proves bling was a thing in London as early as the 1830s.

Entry fee: £11 for adults, £5 for children

Dulwich Picture Gallery, Dulwich

In the early 1800s, art enthusiast Sir Francis Bourgeois instructed that his entire collection be turned into a gallery open to the public, handpicking architect John Soane to create the Dulwich Picture Gallery from scratch. Look up, and you can see for yourself the innovative techniques Soane used to bathe the whole gallery in sunlight, which became the prototype for all galleries to this day. Still, don't forget to look down too, to see the great Baroque masterpieces that line the walls and the mausoleum Soane designed for his friend and patron.

Entry fee: £16.50 for adults, including donation

The Handel Hendrix House Museum, Mayfair

The Handel Hendrix House Museum showcases the former homes of music legends, George Handel and Jimi Hendrix. Following a £3 million refurbishment of the Georgian buildings on Brook Street, visitors can immerse themselves in the spaces where Handel wrote his music and Jimi Hendrix entertained fellow rock stars in the 1960s. The interiors of Handel’s home, including the kitchen, have been fully restored in 1740s style, and there are audiovisual displays about the Messiah in the very room where he composed that famous oratorio. Next door at No. 23, the bedsit which Hendrix rented in the late 1960s has been faithfully replicated, plus there are films and displays relating to the guitarist’s life and work. The museum also hosts live music and talks.

Entry fee: £14.00 for adults, £10.00 for students and free for under 16s

The Postal Museum, Farringdon

One of Britain’s biggest inventions was the postal system—the very first social network, which has now been around for 500 years. Visit The Postal Museum and take in the history of letter-writing and communication with interactive displays, galleries and exhibitions. Hop across the road to Mail Rail and travel through the hidden tunnels onboard a miniature train to discover the postal world that lies beneath the busy streets of London. See the unchanged station platforms below Royal Mail’s Mount Pleasant sorting office, hear from the people who worked on the railway and learn about the parts of it that kept the postal system moving through London over the years.

Entry fee: £16 for adults, £11 for young persons (ages 16-24), £9 for children

Recommended

By signing up you agree to our User Agreement (including the class action waiver and arbitration provisions ), our Privacy Policy & Cookie Statement and to receive marketing and account-related emails from Traveller. You can unsubscribe at any time. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Museums in London

The Complete List (2024)

London museums are among the best in the world, and include Natural History Museum, Museum of London, and dozens more institutions.

Below, we've researched and compiled a list of museums in London, plus categories like:

• 🏛️ all museums
• 🏆 best museums
• 👐 free museums
• 🎉 fun museums
• 🔥 must see museums
• 😎 cool museums
• 👾 weird museums
• 🎨 art museums
• 🐙 science museums
• 🗿 history museums

And everything in-between. How many museums are there in London? As of 2024, our list includes 139 awesome museums.

Museum Categories

Best museums.

Natural History Museum

National Portrait Gallery

British library, free museums, museum of london, victoria & albert museum, british museum.

Science Museum

National Gallery London

Design museum london, national maritime museum, royal air force museum, queen's house, the wallace collection, grant museum of zoology, imperial war museum london, tate modern, tate britain, the charterhouse, bank of england museum, museum of london docklands, sir john soane's museum, v&a museum of childhood, petrie museum of egyptian archaeology, museum of the order of st john, all hallows-by-the-tower crypt museum, british dental association museum, hackney museum, national army museum, museum of wimbledon, st paul's cathedral, twinings museum, science gallery london, fulham palace, bankside gallery, barnet museum, twickenham museum, valence house museum, wimbledon windmill museum, whitechapel gallery, royal academy of arts, royal academy of music museum, bethlem museum of the mind, boston manor house, burgh house & hampstead museum, honourable artillery company museum, islington museum, faraday museum, the royal pharmaceutical society museum, ben uri gallery, the london jewish museum of art, british optical association museum, library and museum of freemasonry, markfield beam engine and museum, museum of comedy, ragged school museum, south london gallery, upminster tithe barn museum of nostalgia, wiener library for the study of the holocaust and genocide, forty hall museum, gunnersbury park museum, heath robinson museum, langdon down museum of learning disability, francis skaryna belarusian library and museum, headstone manor and museum, inns of court & city yeomanry museum, kingston museum, museum of croydon, somerset house, ucl art museum, valentines mansion & gardens, walthamstow pumphouse museum, polish institute and sikorski museum, fun museums, sherlock holmes museum, fashion and textile museum, horniman museum and gardens, hms belfast, madame tussauds london wax museum, london film museum, world rugby museum, wimbledon lawn tennis museum, fusilier museum, handel & hendrix in london, must see museums, charles dickens museum, buckingham palace, tower bridge, tower of london, the guards museum, kennel club dog art gallery, the queen's gallery, buckingham palace, cool museums, churchill war rooms, london transport museum, royal observatory greenwich, freud museum london, the magic circle, cartoon museum, kensington palace, london motorcycle museum, british red cross museum and archives, arsenal football club museum, garden museum, museum of immigration and diversity, musical museum, london canal museum, cinema museum, garrick's temple to shakespeare, the household cavalry museum, london museum of water & steam, the postal museum, strawberry hill house & garden, cutty sark museum, old royal naval college, weird museums, museum of brands, pollock's toy museum, jack the ripper museum, clink prison museum, house of dreams museum, the viktor wynd museum of curiosities, fine art & natural history, art museums, the courtauld institute of art, dulwich picture gallery, leighton house museum, saatchi gallery, institute of contemporary arts, peckham platform, house of illustration, museum of domestic design and architecture, science museums, museum of life sciences, alexander fleming museum, kirkaldy testing museum, history museums, westminster abbey museum, florence nightingale museum, benjamin franklin house, jewish museum london, jewel tower, battle of britain bunker, foundling museum, apsley house, lambeth palace, bentley priory museum, hampton court palace, all museums in london.

London's Natural History Museum is one of the world's most premier natural history museums. It is also one of three big museums on Exhibition Road in South Kensington, along with the Victoria and Albert Museum and the Science Museum. The Natural History Museum has more than 80 million items across its favor major collections in zoology, paleontology, entomology, mineralogy, and botany. General admission to the Natural History Museum of London is free, though some special exhibits and programming do come with a fee.

Here are some of the "must see" items at Natural History Museum.

• The Darwin Centre
• Blue whale skeleton
• The Wildlife Garden
• 🎟️ £0 per person
• 📍 Cromwell Rd, South Kensington, London SW7 5BD, United Kingdom

History Museum

The Museum of London is a history museum focused on the history of London dating back to prehistoric times with a special focus on the city's social history. The Museum of London sits on the edge of the oldest part of the city, with the ruins of the Roman city wall in its sights. With more than six million objects in its collection, the museum houses the world's biggest urban history collection. Admission to the Museum of London is free to the public.

Here are some of the "must see" items at Museum of London.

• Lord Mayor's Coach
• The London 2012 Cauldron
• War, Plague & Fire
• 📍 150 London Wall, Barbican, London EC2Y 5HN, United Kingdom

Archaeological Museum

The Victoria & Albert Museum in London is the world's largest museum of applied and decorative arts and design. With a permanent collection of more than 2.2 million works, the V&A sits on more than 12 acres that contain 145 different galleries. The museum was founded in 1852, with Queen Victoria and Prince Albert serving as its namesakes. The V&A Museum displays the world's biggest collection of post-classical sculpture. The museum also contains the National Art Library, a public library with more than 750,000 pieces.

Here are some of the "must see" items at Victoria & Albert Museum.

• An 11-metre blown glass chandelier by Dale Chihuly
• Tipoo’s Tiger
• Raphael's cartoons
• 📍 Cromwell Rd, Knightsbridge, London SW7 2RL, United Kingdom

The British Museum, founded in 1753, is a history, arts, and culture museum in London. With more than eight million objects in its collection, the British Museum has one of the world's biggest museum collections. Much of the collection is focused on human culture as it dates back to the earliest times. The world's first public national museum, the British Museum has since had several museums branch off of it, including the popular Natural History Museum in London and the British Library.

Here are some of the "must see" items at British Museum .

• Parthenon Marbles
• The Rosetta Stone
• Assyrian Lion Hunt reliefs
• 📍 Great Russell Street London, WC1 United Kingdom

The Science Museum is one of London's must-see museums and is one of three that sits on South Kensington's Exhibition Road (the others are the Natural History Museum and Victoria & Albert Museum). Founded in 1857, the Science Museum has a collection of 300,000 objects that sees more than three million visitors this year. Some of the objects on display include Puffing Billy, Stephenson's Rocket, and the Apollo 10 command module.

Here are some of the "must see" items at Science Museum.

• Stephenson's Rocket
• Puffing Billy
• Apollo 10 command module
• 📍 Exhibition Rd, South Kensington, London SW7 2DD, United Kingdom

The National Gallery is an art museum located in London's Trafalgar Square. The museum has more than 2,300 paintings, with some reaching back to the 1200s. The National Gallery sees some five million visitors each year. Artists represented in the museum's collection include Vincent van Gogh, Leonardo da Vinci, Sandro Botticelli, Raphael, Rembrandt, Michelangelo, Henri Rousseau, Monet, and Renoir.

Here are some of the "must see" items at National Gallery London.

• Vincent van Gogh's Sunflowers
• Leonardo da Vinci's The Virgin of the Rocks
• Sandro Botticelli's Venus and Mars
• 📍 Trafalgar Square, Charing Cross, London WC2N 5DN, United Kingdom

The Churchill War Rooms is part of the Imperial War Museum in London. The War Rooms museum showcases the underground complex where Churchill led the British government during World War II. The museum also houses the Churchill Museum, which is a biographical museum dedicated to commemorating the life of Winston Churchill. The war rooms were fully functional during World War II and were not left until Japan's surrender in August 1945. Shortly thereafter, the government set to work preserving the rooms for history's sake and they opened to the public in the 1980s.

Here are some of the "must see" items at Churchill War Rooms.

• Undercover: Life in Churchill's bunker
• Clementine Churchill's bedroom
• Churchill War Rooms Private Tours
• 🎟️ £22 per person
• 📍 Clive Steps, King Charles St, London SW1A 2AQ, United Kingdom

Specialty Museum

The London Transport Museum is dedicated to London's transportation options, including its famous double decker buses and tube systems. The LT Museum has two sites, one in Covent Garden and another in Acton, which is traditionally referred to as the London Transport Museum Depot. The Depot is primarily a storage site for transport vehicles that is accessible to the public, while the London Transport Museum offers more of a traditional museum collection and experience.

Here are some of the "must see" items at London Transport Museum.

• Hidden London exhibition
• Where's Wally? The Big Museum Hunt
• Depot guided tours
• 🎟️ £16.50 per person
• 📍 Covent Garden, London WC2E 7BB, United Kingdom

London's National Portrait Gallery is a premiere art museum in the heart of the city. The National Portrait Gallery was the world's very first portrait gallery upon its 1856 opening. The gallery's collection focuses heavily on portraits of people who were important to Britain over the years; the gallery is less concerned with who produced the painting, but rather places its value on who the portrait is of. The gallery's best known work is Chandos' William Shakespeare.

Here are some of the "must see" items at National Portrait Gallery.

• Queen Elizabeth I by Unknown
• Chandos' William Shakespeare.
• Anne Boleyn by Unknown
• 📍 St. Martin's Pl, Charing Cross, London WC2H 0HE, United Kingdom

The Design Museum is London focuses on a collection of graphic, fashion, architecture, industrial, and product design. Founded in 1989 by Sir Terence Conran, the museum is a registered charity whose proceeds from ticket sales for exhibits go directly back to crafting new exhibits and procuring collection items. The Design Museum was the recipient of the coveted European Museum of the Year Award in 2018.

Here are some of the "must see" items at Design Museum London.

• Designing Duggee
• Moving to Mars
• The free Family Explorer Trail
• 📍 224-238 Kensington High St, Kensington, London W8 6AG, United Kingdom

The National Maritime Museum in London is dedicated to displaying a maritime collection from the United Kingdom. The museum is heavily focused on the history of its Greenwich location; Greenwich has often been a huge place of importance for navigation and the sea. The National Maritime Museum has more than two million objects in its collection, ranging from physical items like maps and models to maritime art. Admission to the National Maritime Museum is free, though special exhibits may have a ticket cost associated with them.

Here are some of the "must see" items at National Maritime Museum.

• Jules Achille Noël's The Bretagne
• Destination Moon
• AHOY! gallery
• 📍 Park Row, Greenwich Peninsula, London SE10 9NF, United Kingdom

The Royal Air Force Museum London is part of the Royal Air Force Museum, which includes a second location, the Royal Air Force Museum Cosford, in Shropshire. The RAF Museum in London has five different buildings and hangars dedicated to highlighting the history of the Royal Air Force. The museum also has a general collection on the history of aviation in London. The museum has more than 100 different aircraft for public viewing, including the only complete Hawker Typhoon in the world.

Here are some of the "must see" items at Royal Air Force Museum .

• A Westland Sea King helicopter that was once flown by Prince William
• Gnat fast jet trainer of the Red Arrows
• Hawker Typhoon
• 📍 Grahame Park Way, London NW9 5LL, United Kingdom

Queen's House was the former royal residence for British royalty. Built in the early 1600s for King James I's bride Anne of Denmark, Queen's House is considered to be of the upmost importance in terms of British architecture as it was the first classical building ever built in England. Ironically, Anne died before the house was ever completed. In present day, Queen's House is part of the National Maritime Museum, where part of the museum's collection is on display. Queen's House played a role as a VIP centre when London hosted the 2012 Olympics.

Here are some of the "must see" items at Queen's House.

• The Queen's House Ghost
• The view of the Thames
• Van de Veldes' maritime art collection
• 📍 Romney Rd, Greenwich, London SE10 9NF, United Kingdom

The Wallace Collection is a London art gallery made up of the collection of the Marquess family. The art all dates back to the 18th and 19th centuries and was gathered by five generations of the Marquesses along with Sir Richard Wallace, who was an illegitimate Marquess son. Today, the collection contains more than five thousand pieces. In 1897, Lady Wallace bequeathed the private collection to England, who displayed the works in Hertford House, thus opening a museum in 1900. The collection remains in the same place today.

Here are some of the "must see" items at The Wallace Collection.

• The Front State Room
• Jacques Caffiéri's 1751 chandelier once given as a gift by Louis XV
• The European Armouries
• 📍 Hertford House, Manchester Square, London W1U 3BN, United Kingdom

The Grant Museum of Zoology is part of the University College London. First established in the early 1800s, the Grant Museum was meant to serve students as an educational tool when it came to observing specimens and dissection. The Grant Museum houses one of the country's oldest collections concerning natural history; it also is the only natural history museum associated with a university in London.

Here are some of the "must see" items at Grant Museum of Zoology.

• A rare quagga skeleton
• Blaschka glass models
• 📍 Rockefeller Building, 21 University St, Bloomsbury, London WC1E 6DE, United Kingdom

The Imperial War Museums is an organization that houses five different museums, including the Churchill War Rooms and the Imperial War Museum itself. The museum's collection expanded tremendously as a result of World War II. The collection includes photos, video, oral histories, books, art, military vehicles, aircraft, and documents cataloging the history of British involvement in war and military efforts.

Here are some of the "must see" items at Imperial War Museum London.

• Dual 15-inch guns outside the museum
• V-1 flying bomb
• Harriet Jump Jet
• 📍 Lambeth Rd, London SE1 6HZ, United Kingdom

Observatories & Planetariums

The Royal Observatory, Greenwich is an observatory in London that has played a major historical part in astronomy over the last several centuries. The prime meridian passes through the observatory, which established Greenwich Mean Time. The observatory got its start in 1675 as the Old Royal Observatory when King Charles II commissioned its construction; at the same time, he created the position of Astronomer Royal to serve as an advisor to the king. Though the AMAT telescope at the observatory is functioning today, the observatory largely serves as a museum.

Here are some of the "must see" items at Royal Observatory Greenwich .

• The Meridian Line
• Planetarium shows
• Shepherd Gate Clock
• 🎟️ £23.65 per person
• 📍 Blackheath Ave, Greenwich, London SE10 8XJ, United Kingdom

The Sherlock Holmes Museum is a London museum that was the first in the world to be dedicated to the fictional legend Sherlock Holmes. The 221B Baker Street townhouse displays items from the Sherlock Holmes fiction series, alongside scenes from the 1984 TV series of the same name. The house that contains the museum is also a historical masterpiece itself; the British government has classified it as Grade 2 thanks to its architectural design.

Here are some of the "must see" items at Sherlock Holmes Museum.

• Mrs Hudson's Room
• Sherlock's laboratory
• 🎟️ £15 per person
• 📍 221b Baker St, Marylebone, London NW1 6XE, United Kingdom

The Tate Modern is a contemporary art museum in London. Part of the Tate group with three other museums, including Tate Britain, Tate Modern's collection showcases the national British art collection from 1900 through today. It also displays international art from the same time period. Tate Modern is among the biggest contemporary art museums in the world. Close to six million people are estimated to visit Tate Modern each year.

Here are some of the "must see" items at Tate Modern .

• Dora Maurer Exhibit
• Artist and Society
• 📍 Bankside London, SE1 United Kingdom

Tate Britain is part of the Tate organization that includes three other museums: Tate Modern, Tate Liverpool, and Tate St. Ives. Tate Britain, once known as the National Gallery of British Art and the Tate Gallery, contains a huge collection of British art dating back to Tudor times. Tate Britain is one of the biggest museums in the United Kingdom, attracting more than one million guests through its doors annually.

Here are some of the "must see" items at Tate Britain.

• The Turner Prize exhibition
• J. M. W. Turner's Snow Storm – Steam-Boat off a Harbour's Mouth
• Anna Lea Merritt's Love Locked Out
• 📍 Millbank, Westminster, London SW1P 4RG, United Kingdom

The Fashion and Textile Museum highlights contemporary fashion in London. The museum was founded by designer Zandra Rhodes as part of the Newham College of Further Education. The Fashion and Textile Museum has not yet begun to gather a permanent collection; instead, the museum hosts a variety of rotating temporary exhibits.

Here are some of the "must see" items at Fashion and Textile Museum.

• Zandra Rhodes: 50 Years of Fabulous
• Norman Hartnell – A Tribute
• Out of the Blue: Fifty Years of Designers Guild
• 🎟️ £9.90 per person
• 📍 83 Bermondsey St, Bermondsey, London SE1 3XF, United Kingdom

Historic Site

The Charterhouse is a collection of historic buildings in London that go back to the 1300s. It started as a Carthusian priory, then became a majestic palace for Tudor London. Eventually, in the 1600s, it was purchased and turned into a school and almshouse, which still stands today. The Charterhouse museum today focuses on tracing the history of the land and buildings from its Black Plague days to modern times through a collection of almost 2,000 objects.

Here are some of the "must see" items at The Charterhouse.

• The Thackeray Collection
• A tapestry collection purchased in 1615
• Guided tours of the grounds
• 📍 Charterhouse Square, Barbican, London EC1M 6AN, United Kingdom

The Bank of England Museum in London is housed inside the Bank of England. The museum has a large collection dating back to the founding of the bank in the 1600s. Exhibits include the history of the bank, the bank's transformation pre, during, and post wars, and a focus on modern day banking. There museum also displays a large number of coins, notes, silver, and a gold bar.

Here are some of the "must see" items at Bank of England Museum.

• A genuine gold bar
• The Stock Office
• The Bank Today
• 📍 Bartholomew Ln, London EC2R 8AH, United Kingdom

The Museum of London Docklands is a branch of the Museum of London, one of the premier institutions in the city. Formerly known as the Museum in Docklands, the organization focuses on the history of the River Thames and the Docklands. Located on the Isle of Dogs, the museum opened its doors in 2003 on the West India Docks. The museum had a large collection related to the water, including numerous vessels, but eventually transferred the vessels to other organizations.

Here are some of the "must see" items at Museum of London Docklands.

• City and River
• Secret Rivers
• 📍 West India Quay, No.1 Warehouse, Hertsmere Rd, London E14 4AL, United Kingdom

The Sir John Soane's Museum of London is located in the former home of architect John Soane. The museum displays Soane's famed drawings and models of his various building projects. In addition to his own work, Soane had come to amass a personal private collection of art and artifacts that is also on display in the museum. The museum is free to the public to visit, but timed reservations are highly encouraged to be made in advance.

Here are some of the "must see" items at Sir John Soane's Museum.

• Hogarth: Place and Progress
• Sarcophagus of Seti I
• The Picture Room
• 📍 13 Lincoln's Inn Fields, Holborn, London WC2A 3BP, United Kingdom

Children's Museum

The V&A Museum of Childhood, part of the Victoria & Albert Museum, is a London museum dedicated to housing collections by and for children. The museum's collection includes costumes, toys, and objects dedicated to celebrating childhood. In addition to its permanent collection, the V&A Museum of Childhood regularly hosts temporary exhibits.

Here are some of the "must see" items at V&A Museum of Childhood .

• The Eagle Slayer
• Construction toys
• Playing with Buildings
• 📍 Cambridge Heath Rd, Bethnal Green, London E2 9PA, United Kingdom

The Horniman Museum and Gardens is a London museum dating back to the early 1900s. The museum's collection of more than 350,000 objects focuses on natural history, anthropology, and instruments. It has a well known and impressive collection of taxidermied animals. The grounds also house an aquarium, extensive gardens, a butterfly house, small animals, and plants. Admission to the museum and gardens is free, while the other attractions require tickets.

Here are some of the "must see" items at Horniman Museum and Gardens.

• A Butterfly House
• Robert Anning Bell's Humanity in the House of Circumstance
• The Totem Pole
• 📍 100 London Rd, Forest Hill, London SE23 3PQ, United Kingdom

The HMS Belfast is part of the Imperial War Museums in London. A Town-class light cruiser built for the Royal Navy, the ship is a permanent museum on the River Thames. The HMS Belfast first launched on St. Patrick's Day in 1938 and played a significant role in World War II. It is considered the most significant surviving Royal Navy warship to come out of the war. More than 250,000 people visit the HMS Belfast each year.

Here are some of the "must see" items at HMS Belfast.

• Discover D-Day75
• Explore HMS Belfast
• Serving the Seas
• 🎟️ £16.20 per person
• 📍 The Queen's Walk, London SE1 2JH, United Kingdom

The Museum of Brands in London showcases consumer culture dating back all the way to the Victorian era. The museum got its start with the Robert Opie Collection from the Museum of Advertising and Packaging in Gloucester, which eventually closed its doors in 2001. The museum is organized chronologically to demonstrate the way branding and packaging has evolved over time, highlighting key events like transportation, advertising, the media, war, and female emancipation.

Here are some of the "must see" items at Museum of Brands.

• Innovative Packaging Award
• 1950s Battle of the Toys Brands
• Time Tunnel
• 🎟️ £9 per person
• 📍 111-117 Lancaster Rd, Notting Hill, London W11 1QT, United Kingdom

The Courtauld Institute of Art is a college that's part of the University of London that studies art history. It is considered to be one of the most premier institutions for this discipline. The college displays its collection in the Courtauld Gallery, which has a large French Impressionist and Post-Impressionist collection. The gallery has more than 500 paintings and 26,000 drawings and prints. The gallery is set to reopen to the public in 2021.

Here are some of the "must see" items at The Courtauld Institute of Art.

• Amedeo Modigliani’s Female Nude
• Vincent van Gogh's Self-Portrait with Bandaged Ear
• Paul Gauguin's Nevermore
• 🎟️ £ per person
• 📍 Somerset House, Strand, London WC2R 0RN, United Kingdom

The Charles Dickens Museum in London is a house museum where the famed author lived for two years in the city. It is the only house that Dickens lived in in London that still survives to this day and even it had a close call. It was saved from demolition in 1923 by the Dickens Fellowship. While living in the house, Dickens worked on The Pipwick Papers, Oliver Twist, Nicholas Nickleby, and Barnaby Rudge.

Here are some of the "must see" items at Charles Dickens Museum.

• Charles Dickens: Man of Science
• Beautiful Books: Dickens and the Business of Christmas
• Ghost of an Idea: Unwrapping 'A Christmas Carol'
• 🎟️ £9.50 per person
• 📍 48-49 Doughty St, Holborn, London WC1N 2LX, United Kingdom

London's Dulwich Picture Gallery is the oldest public art gallery in the country, opening its doors in 1817. The gallery was designed by architect Sir John Soane and is a Grade II listing on England's National Heritage List for its design. Today, the Dulwich Picture Gallery has one of England's best collections of Old Masters.

Here are some of the "must see" items at Dulwich Picture Gallery.

• Adam Pynacker's Bridge in an Italian Landscape
• Nicolas Poussin's The Nurture of Jupiter
• Gerrit Dou's A Woman playing a Clavichord
• 📍 Gallery Rd, Dulwich, London SE21 7AD, United Kingdom

The Petrie Museum of Egyptian Archaeology in London has more than 80,000 objects in its collection pertaining to Egyptian and Sudanese culture. Only three other museums in the world have a bigger collection of these items. The museum is part of the University College London Museums and Collections and was initially developed to be a teaching resource for the Department of Egyptian Archaeology and Philology at University College.

Here are some of the "must see" items at Petrie Museum of Egyptian Archaeology.

• From Gurob to the Getty
• A pyramid text
• Akhenaten and the rays of the sun god Aten
• 📍 Malet Pl, Bloomsbury, London WC1E 6BT, United Kingdom

Madame Tussauds London is a top tourist attraction in the city. Madame Tussauds showcases the work of wax sculptor Marie Tussaud. It is famous for its lifelike wax replicas of famous people. Some of the most famous wax figures at the London location include Katniss Everdeen, Rihanna, Bob Marley, Britney Spears, Donald Trump, Muhammad Ali, Charles Dickens, and Vincent van Gogh.

Here are some of the "must see" items at Madame Tussauds London Wax Museum.

• Michael Jackson
• Alfred Hitchcock
• Elizabeth II
• 🎟️ £25 per person
• 📍 Marylebone Rd, Marylebone, London NW1 5LR, United Kingdom

The Museum of the Order of St John in London is dedicated to the Venerable Order of Saint John. The museum highlights the story from the order founded in Jerusalem to the organization's current mission. The museum has a wide variety of objects in the collection dating back to the 1200s.

Here are some of the "must see" items at Museum of the Order of St John.

• The ambulance collection
• A Victorian nurse's miniature first aid kit
• First Aid Manuals
• 📍 St John’s Gate, 26 St John's Ln, London EC1M 4DA, United Kingdom

The Leighton House Museum is an art museum in west London that was once the home of British painter Frederic Leighton. The house is a Grade II listing for its Orientalist features. The museum has a collection of works from the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood. Artists on display include Edward Burne-Jones, George Frederick Watts, John Everett Millais, and Leighton, who has 81 oil paintings showcased in the museum.

Here are some of the "must see" items at Leighton House Museum.

• Leighton's Clytie
• Frank Bernard Dicksee's The End of the Quest
• Leighton's Orpheus & Eurydice
• 📍 12 Holland Park Rd, Kensington, London W14 8LZ, United Kingdom

The Freud Museum in London is set in the house where Sigmund Freud lived until his death. It was Freud's daughter's wish that the house be turned into a museum after she died. Freud had a number of accomplishments while living in the house and saw patients out of the home. London is one of three cities with museums dedicated to Freud; the other two museums are located in the Czech Republic and Vienna.

Here are some of the "must see" items at Freud Museum London.

• Berggasse 19 couch where Freud's patients would lay
• Salvador Dalí's portrait of Freud
• Freud's personal library
• 🎟️ £10 per person
• 📍 20 Maresfield Gardens, London NW3 5SX, United Kingdom

The Magic Circle is a combination museum and library focused on magic. The collection showcases the history of magic through stories and artifacts, all while preserving the incredible intrigue that has shrouded magic and kept it mysterious to the public. The museum is an interactive experience; guests can learn how Chung Ling Soo ended up being shot to death during his 1918 show and discover how the British army deployed magic to make the Suez Canal disappear to the enemy.

Here are some of the "must see" items at The Magic Circle.

• Harry Houdini's handcuffs
• Rare gems of Robert-Houdin
• HRH Prince Charles' magic cups and balls
• 🎟️ £19.50 per person
• 📍 Centre for the Magic Arts, 12 Stephenson Way, Kings Cross, London NW1 2HD, United Kingdom

The Saatchi Gallery is a London museum for contemporary art. The museum's displays have gone through different eras and artists, to include Young British Artists and American-based contemporary artists. Saatchi Gallery has a tendency to showcase unknown artists, and has often been seen as a launching pad for many careers.

Here are some of the "must see" items at Saatchi Gallery.

• Tutankhamun: Treasures of the Golden Pharaoh
• Beyond the Road
• 🎟️ £24.50 per person
• 📍 Duke of York's HQ, King's Rd, Chelsea, London SW3 4RY, United Kingdom

Buckingham Palace has been the royal's official home since 1837; today, it operates as the monarch's administrative headquarters. The palace boasts 775 rooms to include state rooms, Royal and guest bedrooms, staff bedrooms, offices (there are almost 100!), and more than 75 bathrooms. Buckingham Palace was originally built in 1703 as a townhouse for the Duke of Buckingham; it later morphed into the palace it is today. The palace's state rooms are available for tours from July through September.

Here are some of the "must see" items at Buckingham Palace.

• The Ballroom
• Changing the Guard
• The Buckingham Palace Gardens
• 📍 Westminster, London SW1A 1AA, United Kingdom

London's Cartoon Museum is dedicated to capturing British cartoons, caricatures, comics, and animation. The on-site library holds more than 5,000 books and 4,000 comics. At any given time, 250 exhibits are on display from the library. The Duke of Edinburgh opened the museum in 2006 after realizing there had never been a museum in the city dedicated to the art of cartoons.

Here are some of the "must see" items at Cartoon Museum.

• Ronald Searle: Graphic Master
• 📍 63 Wells St, Fitzrovia, London W1A 3AE, United Kingdom

Tower Bridge is one of London's most famous landmarks. The Bascule suspension bridge was built in the mid to late 1800s. It stands more than 200 feet tall and runs more than 800 feet long. The Tower Bridge Exhibition is in the bridge towers. Visitors will enjoy movies, photos, and interactive displays showcasing how the bridge was built and how it functioned.

Here are some of the "must see" items at Tower Bridge.

• The original steam engines that powered the bridge
• Views from the towers
• The bridge walkways
• 📍 Tower Bridge Rd, London SE1 2UP, United Kingdom

Religious Museum

The Westminster Abbey Museum, or The Queen's Diamond Jubilee Galleries, sits 52 feet above the abbey floor in the 13th century triforium. Guests will take in incredible views of the abbey as they climb the Weston Tower to the museum. The secret space that houses the galleries was hidden for more than 700 years.

Here are some of the "must see" items at Westminster Abbey Museum.

• The Henry VII effigy head
• Royal marriage licence
• The Liber Regalis
• 🎟️ £5 per person
• 📍 20 Deans Yd, Westminster, London SW1P 3PA, United Kingdom

The London Film Museum was established in 2008 as a tribute to the film industry of the United Kingdom. It was previously called The Movieum of London. Today, the London Film Museum is home to various sets, props, and costumes from the best of British film, including the movie You Only Live Twice. The museum has housed several special exhibits, including one dedicated to London great Charlie Chaplin.

Here are some of the "must see" items at London Film Museum.

• Charlie Chaplin - The Great Londoner
• Ray Harryhausen - Myths & Legends
• Props from You Only Live Twice
• 📍 45 Wellington St, Covent Garden, London WC2E 7BN, United Kingdom

Kensington Palace is a royal residence located in Kensington Gardens in London. The palace has housed members of the royal family since the 1600s. As of 2019, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, Princess Eugiene and her spouse, the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, the Duke and Duchess of Kent, and Prince and Princess Michael of Kent call the palace their home. The palace's state rooms are available for public tours with many objects from the royal collection on view.

Here are some of the "must see" items at Kensington Palace.

• The Gardens
• The state rooms
• A fashion exhibit dedicated to Diana, Princess of Wales in the 1980s
• 🎟️ £18 per person
• 📍 Kensington Gardens, Kensington, London W8 4PX, United Kingdom

London's Florence Nightingale Museum is located on site at St Thomas' Hospital, where Nightingale created the Nightingale Training School for nurses. The museum's mission is dedicated to telling Nightingale's real story from her days growing up as a child of the Victorian era to what she went through in Crimea all the way up through her campaign for public health reform.

Here are some of the "must see" items at Florence Nightingale Museum.

• The stained glass window of Florence Nightingale
• Florence Nightingale's childhood writing slate
• Florence Nightingale's pet owl Athena
• 🎟️ £8 per person
• 📍 2 Lambeth Palace Rd, Lambeth, London SE1 7EW, United Kingdom

The London Motorcycle Museum has more than 150 classic and British motorcycles on displays, including the last Triumph Bonneville T140 that left the Meriden gates in the early 1980s. The museum was founded by Bill Crosby, who began collecting bikes in the 1960s. The museum's collection has been featured on numerous TV shows and in several films, including American Chopper.

Here are some of the "must see" items at London Motorcycle Museum.

• 1902 0rmonde 2​1⁄4 h.p.
• 1959 Norton Dominator
• 1921 Rudge TT 3 hp
• 🎟️ £12 per person
• 📍 Ravenor Farm, 29 Oldfield Ln, Greenford UB6 9LB, United Kingdom

All Hallows-by-the-Tower is an ancient historic Anglican church that was founded in 675. Surprisingly, it's still not the oldest church in London. Inside the church is a seventh century Anglo-Saxon arch with recycled Roman tiles. The church was once dedicated to St Mary the Virgin. Several notable people associated with the church include John Quincy Adams, Thomas More, Lancelot Andrewes, and William Penn.

Here are some of the "must see" items at All Hallows-by-the-Tower Crypt Museum.

• The oldest surviving piece of church fabric in the city.
• View of Tower Bridge
• 🎟️ £Byward St, London EC3R 5BJ, United Kingdom per person

The Benjamin Franklin House is a museum and historic house near London's Trafalgar Square. It is the only surviving house that was once occupied by Benjamin Franklin. This particulate site dates back to the early 1700s and was called home by Franklin for 16 years. Thanks to its Georgian terraced architecture and historic ties to Franklin, the house is listed as a Grade I on England's National Heritage List.

Here are some of the "must see" items at Benjamin Franklin House.

• Guided Tour
• The "Historical Experience"
• The "Student Science Centre"
• 🎟️ £6 per person
• 📍 36 Craven St, Charing Cross, London WC2N 5NF, United Kingdom

The British Dental Association Museum houses a collection of dental objects dating back to the 1600s. The museum has more than 25,000 different objects in its collection, ranging from anatomical models to dental art to dental equipment to oral health promotion to a series of teeth and dentures.

Here are some of the "must see" items at British Dental Association Museum.

• An ether inhaler
• A clockwork drill and dental engine
• A Mayan tooth
• 📍 64 Wimpole St, Marylebone, London W1G 8YS, United Kingdom

The Hackney Museum is a local London history museum located in Hackney. Its collection of more than 8,000 different objects is dedicated to exploring the history of Hackney with a special emphasis on immigration, ranging from Anglo-Saxon settlers to early Victorian times and more recent refugees and migrants.

Here are some of the "must see" items at Hackney Museum.

• History and heritage of Hackney
• History of St John at Hackney church
• Hackney Roots from UK Jewish Film
• 📍 1 Reading Ln, London E8 1GQ, United Kingdom

The British Red Cross Museum and Archives holds a collection that includes objects and records from the British Red Cross' origins dating back to the 1870 until present day. The collection includes exhibits on World War I, a Changi quilt, and records from wars dating back to the late 1800s. Museum visits require an appointment be made in advance.

Here are some of the "must see" items at British Red Cross Museum and Archives.

• Franco-Prussian war 1870-1871 records
• Changi quilt
• Our shared journey: The British Red Cross and refugees.
• 📍 44 Moorfields, Finsbury, London EC2Y 9AL, United Kingdom

Pollock's Toy Museum is a London toy museum that began in the 1950s in a single attic room. The museum was founded above Pollock's Toy Shop and grew popular, so it began to expand. Eventually, the museum took over several rooms with the toy shop remaining on the ground floor. Today, the museum is operated by the grandson of the founder Marguerite Fawdry. The primary collection focuses on Victorian toys to include dolls, teddy bears, tin toys, folk toys, global toys, puppets, and dolls houses.

Here are some of the "must see" items at Pollock's Toy Museum.

• Victorian dolls
• Victorian toys from around the world
• The toy shop
• 🎟️ £7 per person
• 📍 1 Scala St, Bloomsbury, London W1T 2HL, United Kingdom

The Tower of London, which is officially known as Her Majesty's Royal Palace and Fortress of the Tower of London, is a historic castle in London that sits on the River Thames. The Tower of London has stood since 1066. Beginning in 1100 and lasting through 1952, the Tower of London was used as a prison, though it was intended to be a royal home. The Tower has several defensive walls to go along with a moat for security. Notable ghosts of the Tower include Anne Boleyn, Henry VI, Lady Jane Grey, Margaret Pole, and the Princes in the Tower.

Here are some of the "must see" items at Tower of London.

• The Crown Jewels
• The Bloody Tower
• 📍 St Katharine's & Wapping, London EC3N 4AB, United Kingdom

The World Rugby Museum is located in Twickenham Stadium in London. The museum has rotating exhibits that include both items from the permanent collection as well as special exhibits. Past exhibits have included More Than A Tour: the 1905 All-Blacks; Core Values: The Life and Work of Gerald Laing; and England 2010: the Women's Rugby World Cup.

Here are some of the "must see" items at World Rugby Museum.

• The 1871 Room
• Wartime Rugby
• Ghost Tours
• 📍 Twickenham Stadium, 200 Whitton Rd, Twickenham TW2 7BA, United Kingdom

The Jack the Ripper Museum is devoted to one of London's most notorious and terrorizing serial killers. The museum recreates the setting in which the unsolved Jack the Ripper murders took place in 1888. The collection has original objects related to the crimes. The museum opened to controversy in 2015 as it had petitioned to open as a museum about women's history, only to open as a Jack the Ripper museum instead.

Here are some of the "must see" items at Jack the Ripper Museum.

• The whistle used by a constable to summon help after a body's discovery
• The bedroom of victim Mary Jane Kelly
• The sight of Catherine Eddowes' murder
• 🎟️ £13 per person
• 📍 12 Cable St, Tower Hill, Whitechapel, London E1 8JG, United Kingdom

Located in Emirates Stadium, the Arsenal Football Club Museum focuses on the history of the popular club. The exhibits and memorabilia are impressive to any football fan, including Michael Thomas' boots from the 89 title match against Liverpool, Alan Smith's shirt from the 1995 UEFA Cup final, and Charlie George's shirt from the 1971 FA Cup Final. More than 120,000 guests visit the museum annually.

Here are some of the "must see" items at Arsenal Football Club Museum.

• Charlie George's shirt from the 1971 FA Cup Final
• A custom trophy commemorating Arsenal's championship and undefeated 2003-04 Premier League season
• Alan Smith's shirt from the 1994 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup Final
• 📍 Emirates Stadium Highbury House, 75 Drayton Park, London N5 1BU, United Kingdom

The Clink Prison Museum was a prison in England that started in the 12th century and operated through 1780. Today, it is the oldest surviving prison in the country. Notable prisoners of The Clink include Father John Gerard, Father John Jones, Farther George Blackwell, and Edward Knott. The museum today houses prison artifacts, costumed tour guides, and speeches by actors playing prison characters.

Here are some of the "must see" items at Clink Prison Museum.

• A costumed guided tour
• An original ball and chain
• 📍 1 Clink St, London SE1 9DG, United Kingdom

London's Garden Museum was established in an effort to save an abandoned church and knot garden where gardener John Tradescant was buried. Today, it is Britain's only museum focused on the art, history and design of gardens. It is housed in the Church of St Mary-at-Lambet. The collection includes garden artifacts and objects, including tools and art, in addition to an exhibit about how to design a garden.

Here are some of the "must see" items at Garden Museum.

• The Sackler Garden
• A recreation of Tradescant's 17th-century Ark
• The evolution of gardening
• 📍 5 Lambeth Palace Rd, Lambeth, London SE1 7LB, United Kingdom

The Jewish Museum London focuses on Jewish life, history and identity for British folk. As far as London museums go, it is the city's only institution that centers on a minority population. The museum has an extensive permanent collection in addition to hosting a rotating circuit of special temporary exhibits. Charles, Prince of Wales, serves as a patron of the Jewish Museum London.

Here are some of the "must see" items at Jewish Museum London.

• Hanina Pinnick: 70 Smiles
• Great British Jews: A Celebration
• Charlotte Salomon: Life? or Theatre?
• 📍 Raymond Burton House, 129-131 Albert Street, London NW1 7NB, United Kingdom

Cultural Center

The Museum of Immigration and Diversity, located at 19 Princelet Street, is a museum focused on British immigration and diversity. The museum is housed in a Grade II built that was built in 1719. Due to the building's delicate structural nature, the museum only opens for a few days every year. It was Europe's first museum dedicated to immigration and diversity.

Here are some of the "must see" items at Museum of Immigration and Diversity.

• Suitcases and Sanctuary
• 📍 19 Princelet St, Spitalfields, London E1 6QH, United Kingdom

The National Army Museum in London is the British Army's central museum. It differs from other military museums in London, as it focuses on the overall history of Britain's land forces. Other museums focus on individual segments of the army, while the Imperial War Museum is more focused on war experiences of British people and the military after 1914.

Here are some of the "must see" items at National Army Museum.

• The art of persuasion: Wartime posters by Abram Games
• The Danger Tree
• 📍 Royal Hospital Rd, Chelsea, London SW3 4HT, United Kingdom

The Museum of Wimbledon is not what you might be thinking: It is not a museum dedicated to the popular tennis tournament. Instead, the Museum of Wimbledon is a local history museum in Wimbledon that is run by The Wimbledon Society. The museum is a small operation that is only open on weekends. The museum often hosts special exhibits like Hidden treasures: Art & Artists in Wimbledon.

Here are some of the "must see" items at Museum of Wimbledon.

• Wimbledon Now and Then
• Hidden treasures: Art & Artists in Wimbledon
• Wimbledon in the Great War
• 📍 22 Ridgway, Wimbledon, London SW19 4QN, United Kingdom

The Musical Museum in Brentford is a musical instrument museum and active concert venue. The museum's collection includes three main galleries. The museum has a huge collection of self-playing instruments. It's also home to one of the world's top collections of musical rolls from history. Some of the must-see items include a restored Wurlitzer theatre organ and player pianos.

Here are some of the "must see" items at Musical Museum.

• A restored Wurlitzer theatre organ
• Classic film screenings
• The Musical Museum's Annual Christmas Extravaganza!
• 🎟️ £11 per person
• 📍 399 High St, Brentford TW8 0DU, United Kingdom

St Paul's Cathedral is an Anglican cathedral on Ludgate hill at London's highest point. It is the seat of the Bishop of London and the mother church of the Diocese of London. The cathedral is a Grade I listed building on England's National Heritage List. The cathedral today was built in the 1600s, though it is dedicated to Paul the Apostle and the original church on the same site, which was founded in 604.

Here are some of the "must see" items at St Paul's Cathedral.

• The cathedral's dome
• The monument to the Duke of Wellington
• The apse and high altar
• 📍 St. Paul's Churchyard, London EC4M 8AD, United Kingdom

The Twinings Museum is a small museum associated with the Twinings teashop next door. The museum focuses on the history of Twinings founded Thomas Twining, who moved to London in 1684 and eventually became a tea merchant. By the early 1700s, Twining's tea business was booming at 215 Strand, where the museum exists today. Guests are able to sample the various types of tea offered.

Here are some of the "must see" items at Twinings Museum.

• The golden lion statue
• Two figures of Chinese men which symbolizes the origin of tea
• 📍 216 Strand, Temple, London WC2R 1AP, United Kingdom

Now we've come to the expected sports version of the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Museum. This museum is the world's biggest tennis museum. The museum's collection includes objects dating back to the mid 1500s. It houses an incredible amount of memorabilia, including some from Victorian era tennis players. The museum recently incorporated a VR experience for visitors to engage with directly.

Here are some of the "must see" items at Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Museum.

• Visit Centre Court
• Guided tours available in eight languages
• Go behind the scenes of the All England Lawn Tennis Club
• 📍 Church Rd, Wimbledon, London SW19 5AE, United Kingdom

The London Canal Museum is dedicated to preserving the history of London's canals and the UK waterways. The museum is housed in ice warehouse constructed during the 1860s to house ice imported from Norway that would come in via waterways. Guests are able to visit one of the preserved ice wells in the museum.

Here are some of the "must see" items at London Canal Museum.

• The Gatti Story
• Watery Wednesdays
• Ice Heritage Weekend
• 📍 12/13 New Wharf Rd, Islington, London N1 9RT, United Kingdom

The Museum of Life Sciences is a natural history museum that is part of King's College London. It was the first new museum in King's College in more than 100 years when it opened in 2009. The museum owns a historic biological and pharmaceutical collections ranging in age from the 1800s to the present. There are several main collections: zoological, botanical, pharmaceutical, microscope slide, and Craniofacial Skeletal collections. The museum is not open to the public as of late 2019.

Here are some of the "must see" items at Museum of Life Sciences.

• Darwin’s Dilemma
• Animal Materials and Making
• How large animals (including humans) overcome gravity
• 📍 20 Newcomen St, London SE1 1UL, United Kingdom

The Cinema Museum in London was founded in the 1980s by Ronald Grant and Martin Humphries. Grant and Humphries filled the museum with objects from their private collection of cinema memorabilia. The museum is housed in the workhouse where Charlie Chaplin lived during his childhood. All tours to the museum must be reserved in advance, as space is limited.

Here are some of the "must see" items at Cinema Museum.

• Early films by Mitchell and Kenyon
• Silent films shown perfectly correctly
• 📍 2 Dugard Way, Lambeth, London SE11 4TH, United Kingdom

Garrick's Temple to Shakespeare is a small garden temple built in 1756 on the River Thames. The temple was built by actor David Garrick to honor William Shakespeare; it has since turned into a museum meant to honor Garrick, as well. The temple displayed Garrick's extensive personal collection of Shakespearean artifacts. It is considered to be the world's only true shrine to William Shakespeare.

Here are some of the "must see" items at Garrick's Temple to Shakespeare.

• Views of the Thames
• A replica of Roubiliac's statue of Shakespeare (Garrick served as the model)
• The gardens
• 📍 Hampton Ct Rd, Hampton TW12 2EJ, United Kingdom

The Jewel Tower is part of the Palace of Westminster in London, having survived from its creation in the 1300s. The tower was built specifically to keep safe the treasures of King Edward III. The tower was built securely, fortified with stone, and surrounded by a moat. It was used to store valuable possessions of the monarchy until the 1500s. An estimated 30,000 guests visit the Jewel Tower annually.

Here are some of the "must see" items at Jewel Tower.

• Delftware drinking jars
• An Iron Age sword
• 📍 Abingdon St, Westminster, London SW1P 3JX, United Kingdom

The Guards Museum in London is a military museum located near Buckingham Palace, where regiments of Foot Guards (the Grenadier Guards, Coldstream Guards, Scots Guards, Irish Guards, and Welsh Guards) call home. The museum showcases the history of the regiments dating back to the 1600s with artifacts include uniforms, paintings, sculptures, and weapons.

Here are some of the "must see" items at The Guards Museum.

• Mess Silver
• A Ferret armoured car
• 📍 Wellington Barracks, Birdcage Walk, London, SW1E 6HQ

The Household Cavalry Museum is dedicated to the Household Cavalry regiments of the British Army. The Household Cavalry is made up of the two most senior army regiments: the Life Guards and the Blues and Royals (Royal Horse Guards and 1st Dragoons). A museum dedicated to this is housed in the Horse Guards building, built in the 1700s, which is still active military today.

Here are some of the "must see" items at The Household Cavalry Museum.

• See horses in the 18th-century working stables
• Ceremonial Uniforms
• 1756 Horse Guards Clock
• 📍 Horse Guards Parade, Whitehall, London SW1A 2AX, United Kingdom

The London Museum of Water & Steam is dedicated to the history of water and steam in the city. The museum has a large collection of water pumping steam engines from 1820 through 1910. Other items in the collection include working Cornish engines, which includes the world's largest such engine. The museum caters to families and children, crafting interesting and engaging programming for kids, to include a railway and Wren Class steam locomotive.

Here are some of the "must see" items at London Museum of Water & Steam.

• Grand Junction 90 inch Cornish engine
• Harvey & Co. 100 inch
• Bull engine
• 📍 Green Dragon Ln, Brentford TW8 0EN, United Kingdom

Science Gallery London is an art-science-and-health inspired gallery in London. The free museum has been open since 2018 in London Bridge after a series of pop-up exhibits across London. The gallery aims to bring together scientists, artists, and communities with three themed seasons every year. The space is specifically designed to attract guests ages 15-25.

Here are some of the "must see" items at Science Gallery London.

• On Edge: Living in an Age of Anxiety
• Streets Ahead: Building a Mindful Metropolis
• Is this for real?
• 📍 Great Maze Pond, London SE1 9GU, United Kingdom

The Battle of Britain Bunker is an underground operations room at that was once used by No. 11 Group Fighter Command during World War II. The military controlled fighter jet ops from the bunker. Today, the bunker and its attached museum can be toured to gain a deeper understanding of the bunker's role in British World War II history.

Here are some of the "must see" items at Battle of Britain Bunker.

• Replica Spitfire gate guardian
• Royal Observer Corps Uniform
• Plotted points on the table
• 📍 Wren Ave, Uxbridge UB10 0BE, United Kingdom

The Postal Museum, once known as the British Postal Museum and Archive, is a museum dedicated to the British mail system and its history. Things to see at the museum include a stamp that was ready to be used to celebrate Scotland's would-be win in the 1978 FIFA World Cup, an intercepted first edition of Ulysses, which had been banned in the country, and telegrams from the sinking of the Titanic.

Here are some of the "must see" items at The Postal Museum.

• The Great Train Robbery: Crime & The Post
• Post Mortem: Crime Scene Investigation Workshop
• Gordon Lowe Talk: Trials and Abductions
• 🎟️ £16 per person
• 📍 15-20 Phoenix Pl, London WC1X 0DA, United Kingdom

The Foundling Museum in London chronicles the Foundling Hospital, which was the country's first home for children who were facing abandonment. The museum's collection includes the Gerald Coke Handel collection and the Foundling Hospital collection. Today, the Foundling Hospital operates with the same mission as the Coram charity.

Here are some of the "must see" items at Foundling Museum.

• Two Last Nights! Show Business in Georgian Britain
• The manuscript score of Messiah
• Gerald Coke Handel’s Will
• 🎟️ £14 per person
• 📍 40 Brunswick Square, Bloomsbury, London WC1N 1AZ, United Kingdom

Fulham Palace is a site dedicated to tracing its own history. Items found on the palace's grounds date all the way back to prehistoric times; the archaeological finds are part of the museum's impressive collection of artifacts and objects. The site has been a residence of the Bishops of London since 704 and played a major role as a hospital during World War I and a refugee spot during World War II.

Here are some of the "must see" items at Fulham Palace.

• Discovering the Bishop of London’s Palace at Fulham
• A six-sided Tudor teetotum made from antler dating back to the 15-16th centuries
• 📍 Bishop's Ave, Fulham, London SW6 6EA, United Kingdom

The Bankside Gallery in London was opened in 1980 by Her Majesty, the Queen. The public gallery, located near the Thames, houses the Royal Watercolour Society and Royal Society of Painter Printmakers. The gallery displays rotating exhibits focused on modern watercolours and prints.

Here are some of the "must see" items at Bankside Gallery.

• The Art of Travel
• The Masters: Relief
• Mini Picture Show
• 📍 48 Hopton St, London SE1 9JH, United Kingdom

Barnet Museum in London focuses on the history of Barnet with a special emphasis on the Battle of Barnet, the Barnet Fair, and the Barnet Market. With a library and reference collection on site, the Barnet Museum is one of the most comprehensive resources on the Battle of Barnet. The museum first opened its doors in 1938, and it remains in its original Georgian building.

Here are some of the "must see" items at Barnet Museum.

• Barnet Medieval Festival
• Battle of Barnet artifacts
• The library
• 📍 31 Wood St, Barnet EN5 4BE, United Kingdom

The Strawberry Hill House & Garden is a Gothic Revival villa that was designed in the late 1700s. It started as a vision for a cottage set on five acres, but finished as a Gothic castle set on more than 40. While the original owner named it Chopped Straw Hill, the designer renamed it Strawberry Hill Shot instead. Today, the house and gardens are open to the public. The house is the site of lectures, events, and twilight tours.

Here are some of the "must see" items at Strawberry Hill House & Garden.

• Twilight Tour
• Gothic Stories for Grown ups
• Strawberry Hill House Christmas Festival
• 📍 268 Waldegrave Rd, Twickenham TW1 4ST, United Kingdom

The Twickenham Museum is housed in an 18th-century building that is listed as Grade II by Historic England. The volunteer-run museum focuses on the histories of Teddington, Twickenham, Whitton and the Hamptons. The collection includes archives and artifacts related to these areas.

Here are some of the "must see" items at Twickenham Museum.

• 1914 Maps and Images
• Lost Houses
• Villages on the River
• 📍 25 The Embankment, Twickenham TW1 3DU, United Kingdom

Valence House Museum in London is the only surviving of the five manor houses of Dagenham. The house has a moat partially surrounded the building, which has been used in several ways over the course of history, from being a manor house to a family home to a town hall to a library headquarters and to its present day set up as a history museum dedicated to chronicling historic life in Barking and Dagenham

Here are some of the "must see" items at Valence House Museum.

• Our Everyday Futures
• Battle of the Somme at 100
• Barking Abbey
• 📍 Becontree Ave, Dagenham RM8 3HT, United Kingdom

The Wimbledon Windmill Museum a Grade II designated windmill in London that has since been turned into a museum. The windmill was built in 1817 and has been restored several times in its history. The two-story museum tells the story of the windmills through models, machinery examples, and tools. There's even a preserved room to show how the windmill was used to for sleeping and everyday life.

Here are some of the "must see" items at Wimbledon Windmill Museum.

• Views of the Windmill
• 📍 Windmill Rd, Wimbledon, London SW19 5NR, United Kingdom

Whitechapel Gallery is a public art gallery and museum in London that first opened in 1901. At the time, it was one of the first publicly funded galleries designed for temporary exhibits. Whitechapel Gallery is home to the art of contemporary artists, temporary exhibits, and events designed for the local community.

Here are some of the "must see" items at Whitechapel Gallery.

• Anna Maria Maiolino: Making Love Revolutionary
• Eileen Simpson and Ben White (Open Music Archive): Once Heard Before
• ”la Caixa” Collection of Contemporary Art
• 📍 77-82 Whitechapel High St, Shadwell, London E1 7QX, United Kingdom

The Royal Academy of Arts is an independent, privately funded art organization led by artists and architects. The academy's mission is to foster creating, enjoying, and appreciating visual arts in London. The Royal Academy of Arts was originally founded in 1768 through an act of King George III, who set forth for the academy the same mission it has today. Close to 1.3 million people are thought to visit the museum in London every year.

Here are some of the "must see" items at Royal Academy of Arts.

• Lucian Freud: The Self-portaits
• Eco-Visionaries
• Antony Gormley
• 📍 Burlington House, Piccadilly, Mayfair, London W1J 0BD, United Kingdom

The Royal Academy of Music Museum is a museum of musical instruments, artifacts, and objects attached to London's Royal Academy of Music. Since its origins in 1822, the Academy has built up a collection of instruments, manuscripts, letters, performance editions, teaching materials, and memorabilia.

Here are some of the "must see" items at Royal Academy of Music Museum.

• Yehudi Menuhin: Journeys with a violin
• The Strings gallery
• The Piano gallery
• 📍 1–5 York Gate, Marylebone Rd, Marylebone, London NW1 5HT, United Kingdom

Apsley House, which is also known as the Wellington Museum, is the residence of the Dukes of Wellington in London. The Grade I listed building is as a museum and art gallery, exhibiting the Wellington Collection. The collection includes more than 3,000 works of art and memorabilia dating back to the 1st Duke. The 9th Duke still uses parts of the building today.

Here are some of the "must see" items at Apsley House.

• The Waterloo Gallery
• The Duke's equestrian statue
• A multimedia guide to the history of the house
• 📍 149 Piccadilly, London W1J 7NT, United Kingdom

The Bethlem Museum of the Mind is a museum focused on the history of the Royal Bethlem Hospital. Inside the museum is an art gallery that was created in 1997 as a way to showcase the art of artists who are currently or were once patients of the hospital. Famed patients with work on display at the museum include William Kurelek, Richard Dadd and Louis Wain.

Here are some of the "must see" items at Bethlem Museum of the Mind.

• Impatient! Stories of service user advocacy
• Testimony: First Person Accounts of the British Asylum System, 1925-1985
• 📍 Bethlem Royal Hospital, Monks Orchard Rd, Beckenham BR3 3BX, United Kingdom

The Boston Manor House is an English Jacobean manor house that was originally built in 1622. The house has since been restored several times over the centuries. Next door sits Boston Manor Park, which is a public park and lake. Guests tend to visit the free lake which is equipped with playgrounds for children, tennis courts, a nature trail, and a basketball court. On weekends, there is even a cafeteria.

Here are some of the "must see" items at Boston Manor House.

• The exterior of the historic Boston Manor House
• Weekend cafeteria
• 📍 Brentford TW8 9JX, UK

The Burgh House & Hampstead Museum is a London historic house and museum. Burgh House was first built in 1704. Famous inhabitants include Dr. George Williamson, Captain Constantine Evelyn Benson, the daughter of author Rudyard Kipling, and, in the late 1800s, the Royal East Middlesex Militia, who used it as their headquarters. Burgh House and the Hampstead Museum display local history and culture exhibits and artifacts, the world's biggest Helen Allingham collection, and host events and exhibits with local community appeal.

Here are some of the "must see" items at Burgh House & Hampstead Museum.

• The Helen Allingham collection
• The Doctor and His Mother
• Art Aiding Politics
• 📍 Burgh House New End Square London NW3 1LT

Lambeth Palace is the London home of the Archbishop of Canterbury in England on the banks of the River Thames. The palace has served as the archbishop's home for more than 800 years. While the palace opens to the public via guided tours, it is not open to the public only a daily basis. Advance reservations for a guided tour are required. The building is a Grade I listing.

Here are some of the "must see" items at Lambeth Palace.

• Hans Holbein portraits
• William Hogarth portraits
• Sir Joshua Reynolds portraits
• 📍 Lambeth, London SE1 7JU, United Kingdom

The Honourable Artillery Company Museum opened in 1987; it then closed and underwent a complete rebuild. The Duke of Edinburgh reopened the museum in 2011. The collection is dedicated to the Honourable Artillery Company and includes uniforms, silver, medals, weapons, equipment, art, and armour dating back to the 1530s with a special emphasis on the 1600s and 1700s militia. Appointments are required to visit, though admission is free.

Here are some of the "must see" items at Honourable Artillery Company Museum.

• 400 sets of medals
• Weapons collection
• Uniforms collection
• 📍 City Rd, London EC1Y 2BQ, United Kingdom

The Institute of Contemporary Arts is an art gallery near London's Trafalgar Square. In addition to exhibits on contemporary art, the ICA includes two cinemas, a bookshop, a theatre, and a bar. Established in 1947, ICA creators wanted to create a place for artists and other creative and science folk to debate ideas without being constricted by the rules and traditions of the Royal Academy.

Here are some of the "must see" items at Institute of Contemporary Arts.

• Bruderskriegsoundsystem
• Honey-Suckle Company: Omnibus
• The Politics of Pleasure
• 📍 The Mall, St. James's, London SW1Y 5AH, United Kingdom

Islington Museum is a public local history museum focused on the history of Islington in London. Housed in the basement of the Finsbury Library, the Islington Museum focuses on nine aspects of local and social Islington history, from childhood and food to fashion and leisure to radicals and wartime. Top things to see include a bust of Vladimir Lenin and book covers defaced by Joe Orton and Kenneth Halliwell.

Here are some of the "must see" items at Islington Museum.

• Islington People’s Rights
• Mapping Islington: Historic maps and plans of Islington
• Echoes of Holloway Prison: Hidden voices from behind the wall
• 📍 245 St John St, Clerkenwell, London EC1V 4NB, United Kingdom

The House of Dreams Museum is the vision of London art director Steven Wright, who has lived in the East Dulwich home since 1982. He began to turn it into a museum in the late 90s. It serves as a shrine to his dead parents and partner. The ground floor, gardens and exterior of the home are all considered one sculpture. Every inch of the home has been filled with treasures.

Here are some of the "must see" items at House of Dreams Museum.

• The Dented Faced Doll
• Siamese Twins
• Little Black Purse
• 📍 45 Melbourne Grove, East Dulwich, London SE22 8RG, United Kingdom

The Bentley Priory Museum was a home and park built in the 17-1800s in London. Initially it served as a medieval priory, wThose original remains don't exist any longer. In the late 1770s, a mansion was built near the original site. Eventually, it became a hotel and girls' school before being acquired by the Royal Air Force in 1926. During World War II, the priory served as the RAF Fighter Command headquarters and was part of the RAF until 2008. The museum is now a memorial to those who served in the Royal Air Force.

Here are some of the "must see" items at Bentley Priory Museum.

• The ACM Dowding
• Battle of Britain aircrew
• Battle of Britain heritage trail
• 📍 Mansion House Drive, Stanmore HA7 3FB, United Kingdom

The Cutty Sark Museum is a maritime museum dedicated to celebrating the Cutty Sark, a historic sailing ship that, at its heydey, was the fastest ship on the seas. The British clipper ship was built in 1869, is part of the National Historic Fleet, and is one of only three remaining original composite construction clipper ships from the 1800s.

Here are some of the "must see" items at Cutty Sark Museum.

• Take the ship's wheel
• Walk beneath the hull
• Explore the Captain's cabin
• 📍 King William Walk, London SE10 9HT, United Kingdom

The Faraday Museum is part of the Royal Institution. It was created in 1973 as a tribute to scientist Michael Faraday. The museum's main attraction is Faraday's 1850s lab, which is shown as it was during his time and is not a reconstruction. That lab is placed next to a modern nanotechnology lab to highlight the differences between the two.

Here are some of the "must see" items at Faraday Museum .

• Michael Faraday's 1850s lab
• State of the art nanotech lab
• Is obesity a choice?
• 📍 Albemarle St, Mayfair, London W1S 4BS, United Kingdom

The Royal Mews is responsible for arranging all road transport for the Queen and the British Royal Family. The Mews has had two locations since its inception: Charing Cross and Buckingham Palace, which is where the Mews moved during the 1820s. It has remained in Buckingham Palace ever since. The Mews has an impressive historic coach and carriage collection, as well as one of the world's best stables.

Here are some of the "must see" items at Royal Mews.

• Horses and stables
• Diamond Jubilee State Coach
• Golden State Coach
• 📍 Buckingham Palace Rd, Westminster, London SW1W 0QH, United Kingdom

The Royal Pharmaceutical Society Museum was established in 1842 and traces the history of pharmacy in Britain. The museum collections date back to the 1400s with objects like early books, medicines, drug jars, mortars, medical caricatures, and oil paintings.

Here are some of the "must see" items at The Royal Pharmaceutical Society Museum.

• The Early Printed Books Collection, including herbals and early pharmacopoeias from the 1400s
• 📍 66-68 E Smithfield, Whitechapel, London E1W 1AW, United Kingdom

The Ben Uri Gallery & Museum highlights the work and lives of émigré artists in London. It is the self-proclaimed "Art Museum for Everyone" in the city. The museum has more than 1,300 pieces of art in its permanent collection. The museum also displays special temporary exhibits.

Here are some of the "must see" items at Ben Uri Gallery, The London Jewish Museum of Art.

• Isaac Rosenberg's Sonia
• Solomon Joseph Solomon's The Field, The Artist's Daughter on a Pony
• Zygmund Schreter's Landscape
• 📍 108A Boundary Rd, St John's Wood, London NW8 0RH, United Kingdom

The British Optical Association Museum was founded in 1901 in London to chronicle the history of spectacles and optometry. Today, the collection also includes tools of the optometry trade and optometry art. The collection includes more than 27,000 different items and is considered to be one of the world's best subject matter collections. The British Optical Association Museum is the oldest museum in the world about optometry that is open to the public. Appointments are required.

Here are some of the "must see" items at British Optical Association Museum.

• Pathos Ocularis - The Beautiful and the Curious
• We Called to See You - Visual Aspects of Victorian and Edwardian Cartes-de-visite Portrait Photographs
• 📍 42 Craven St, Charing Cross, London WC2N 5NG, United Kingdom

The British Library is the United Kingdom's national library. It contains an estimated 200 million different works from around the world. Some of the library's collection dates back to 2000 BC. The British Library was once part of the British Museum before becoming its own independent entity. The Sir John Ritblat Gallery houses some of the library's most famous works on display for the public.

Here are some of the "must see" items at British Library.

• Gutenberg Bible
• Geoffrey Chaucer's Canterbury Tales
• 📍 96 Euston Rd, London NW1 2DB, United Kingdom

The Alexander Fleming Museum is located inside London's St Mary's Hospital. The museum is dedicated to Fleming's discovery of the antibiotic penicillin at the hospital in 1928. The discovery won Fleming the Nobel Prize. The Fleming Museum has won numerous awards, including International Historic Chemical Landmark.

Here are some of the "must see" items at Alexander Fleming Museum.

• Fleming's laboratory
• Interactive video displays explaining penicillin
• 🎟️ £4 per person
• 📍 135a Praed St, Paddington, London W2 1QY, United Kingdom

The Fusilier Museum is a museum dedicated to gathering and displaying the uniforms, medal and artifacts of the Lancashire Fusiliers. The museum's collection honors more than 300 years of Fusiliers history. The Fusilier Museum has five Victoria Crosses awarded to members of the regiment on display.

Here are some of the "must see" items at Fusilier Museum.

• A First World War Trench
• Andrew Robb, a 19th Century Soldier
• Napoleon’s doctor, Surgeon Major Arnott
• 📍 Moss St, Bury BL9 0DF, United Kingdom

The Kennel Club Dog Art Gallery is home to the largest collection of dog paintings in Europe. Famous dog artists such as Maud Earl, George Earl, Richard Ansdell, Arthur Wardle, and Cecil Aldin are on display at the gallery. Types of art featuring dogs on display include oil paintings, watercolours, prints and sculptures. Advanced appointments are required.

Here are some of the "must see" items at Kennel Club Dog Art Gallery.

• Dogs in War
• The Fox Terrier in Art
• 📍 10 Clarges St, Mayfair, London W1J 8AB, United Kingdom

The Kirkaldy Testing Museum is located in South London. It is home to Kirkaldy's giant testing machine that clocks in at more than 47 feet long, along with other smaller, modern pieces of equipment. The Kirkaldy Machine is kept in working condition at the museum. The museum is available to the public on the first Sunday of each month.

Here are some of the "must see" items at Kirkaldy Testing Museum.

• The Kirkaldy Machine
• 1970s Photo Collection
• The 60,000lb Riehle Machine
• 📍 99 Southwark St, London SE1 0JF, United Kingdom

The Library and Museum of Freemasonry in London has a collection full of masonic objects, ranging from jewelry to ceramics to pottery to books to manuscripts to clocks to silverware. The collection also contains items from other societies and orders, like Sons of the Phoenix and the Oddfellows. The museum has memorabilia from famous names like King George IV, King Edward VII, Winston Churchill, Oscar Wilde, and Rudyard Kipling.

Here are some of the "must see" items at Library and Museum of Freemasonry.

• William Perfect
• Three Centuries of English Freemasonry
• A 230-year-old throne
• 📍 60 Great Queen St, Holborn, London WC2B 5AZ, United Kingdom

The Markfield Beam Engine and Museum is a Grade II listed building that houses a 100 horsepower beam engine built during the 1880s with the intention to pump sewage from Tottenham towards the Beckton Works. Each engine pump is capable of moving more than two million imperial gallons of water daily. Today, the engine only runs at the museum for guests to enjoy.

Here are some of the "must see" items at Markfield Beam Engine and Museum.

• The 1880s Markfield Beam Engine
• Visit on steam days to see the engine in action
• 📍 Markfield Rd, London N15 4RB, United Kingdom

The Museum of Comedy in London is housed in the crypt of St George's Church. The space was initially converted to be an art gallery before the Museum of Comedy moved in. The museum's collection highlights British comedic history with posters, props, outfits, costumes, films, scripts, and photographs.

Here are some of the "must see" items at Museum of Comedy.

• Mistress to the Midnight
• Will Seaward’s Spooky Ghost Stories VI
• Alternative Comedy Legends
• 📍 The Undercroft, St George’s Church, Bloomsbury Way, Holborn, London WC1A 2SR, United Kingdom

Peckham Platform is a public art gallery in London that displays contemporary art, usually in collaboration with local community groups. The Platform was meant to work in tandem with local youth groups. Peckham Platform is heavily involved in public art education with a special emphasis on youth education about art.

Here are some of the "must see" items at Peckham Platform.

• Gayle Chong Kwan's Double Vision
• Ruth Beale's Bookbed
• Sonia Boyce's Network
• 📍 Bussey Building, Copeland Park, 133 Copeland Rd, Peckham, London SE15 3SN, United Kingdom

The Ragged School Museum in London opened in 1990 at the former Dr Barnardo's Copperfield Road Ragged School. The school opened in 1877 to provide the children in the area with a basic education, making it the biggest school of its kind for the period. By 1908, the government had taken over public education and the school was closed. Later, the building was used as a factory before being turned into the museum it is today.

Here are some of the "must see" items at Ragged School Museum.

• Ragged Music Festival
• A Victorian Classroom
• History Talks
• 📍 46-50 Copperfield Rd, London E3 4RR, United Kingdom

The Queen's Gallery, Buckingham Palace showcases objects, artifacts, and art from the Royal Collection. Guests will be able to see rare furniture, ornate items, decorative arts, and master paintings. At any given time, approximately 450 works from the Royal Collection are on display, and what is displayed rotates regularly.

Here are some of the "must see" items at The Queen's Gallery, Buckingham Palace.

• George IV: Art & Spectacle
• The Leonardo Da Vinci Exhibition
• Georgian Papers
• 📍 George IV: Art & Spectacle

The South London Gallery was founded in London in 1891, and is a public-funded gallery of contemporary art. The SLG hosts five exhibitions each year dedicated to the art of international creators. The gallery also hosts a live art and film program.

Here are some of the "must see" items at South London Gallery.

• Bloomberg New Contemporaries 2019
• Danh Vo's Untitled
• Orozco garden
• 📍 65 Peckham Rd, London SE5 8UH, United Kingdom

The Upminster Tithe Barn Museum of Nostalgia is housed in a 1450 barn that was part of the Abbey of Waltham. In 1976, the Barn was updated and turned into the museum it is today. The museum holds around 14,500 artifacts related to an agricultural and domestic nature.

Here are some of the "must see" items at Upminster Tithe Barn Museum of Nostalgia.

• Wooden wagons
• Old typewriters
• 📍 Hall Ln, Upminste RM14 1AU, United Kingdom

The Wiener Library for the Study of the Holocaust and Genocide is the oldest organization in the world devoted to the study of the Holocaust. The Wiener Library was founded in 1933 to keep Jewish communities up to date on Nazi persecution. Later, it became a research institute and public access library following the end of World War II. The library today has an estimated 70,000 books, 2,000 document, 45,000 photographs and 3,000 periodicals.

Here are some of the "must see" items at Wiener Library for the Study of the Holocaust and Genocide.

• Berlin/London: The Lost Photographs of Gerty Simon
• Bernard Simon’s Experiences of Internment During the Second World War
• Josiah Wedgwood and the Defence of Democracy
• 📍 29 Russell Square, Bloomsbury, London WC1B 5DP, United Kingdom

The House of Illustration is a London art gallery dedicated to the craft of illustration. Sir Quentin Blake opened the Granary Square museum in 2014. It has since housed dozens of types of illustrations from animation and comic books to advertisements and marketing efforts to manga to children's books to political cartoons and fashion design. Artists on display include Quentin Blake, Paula Rego, David Lemm, and E.H. Shepard.

Here are some of the "must see" items at House of Illustration.

• Designed in Cuba: Cold War Graphics
• Marie Neurath: Picturing Science
• W.E.B. Du Bois: Charting Black Lives
• 📍 2 Granary Square, Kings Cross, London N1C 4BH, United Kingdom

Forty Hall Museum is located in a manor house built in the 1600s in northern London. The Grade I listed building houses the museum that tells its historic tale. The museum is particularly focused on exploring and preserving stories about the experiences of occupant Sir Nicholas Rainton and London life in the 1600s.

Here are some of the "must see" items at Forty Hall Museum.

• Activities for children include building a castle, playing dress up, and using a historic kitchen
• The Stable Gateway
• 📍 Forty Hall Farm, Enfield EN2 9HA, United Kingdom

The Gunnersbury Park Museum is housed inside a larger tourist attraction: Gunnersbury Park itself. The large mansion on park grounds has become the Gunnersbury Park Museum, which has been open since 1929. The museum highlights local history, archaeology, and art. The museum showcases the lives of the Rothschilds, who occupied the mansion during the 19th century.

Here are some of the "must see" items at Gunnersbury Park Museum.

• Treasured Treads: Unpicking Gunnersbury’s Quilts
• The Rothschild Rooms
• Below Stairs
• 📍 Gunnersbury Park Museum, Gunnersbury Park House, Popes Ln, London W5 4NH, United Kingdom

The Heath Robinson Museum is a biographical museum dedicated to the life and art of its namesake. The museum displays memorabilia, artwork, and objects from the life of Heath Robinson, as well as hosts exhibitions and events that support Robinson's life mission and vision. Admission to the museum is free.

Here are some of the "must see" items at Heath Robinson Museum.

• Heath Robinson Watercolours
• Fairies in Illustration
• After Post-Impressionism—Fauvism and Expressionism
• 📍 50 W End Ln, Pinner HA5 1AE, United Kingdom

The Langdon Down Museum of Learning Disability is housed in the building that Victorian doctor Dr John Langdon Down lived and worked in. In this building, Dr Down researched and took new approaches to caring for people with learning disabilities. The museum today highlights exhibits about the work of Dr John as well as Normansfield Theatre and the Royal Earlswood Asylum. Admission to the museum is free.

Here are some of the "must see" items at Langdon Down Museum of Learning Disability.

• A model of Brunel’s Great Eastern
• A rare Grade II Victorian theatre
• 📍 The Langdon Down Centre Normansfield 2A Langdon Park Teddington Middlesex TW11 9PS

Hampton Court Palace is a royal palace in London on the River Thames. King Henry VIII initially ordered construction of the palace to begin in 1515 for Cardinal Thomas Wolsey; within 15 years, Wolsey was no longer a favorite of the king and so he returned the palace to the monarch. Hampton Court Palace is one of just two surviving palaces from the reign of King Henry VIII. It is now owned by Queen Elizabeth II.

Here are some of the "must see" items at Hampton Court Palace.

• The Lost Dress of Elizabeth I
• The Haunted Gallery
• Hampton Court Gardens
• 📍 Molesey, East Molesey KT8 9AU, United Kingdom

The Francis Skaryna Belarusian Library and Museum in London is the world's only library outside of Belarus that has an exclusive collection of objects and artifacts related to the country. The collection is the most comprehensive Belarusian collection in all of Western Europe with an estimated 30,000 volumes in the library's possession.

Here are some of the "must see" items at Francis Skaryna Belarusian Library and Museum.

• 20 rare books printed before the 1800
• 📍 37 Holden Rd, London N12 8HS, United Kingdom

Headstone Manor and Museum, or Harrow Museum, is a local history museum for London's Borough of Harrow. The Harrow Museum has four historic buildings on site which together comprise Headstone Manor, which was built in 1310. To this date, Headstone Manor is still surrounded by a moat, which is the only surviving moat with water in it in all of Middlesex.

Here are some of the "must see" items at Headstone Manor and Museum.

• Music Harrow!
• Painting to Music
• 📍 Headstone Recreation Ground, Pinner View, Harrow HA2 6PX, United Kingdom

The Inns of Court & City Yeomanry is a British Army unit formed through the amalgamation of The Inns of Court Regiment and The City of London Yeomanry in 1961, and the museum is dedicated to its story, history, and artifacts. The regimental museum's collection includes records, militaria, documents, uniforms, and photographs.

Here are some of the "must see" items at Inns of Court & City Yeomanry Museum.

• Law Association drums from 1803
• The World War II collection
• 📍 10 Stone Buildings, Holborn, London WC2A 3TG, United Kingdom

Handel & Hendrix in London is a museum chronicling the lives of composer George Frideric Handel and guitarist Jimi Hendrix who lived in neighboring homes on Brook Street. The museum has been restored to look the way it did when Handel and Hendrix were residents.

Here are some of the "must see" items at Handel & Hendrix in London.

• Handel's correspondence
• Original manuscripts
• John Mainwaring's biography of Handel with handwritten notes
• 📍 25 Brook St, Mayfair, London W1K 4HB, United Kingdom

Kingston Museum in southwest London was built in 1904. The museum has three permanent galleries, including Ancient Origins, which showcases changes in the area dating back from prehistoric times, and Town of Kings, which highlights the development of Kingston as a market town starting during medieval times. The building that houses the museum is Grade II listed.

Here are some of the "must see" items at Kingston Museum.

• 120 Martinware ceramics
• The Brill Collection
• An inscribed Roman altar
• 📍 Wheatfield Way, Kingston upon Thames KT1 2PS, United Kingdom

The Museum of Domestic Design and Architecture is a London museum that is home to an impressive collection of 19th and 20th century home decorative arts. The Arts Council England recognized the collection as providing outstanding international value. The MoDA also has the Sir James Maude Richards Library of architectural books on a long-term loan. Appointments are required to visit.

Here are some of the "must see" items at Museum of Domestic Design and Architecture.

• The Silver Studio Collection
• The Charles Hasler Collection
• The Crown Wallpaper Archive
• 📍 9 Boulevard Dr, London NW9 5HF, United Kingdom

The Museum of Croydon is housed in the famous Croydon landmark, the Croydown Clocktower. The museum is dedicated to chronicling the history of London's Borough of Croydon. The museum is popular for its interactive exhibits. The collection contains objects dating back to the early 1800s. A cool twist is that there are two ways to enter the galleries: either via the "Then" door to begin in the past and move forward through the museum chronologically or through the "Now" door to begin in the present and move backward through history.

Here are some of the "must see" items at Museum of Croydon.

• Croydon Clocktower
• The Riesco Gallery
• Samuel Coleridge-Taylor exhibits
• 📍 1918 Katharine St, Croydon CR0 1NX, United Kingdom

Somerset House is a museum and historic house located in a Neoclassical building that overlooks the River Thames. The Somerset House, built in 1796, is an arts centre that is open to the public with free admission almost every day of the year. Free guided tours of the grounds are offered twice per week and the museum often offers special exhibits like Mary Sibande's I Came Apart At The Seams.

Here are some of the "must see" items at Somerset House.

• Historical Highlights Tour
• Mary Sibande's I Came Apart At The Seams
• 📍 Strand, London WC2R 1LA, United Kingdom

The University College London Art Museum houses a collection that goes back to 1847. The collection began when artist John Flaxman offered his sculpture models and drawing to the university. Now, there are more than 10,000 objects in the collection, to include etchings by Rembrandt. The collection dates back to the 1400s.

Here are some of the "must see" items at UCL Art Museum.

• UCL Year of the Sculpture
• The Edward Allington Exhibit
• Free guided tours
• 📍 South Cloisters, University College London, Gower St, Kings Cross, London WC1E 6BT, United Kingdom

Encyclopedic Museum

The Viktor Wynd Museum of Curiosities, Fine Art & Natural History is a small eclectic museum and bar in London. The museum was funded via Kickstarter campaign in 2015 and it is run by Viktor Wynd and apart of The Last Tuesday Society. The museum's strange collection includes a two-headed kitten, two-headed lambs, Fiji mermaids, and hariballs. The museums' objects date back several centuries. Fun hint: Ask for tea with your admission.

Here are some of the "must see" items at The Viktor Wynd Museum of Curiosities, Fine Art & Natural History.

• A two-headed kitten and a two-headed lamb
• The largest collection of work by Austin Osman Spare
• Fiji mermaids
• 📍 11 Mare St, London E8 4RP, United Kingdom

Valentines Mansion & Gardens is a Grade II on the National Heritage List for both building and garden. Built in 1696, the mansion was for the widow of Archbishop of Canterbury John Tillotson's widow, Lady Tillotson. It later was the home of Sir Charles Raymond.

Here are some of the "must see" items at Valentines Mansion & Gardens.

• The Mansion Through Young Artists' Eyes
• The Valentines Anomaly
• Annual Christmas Fair
• 📍 Emerson Rd, Ilford IG1 4XA, United Kingdom

The Walthamstow Pumphouse Museum sits in a Grade II listed former Victorian waste water pumping station. The museum is dedicated to chronicling the technology, transport and industrial history of the Walthamstow area. The collection houses an impressive list of transport and machinery from steam engines to workshops to original tube cars to firefighting equipment.

Here are some of the "must see" items at Walthamstow Pumphouse Museum.

• Marshall 'C' class steam engines
• A machine workshop
• An original 1968 Victoria Line tube car
• 📍 10 S Access Rd, Walthamstow, London E17 8AX, United Kingdom

The Polish Institute and Sikorski Museum, also known as the Sikorski Institute, is a Polish community organization in London that was founded after World War II. The organization's mission was to preserve the memory of the Polish military in the west and to document their contribution to the war's effort. The institution was important at the time, as a Polish communist takeover made it challenging for former armed forces to return to their native country.

Here are some of the "must see" items at Polish Institute and Sikorski Museum.

• World War II memorabilia
• Flag collection
• 📍 20 Princes Gate, Knightsbridge, London SW7 1PT, United Kingdom

The Old Royal Naval College is an architectural landmark of Maritime Greenwich. The buildings on site were originally built to operate as the Royal Hospital for Seamen at Greenwich. This today is known as Greenwich Hospital, which was built between 1696 and 1712 and closed in the late 1800s. Shortly after its closure, it became the Royal Naval College until 1998. Today, the grounds are open to visitors.

Here are some of the "must see" items at Old Royal Naval College.

• The Painted Hall
• John Michael Rysbrack's George II
• The Painted Hall of Greenwich Hospital as drawn by Augustus Pugin and Thomas Rowlandson
• 📍 King William Walk, Greenwich Peninsula, London SE10 9NN, United Kingdom

Museum Database

Museums in Boston

Museums in Chicago

Museums in Los Angeles

Museums in NYC

Museums in Paris

Museums in Philadelphia

Museums in Rome

Museums in San Francisco

Museums in Washington DC

The World's Best Museum Tours

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5400+ Reviews

Museum Hack leads small group, VIP museum tours that are fun, fast-paced and surprisingly cool.

Highlights include:

• Smart Humor, Mind Blowing Facts, Juicy Gossip
• Admission Included, Skip the Line
• 100% "You'll Love It" Guarantee

It's like visiting the museum with a close friend who just happens to know all the best stories, secrets and gossip.

Enter a search term or a page code from the guide.

Discovering the Best Museums in London for 2024

Exploring a museum is an essential experience in London, a city renowned for its world-class, and often free, museums. Whether you’re a history enthusiast, an art lover, or just curious, London’s diverse museums cater to every interest. In this guide, we’ll take you through the finest museums London has to offer, from the venerable British Museum to the cutting-edge Tate Modern. We’ll also share insider tips to enhance your visit, ensuring a memorable and enriching experience in the heart of this amazing city.

You may also be interested in these articles:

• London Pass Comparison – Which is the Best London Sightseeing Pass?
• Top 16 Attractions in London
• 32 FREE Things to Do in London

table of content

The top reasons to visit a museum in London

Any journey to London should undoubtedly include a visit to at least one of its many illustrious museums. But what makes London such a magnet for museum lovers? Here are three main reasons:

• World-Class Collections : London’s museums are home to some of the most prestigious collections in the world, encompassing a vast range of subjects from ancient history and art to science and modern design.
• Cultural Diversity : The museums offer a glimpse into the cultural diversity and rich history of not only London and the UK but also the wider world, with collections that span global civilizations and epochs.
• Accessibility and Affordability : Many of London’s museums offer free admission to their permanent exhibitions , making them accessible to a wide audience.

So, what are you waiting for? Immerse yourself in a world of art, history, and science. Let’s explore our top picks for must-visit museums in London.

10 Amazing Free Museums in London

Explore the heart of London’s culture without spending a penny! These museums are not just worth a visit—they’re an essential part of any London experience.

• Tate Modern

Visit the Tate Modern in London to immerse yourself in one of the world’s foremost contemporary art galleries. Housed in a striking former power station on the Thames‘ banks, it showcases a diverse range of modern art from the 1900s to today. The collection includes works by Picasso, Warhol, and Hockney, offering a rich exploration of artistic movements such as Surrealism and Minimalism. The museum’s interactive exhibits and temporary installations are ever-changing, ensuring a unique experience with each visit. Best of all, entry is free, making it an accessible cultural gem in the heart of London.

• British Museum

There are truly impressive museums in the world, but the British Museum simply tops them all. Want a few numbers? 2 million years of human history are told in this impressive complex of buildings by means of over 8 million artifacts . You could spend weeks there and not have seen everything. The museum is simply part of a London trip. But probably the most impressive number of all is this: 0. That’s how much it costs to enter, because it’s completely free !

Even without free entry, the British Museum would be a TOP sight of London for me. If you want, but you can throw a few pounds in the oversized donation boxes at the entrance.

Tip: Check out the museum store! The assortment is really great and there is just everything possible that has to do with history, art, literature and that is connected with the museum. There are great special editions of my favorite books like Alice in Wonderland, original sculptures, and much more!

The National Gallery London

The National Gallery is probably the most comprehensive art museum in London. It is located at the northern end of Trafalgar Square , in the heart of London. The state collection of paintings on display here includes some 2300 works from the 13th to the 19th centuries and is invaluable.

It’s perfect for a few relaxing hours and really worth visiting again and again (especially on rainy days). The gallery often has pretty cool exhibitions that take on one theme in particular. Often even younger children will find something to interest them, while art fans and culture lovers can take in the brilliant works !

Natural History Museum London

The Natural History Museum is one of my personal favorite museums. It is located on the famous Exhibition Road in South Kensington. The building itself is already impressive and captivates with a Romanesque-Byzantine architecture .

As the name suggests, the Natural History Museum shows the history of nature on earth. Among other things, it houses the world’s largest collection of meteorites and a lot of dinosaur skeletons . Visitors can trace the history of the earth with the help of creative and partly interactive exhibitions and especially children have great fun here.

Victoria and Albert Museum London

Visit London’s Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A) to explore the world’s leading museum of art, design, and performance. This magnificent museum houses a vast collection that spans over 5,000 years of human creativity, with over 2.3 million objects showcasing incredible artifacts from around the globe. From ancient textiles and fashion to breathtaking sculpture, ceramics, and photography, the V&A offers an unparalleled journey through the decorative arts. The museum’s ever-changing exhibitions are both educational and inspiring, set in an architecturally stunning building. It’s a treasure trove for art enthusiasts, historians, and designers, offering a deep dive into the world’s rich cultural heritage.

Museum of London Docklands

I recommend visiting the Museum of London Docklands. This hidden gem, located in Canary Wharf, offers an intriguing exploration of London’s rich maritime history. It’s set in a 200-year-old warehouse and delves into the story of the River Thames and the growth of the Docklands. The museum vividly illustrates the area’s transformation from a bustling port to a major financial center. Exhibits like the recreated Victorian streets, the history of the slave trade, and the impact of World War II on the docks are particularly enlightening. It’s a must-visit for anyone interested in London’s nautical past and urban development.

Design Museum London

The Design Museum in London is a fascinating destination for its celebration of contemporary design in every form. Located in Kensington, this museum showcases the impact of design on daily life and the broader culture. It features a wide range of exhibits covering product, industrial, graphic, fashion, and architectural design. The museum not only displays iconic designs from around the world but also explores the work of emerging designers, providing a glimpse into the future of design trends.

Its interactive and thought-provoking exhibitions, workshops, and talks make it a hub of creativity and innovation, appealing to both design professionals and enthusiasts alike.

• London Science Museum

The Science Museum in London is considered one of the best museums in the city. It’s renowned for its interactive and innovative approach to science and technology. The museum houses a remarkable collection that spans centuries of scientific achievement, including pioneering medical equipment, vintage cars, and space exploration artifacts. Its engaging exhibits appeal to a wide audience, from curious children to knowledgeable adults.

The museum frequently updates its displays and hosts temporary exhibitions on cutting-edge science topics, ensuring there’s always something new to discover. Its blend of education and entertainment makes it a must-visit for anyone interested in the wonders of science and technology.

• Tate Britain

Tate Britain, nestled on the banks of the Thames in London, is a venerable institution celebrating British art from the 1500s to the present day. This gallery is renowned for housing the largest collection of British art in the world, featuring masterpieces by Turner, Hockney, and Constable, among others. Its elegant neoclassical building, with a strikingly modern extension, provides a serene backdrop for the artworks. Tate Britain is especially famous for the Turner Collection and the Turner Prize exhibition, showcasing contemporary artists. Its thoughtful curation offers a comprehensive journey through the evolution of British art, making it a must-visit for art enthusiasts.

Imperial War Museum EN

The Imperial War Museum in London is an insightful institution dedicated to exploring the impact of modern conflict on people and society. It covers British and Commonwealth involvement in conflicts since World War I, offering a deep and often moving exploration of war’s effects. The museum’s extensive exhibits include military vehicles, weaponry, personal artifacts, and poignant testimonies from soldiers and civilians. Notable features are the haunting Holocaust Exhibition and the thought-provoking World War galleries.

Its interactive and educational approach makes history accessible, providing a profound understanding of the complexities and human cost of war, making it a must-visit for history enthusiasts.

More London Museums Worth a Visit

London’s vibrant culture is mirrored in the diversity of its museums. Beyond the classic and renowned, the city boasts an array of unique and intriguing museums, each with its charm and story. We’ve handpicked a selection of these hidden gems for you to explore. Dive in and see for yourself what makes London’s museum scene so wonderfully diverse!”

London Transport Museum

London Transport Museum is definitely worth a visit, especially if you have an interest in the history of urban transportation. Located in Covent Garden , the museum offers a fascinating journey through the evolution of London’s transport system. It showcases a variety of exhibits including vintage buses, classic Tube trains, and historic maps. Interactive displays and hands-on activities make it engaging for all ages .

The museum provides insight into the engineering, design, and social history of London’s public transport, highlighting its impact on the city’s development. It’s a unique museum that combines historical exploration with educational experiences, making it an enjoyable visit for both locals and tourists.

Warner Bros. Studio Tour

Attention all witches, wizards, and Muggles: Get ready for the ultimate Harry Potter experience at the Warner Bros. Studio Tour in London! Step into the enchanting world of the famous young wizard and explore the magical halls of Hogwarts. As you wander through Diagon Alley and the Great Hall, you’ll find an array of fantastic merchandise representing your Hogwarts house. Experience a day in the life of a Hogwarts student at the world’s most magical school.

Since its opening in 2012, the Harry Potter Studio Tour has become one of London’s must-see attractions , captivating over 17 billion fans of the series. So, gather your wands and prepare for a delightful butterbeer adventure – Hogwarts awaits!

Madame Tussauds London

See the original: The most famous wax museum in the world, Madame Tussauds, is located in London! This renowned attraction, located in the heart of the city, is home to incredibly lifelike wax figures of countless celebrities, including the Royal Family . The exhibits are continuously updated with new wax figures of popular personalities.

Booking your tickets online in advance offers two major benefits: you’ll avoid long queues and enjoy discounted prices compared to on-site purchases.

A standout experience at Madame Tussauds, which pleasantly surprised me, is the Spirit of London Ride . This unique journey in a Black Cab takes you through the history of London, from its early days to the present, in a creatively designed experience. Don’t miss this engaging blend of entertainment and history at Madame Tussauds!

London Dungeon

The London Dungeon offers a unique and interactive experience that combines history with entertainment. It brings to life various macabre and dark aspects of London’s past through live actors, special effects, and rides.

Set in a dungeon-like setting, the attraction takes visitors on a journey through 1,000 years of London’s history, focusing on grim and gruesome events such as the Great Fire of London, the plague, Jack the Ripper’s murders, and the trials and tortures of medieval times. The actors perform chilling reenactments, and the experience is designed to be both scary and fun, with a mix of humor and horror.

It’s particularly popular among families with older children and teenagers, as well as tourists seeking an entertaining and educational experience.

The Sherlock Holmes Museum

The Sherlock Holmes Museum in London captivates visitors with its iconic location at 221B Baker Street , the fictional detective’s home. It offers an immersive Victorian era experience with authentic replicas and artifacts from the stories. The museum celebrates the enduring impact of Sherlock Holmes on literature and culture, providing an interactive, educational journey. Its global appeal draws fans and tourists interested in literary history, detective fiction, and the unique charm of Holmes’s world.

London Bridge Experience

The London Bridge Experience is a thrilling, interactive attraction located beneath London Bridge. It combines history and horror, taking visitors on a journey through the bridge’s dark past . Utilizing actors, special effects, and recreations of historical events, it provides a unique blend of education and entertainment. This experience delves into London’s grisly history, including tales of the Great Fire, Jack the Ripper, and eerie encounters, offering an engaging, spine-tingling adventure for those seeking a mix of history and horror.

Churchill War Rooms

The Churchill War Rooms in London are a historic underground complex that served as the British government’s command center during World War II. This site includes the Cabinet War Rooms, a bunker that sheltered key government leaders from the Blitz, and the Churchill Museum, dedicated to the life and legacy of Prime Minister Winston Churchill.

The Churchill War Rooms offer a unique glimpse into the British wartime government and the life of one of its most famous leaders, making it an essential visit for history enthusiasts and those interested in WWII.

FAQ about the TOP Museums in London

Which museums in london are free.

London is renowned for its array of museums, many of which offer free admission. Here are some notable ones:

• The National Gallery
• Natural History Museum
• Victoria and Albert Museum
• Design Museum
• Museum of London
• Imperial War Museum

When is the best time to visit London's museums?

Many of the museums on this list offer free admission, which can mean they get quite busy at times, especially on weekdays when school groups often visit. For a more tranquil experience, consider visiting on Friday afternoons. Several museums extend their opening hours on Fridays, which can be a less crowded time to explore. However, crowd levels can vary, so it’s a good idea to check the specific museum’s schedule and any special events they might be hosting to plan your visit accordingly.

Which London museums are suitable for children?

In our opinion, some of the best places in London for children to enjoy and learn include the Natural History Museum, the Science Museum, and the Transport Museum, all offering interactive and educational experiences. Additionally, attractions like Madame Tussauds and the Harry Potter Studios ( Warner Bros. Studio Tour London ) provide unique entertainment, though they differ from traditional museums. These choices cater to a variety of interests, from science and history to popular culture and movie magic.

The Big London Pass Comparison – Which is the best London Sightseeing Pass?

TOP 16 attractions in London

Top 32 FREE Things to Do in London in 2024

Ob Strandurlaub oder Städtetrip, Skiurlaub oder Road Trip – Ich leb' treu nach dem Motto: "Ein Leben ohne Reisen ist möglich, aber sinnlos." Zu meinen absoluten Lieblingszielen gehören Japan, Großbritannien, die gesamte Ostküste der USA und europäische Metropolen wie Amsterdam oder Budapest.

Get exclusive content, real insider info and the best travel deals completely FREE!

Your trip start: We’ll provide you with little reminders to prepare for your trip and up-to-the-minute events when you’re traveling!

You have disabled JavaScript

JavaScript is required to use this website. Therefore, please enable JavaScript in your browser to visit this website.

London Museums Itinerary Planner (Guide to 18 top London museums)

By: Author Tracy Collins

Posted on Last updated: March 16, 2024

Our London museums itinerary planner provides information about 18 of London’s top museums. Grouped by interest including art, history, literature, military, maritime and those best for kids to help you choose which to add to your London itinerary.

If you’re into museums, then you’re going to adore spending time in London! The city offers an incredible range of institutions for people with a wide variety of interests. And the best part is that many of the UK’s impressive depositories and galleries are entirely free to enter!

That’s not all. As you may already know, the UK is prone to rain, so what better way to while away a wet weather day than by doing some museum hopping?

This guide will show you all the best places to go, from Charles Dicken’s real-life home just north of central London to the Tate Modern on the South Bank.

Boasting the Victoria and Albert arts museum, the Natural History Museum and The Science Museum, well-heeled South Kensington is also a great place for fans of fashion, nature and much more. 

This list comprises 18 of London’s finest museums. Following that, the museums have been categorised, so it’s easy to see at a glance which might interest history, art or literature fans. As well as those who are into maritime or military history specifically. 

The final list of four miscellaneous museums are all ideal for children, who will love the Science, Natural History and London Transport museums. They’ll also love the planetarium and the Meridian Line at the Royal Observatory in Greenwich. 

3 history museums in London

4 art museums in london, 3 literary museums in london, 2 military museums in london, 2 maritime museums in london, 4 kids’ museums in london, the british museum, the v&a, the natural history museum, the imperial war museum, the national maritime museum, the science museum, the cutty sark, the london transport museum, the churchill war rooms, the museum of london, the tate modern, the national gallery & national portrait gallery, the tate britain, the royal observatory greenwich, the british library, the charles dickens museum, the jewish museum, the sherlock holmes museum, map showing the lonodon museum locations, which london museums will you visit.

FAVOURITE MUSEUM TOURS

• British Museum Tour | Semi-Private Experience OR Private Tour
• Tate Modern Tour | Semi-Private Experience OR Private Tour
• National Gallery London | Private Tour
• Private London WWII Tour | Imperial War Museum & Churchills War Rooms

An overview – London Museums by interest

• The National Gallery & National Portrait Gallery 

18 of the best London Museums

The British Museum is located in leafy, elegant Bloomsbury, which lies parallel to the Tottenham Court Road area and the eastern side of Oxford Street. It’s all about millions here – two million years of the history of man showcased as over eight million artefacts.

Like many London museums, it’s free to enter, though there may be a charge to see special exhibitions. You also need to book a slot online in advance. With over 50 galleries to explore, this is one of the ​​best historical places to visit in London when you have a whole day or at least several hours to spare.

• British Museum Private Guided Tour with Tickets

With well over two million items on display, the Victoria and Albert Museum in leafy South Kensington houses the biggest collection of art and design objects in the world.

This one’s a must for fans of interior design, fashion and the performance arts. If you love exploring human creativity, then you’ll adore the V&A, which was named after Queen Victoria and her husband. 

• Victoria and Albert Museum London Private Guided Tour 3 hour

If you have a nature lover in your family or group as well as a fan of the arts, then the Natural History Museum will keep them happy while visiting South Kensington.

Everything about the natural world is displayed and explored here. Entering the huge hall to see the current skeleton of a large creature is a jaw-dropping experience. 

For young or old fans of all things military, the Imperial War Museum in London is fascinating. Here you can see lifelike reconstructions of the Blitz and typical trenches used by British soldiers.

There are also vehicles such as war planes and tanks on display and you can also find out how the royal family were involved in the war effort. 

The National Maritime Museum belongs to the Royal Museums Greenwich group of institutions. It focuses on all things seafaring, and there are in excess of two million objects to discover. These include historic maps, naval artefacts and maritime memorabilia.

The stories told here cover this island nation’s rich maritime heritage, including shipbuilding, key naval battles and Napoleon Bonaparte.

The Science Museum in London is actually part of the Science Museum Group. There are others in the north of England – namely York, county Durham, Bradford and Manchester.

While the others focus on topics such as railways, the media, locomotion and industry, the London branch is more general. Over three million science fans visit the one in South Kensington each year. 

The Cutty Sark is located in Greenwich . It’s a sailing ship of historic significance, not least due to the fact that it was the fastest of its time. The vessel became famous due its quick journey times, and the tea clipper was also one of the last of its kind.

Today, visitors can get right underneath the ship, as it’s been raised up to allow for full exploration. For a decade, the Cutty Sark held the record for the quickest trip time between Australia and England. 

Sited in Covent Garden, the London Transport Museum is in the centre of London. This is a great one to visit as a family, as there are plenty of vehicles that kids can actually climb into.

Relics from horse-powered days sit alongside more modern forms of transport.

A gift shop offering goods inspired by the new Elizabeth line covers current times, and the stories of stations past and what can be found nearby are also told here. 

The Churchill War Rooms – also known as the Cabinet War Rooms – are located at Whitehall and form part of the Imperial War Museum. Former British Prime Minister Winston Churchill lived and worked in these basement rooms during World War II.

If you want to witness historical things to see in London relating to the Second World War, then it would be easy to spend a whole day discovering the Imperial War Museum and the subterranean Cabinet War Rooms.

Located in the redeveloped Barbican area of the city, the Museum of London charts the UK capital’s progress throughout history. Spanning the period between prehistoric and current times, you can explore the history of London’s people here.

Big events that shaped the city – such as the Great Fire of London – are also documented. From archeology and architecture to black and women’s history, there is plenty here to attract visitors with a variety of interests. 

The Tate Modern is positioned on the South Bank of the Thames and houses an art collection covering the last century. It’s one of four Tate galleries in the UK.

The exhibits include sculpture as well as paintings and other artworks.

Entry is free, and you don’t even need to book, unless for a special exhibition. From the early 1900s to modernism and beyond, all that’s exciting about the art of the last 100 years or so can be explored here. 

London’s National Portrait Gallery forms part of the National Gallery, so both can be found in central London, close to Piccadilly Circus, Leicester Square and Covent Garden.

The Portrait Gallery showcases photos as well as paintings of famous people, including royalty.

The National Gallery’s collection includes paintings from the 1200s up to the 20th century. If you want to explore all eras, don’t miss the Tate Modern, as this covers from 1900 onwards. 

Tate Britain is the other Tate gallery in London. There are others in Liverpool and St Ives, Cornwall. For modern art lovers, the Tate Modern on London’s South Bank is the other option in the city.

Tate Britain shows off artwork from all over the UK, arranged according to date so you can clearly see the progress made throughout the centuries.

Expect to see works by sculptor Henry Moore and artist David Hockney, plus murals by Mark Rothko and much more.  

The Royal Observatory in Greenwich is significant on a global scale – it’s home to Greenwich Mean Time, which sets the clocks for the entire planet.

The London Planetarium and the Prime Meridian Line can also be found here. Don’t miss the chance of grabbing a photo with one foot in each hemisphere!

The huge Great Equatorial Telescope is also one to take a look at during your visit. 

There’s an incredible range of history here that goes way beyond the literary. The British Library is located on Euston Road, close to King’s Cross, St Pancras and Euston train stations. There are 400 miles (or almost 650 kilometres) of shelving here.

Some 150 million items are stored here, including handwritten Beatles lyrics and the original Magna Carta.

A copy of every book published in the UK or Ireland is housed here. In addition to books, there are also magazines, newspapers, maps, journals, manuscripts, audio and video recordings and a whole lot more. 

Visiting the Charles Dickens museum is like stepping back in time, and the Georgian house near King’s Cross station was once the famous author’s home. Oliver Twist – possibly Dickens’ best-loved work – was written here.

As well as the house itself, the museum holds more than 100,000 objects relating to the life and times of Charles Dickens . These include paintings, manuscripts, rare books and personal belongings. This is the only London home of the author still standing. 

The Jewish Museum is a fascinating place for anyone interested in semitic history. Here you can read haunting tales from the Holocaust of World War II, examine judaistic artefacts and even see a reproduction of a Jewish Quarter as per Victorian times.

All sorts of items relating to the culture and history of Jewish people can be found here. The museum is in northwest London, close to the vibrant and multicultural Camden Town area. 

Everyone’s favourite detective was the inspiration behind this privately-run museum in London. Not surprisingly, it’s situated on Baker Street in Marylebone. In fact 221B Baker Street is one of the best-known addresses in the British capital.

In the fictional world created by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Sherlock Holmes lived at this address for over two decades between the late 1800s and the early 1900s.

If you visit, you can really feel how life must have been for the famous, entirely invented detective and his faithful sidekick Dr Watson. Coming here is de rigueur for fans of the TV series starring Benedict Cumberbatch, Martin Freeman and the late Una Stubbs. 

Whether you plan to stick to one area – such as South Kensington with its trio of world-class institutions, or Greenwich to see the Cutty Sark and Royal Observatory – or to go with a theme, there are some fabulous museums in London to explore. Don’t forget that many of them are free to enter!

Whichever you choose, another thing to remember is to take note of the architecture. Many of London’s best museums are housed in some of the city’s most breathtaking buildings, making the structure itself a museum of sorts as much as the contents. 

From art and literature to the history of the city, Jewish culture, seafaring and war, London’s top museums are leaders in their field. If you’re wondering which will be your favourite London museum, there’s only one way to find out for sure!

• London itinerary planner for history lovers
• Complete 5 day London itinerary
• When to book accommodation, tickets, tours etc for your trip

London Travel Guide & Itinerary Planner Ebook (+ 4 BONUS ebooks)

Please enable JavaScript in your web browser to get the best experience.

Plan your visit

Roof and centre of the Great Court

Share the page

• Share on Facebook
• Share on X (formerly Twitter)

Opening times

Daily: 10.00–17.00 ( Fridays: 20.30 )  See full  opening hours  

Advance booking recommended

See ticket information

The British Museum

Great Russell Street London WC1B 3DG See getting here

Immerse yourself in two million years of human history, art and culture.

Book your free ticket  for Museum entry in advance to receive key information and updates before your visit and priority entry during busy periods. In our galleries come face-to-face with objects from the  Sutton Hoo  ship burial, explore the wonderful collection of the  Islamic world  and learn more about  Egyptian mummies . Please see the  list of available galleries  to visit.

Exhibition tickets are available to book for  Legion: life in the Roman army (1 February – 23 June 2024) and Michelangelo: the last decades (2 May 2024 – 28 July 2024).

In line with current government and NHS guidance, face masks are not mandatory but visitors are welcome to wear them if they wish. The Museum maintains a robust cleaning schedule and hand sanitiser stations are available across the site. 

Occasionally we may need to close galleries at short notice. We regret that we are not always able to alert visitors in advance of their visit.

We look forward to welcoming you.

Ways to explore

Family visits

Exhibitions and events

Sign up to our newsletters.

Stay connected to the British Museum for the latest news, stories, exhibitions, events and visitor information.

Ticket information

How to book.

• We're limiting numbers of people in the Museum to ensure there's room for you to safely enjoy your visit. You're advised to book a free ticket in advance to receive key information and updates before your visit and priority entry during busy periods.
• To book simply pick the date and time you'd like to visit.
• If the date or time you wish to visit has no availability, please note that walk-up visits are available each day for those who arrive at the Montague Place entrance of the Museum, without advance bookings. But this does depend on capacity, as walk-up entry cannot be guaranteed. If visitor numbers are very high, for safety reasons we may need to limit entry and in those circumstances only ticket holders will be admitted. 
• To book tickets for exhibitions, visit our exhibition pages . Your exhibition ticket also gives you access to the permanent collection.
• If you need any access assistance, please see our Accessibility page .

Important information about your ticket booking

• Tickets to the permanent collection are free.
• You can book tickets up to a maximum of nine people in your group.
• Your ticket(s) will be emailed to you.
• Tickets will be released on a regular basis, so if there's no availability showing then please check again soon.
• You'll be able to enter the Museum any time after your selected timeslot.
• Sign up to our newsletter to receive the latest updates.
• Legion: life in the Roman army (1 February – 23 June 2024)
• Michelangelo: the last decades (2 May 2024 – 28 July 2024)
• You'll need to show your Membership card to gain entry.
• If you can't find your card, please contact  [email protected]  or visit the Membership Desk in the Great Court. 
• Visit our Membership page for enquiries or to find out about becoming a Member.

Groups of 10 or more people

Self-led groups of 10 or more people will need to book a group ticket . Please see the Group visits page for more details. 

School groups

School groups should contact the Box Office on +44 (0)20 7323 8181 to book their visit to the Museum. More information can be found on our School visits page. 

10% off for Members

Become a Member and enjoy a 10% discount at all of the Museum's cafés, restaurants and shops. 

Gallery information

Make the most of your visit.

Explore world cultures from the Mediterranean to the Middle East and from the Americas to Africa.

• View a map of the Museum .
• Explore more of the Museum with our object trails  or try a selection of our Museum Missions . 
• Take a self-guided tour of the Museum using our Audio app (available in six languages including British Sign Language). Download via the  App Store  or  Google Play Store . Please bring your headphones with you or purchase earbuds from the Guide Desk or British Museum Shop.

List of available galleries

See the list of available galleries for you to enjoy (please note this list is subject to change):

Lower floor

• Room 25: Africa ( The Sainsbury Galleries )  

Ground floor

• Great Court
• Room 1: Enlightenment Room 2: Collecting the world
• Room 2a: The Waddesdon Bequest (funded by  The Rothschild Foundation )
• Room 4: Egyptian sculpture
• Room 6: Assyrian sculpture and Balawat Gates
• Room 12: Greece: Minoans and Mycenaeans ( The Arthur I Fleischman Gallery )
• Room 13: Greece 1050–520 BC
• Room 14: Greek vases
• Room 15: Athens and Lycia
• Room 16: Bassai sculptures
• Room 17: Nereid Monument
• Room 18: Greece: Parthenon
• Room 19: Greece: Athens
• Room 20: Greeks and Lycians 400–325 BC
• Room 21: Mausoleum of Halikarnassos
• Room 22: The world of Alexander
• Room 24: Living and Dying ( The Wellcome Trust Gallery )
• Room 26: North America
• Room 27: Mexico

Upper floors

• Room 33: China and South Asia ( Sir Joseph Hotung Gallery )
• Room 33a: India: Amaravati ( The Asahi Shimbun Gallery )
• Room 33b: Chinese jade ( The Selwyn and Ellie Alleyne Gallery )
• Room 40: Medieval Europe, 1050–1500 ( The Sir Paul and Lady Ruddock Gallery )
• Room 41: Sutton Hoo and Europe, AD 300–1100 ( The Sir Paul and Lady Ruddock Gallery)
• Rooms 42–43: The Islamic world ( The Albukhary Foundation Gallery )
• Room 46: Europe 1400–1800
• Room 47: Europe 1800–1900
• Room 48: Europe 1900 to the present
• Room 53: Ancient South Arabia
• Room 54: Anatolia and Urartu, 7000–300 BC
• Room 55: Mesopotamia, 1500–539 BC
• Room 56: Mesopotamia, 6000–1500 BC
• Rooms 57–59: Ancient Levant*
• Room 61: Egyptian life and death: the tomb-chapel of Nebamun ( The Michael Cohen Gallery )
• Rooms 62–63: Egyptian death and afterlife: mummies ( The Roxie Walker Galleries )
• Room 64: Early Egypt
• Room 65: Sudan, Egypt and Nubia
• Room 66: Ethopia and Coptic Egypt
• Room 67: Korea (The Korea Foundation Gallery)
• Room 68: Money
• Room 69: Greek and Roman life
• Room 70: Roman Empire ( The Wolfson Gallery )
• Room 71: Etruscan world
• Room 72: Ancient Cyprus ( The A.G. Leventis Gallery )
• Room 73: Greeks in Italy
• Rooms 90–90a: Prints and drawings displays
• Rooms 92–94: Japan ( The Mitsubishi Corporation Japanese Galleries )
• Room 95: Chinese Ceramics – Sir Percival David Collection ( The Sir Joseph Hotung Centre for Ceramic Studies )

*Limited opening: Rooms 7, 9, 10, 19, 20, 57 and 58 are open 11:00–15:00 daily.

For more information on access to the galleries visit our  Accessibility at the Museum  page. 

Planned gallery closures

Galleries in the Museum may be closed for maintenance, refurbishment or private events. Where possible, we'll list the time and date of the closures below. All planned closures will also be detailed on the affected gallery pages . Occasionally we may need to close galleries at short notice for safety reasons. We regret that in these cases we're not always able to alert the public in advance.

Due to regular maintenance, the following galleries will be temporarily closed: 

• Room 25: Africa ( The Sainsbury Galleries ) from 10–21 March 2025
• Rooms 7–8: Assyria: Nimrud * from 18 April – 10 May 2024
• Room 9: Assyria: Nineveh * from 18 April – 10 May 2024
• Room 10: Assyria: Lion hunts, Siege of Lachish and Khorsabad * from 18 April – 10 May 2024
• Room 19: Greece: Athens from 19–30 August 2024
• Room 20: Greeks and Lycians, 400–325 BC from 19–30 August 2024
• Room 21: Mausoleum of Halikarnassos from 19–30 August 2024
• Room 22: The world of Alexander from 19–30 August 2024
• Room 23: Greek and Roman sculpture from 19–30 August 2024
• Room 10: Assyria: Lion hunts, Siege of Lachish and Khorsabad from 2–13 September 2024
• Room 13: Greece 1050–520 BC from 2–13 September 2024
• Room 14: Greek vases from 2–13 September 2024
• Room 15: Greece: Athens and Lycia from 2–13 September 2024
• Room 16: Greece: Bassai sculptures from 2–13 September 2024
• Room 18: Greece: Parthenon from 16–27 September 2024
• Room 4: Egyptian sculpture from 13–24 January 2025
• Room 6a: Assyrian sculpture and Balawat Gates from 13–24 January 2025
• Room 9: Assyria: Nineveh * from 13–24 January 2025
• Room 2: Collecting the world from from 27 January – 7 February 2025
• Room 2a: The Waddesdon Bequest ( funded by The Rothschild Foundation ) from 27 January – 7 February 2025
• Room 1: Enlightenment from 27 January – 14 February 2025
• Room 6b: Assyrian sculpture and Balawat Gate s from 10–21 February 2025
• Rooms 7–8: Assyria: Nimrud * from 10–21 February 2025
• Room 24: Living and Dying ( The Wellcome Trust Gallery ) partially closed from 27 February – 7 March 2025
• Room 26: North America from 27 February – 7 March 2025
• Room 27: Mexico from 27 February – 7 March 2025
• Room 24: Living and Dying ( The Wellcome Trust Gallery ) partially closed from 10–21 March 2025
• Room 49: Roman Britain ( The Weston Gallery ) from 22 April – 3 May 2024
• Room 50: Britain and Europe 800 BC–AD43 from 22 April – 3 May 2024
• Room 51: Europe and Middle East, 10,000–800 BC ( The Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan Gallery ) from 22 April – 3 May 2024
• Room 52: Ancient Iran ( The Rahim Irvani Gallery ) from 22 April – 3 May 2024
• Room 40: Medieval Europe, 1050–1500 ( The Sir Paul and Lady Ruddock Gallery ) from 6–17 May 2024
• Room 41: Sutton Hoo and Europe, AD 300–1100 ( The Sir Paul and Lady Ruddock Gallery ) partially closed from 6–17 May 2024
• Room 61: Egyptian life and death: the tomb-chapel of Nebamun ( The Michael Cohen Gallery ) from 3–14 June 2024
• Rooms 62–63: Egyptian death and afterlife: mummies ( The Roxie Walker Galleries ) partially closed from 3–14 June 2024
• Room 66: Ethopia and Coptic Egypt partially closed from 3–14 June 2024
• Room 56: Mesopotamia, 6000–1500 BC partially closed from 17–28 June 2024
• Rooms 57–59: Ancient Levant * from 17–28 June 2024
• Room 63: Egyptian death and afterlife: mummies ( The Roxie Walker Galleries ) partially closed from 1–12 July 2024 
• Room 64: Early Egypt from 1–12 July 2024 
• Room 65: Sudan, Egypt and Nubia from 1–12 July 2024 
• Room 66: Ethopia and Coptic Egypt partially closed from 1–12 July 2024 
• Room 67: Korea ( The Korea Foundation Gallery ) from 15–26 July 2024
• Room 95: Chinese Ceramics – Sir Percival David Collection ( The Sir Joseph Hotung Centre for Ceramic Studies ) from 15–26 July 2024
• Room 53: Ancient South Arabia from 30 September – 11 October 2024
• Room 54: Anatolia and Urartu, 7000–300 BC from 30 September – 11 October 2024
• Room 55: Mesopotamia, 1500–539 BC from 30 September – 11 October 2024
• Room 56: Mesopotamia, 6000–1500 BC partially closed from 30 September – 11 October 2024
• Room 41: Sutton Hoo and Europe, AD 300–1100 ( The Sir Paul and Lady Ruddock Gallery ) partially closed from 14–25 October 2024
• Rooms 42–43: The Islamic world ( The Albukhary Foundation Gallery ) from 14–25 October 2024
• Room 46: Europe 1400–1800 from 14–25 October 2024
• Room 47: Europe 1800–1900 from 14–25 October 2024
• Room 48: Europe 1900 to the present from 14–25 October 2024
• Room 68: Money from 4–15 November 2024
• Room 69: Greek and Roman life from 4–15 November 2024
• Room 70: Roman Empire ( The Wolfson Gallery ) from 4–15 November 2024
• Room 71: Etruscan world from 4–15 November 2024
• Room 72: Ancient Cyprus ( The A.G. Leventis Gallery ) from 4–15 November 2024
• Room 73: Greeks in Italy from 4–15 November 2024
• Room 33: China and South Asia ( Sir Joseph Hotung Gallery ) from 2–13 December 2024
• Room 33a: India: Amaravati ( The Asahi Shimbun Gallery ) from 2–13 December 2024
• Room 33b: Chinese jade ( The Selwyn and Ellie Alleyne Gallery ) from 2–13 December 2024
• Rooms 38–39: Clocks and watches ( The Sir Harry and Lady Djanogly Gallery ) from 24–28 March 2025
• Rooms 92–94: Japan ( The Mitsubishi Corporation Japanese Galleries ) from 31 March – 11 April 2025

Support the Museum

Your support is vital, now more than ever, and helps the Museum to share the collection with the world.

Exhibitions

Tickets are available to book for Legion: life in the Roman army (1 February – 23 June 2024) and Michelangelo: the last decades (2 May 2024 – 28 July 2024).

Legion: life in the Roman army . Book now .

Michelangelo: the last decades . Book now .

Full opening hours.

Our opening hours are daily, 10.00–17.00 ( Fridays: 20.30 ) Last entry: 16.45 (Fridays: 20.15)

• Box Office: 10.00–16.50, Monday to Friday (excluding Bank Holidays)
• Cloakroom: 10.00–17.00 (20.30 on Fridays). Last deposit is one hour before closing.
• Families Desk: 10.00–12.30 and 13.15–16.30, weekends and London Borough of Camden  school holidays  only.
• Ford Centre for Young Visitors: 10.00–16.30, weekends and London Borough of Camden  school holidays  only
• Galleries: 10.00–17.00 (20.30 on Fridays). Please note: we begin clearing galleries 10 minutes before they close.
• Great Court: 10.00–17.30 (Fridays 20.30)
• Guide Desk: 10.00–16.30
• Information Desk: 10.00–17.00
• Ticket Desk: 10.00–16.30

Find out about upcoming  late opening on Fridays . There will be no late night opening on Good Friday (18 April 2025).

The Museum is closed 24–26 December. 

Special exhibitions  are open daily 10.00–17.00 (last entry at 16.45) and on Fridays until 20.30 (last entry at 20.15). Please arrive at the time stated on your ticket – we cannot guarantee admission before or after your allotted time slot.

We begin clearing galleries 10 minutes before they close.

• Bookshop: daily, 10.00–17.00
• Family shop: daily, 10.00–17.00 
• Collections shop and Grenville Room: daily, 10.00–17.00
• Online shop : open 24 hours a day

Cafés and restaurants

• Court Cafés: daily, 10.00–17.00
• Great Court Restaurant : daily, 11.30–17.00 (last sitting 16.00).
• Pizzeria: daily, 12.00–15.00
• Coffee Lounge: 10.30–16.30
• Outside dining: 10.00–17.00

Find out more about the Museum's cafés and restaurants . 

Library, archive and study rooms

Booking requests for the department study rooms at the British Museum main site can now be accepted. Opening hours vary. Our library  and  archive  are open by appointment: Tuesday – Thursday, 10.00–13.00 and 14.00–16.00.

Getting here

51.519413319978, -0.12695659999997.

Main entrance:  The British Museum Great Russell Street, London WC1B 3DG (what3words: ///young.verge.moves )

Second entrance: Montague Place London WC1E 7JW (what3words: ///cooks.waddled.cook )

We recommend using the Transport For London (TFL) Journey Planner to plan your trip to the Museum.

• Bicycle racks are available inside the gates of the Main Entrance on Great Russell Street (please note that folding bikes are not allowed inside the premises). 
• The Museum can't assume responsibility for damage or theft of bicycles left on-site.
• You may wish to use the  Santander Cycle Hire scheme  on your journey. If so, a docking station can be found on the corner of Great Russell Street and Montague Street, a two-minute walk from the Main Entrance.

If you're planning to visit by car, please be aware that the Museum doesn't offer parking facilities, except for visitors with access requirements (visit the Accessibility at the Museum page  for details).

By taxi or minicab

• Black cabs can be pre-booked, hailed on the street or found at designated taxi ranks around Central London.
• There is a taxi rank on Great Russell Street at the Museum's main gates.
• Minicabs must be booked in advance through a licensed private hire operator.
• More information can be found on TFL's  London taxis and minicabs  page.

The following bus routes pass within walking distance of the Museum.

• New Oxford Street: 1, 8, 19, 25, 38, 55, 98, 242
• Tottenham Court Road (northbound) / Gower Street (southbound): 14, 24, 29, 73, 134, 390
• Southampton Row: 59, 68, X68, 91, 168, 188

Please refer to individual routes on the  TFL Bus Routes page  to find the best stop and to check for diversions.

The four tube stations closest to the Museum are:

• Tottenham Court Road: 5-minute walk
• Holborn: 7-minute walk
• Russell Square: 7-minute walk
• Goodge Street: 8-minute walk

Entering the Museum

• Entry to the Museum is via the Main entrance on Great Russell Street or the Montague Place entrance. Please note at busy periods walk-up entry will only be possible at the Montague Place entrance, and entry is dependent on capacity.
• On arrival please join the back of the queue, where you may be required to wait, as longer queues can form at busy periods. 
• General admission ticket holders may enter the Museum anytime after their selected timeslot. 
• Once you've gone through the Main entrance an easy access queuing route is available for disabled visitors, visitors with pushchairs and/or children under five, Members, exhibition and general admission ticket-holders.
• All visitors must pass through a security check which involves a bag search.
• If you require more information on accessibility for disabled visitors, please see our  Accessibility at the Museum page  for details.

Security and bag searches

Security, bag searches and large luggage.

• For everyone's safety, all bags, rucksacks, packages and personal items may be searched before entry.
• Wheeled cases, sports equipment and large items of luggage are not allowed on British Museum premises.
• Storage for luggage is available at major rail stations, including Euston, King's Cross and Charing Cross.
• An easy access route is available for disabled visitors, Members and visitors with buggies and/or children under five.
• If you require assistance or the entrance into the Museum poses an accessibility barrier, please let our uniformed staff know and they'll be happy to assist you.
• Please don't leave your bags unattended at any point during your visit.

Restricted items

• For security reasons, no large items of luggage can be brought into the Museum (bigger than 40cm x 40cm x 50cm and heavier than 8kg) or onto the premises.
• Wheeled cases are not permitted regardless of their size and weight.
• Folding bicycles are not permitted inside the Museum. 
• Adult scooters, skateboards and musical instruments are not allowed onto the premises.
• Pushchairs are permitted on-site. Fold-up prams and buggies can be left free of charge in the cloakroom, which is found by turning left immediately after passing through the Main entrance of the Museum.
• Offensive weapons, dangerous chemicals, and other suspicious items will be confiscated before entry is granted.
• You'll be able to retrieve any confiscated items when you leave, provided there are no legal barriers. 

Visitor regulations

• All visitors entering the Museum agree to abide by the visitor regulations: 
• The Museum reserves the right to vary or alter these regulations without prior notice.
• Special exhibitions may have additional regulations.

Accessibility

We have a wide range of services for disabled visitors. 

Find out how to make the most of your visit and plan your trip in advance on our  Accessibility at the Museum  page. 

Visitor and Member cloakroom

• Last deposits are one hour before closing time.
• Please collect items 30 minutes before closing time.
• The cloakroom can be found by turning left immediately after passing through the Main entrance to the Museum. 
• Please see the restricted items section for full details.
• Bags up to 4kg – £2.50
• Bags 4–8kg – £5
• Umbrellas – £1
• Fold-up pushchairs – free
• Members can use the cloakroom free of charge. The same restrictions apply.
• You must retrieve items from the cloakroom before you leave the Museum site.
• In the event of a fire evacuation, the cloakroom will be closed immediately and you must follow our fire evacuation instructions. Our staff will help to retrieve your items from the cloakroom as soon as possible after the Museum reopens.
• Please note that the cloakroom has limited capacity, and when this capacity is reached, it cannot accept items until space becomes available again.
• The Museum reserves the right to vary or alter these conditions without prior notice.

Lost property

If you've lost an item while visiting the Museum, please email [email protected]

• Free wifi is available for all visitors to the Museum.
• Please connect to 'British Museum WiFi' only.
• You'll be required to supply your full name and email address before using the service.
• Free wifi is funded by the Mayor of London and Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport. Connectivity is supported by the Daisy Group.
• Charging phones and plugging in any other electronics is not allowed.

Facilities for babies and children

For information about facilities for parents, babies and young children, please see the Family visits page .

If you need help during your visit, please speak to a uniformed member of staff.

Accessible facilities

For information about facilities and resources for disabled visitors please see the Accessibility at the Museum page .

If you need assistance during your visit, please speak to a uniformed member of staff.

Photography and filming

• Hand-held flash photography and video recording is allowed in most galleries for private purposes only.
• Signs will indicate where photography is restricted.
• Tripods, monopods and selfie sticks may not be used inside the Museum building.
• In special circumstances, a permit to use these items can be issued – if you have any queries, contact the Museum at  [email protected] or on 020 7323 8380
• For questions regarding commercial photography or filming, please see our Commercial page .

Eat, drink, shop and enjoy

Food and drink

The British Museum Shop

• Destinations
• Hotels & Homestays
• Food & Drink
• People & Culture
• Mindful Travel
• Readers' Travel Awards
• Escape to Rajasthan
• READERS TRAVEL AWARDS
• #LOVEGREATBRITAIN
• TAJ SAFARIS
• BOUTIQUE HOTELS
• CNT TOP RESTAURANT AWARDS
• DESTINATION WEDDING GUIDE
• DON’T TRAVEL WITHOUT IT
• #UNDISCOVERAUSTRALIA
• ESSENTIALLY RAJASTHAN

The 20 best museums in London

By Sarah James

One of the many things London does very well is museums. The city boasts such a bounty of world-renowned institutions that it can be hard to know which to visit first: from cutting edge art exhibitions at the Tate Modern to Hope, the huge skeleton of a blue whale at the Natural History Museum. Alongside the big names, there’s also a trove of smaller, more eclectic collections to explore where you can find everything from a history of cereal packets to a taxidermy walrus with his own Twitter page. Discover the 20 best museums to visit in the capital right now.

1. The Design Museum, Kensington

Best museum in London for: creative minds

Founded by Sir Terence Conran in 1989 and relocated to Kensington in 2016, The Design Museum hosts cutting-edge contemporary exhibitions , from fashion and graphics to architecture and product and industrial design. As well as the fascinating displays of past, present and future design through pop-ups and temporary shows, the museum hosts an array of learning programmes and activities aimed at children (aged 5-11 years), and also opportunities for young people (aged 14-16 years) such as specialist courses, workshops and talks from leading experts in the industry. Cordelia Aspinall

Address: The Design Museum, 224-238 Kensington High Street, London W8 6AG Website: designmuseum.org   Entry fee: Free entry; exhibition prices vary; booking essential

2. The Postal Museum, Farringdon

Best museum in London for: stamp collectors

One of Britain’s biggest inventions was the postal system – the very first social network, which has now been around for 500 years. Visit The Postal Museum and take in the history of letter-writing and communication with interactive displays, galleries and exhibitions. Hop across the road to Mail Rail and travel through the hidden tunnels onboard a miniature train to discover the postal world that lies beneath the busy streets of London. See the unchanged station platforms below Royal Mail’s Mount Pleasant sorting office, hear from the people who worked on the railway and learn about the parts of it that kept the postal system moving through London over the years. Cordelia Aspinall

Address: The Postal Museum, 15-20 Phoenix Place, London WC1X 0DA Website: postalmuseum.org Entry fee: Advance booking essential

3. Museum of Brands, Notting Hill

Best museum in London for: childhood nostalgia

Go on a jaunt down memory lane at this museum, just around the corner from Portobello Road Market in Notting Hill . Take a deeper look at your favourite brands including British stalwarts such as Marmite and Cadbury in the permanent Time Tunnel exhibition created by consumer historian Robert Opie. From changes in packaging, branding and the advertising behind each product, see how these classics have evolved over the past 150 years. The museum is an immersive visual journey from the Victorian era to present day, and shows the impact of social and cultural changes on everything from consumer society, right down to a chocolate bar’s wrapper. Learn how technological and societal transformations in TV and cinema , fashion, games, the prevalence of plastic and the emancipation of women have shaped our commercial world today. You will leave more knowledgeable about the historical context of many well-known household names, and about earlier times. Cordelia Aspinall

Address: Museum of Brands, 111-117 Lancaster Road, Notting Hill, London W11 1QT Website: museumofbrands.com Entry fee: £9 for adults, £5 for children

4. British Museum, Bloomsbury

Best museum in London for: architecture buffs

The domed glass-and-steel ceiling at the British Museum – the world’s first national museum opened to the public – lets light into the atrium-like Great Court below, bouncing off the blinding- white , sweeping staircases and marble walls. It’s one of the capital’s prettiest spaces, but beyond the impressive lobby, it has sprawling galleries dedicated to the Egyptians, the Greeks and the Romans. Artefacts including the Rosetta Stone, Pantheon Marbles (once a part of the original structure in Athens ) and more than 120 mummies draw millions of visitors every year. This is the city’s most-visited attraction and it’s easy to see why.

Address: British Museum, Great Russell Street, London WC1B 3DG Website: britishmuseum.org Entry fee: admission is free; exhibitions cost extra

5. Tate Modern, Bankside

Best museum in London for: knock-out views

In what was once the Bankside Power Station, the Tate Modern looms over the waterfront of the South Bank. Its permanent collections house a wealth of modern British art – see pieces from Damien Hirst and Jackson Pollock – and international artists including Henri Matisse and Auguste Rodin. The immense Turbine Hall is dominated by a changing display of site-specific installations: millions of handcrafted porcelain sunflower seeds filled the space in 2010-11, while Olafur Eliasson took over with The Weather Project in 2003 and a blinding sun installation. Head to the top level of the Blavatnik Building, which was added in 2017, to visit the free viewing platform – the London panoramas are some of the best you’ll find anywhere in the city. However, the Tate Modern’s main draw is its changing exhibitions: displays have included works from Picasso, Georgia O’Keeffe and Andy Warhol.

Address: Tate Modern, Bankside, London SE1 9TG Website: tate.org.uk Entry fee: admission is free, exhibitions cost extra

6. Tate Britain, Pimlico

Best museum in London for: after-hours fun

The Tate Modern’s older sister focuses on British art and holds pieces from heavyweights including Lucian Freud, Francis Bacon and William Hogarth within its imposing Pimlico building. The museum hosts regular Lates, which fall on the last Friday of the month and have a different theme each time: LGBTQ art, perhaps, or creative learning, with licensed bars in the galleries and a live DJ.

Address: Tate Britain, Millbank, Westminster, London SW1P 4RG Website: tate.org.uk Entry fee: admission is free, exhibitions cost extra

7. Royal Academy, Piccadilly

Best museum in London for: seeing Britain’s art greats in one place

Founded by artists and architects in the 1760s, the Royal Academy has been in its current home at Burlington House for more than 150 years and has recently expanded to include the former Museum of Mankind on Burlington Gardens. Highlights of the permanent collection span more than two centuries, from William Turner to Tracey Emin. The annual Summer Exhibition is one of the main events in the London art calendar, held without interruption since 1769, making it the oldest open-submission exhibition in the world. Each year, one of the Royal Academy’s artists curates the display. All exhibitions also have a one-off RA Late, which transforms the academy with the likes of inflatable cosmic installations, karaoke and themed supper clubs.

Address: Royal Academy, Burlington House, Piccadilly, London W1J 0BD Website: royalacademy.org.uk Entry fee: admission is free, exhibitions cost extra

8. Natural History Museum, Kensington

Best museum in London for: Attenborough fans and animal lovers

The ornate façade of the Natural History Museum is a love letter to Victorian architecture : a vast gothic building that looks more like a cathedral than a museum. Inside the lofty Hintze Hall (revamped in 2017 to strip it back to its 19th-century splendour), ‘Hope’, a ginormous blue-whale skeleton, hangs above the information desk, which doubles up as a bar when the museum throws Lates parties. See dinosaur fossils, the first edition of Charles Darwin’s On the Origin of Species and casts from Pompeii among the museum’s 80 million specimens.

Address: Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, South Kensington, London SW7 5BD Website: nhm.ac.uk Entry fee: admission is free, exhibitions cost extra

Arundhati Ail

Condé Nast Traveller , Condé Nast Traveller India

Geetika Sachdev , Condé Nast Traveller India

9. Fashion and Textile Museum, Bermondsey

Best museum in London for: sartorial worshippers

Founded by designer Zandra Rhodes, who displayed 50 years of her fashion line here in 2019, the Fashion and Textile Museum runs a roster of temporary exhibitions rather than having a permanent collection. In between shows, the museum – set in a colourful converted warehouse in Southwark – is closed and completely made over. Past exhibitions have focused on knitwear, Jazz Age fashion, T-shirts and Riviera style – while other shows have put the spotlight on designers including Orla Kiely , Mary Quant and Terence Conran.

Address: Fashion and Textile Museum, 83 Bermondsey Street, Bermondsey, London SE1 3XF Website: ftmlondon.org Entry fee: £9.90

10. Victoria and Albert Museum, Knightsbridge

Best museum in London for: sell-out exhibitions

London’s largest art museum – the eighth-biggest art museum in the world – has more than 100 galleries displaying everything from photography to jewellery. It has put on some of the city’s most talked-about exhibitions in recent years: the curators have become known for their hot-ticket fashion displays of designers including Christian Dior and Alexander McQueen. Make sure to visit the permanent Rapid Response Collection, which has contemporary pieces that react to significant moments in recent history, such as the pussyhats worn at protests against the election of Donald Trump to a 3D-printed Extinction Rebellion coin.

Address: Victoria and Albert Museum, Cromwell Road, London SW7 2RL Website: vam.ac.uk Entry fee: admission is free; exhibitions cost extra

11. Museum of London, Barbican

Best museum in London for: history lovers

More than a millennium of the capital’s history is on display at the Museum of London, from prehistoric Londinium to the present-day metropolis. Watch films on the gruesome moments, including the Black Death, and step inside a recreation of Victorian London; learn about the suffragettes; and relive the civil- and gay-rights movements. Visit the Docklands outpost on the Isle of Dogs to learn about the history of the Thames.

Address: Museum of London, 150 London Wall, London EC2Y 5HN Website: museumoflondon.org.uk Entry fee: admission is free; exhibitions cost extra

12. London Transport Museum, Covent Garden

Best museum in London for: tube geeks

For anyone who races Citymapper’s proposed route home convinced they can hack public transport, or for those who feel smug when a question on the underground comes up at a pub quiz, head to the London Transport Museum, packed with impressive travel ephemera and facts. See a line-up of red Routemaster buses through the ages, climb aboard one of the very first tube carriages and see stylish retro posters from the past 100 years. Keep an eye on its website for the Acton depot open days, when there’s a rare chance to nose through old Transport for London signs and posters and step aboard vintage tube trains.

Address: London Transport Museum, Covent Garden, London WC2E 7BB Website: ltmuseum.co.uk Entry fee: £18, but allows entry for 12 months

13. Imperial War Museum, Lambeth

Best museum in London for: hard-hitting exhibitions

Housed in what was once the site of Bethlem Royal Hospital (the psychiatric facility better known as Bedlam) and flanked by naval guns, the Imperial War Museum explores the role of British troops in conflicts that cross generations and countries. It’s full of often challenging exhibitions, from displays on World War I to the Holocaust.

Address: Imperial War Museum, Lambeth Road, London SE1 6HZ Website: iwm.org.uk Entry fee: admission is free, exhibitions cost extra

14. Sir John Soane's Museum, Holborn

Best museum in London for: going back in time

Untouched-Georgian-townhouse-meets centuries-old museum, this cabinet of curiosities was once the home of Sir John Soane, an 18th-century architect who designed the Dulwich Picture Gallery, and was a professor at the Royal Academy. See his collection of antiquities, furniture and sculptures, as well as paintings by Hogarth and Turner. Book on one of the Highlights Tours – they run at 12pm from Thursday to Sunday and cost £15, but include entry to Soane’s private apartments and Model Room, with a guide to talk through the momentous amount in the museum.

Address: Sir John Soane's Museum, 13 Lincoln's Inn Fields, Holborn, London WC2A 3BP Website: soane.org Entry fee: admission is free, exhibitions cost extra

15. Dennis Severs' House, Spitalfields

Best museum in London for: a glimpse of another era

Another house-museum hybrid, this time featuring the residence of a fictional family dreamt up by eccentric Dennis Severs, who lived in this East End house in the 1970s. The house takes visitors through 10 rooms, transporting them from 1724 to the start of the 1914. It’s as though you’re walking into a painting of East London life in the 18th and 19th centuries – tours through the sets, which looks as though the occupants of the house have just popped out – are done in silence.

Address: Dennis Severs' House, 18 Folgate Street, Spitalfields, London E1 6BX Website: dennissevershouse.co.uk Entry fee: from £10 per person

16. The Wallace Collection, Marylebone

Best museum in London for: Italianate treasures

Fine art from the 15th to 19th centuries is displayed at one of London’s loveliest small art galleries, set in the 18th-century townhouse of Sir Richard and Lady Wallace, who collected fine paintings, porcelain, artefacts and furniture over generations. See paintings by Caneletto and Rembrandt, and exhibitions on fashion, furniture, ceramics and more.

Address: The Wallace Collection, Hertford House, Manchester Square, London W1U 3BN Website: wallacecollection.org Entry fee: admission is free, exhibitions cost extra

17. Horniman Museum, Forest Hill

Best museum in London for: anthropological curiosities

Founded in 1901 by Frederick John Horniman, a tea merchant who wanted a space to display his private collection of natural history, the Horniman Museum is a nature lover’s dream. See African art or visit the tiny aquarium. We especially like the conservatory, set in a grand Victorian glasshouse with views over the rolling gardens.

Address: Horniman Museums and Gardens, 100 London Road, Forest Hill, London SE23 3PQ Website: horniman.ac.uk Entry fee: admission is free, exhibitions cost extra

18. Leighton House, Holland Park

Stepping into the Arab Hall, you'd be excused for expecting a fez-wearing shopkeeper to hand you a glass of mint tea. Down a quiet side street in Holland Park, Leighton House appears to be quite a standard-looking Victorian townhouse. Yet, so over-the-top were Pre-Raphaelite painter Sir Frederic Leighton's interiors that even his biographer questioned his Britishness, sure he must have some of that dastardly "foreign" blood running through his veins. Maybe it was the ceramic-tiled walls, gilt-painted dome, or the stained-glass windows that caused all the fuss. Whatever it was, it proves bling was a thing in London as early as the 1830s. By Susan L Schwartz

Address: Leighton House, 12 Holland Park Road, London W14 8LZ Website: leightonhouse.co.uk Entry fee: £9

19. Dulwich Picture Gallery, Dulwich

Best museum in London for: Lovers of Baroque art

In the early 1800s, art enthusiast Sir Francis Bourgeois instructed that his entire collection be turned into a gallery open to the public, handpicking architect John Soane to create the Dulwich Picture Gallery from scratch. Look up, and you can see for yourself the innovative techniques Soane used to bathe the whole gallery in sunlight, which became the prototype for all galleries to this day. Still, don't forget to look down too, to see the great Baroque masterpieces that line the walls and the mausoleum Soane designed for his friend and patron. By Susan L Schwartz

Address: Dulwich Picture Gallery, Gallery Road, London SE21 7AD Website: dulwichpicturegallery.org.uk Entry fee: £16.50

20. Museum of Comedy, Bloomsbury

Best museum in London for: Anyone in need of a chuckle

Can you truly understand a culture without knowing what makes its people laugh? The Museum of Comedy is on a mission to acquaint us all with the ingredients that, when combined, make up the British sense of humour, one Ronnie at a time. More reference library then proper museum, it's a repository of seemingly every book, DVD, VHS and LP that could possibly make you laugh - literally hours and hours of non-stop silliness. Make sure you have a couple of hours to kill, then sit yourself down, kick off your shoes and let the fun begin. By the end of the visit, you'll be squawking Monty Python's Parrot Sketch by heart. By Susan L Schwartz

Address: Museum of Comedy, St George's Church, Bloomsbury Way, London WC1A 2SR Website: museumofcomedy.com Entry fee: admission is free

All products are independently selected by our editors. If you buy something, we may earn an affiliate commission.

The 18 Best Museums To Visit In London

The capital of the United Kingdom, this city of almost 9 million people has long lured travelers for its dizzying wealth of attractions. In London, you can admire iconic historic buildings, enjoy cuisine from all corners of the globe, shops at market large and intimate, new and old, and experience neighborhoods that are as richly varied as the people that live in them. To that list, add the huge trove of museums that visitors will find in the city, from those that are internationally renowned to more off-the-beaten-track gems that are just yearning to be discovered. 

While the museum scene is constantly in a state of flux, affected by the sorts of closures and upgrades commonplace with any type of institution — the Pollock Toy Museum recently shuttered after 50 years in operation, the Museum of London will reopen in 2026 in a new space, and many closed temporarily during the COVID pandemic — there are still many to entertain, educate, and elicit whoops of delight from visitors of all ages. Below, we highlight ones to check out on your next trip to the city.

Royal Observatory

Time, when you think about it, can be a confusing concept to put into concrete terms, but at this destination in East London, time, for many years, was given its identity. Located in a neighborhood called Greenwich, the Royal Observatory is where Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) exists, for decades a benchmark for clocks around the world. Just as the Equator, at 0 degrees latitude, marks the central ring around the globe east-west, the Prime Meridian, or 0 degrees longitude, is the equivalent north-south. 

Starting in the 1880s, GMT was used as the anchor that grounded the world's clock — times zones would frequently refer to themselves as GMT +/- a number of hours to signify how to calculate their time. In 1972, Coordinated Universal Time, or UTC, became the framework for global timekeeping, and GMT became just another time zone, not an abiding point of reference. GMT is still referred to in a number of countries, including the United Kingdom, underscoring its importance, and at the Royal Observatory, you can see actual GMT at the Shepherd Gate Clock.

Britain used its maritime fleet to great effect to expand its empire around the globe over a period of centuries, a testament to its strong seafaring tradition (not surprising, Great Britain is an island after all). That history is on display near the Royal Observatory at the Cutty Sark, a 150-year-old clipper with its original hull. Touring the ship provides visitors with a fascinating journey into the past, from walking on the wooden deck to having a go on a wheel that was used to steer the 960-ton vessel through seas near and far. 

For travelers that want to up the excitement quotient, they can book a climb up the ship's rigging and mast, getting high above the River Thames for a grand view across London's urban sprawl. Nearby, the National Maritime Museum delves into marine traditions further, but this institution isn't just a look at the history of seafaring — guests can also see exhibits on things like the photography of astronomy and indigenous communities around the world.

If the name of this museum, located in the posh South Kensington part of London, seems a little baffling, it's because the initials stand for Victoria and Albert, the revered queen and her husband. Prince Albert founded this place in the 1850s, building on the success of the Great Exhibition in 1851 — the originator of what we now call the World Expo. If there is one museum most beloved by Londoners, it is definitely this one, perhaps because its scope and remit are so all-encompassing. Here you will be able to wander round shows on art, design, performance, and so much more. 

To call the collection here diverse understates the breadth of subjects. You can peruse 2,000 pairs of shoes, from some hand-cobbled in Ancient Egypt more than 3,000 years ago to a see-sawing pair made more recently by the late architect Zaha Hadid. There are even exhibitions on tiles, wedding dresses, fashion, hats, digital art, wallpaper, opera, underwear, and cartoons by the Renaissance artist Raphael, and all that just scratches the surface of what this jewel box contains. The V&A has a number of satellite museums around the country, and some references will name this as the V&A South Kensington.

Natural History Museum

Located across Exhibition Road from the V&A, and close to a number of consulates, embassies, and high commissions, this museum is a treat for the entire family. As its name suggests, the multilayered past of the planet comes under the spotlight here, with exhibits that explore more than 4 billion years of the Earth's existence, housed in a building that's a landmark in itself. Some of the items here are truly special, displayed in a gallery called Treasures. These include a stuffed great auk (a bird that was hunted to extinction), a first edition of Charles Darwin's seminal study, "On the Origins of Species," a barbary lion skull, and a piece of moon rock, gifted to the United Kingdom by President Nixon. 

For some visitors, the highlight is the hall filled with specimens stuffed into glass bottles and preserved in alcohol — octopus, snakes, sawfish, and scores of other creatures. A little less macabre are the dazzling cases with agate, the brightly colored minerals of tanzanite and morganite, the sections of rock that recount stories of the planet's past, and cross sections of giant sequoia trees. You could easily spend a full day here and not see everything.

Science Museum

Just behind the Natural History Museum, this is another place that appeals to kids — both big and small — who will relish the chance to discover the wonders of science. A hugely popular department is the Wonderlab, because it's a gallery that is interactive, with a chance to work in concert with staff who explain phenomena, see live demonstrations, and take part in scientific trials and shows. You might get to witness how lightning forms, appreciate the power of friction while riding a slide, or imagine what it's like to travel through space. 

Other parts of the museum look at the incredible work done by engineers, the way mathematics has shaped the world, and even a gallery filled with aircraft (there's a simulator of the UK's famous Red Arrows, the Royal Air Force's aerobatic flight squad). A topical exhibition that runs until early 2024 looks at the speed and efficiency in making vaccines that were used to tackle the COVID pandemic.

Tate Modern

A rich vein of recent creativity — the past 100 years or so — as well as British art from the 1500s onward informs the collection of this repository where contemporary art dominates. Located on the south bank of the River Thames, and next to a replica of Shakespeare's Globe, the theater where the Bard of Avon staged a number of his plays, Tate Modern promises big, bold-faced names among the artists it exhibits, ones that are so famous that you only need to mention their last name for instant recognition. You'll see works by Picasso, Cézanne, Mondrian, and the like, alongside lesser-known artists. 

You can cosy up to huge, woven-fiber pieces by Polish artisan Magdalena Abakanowicz that, when displayed together, create a sort of forest of fabric and color. Other shows looks at the cultural narratives of Africa through the mediums of photography, sound recordings, and video, and themes surrounding Australia's Aboriginal community.

National Gallery

The West End of London is usually high on the list of locations that tourists gather, with attractions like Leicester Square, Piccadilly Circus, Covent Garden, and the many theaters that stage nightly shows. It's also where to find Trafalgar Square, anchored by Nelson's Column, erected to commemorate the demise of Admiral Horatio Nelson at the Battle of Trafalgar. The square, a popular spot for crowds on New Year's Eve, is also home to the National Gallery, where European artwork is the primary focus. 

Visitors will encounter some truly iconic pieces here, among them "Sunflowers" by Vincent Van Gogh, "Venus and Mars" by Sandro Botticelli, and "Bathers at Asnières" by Georges Seurat. Wandering the galleries, you'll find yourself transported through eras, with paintings that explore landscapes, intimate portraits of aristocrats, and snapshots of a moment in time. The building itself is as impressive as the collection here, the Portico Entrance defined by its high stone columns and stately domed roof.

London Transport Museum

The network that carries Londoners across the city is deep and far reaching, with a web of buses, commuter railways, and of course the London Underground allowing the residents, commuters, and visitors to efficiently, and cheaply, explore the city. A deep look at two centuries of transport in the capital is what this museum in the West End promises visitors. 

There is so much detail that transit buffs, and even casual observers, will delight in here, from early drawings of the city's iconic, red double-decker buses, to the way that Londoners moved around the city in the 1800s (picture trams pulled by horses). Exhibitions also trace how London grew, from a series of villages to a large urban conglomeration, and how the transportation system responded to this growth. Be sure to visit the gift shop, where themed badge pins, cushions, and even lunch bags make great mementos and gifts.

Imperial War Museum

The idea of this institution was first aired during World War I, and it was housed in a number of locations before its current home in South London, not far from Westminster Bridge, Big Ben, and Westminster Abbey. The subject matter is self-explanatory — the study and effects of wars, both past and present, recounted both on a macro and micro level. The centerpiece of a visit would be the two floors of displays devoted to the Second World War — the most brutal conflict in the planet's history — and the Holocaust, with photos, books, individual items, and letters lending these devastating periods a deeply personal, intimate face. 

Yet the museum isn't just a look into events of the past, with current hot topics very much mediums open for discussion. New shows analyze the way that video games relate to armed conflict, and photographs of life in Ukraine as war continues in the country.

Bank of England Museum

Money is money, but it's also an ever-evolving instrument, one that changes with the times, with the purpose that it serves, and with the relentless evolution of technology. The Bank of England has endured for centuries, and this museum, next door to the actual headquarters of the country's central bank, journeys back more than 1,000 years to look at the currency of money through archaeological finds, old banknotes and coins, pieces of art and sculpture, and commentary via social history. 

The bank has printed banknotes since the 1600s, and a copy of every note produced is available here for visitors to see, as well as test drawings, and machinery and techniques used in their printing. There is even a section on counterfeiting. A current exhibition also looks at the central bank's connection to slavery, showing how the trafficking of Africans played a key role in the economic growth of Great Britain.

Museum of London Docklands

At their heyday, London's docks, in the city's east, were thriving hubs, with ships coming and going, supporting Britain's power as an empire. But these docks sustained significant damage during World War II, and slowly faded in importance, this part of the city gradually diminishing in economic heft. A huge redevelopment of the area started in the 1980s, and now the Docklands are again thriving, with towers of corporate offices, sleek housing, and plenty of shops and restaurants that pull in visitors from around the city. 

At this museum, the permanent collections include one that explores the role of London's docks as a global trade nexus, with warehouses that sat along the riverside brimming with goods from all over the world. Shows also uncover many other aspects of the city, from the effects of centuries of public executions to how black entrepreneurs have helped to regenerate this part of London.

Saatchi Gallery

The name of this gallery refers to a high-flying advertising executive who privately amassed artworks (Saatchi & Saatchi continues to be a powerhouse in the advertising industry even today). Step into this space, in a posh part of southwest London, and what becomes apparent is that the artwork firmly focuses on the work of emerging artists. For some, Charles Saatchi is credited as being a driving force in the success of people like Damian Hirst and Tracey Emin, raw talents that are now bona-fide global stars. 

Recent highlights include a richly varied assortment of photos, installations, and fashion items from artists who specialize in street art and graffiti. Artwork pulled from studios all over the United Kingdom is constantly displayed here, making the gallery an ever-changing conduit, where newcomers to the art world are able to showcase their creativity and drive. Visit now and you might just see works from the next big things.

Design Museum

It's hard to overstate how design touches all our lives — it's in everything from the screens we use to read stories like these to the shape of the shoes we wear as the tread around this planet, day in and day out. It's also responsible for the sweeping, swooping roof lines of this museum that probes the multifold ways that design all around us. Much like the restless ambition of design, exhibitions are constantly changing, evolving as the world and its whims move forward. 

You might come here to see a show on how sounds and textures can help to create euphoria or calm, or how design is helping people to live with joy and comfort as they age, even as automation and climatic devastation threaten to change the face of life beyond anything we can imagine. The museum also hosts talks and workshops for visitors that want to explore the umbrella of design in more depth.

Leighton House Museum

Prepare for a visual treat. Together with Sambourne House, a few minutes' walk away, this former private house is a feast for the eyes, with both of them a short walk from the Design Museum. These beautifully appointed homes belonged to an artist and cartoonist, both of whom lived close to each other for a couple of decades. Frederic Lord Leighton was the president of the Royal Academy of Arts, and an established painter in his own right, while Edward Linley Sambourne drew cartoons for the humor magazine "Punch," a publication that still delights readers today. 

The two were also ravenous collectors, and these homes show how voracious their appetites were, with displays of ceramics, sculptures, and items made of glass. Perhaps the most scintillating of the spaces are the Arab Hall and Narcissus Hall in Leighton's residence, the former notable for its grand pillars and ornate screens, the latter for the striking aquamarine tiles that blanket the walls.

Sherlock Holmes Museum

It's not often that fictional characters get their own museum, but Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's iconic sleuth does. Holmes is perhaps the most famous detective in the world — real or imagined — first debuting in the late 1800s, his escapades lovingly detailed through Doyle's floral prose. Today, Sherlock Holmes' name continues to be synonymous with watertight investigative work, even though the last Holmes novel was published more than a century ago. This museum is where he was purported to live, 221B Baker Street (as the plaque outside proudly proclaims), on the southern cusp of Regent's Park. 

Entering the building recreates what characters in the book will have experienced, greeted by a member of Holmes' staff and shown into his study, where Victorian-era detailing and a trove of possessions from the book come to life. Elsewhere, you'll stumble on Watson's bedroom, the room where Holmes' landlady lived, and life-size wax figures of characters from the various books in the series. A trip here is truly transportive, it really is like walking into the past.

Horniman Museum & Gardens

The South Circular Road is an arterial band that links parts of southern London, though for many Londoners it's a traffic-choked nightmare best avoided during the rush hours (or any time, come to think of it). Just north of this main road sits this destination that doesn't neatly fall under any traditional description. It's a museum in name, yes, but there is so much variety here that an eclectic exhibition space might be a more apt label. 

You might find galleries where giant dinosaurs made from LEGOS stand sentry, an aquarium where reefs from Fiji dazzle through thick panes of glass, and a selection of archival photos of African archeologists. The World Gallery presents a cornucopia of global riches, like metalwork from the Sahara, herbs from Bhutan, and a tree where colorful labels from visitors are hung, each inscribed with a handwritten message. As enjoyable are the 16 acres of gardens, including one populated with bees.

Sir John Soane's Museum

This museum is named for the man who made his name as a leading British architect, and who also renovated three buildings in The City of London (the square mile that is home to many financial institutions) that now house this place. The site is amply filled with Soane's immense collection of antiquities, a trove of items purchased by an inveterate collector. There is so much to sift through here, antiques, drawings, sculptures, books, furniture, and paintings by the likes of English master J.M.W. Turner, hung in the Picture Room where almost every scrap of wall space is taken up by a masterly canvas. 

In the Model Room, you can marvel at model of the excavations at Pompeii, or the Greek Temples of Paestum, all made of cork. For something even more rare, stop by the room that is home to the sarcophagus of Egyptian pharaoh Seti I, who died in 1279 B.C.

• Inspiration
• Destinations
• Places To Stay
• Style & Culture
• Food & Drink
• Wellness & Spas
• News & Advice
• Partnerships
• Traveller's Directory
• Travel Tips
• Competitions

The 26 best museums in London

By Sarah James , Connor Sturges and Cordelia Aspinall

One of the many things our capital does very well is arts and culture – the amount of museums in London is pretty impressive. The city has such a bounty of world-renowned institutions that it can be hard to know which to visit first: from cutting-edge  London exhibitions  at the Tate Modern to Hope, the huge skeleton of a blue whale at the Natural History Museum. Alongside the big names, there’s also a trove of smaller, more eclectic London museums to explore, where you can find everything from a history of cereal packets to a taxidermy walrus with his own Twitter page. Discover the best museums in London, including the top free-entry spots.

Are all museums in London free?

There are a variety of museums in London that offer free entry, but a select few do require an admission fee. However, many of the best museums in London are free to attend, which means you can enjoy all the art and history the city has to offer without worrying about the cost. Be sure to explore the British Museum's (London's biggest museum!) sprawling galleries or lose yourself in the works of Georgia O'Keeffe and Andry Warhol at Tate Modern.

What is the most visited museum in London?

According to 2021 data , The Natural History Museum and the British Museum are two of the most visited museums in London. Both offer unique experiences, with The Natural Museum being the perfect visit for animal lovers, while the British Museum is an architect's dream.

Free museums in London

1. The Design Museum, Kensington

Best museum in London for: creative minds

Founded by Sir Terence Conran in 1989 and relocated to Kensington in 2016, The Design Museum hosts cutting-edge contemporary exhibitions, from fashion and graphics to architecture and product and industrial design. As well as the fascinating displays of past, present and future design through pop-ups and temporary shows, the museum hosts an array of learning programmes and activities aimed at children (aged 5-11 years) as well as opportunities for young people (aged 14-16 years) such as specialist courses, workshops and talks from leading experts in the industry.

Address: The Design Museum, 224-238 Kensington High Street, London W8 6AG Website: designmuseum.org   Entry fee: Free entry; exhibitions cost extra; booking essential

2. British Museum, Bloomsbury

Best museum in London for: architecture buffs

The domed glass-and-steel ceiling at the British Museum – the world’s first national museum opened to the public – lets light into the atrium-like Great Court below, bouncing off the blinding-white, sweeping staircases and marble walls. It’s one of the capital’s prettiest spaces, but beyond the impressive lobby, it has sprawling galleries dedicated to the Egyptians, the Greeks and the Romans. Artefacts including the Rosetta Stone, Pantheon Marbles (once a part of the original structure in Athens ) and more than 120 mummies draw millions of visitors every year. This is the city’s most-visited attraction, and it’s easy to see why.

Address: British Museum, Great Russell Street, London WC1B 3DG Website: britishmuseum.org Entry fee: Free entry; exhibitions cost extra

3. Tate Modern, Bankside

Best museum in London for: knock-out views

In what was once the Bankside Power Station, Tate Modern looms over the waterfront of the South Bank. Its permanent collections house a wealth of modern British art – see pieces from Damien Hirst and Jackson Pollock – and a range. of international artists. The immense Turbine Hall is dominated by a changing display of site-specific installations: millions of handcrafted porcelain sunflower seeds filled the space in 2010-11, while Olafur Eliasson took over with The Weather Project in 2003 and a blinding sun installation. Head to the top level of the Blavatnik Building, which was added in 2017, to visit the free viewing platform – the London panoramas are some of the best you’ll find anywhere in the city. However, Tate Modern’s main draw is its changing exhibitions: displays have included works from Picasso, Georgia O’Keeffe and Andy Warhol.

Address: Tate Modern, Bankside, London SE1 9TG Website: tate.org.uk Entry fee: Free entry; exhibitions cost extra

4. Tate Britain, Pimlico

Best museum in London for: after-hours fun

Tate Modern’s older sister focuses on British art and holds pieces from heavyweights, including Lucian Freud, Francis Bacon and William Hogarth, within its imposing Pimlico building archives. The museum hosts regular late-night events, and each one has a different theme each time: LGBTQ+ art, perhaps, or creative learning, with licensed bars in the galleries and a live DJ.

Address: Tate Britain, Millbank, Westminster, London SW1P 4RG Website: tate.org.uk Entry fee: Free entry; exhibitions cost extra

5. Royal Academy, Piccadilly

Best museum in London for: seeing Britain’s art greats in one place

Founded by artists and architects in the 1760s, the Royal Academy has been in its current home at Burlington House for more than 150 years and has recently expanded to include the former Museum of Mankind on Burlington Gardens. Highlights of the permanent collection span more than two centuries, from William Turner to Tracey Emin. The annual Summer Exhibition is one of the main events in the London art calendar, held since 1769, making it the oldest open-submission exhibition in the world. Each year, one of the Royal Academy’s artists curates the display.

Address: Royal Academy, Burlington House, Piccadilly, London W1J 0BD Website: royalacademy.org.uk Entry fee: Free entry; exhibitions cost extra

6. Queer Britain, King's Cross

Best museum in London for: inclusive spirit

Although Queer Britain’s story as a physical museum only began at the start of 2022, things kicked off before the star-studded 2018 launch in the Hotel Cafe Royal’s Oscar Wilde Lounge. What was, for some time, a largely virtual and event-led celebration of queer culture now has a permanent exhibition space in Granary Square, King's Cross . The museum’s first long-term exhibition launched in summer 2022 – We are Queer Britain – with items collected from various sources in celebration of LGBTQ+ history and culture. Oscar Wilde’s prison cell door behind which he was incarcerated for sodomy, recently discovered erotic work by Duncan Grant, and a letter from Elton John to his younger self are all on display; powerful reminders of how far equality has come.

Address: Queer Britian, 2 Granary Square, London N1C 4BH Website: queerbritain.org.uk Entry fee: Free entry; donations welcome

7. London Mithraeum, City of London

Best museum in London for: an ancient history lesson

On a late summer’s day in September 1954, archaeological investigations into the rubble of post-war London uncovered a long-lost secret as a marble head showed itself for the first time in thousands of years. Further digs, supported by the likes of Winston Churchill, unearthed the remains of a spectacular Roman temple dedicated to the God Mithras. Revered by Roman citizens across the empire, the figure became the centre of a mystery religion that led to initiation ceremonies and worship practices being carried out at underground temples. While many Mithraic temples remain, this was still the first of its kind in Britain to be revealed. Now, more than two millennia after it was built, the mysteries of the past have been brought vividly to life through the power of modern technology in an immersive, multi-sensory museum space. Artefacts provide a glimpse into what life was like, while the Bloomberg tablets – a collection that includes the first known written reference to London – await visitor awe.

Address: London Mithraeum, 12 Walbrook, London EC4N 8AA Website: londonmithraeum.com Entry fee: Free entry

8. Natural History Museum, Kensington

Best museum in London for: Attenborough fans and animal lovers

The ornate façade of the Natural History Museum is a love letter to Victorian architecture: a vast gothic building that looks more like a cathedral than a museum. Inside the lofty Hintze Hall (revamped in 2017 to strip it back to its 19th-century splendour), Hope, a ginormous blue-whale skeleton, hangs above the information desk, which doubles up as a bar when the museum throws late-night sessions. See dinosaur fossils, the first edition of Charles Darwin’s On the Origin of Species and casts from Pompeii among the museum’s 80 million specimens.

Address: Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, South Kensington, London SW7 5BD Website: nhm.ac.uk Entry fee: Free entry; exhibitions cost extra

CNT Editors

Adam Turner

Connor Sturges

CNT Editors , CN Traveller

9. Victoria and Albert Museum, Knightsbridge

Best museum in London for: sell-out exhibitions

London’s largest art museum – the eighth-biggest art museum in the world – has more than 100 galleries displaying everything from photography to jewellery. It has put on some of the city’s most talked-about exhibitions in recent years: the curators have become known for their hot-ticket fashion displays of designers, including Christian Dior and Alexander McQueen. Make sure to visit the permanent Rapid Response Collection, which has contemporary pieces that react to significant moments in recent history, such as the 'pussyhats' worn at protests against the election of Donald Trump to a 3D-printed Extinction Rebellion coin.

Address: Victoria and Albert Museum, Cromwell Road, London SW7 2RL Website: vam.ac.uk Entry fee: Free entry; exhibitions cost extra

10. National Portrait Gallery, Charing Cross

Following a three-year hiatus, the iconic National Portrait Gallery re-opened its doors to the public in summer 2023 with new spaces, collections and elevated dining options to boot. The refurbishment marks the most extensive transformation of the space since 1896, with key updates focusing on important contemporary figures such as Zadie Smith and Sir Steve McQueen. With a refurbished, light-filled café, glitzy underground basement bar Larry’s serving up bespoke cocktails in a mood-lit setting, and then Portrait, a rooftop restaurant by acclaimed Irish chef Richard Corrigan, the National Portrait Gallery’s hospitality offering might just be in a league of its own. Moreover, an increased focus on photography has seen the gallery flooded with visitors. Lucy Bruton

Address: National Portrait Gallery​, St Martin’s Place​, London WC2H 0HE Website: npg.org.uk Price: Free entry; exhibitions cost extra

11. Imperial War Museum, Lambeth

Best museum in London for: hard-hitting exhibitions

Housed in what was once the site of Bethlem Royal Hospital (the psychiatric facility better known as Bedlam) and flanked by naval guns, the Imperial War Museum explores the role of British troops in conflicts that cross generations and countries. It’s full of often challenging exhibitions, from displays on World War I to the Holocaust.

Address: Imperial War Museum, Lambeth Road, London SE1 6HZ Website: iwm.org.uk Entry fee: Free entry; exhibitions cost extra

12. Sir John Soane's Museum, Holborn

Best museum in London for: going back in time

Untouched-Georgian-townhouse-meets centuries-old museum, this cabinet of curiosities was once the home of Sir John Soane, an 18th-century architect who designed the Dulwich Picture Gallery and was a professor at the Royal Academy. See his collection of antiquities, furniture and sculptures, as well as paintings by Hogarth and Turner. Book on one of the Highlights Tours, or see the historical property in a new light and embark on a candlelit tour at Soane late events.

Address: Sir John Soane's Museum, 13 Lincoln's Inn Fields, Holborn, London WC2A 3BP Website: soane.org Entry fee: Free entry; exhibitions cost extra

13. The Wallace Collection, Marylebone

Best museum in London for: Italianate treasures

Fine art from the 15th to 19th centuries is displayed at one of London’s loveliest small art galleries, set in the 18th-century townhouse of Sir Richard and Lady Wallace, who collected fine paintings, porcelain, artefacts and furniture over generations. See paintings by Canaletto and Rembrandt, plus exhibitions on fashion, furniture, ceramics and more.

Address: The Wallace Collection, Hertford House, Manchester Square, London W1U 3BN Website: wallacecollection.org Entry fee: Free entry; exhibitions cost extra

14. Horniman Museum and Gardens, Forest Hill

Best museum in London for: anthropological curiosities

Founded in 1901 by Frederick John Horniman, a tea merchant who wanted a space to display his private collection of natural history, the Horniman Museum is a nature lover’s dream. See African art or visit the tiny aquarium. We especially like the conservatory, set in a grand Victorian glasshouse with views over the rolling gardens.

Address: Horniman Museums and Gardens, 100 London Road, Forest Hill, London SE23 3PQ Website: horniman.ac.uk Entry fee: Free entry; exhibitions cost extra

Museums with admission fee 15. Museum of Comedy, Bloomsbury

Best museum in London for: anyone in need of a chuckle

Can you truly understand a culture without knowing what makes its people laugh? The Museum of Comedy is on a mission to acquaint us all with the ingredients that, when combined, make up the British sense of humour, one Ronnie at a time. More reference library than proper museum, it's a repository of seemingly every book, DVD, VHS and LP that could possibly make you laugh – literally hours and hours of non-stop silliness. Make sure you have a couple of hours to kill, then sit yourself down, kick off your shoes and let the fun begin. By the end of the visit, you'll be squawking Monty Python's Parrot Sketch by heart.

Address: Museum of Comedy, St George's Church, Bloomsbury Way, London WC1A 2SR Website: museumofcomedy.com Entry fee: Varies; book online or via the phone

16. Museum of Brands, Notting Hill

Best museum in London for: childhood nostalgia

Go on a jaunt down memory lane at this museum, just around the corner from Portobello Road Market in Notting Hill . Take a deeper look at your favourite brands, including British stalwarts such as Marmite and Cadbury, in the permanent Time Tunnel exhibition created by consumer historian Robert Opie. From changes in packaging, branding and the advertising behind each product, see how these classics have evolved over the past 150 years. The museum is an immersive visual journey from the Victorian era to the present day, and shows the impact of social and cultural changes on everything from consumer society, right down to a chocolate bar’s wrapper. Learn how technological and societal transformations in TV and cinema , fashion, games, the prevalence of plastic, and the emancipation of women have shaped our commercial world today. You will leave more knowledgeable about the historical context of many well-known household names, and about earlier times.

Address: Museum of Brands, 111-117 Lancaster Road, Notting Hill, London W11 1QT Website: museumofbrands.com Entry fee: £9 for adults; £5 for children

17. Jewish Museum London, Camden

Best museum in London for: religious immersion

Following the atrocities of the second world war and the placement of Jewish people across London, two museums came together in the early 1980s – The London Museum of Jewish Life and The Jewish Museum. In what is now known as The Jewish Museum once again, a showcase of Jewish life awaits. Permanent exhibitions include Judaism: A Living Faith , which places ceremonial art and artefacts including historical Torah decorations and Passover plates. Elsewhere, History: A British Story uncovers the stories of Jewish Britons from 1066 to the current day, while The Holocaust Gallery tells the story of Leon Greenman OBE, the anti-fascism campaigner and Auschwitz survivor who passed away in 2008. Regular events include community kitchen sessions, talks, and events for friends of the museum, while children often attend in groups to learn about Jewish practices.

Address: Jewish Museum London, Raymond Burton House, 129-131 Albert Street, London NW1 7NB Website: jewishmuseum.org.uk Entry fee: Adults from £7.50; Children aged 5-16 from £3.50

18. The Old Operating Theatre Museum and Herb Garret, London Bridge

Best museum in London for: budding doctors

Just a short stroll from London Bridge Station, through the door of the historic St Thomas’ Church, a narrow spiral staircase can be found. Ascend – carefully, mind – and arrive in a space that lay concealed for almost a century before being rediscovered in 1956; the old operating theatre and medicinal storage rooms. While St Thomas’ has taken many forms, it has provided shelter and relief to the sick and needy since the 12th century. Before the age of modern medicine, antibiotics and anaesthetics, surgeries were carried out by doctors with comparatively little knowledge of human anatomy, while bodies were carved open and displayed to eager students on the tiered platforms. Now, the space is a museum for fans of macabre and medicinal history, with details dialled down for children and school groups to attend talks and sessions. The website has lots of information and even games for little ones – there is lots to learn before your visit, should you so wish.

Address: The Old Operating Theatre Museum and Herb Garret, 9a St Thomas Street, London SE1 9RY Website: oldoperatingtheatre.com Entry fee: adults from £7.50; children from £4.50

19. Fashion and Textile Museum, Bermondsey

Best museum in London for: sartorial worshippers

Founded by designer Zandra Rhodes, who displayed 50 years of her fashion line here in 2019, the Fashion and Textile Museum runs a roster of temporary exhibitions rather than having a permanent collection. In between shows, the museum – set in a colourful converted warehouse in Southwark – is closed and completely made over. Past exhibitions have focused on knitwear, Jazz Age fashion, T-shirts and Riviera style – while other shows have put the spotlight on designers including Orla Kiely , Mary Quant and Terence Conran.

Address: Fashion and Textile Museum, 83 Bermondsey Street, Bermondsey, London SE1 3XF Website: fashiontextilemuseum.org Entry fee: Varies; check the latest exhibition for more details

20. London Transport Museum, Covent Garden

Best museum in London for: tube geeks

For anyone who races Citymapper’s proposed route home convinced they can hack public transport, or for those who feel smug when a question on the underground comes up at a pub quiz, head to the London Transport Museum, packed with impressive travel ephemera and facts. See a line-up of red Routemaster buses through the ages, climb aboard one of the very first tube carriages and see stylish retro posters from the past 100 years. Keep an eye on its website for the Acton depot open days, when there’s a rare chance to nose through old Transport for London signs and posters and step aboard vintage tube trains.

Address: London Transport Museum, Covent Garden, London WC2E 7BB Website: ltmuseum.co.uk Entry fee: £22 for off-peak adult annual passes, £24 for unlimited adult annual passes

21. Dennis Severs' House, Spitalfields

Best museum in London for: a glimpse of another era

Another house-museum hybrid, this time featuring the residence of a fictional family dreamt up by eccentric Dennis Severs, who lived in this East End house in the 1970s. The house takes visitors through 10 rooms, transporting them from 1724 to the start of 1914. It’s as though you’re walking into a painting of East London life in the 18th and 19th centuries – tours through the sets, which look as though the occupants of the house have just popped out – are done in silence.

Address: Dennis Severs' House, 18 Folgate Street, Spitalfields, London E1 6BX Website: dennissevershouse.co.uk Entry fee: From £15 per person

22. Leighton House, Holland Park

Stepping into the Arab Hall, you'd be excused for expecting a fez-wearing shopkeeper to hand you a glass of mint tea. Down a quiet side street in Holland Park, Leighton House appears to be quite a standard-looking Victorian townhouse. Yet, so over-the-top were Pre-Raphaelite painter Sir Frederic Leighton's interiors that even his biographer questioned his Britishness. Maybe it was the ceramic-tiled walls, gilt-painted dome, or stained-glass windows that caused all the fuss. Whatever it was, it proves bling was a thing in London as early as the 1830s.

Address: Leighton House, 12 Holland Park Road, London W14 8LZ Website: leightonhouse.co.uk Entry fee: £11 for adults, £5 for children

23. Dulwich Picture Gallery, Dulwich

Best museum in London for: lovers of Baroque art

In the early 1800s, art enthusiast Sir Francis Bourgeois instructed that his entire collection be turned into a gallery open to the public, handpicking architect John Soane to create the Dulwich Picture Gallery from scratch. Look up, and you can see for yourself the innovative techniques Soane used to bathe the whole gallery in sunlight, which became the prototype for all galleries to this day. Still, don't forget to look down too, to see the great Baroque masterpieces that line the walls and the mausoleum Soane designed for his friend and patron.

Address: Dulwich Picture Gallery, Gallery Road, London SE21 7AD Website: dulwichpicturegallery.org.uk Entry fee: £16.50 for adults, including donation

24. The Handel Hendrix House Museum, Mayfair

The Handel Hendrix House museum showcases the former homes of music legends, George Handel and Jimi Hendrix. Following a £3 million refurbishment of the Georgian buildings on Brook Street, visitors can immerse themselves in the spaces where Handel wrote his music and Jimi Hendrix entertained fellow rock stars in the 1960s. The interiors of Handel’s home, including the kitchen, have been fully restored in 1740s style, and there are audiovisual displays about the Messiah in the very room where he composed that famous oratorio. Next door at No. 23, the bedsit which Hendrix rented in the late 1960s has been faithfully replicated, plus there are films and displays relating to the guitarist’s life and work. The museum also hosts live music and talks.

Address: 25 Brook Street, London W1K 4HB Website: handelhendrix.org Entry fee: £14.00 for adults, £10.00 for students and free for under 16s

25. The Postal Museum, Farringdon

Best museum in London for: stamp collectors

One of Britain’s biggest inventions was the postal system – the very first social network, which has now been around for 500 years. Visit The Postal Museum and take in the history of letter-writing and communication with interactive displays, galleries and exhibitions. Hop across the road to Mail Rail and travel through the hidden tunnels onboard a miniature train to discover the postal world that lies beneath the busy streets of London. See the unchanged station platforms below Royal Mail’s Mount Pleasant sorting office, hear from the people who worked on the railway and learn about the parts of it that kept the postal system moving through London over the years.

Address: The Postal Museum, 15-20 Phoenix Place, London WC1X 0DA Website: postalmuseum.org Entry fee: £16 for adults, £11 for young persons (ages 16-24), £9 for children

15 Museums in London you shouldn’t miss

Art and history lovers will be spoilt for choice in London, a city known for having some of the most impressive museums in Europe. Discover some of our favorites.

For a complete experience in the English capital , a visit to one or two of its fantastic museums is practically a must. And with free entry to so many of them, there’s no excuse not to go. You can also make the most of your visit by going on a tour with an expert guide. If you’re not sure which ones to pick, here are 15 of London’s best museums to help you get started.

1. The Victoria and Albert Museum

Perhaps one of the most famous museums in London, the Victoria and Albert Museum (or V & A for short) is utterly magnificent. Entry is free so you can pop in even for just an hour.  The permanent collections date back 5000 years and feature ceramics, costumes, paintings, sculptures, and jewelry from a range of countries and cultures. The museum also hosts several temporary exhibitions from fashion designers, architects, activists and more.

  Visualizza questo post su Instagram   Un post condiviso da Victoria and Albert Museum (@vamuseum)

2. The British Museum

Despite being the subject of some controversy over the years, the British Museum is still among the best museums in London. Its immense collection of artifacts includes mummies from Ancient Egypt, vases from Ancient Greece, and timepieces from early European periods.  Each room in this museum allows you to travel back in time and across continents in order to understand how earlier civilizations operated. You will be taken all over the world and will have more than four million objects to marvel at including the controversial Elgin Marbles and the pivotal Rosetta Stone. You probably won’t be able to take in everything in one day, but with a guided tour you’ll at least get a good grasp of the highlights and discover intriguing details along the way.

  Visualizza questo post su Instagram   Un post condiviso da British Museum (@britishmuseum)

3. The National Gallery

The National Gallery sits pride of place in Trafalgar Square in Central London. From its imposing pillars outside to the artistic masterpieces inside, the entire experience is a visual delight. The National Gallery holds over 2,300 works, including Van Gogh’s iconic Sunflowers and Hans Holbein the Younger’ mysterious portrait of The Ambassadors . The dozens of rooms display objects ranging from the 13th century to the modern day. In addition to the permanent collection of Western European art, it also hosts regular workshops and temporary exhibitions.

  Visualizza questo post su Instagram   Un post condiviso da National Gallery (@nationalgallery)

4. The National Portrait Gallery

If you’re a fan of portraits then you’re going to love the National Portrait Gallery, which contains more portraits than any other establishment in the world. Literally, hundreds of thousands of portraits adorn the museum’s walls, depicting notable British people starting from the Tudor era all the way to today. The portraits come in all shapes and sizes, and all different media, including drawings, paintings, photographs, and sculptures. You might even have an ancestor up on the wall somewhere! Depending on when you visit, you might be able to catch one of the outstanding photography exhibitions.

  Visualizza questo post su Instagram   Un post condiviso da National Portrait Gallery (@nationalportraitgallery)

5. The Natural History Museum

A winner with adults and children alike, the Natural History Museum is undoubtedly one of the best museums in the country, if not the world. Tracking the history of the natural world from the very beginning to the present day, the museum is brimming with fascinating models and information.  The stand-out feature of the Natural History Museum is its dinosaur collection. Life-size models of dinosaurs fill a vast room, with a robotic T-Rex roaring at visitors in its own special alcove. Here, you’ll learn everything archaeologists have uncovered about prehistoric animals, from what they looked like to what they liked to eat and more.

  Visualizza questo post su Instagram   Un post condiviso da Natural History Museum, London (@natural_history_museum)

6. The Tower of London

The Tower of London was a multi-purpose structure, which acted as a fortress, palace, and prison. An entry ticket includes access to the white tower, the crown jewels, the prison rooms and more. As you explore you’ll learn all about the fascinating and dark history of this somber complex . Be sure to check out the ravens, also known as the guardians of the tower. Finally, for an even more immersive experience, join a tour guided by none other than a Beefeater guard!

  Visualizza questo post su Instagram   Un post condiviso da Dr Dan Spencer (@gunpowder_dan)

7. The Imperial War Museum

The Imperial War Museum looks beyond the mere mechanics of war and depicts the effects of conflict on ordinary people. In addition to tanks, cannons, and guns, the museum offers a more personal element to war by showing it through the eyes of the soldiers it consumed. An inspiring, yet harrowing experience, the Imperial War Museum includes exhibitions about World War One, World War Two, the Holocaust, and more.

  Visualizza questo post su Instagram   Un post condiviso da Imperial War Museums (@imperialwarmuseums)

8. Churchill War Rooms

A branch of the Imperial War Museums mentioned above, The Churchill War Rooms are situated in an underground bunker beneath Westminster. From here, Churchill and his cabinet directed and planned the Second World War, which resulted in the eventual defeat of Hitler and the Nazis. Walk through the corridors and check out the secret telephone he used to communicate with the President of the United States. You’ll also discover dozens of artifacts, including personal items, depicting the life of Churchill, one of Britain’s greatest military leaders.

9. The Tate Modern

The Tate Modern sits alongside Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre on the Southbank and overlooks the River Thames. With a never-ending stream of exhibitions and displays, the Tate Modern is ever-changing, so you can go again and again and have a different experience each time.  As well as the vast collections of art,this museum also boasts an incredible viewing tower. Climb to the top and enjoy breath-taking views of the London skyline, which won’t cost a thing!

  Visualizza questo post su Instagram   Un post condiviso da Tate (@tate)

10. The Design Museum

Located on the dazzling Kensington High Street, the Design Museum looks exactly how you would expect a design museum to look. Its quirky architectures perfectly complements the exhibitions inside, which showcase the best in architecture and product design. The Design Museum focuses on innovation and technology and looks at ways in which humanity can progress through the use of residential and industrial design. The current housing crisis in London has prompted the museum to analyze the constraints that hold the city back from further development.

  Visualizza questo post su Instagram   Un post condiviso da the Design Museum (@designmuseum)

11. The Sir John Soane’s Museum

If you don’t already know who John Soane is, he’s the mastermind architect behind the Bank of England and the Dulwich Picture Gallery. Hailed as one of the most inventive architects of his time, his former home-cum-museum is filled with architectural sculptures and drawings, furniture, and antiques spanning millennia, making it one of London’s most intriguing museums. Soane spent his life collecting antiquities that fascinated him, and they now give us an insight into what inspired him. The unassuming museum sits alongside Lincoln’s Inn Fields and has remained virtually untouched since Soane passed away in 1837.

  Visualizza questo post su Instagram   Un post condiviso da Sir John Soane’s Museum (@soanemuseum)

12. The Charles Dickens Museum

One of history’s greatest storytellers, Charles Dickens is a household name, regardless of whether you’ve read any of his works. The museum is set in the Dickens’ family home in Central London, which dates back to the Victorian era. It was here that he wrote Oliver Twist , Nicholas Nickleby , and The Pickwick Papers . The museum contains a number of artifacts, including Dickens’ writing desk, complete with handwritten scribbles of story ideas. Here, you can delve into the private life of one of the most celebrated writers of the Western world.

  Visualizza questo post su Instagram   Un post condiviso da Charles Dickens Museum (@dickensmuseum)

13. The Saatchi Gallery

The Saatchi Gallery, located in the fashionable Chelsea area, isn’t interested in global art superstars. The gallery features work from emerging talent or international artists that haven’t yet had their work exhibited in the UK. It provides a platform for promising young artists to display their work to a huge and diverse audience. With a mixture of immersive installations and exhibitions laced with social satire, the Saatchi Gallery will intrigue, surprise and inspire you. Even the building itself is a marvel.

  Visualizza questo post su Instagram   Un post condiviso da Saatchi Gallery (@saatchi_gallery)

14. The Science Museum

The Science Museum is filled with gadgets, gizmos and hands-on experiences guaranteed to keep the whole family entertained. Each floor is home to a range of exhibits, including sections devoted to technology, mathematics, clocks, the earth’s atmosphere, and the power of flight. The top floor houses the Wonderlab, which has numerous experiments for visitors to try out. If you can’t get enough of science, drop by the nearby Ampersand Hotel for a science-themed tea inspired by the museum.

  Visualizza questo post su Instagram   Un post condiviso da Science Museum (@sciencemuseum)

15. National Maritime Museum

This captivating museum in Greenwich has a permanent collection with free entry and several temporary exhibitions (usually requiring paid entry) that change throughout the year. The museum narrates the maritime history of Great Britain through artworks and artifacts. Among the most interesting artifacts is The Atlantic Neptune, a fundamental cartographic work created in the 18th century, along with a remarkable portrait collection. And if you still haven’t had enough of maritime adventures, walk five minutes from the museum to the Cutty Sark, a historic Scottish merchant ship.

  Visualizza questo post su Instagram   Un post condiviso da Royal Museums Greenwich (@royalmuseumsgreenwich)

Planning a weekend in London and not sure know where to start?

Take a look at our 2-day itinerary in London !

You May Also Like

Art secrets: 7 works to look at with a different set of eyes, italian christmas traditions, 10 of the best kisses in art history, 8 things you should know about the colosseum.

Amazing blog, really interesting I loved reading it, please keep on writing blogs like this in future as well.

Thank you for sharing the list of museums in London. I love to travel. Park City Grand Plaza Kensington is near to all famous museums. Hope to see you soon in London.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

• Challenge me
• Enlighten me
• Take me away
• Uncategorized @us
• Wine and dine me
• Afternoon Tea
• Aix-en-Provence
• Alessandria
• Alnwick Castle
• Amalfi Coast
• Amazon Rainforest
• Adele Barnau
• Alessandro Santoro
• Alex Skinner
• Alyssa Fowler
• Amanda Coletta
• Ana Olivia Fiol
• Andrea Barragan
• Angelo Tarallo
• Anna Boshdemont
• Annalice Furfari
• Arianna Serra
• Bryan Shelmon

Awesome, you're subscribed!

Thanks for subscribing! Look out for your first newsletter in your inbox soon!

The best of London for free.

Sign up for our email to enjoy London without spending a thing (as well as some options when you’re feeling flush).

Déjà vu! We already have this email. Try another?

By entering your email address you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and consent to receive emails from Time Out about news, events, offers and partner promotions.

Love the mag?

Our newsletter hand-delivers the best bits to your inbox. Sign up to unlock our digital magazines and also receive the latest news, events, offers and partner promotions.

• Things to Do
• Food & Drink
• Coca-Cola Foodmarks
• Attractions
• Los Angeles

Get us in your inbox

🙌 Awesome, you're subscribed!

14 weird but wonderful museums in London

Visit one of London’s lesser-known museums and discover their quirky hidden treasures

There are a lot of museums in London. Of course, there are world-famous names like the British Museum and Natural History Museum . There are local gems like the brilliant Horniman Museum in south London. But then… Then there are many, many tiny niche or sometimes downright plain peculiar museums in every corner of the city, with collections of everything from fans (the ‘Bridgerton’ kind not, like, desk fans) to anatomical specimens looming out of glass jars.  

So get stuck into our guide to the best weird museums in London and prepare to get some freak in your cultural collection.

An email you’ll actually love

Our favourite alternative museums

The Brunel Museum

• Military and maritime
• Rotherhithe

Nearly 200 years ago, Isambard Kingdom Brunel started work on the Thames Tunnel. It opened in 1843, gathered a crowd of 50,000 Londoners on its first day, and has been a hugely popular attraction ever since. At the Brunel Museum, on the Rotherhithe side of the river (that’s south), you can delve into the story behind this spectacular feat of Victorian engineering. The tunnel is now used, ironically, for the Overground, but guided tours will still take you into the humongous entrance chamber, and every once in a while it plays host to gigs and screenings .

The Cinema Museum

• Film and TV
• Elephant & Castle

This Kennington museum only opens its doors for guided tours if you book in advance. But believe us, it’s worth all the faff. There’s a gargantuan collection of posters, projectors, cinema carpets, fanzines and memorabilia, plus more than 17 million feet of celluloid film to peruse . 

Dennis Severs’ House

• Historic buildings and sites
• Spitalfields

Not strictly a museum, more of an immersive, living exhibit, the home of late American eccentric Dennis Severs tells the story of a fictional family of eighteenth-century silk-weavers in Spitalfields. Okay, some of the historical facts might be a tad (wh)iffy – but the ten rooms here send you on a wonderfully evocative journey, down to fresh fruit ‘left by the family’ on the kitchen table and a chamberpot full of authentic Huguenot wee. Quelle horreur!

The Fan Museum

• Art and design

In the quest to be considered the most fan-tastic of all London museums, Greenwich’s Fan Museum has an obvious head start. The collection here dates back to the tenth century and the displays change throughout the year. According to the Victorian ‘language of fans’, drawing a fan across the cheek means ‘I love you’. Practise it, because after a trip here it’ll be your preferred method of communication.

The Freud Museum

• Things to do
• Literary events

The famous Austrian shrink moved to London in 1938, fleeing the Nazis. His house has changed very little in the years since: a slice of Habsburg Vienna slap-bang in the middle of Hampstead, where you can see his collection of antiquities, and the world-famous couch upon which his patients shared their thoughts, dreams and neuroses . ‘Tell me about your muzzer… ’

Grant Museum of Zoology

• Natural history

Be warned: UCL’s museum of zoology isn’t for the faint of heart. Elephant skulls, jars of moles (really), shark vertebrae and bisected heads are among the gruesome exhibits on display. Think of this as the Noah’s Ark equivalent of London’s numerous medical museums, including the Hunterian and the Old Operating Theatre. It’s macabre, yes, but you’ll learn some fascinating stuff here. 

Leighton House Museum

• Holland Park

In the 1860s, Lord Frederic Leighton commissioned his friend, architect George Aitcheson, to build him a house in Holland Park to house his extensive collection of antiquities and artworks. Here, he stashed all his classical acquisitions, as well as his own art and that of his contemporaries. Venture inside, and you’ll find the very model of nineteenth-century opulence . There are occasional events, including music recitals in Leighton’s gorgeous upper-floor studio.

The Magic Circle

• Cultural centres

And as if by magic… another unusual museum. If you’ve got a trick or two up your sleeve, this is the place to visit. Located at the Magic Circle Headquarters in Euston, its prized possessions include Harry Houdini’s handcuffs and the belongings of legendary magician Jean-Eugene Robert-Houdin. Sadly, you can’t just abracadabra your way in whenever you please. Book an appointment in advance via its  website .

Museum of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society

• Science and technology

Originally a resource for medical students, this institute became a public museum in the 1930s. Its staggering collection of more than 45,000 objects tells the long story of pharmacy and medicine, from leeches and mummified hands to the discovery (in Paddington!) of penicillin.

Old Operating Theatre Museum

• London Bridge

Restored with original fixtures and surgical instruments, the UK’s oldest purpose-built operating theatre sits in an attic at the top of a Southwark church. Climb a vertiginous wooden staircase, and you’ll find yourself transported back to the world of nineteenth-century medicine, when surgery tended to involve things like brandy and hacksaws. Another one to avoid if you’re squeamish .

Pollock’s Toy Museum

April 2023: The museum is currently closed and seeking new premises.

In a pair of gauntly unrestored Fitzrovia townhouses, you’ll find this quirky collection dedicated to the world of childhood and play. And no, it’s not all Barbies and Kens: there are downright creepy displays of board games, marbles, puppets, wax dolls, dolls’ houses. Oh, and the world’s oldest teddy bear, and an Ancient Egyptian toy mouse, made out of Nile clay .

Sambourne House

Punch cartoonist and artist Edward Linley Sambourne lived in this house with his family in the late nineteenth century.  It’s the very epitome of genteel, well-heeled Victorian middle-class living (ironic, given that Sambourne also took some pretty explicit nood photographs). Curiously, though, it’s the humdrum stuff here that’s really fascinating: things like Sambourne’s bills and correspondence .

The Viktor Wynd Museum of Curiosities

Don’t expect anything you see here to make a lot of sense – instead, just let your jaw drop to the floor when you see all the bizarre things piled together in this weirdest of wunderkammers , including Happy Meal toys and celebrity stool samples. Its regular ‘menagerie nights’ give you the chance to pet some interesting creatures too, like lizards and tarantulas. Don’t say you weren’t warned.

William Morris Gallery

• Walthamstow

In Lloyd Park, in oh-so-fancy-these-days Walthamstow, William Morris’s family home – where he lived as a frankly bratty little kid – is now a very fine museum dedicated to the Arts and Crafts maestro’s life and legacy. Aside from all the sumptuous fabrics, prints, furniture and wallpaper, you should keep an eye on the programme of late events, which includes workshops, poetry readings and even DJ sets .

[image] [title]

Discover Time Out original video

• Press office
• Investor relations
• Work for Time Out
• Editorial guidelines
• Privacy notice
• Do not sell my information
• Cookie policy
• Accessibility statement
• Terms of use
• Modern slavery statement
• Manage cookies
• Claim your listing
• Time Out Offers FAQ
• Advertising
• Time Out Market

Time Out products

• Time Out Offers
• Time Out Worldwide

• Entertainment
• Rex Reed Reviews
• Awards Shows
• Climate Change
• Restaurants
• Gift Guides
• Business of Art
• Nightlife & Dining
• About Observer
• Advertise With Us

The London Art Galleries Not to Miss On Your Next Visit

The growing list of galleries in this thriving cultural hub attracts local and international art collectors alike..

London is a capital city in more ways than one—not only the official capital of the United Kingdom, but also the beating heart of the country’s political establishment, its finance and business sectors and even its creative industries from bustling theaters to an internationally-renowned art scene.

Sign Up For Our Daily Newsletter

Thank you for signing up!

By clicking submit, you agree to our <a rel="nofollow noreferer" href="http://observermedia.com/terms">terms of service</a> and acknowledge we may use your information to send you emails, product samples, and promotions on this website and other properties. You can opt out anytime.

Many collectors will have attended the annual Frieze London Art Fair and Royal Academy’s Summer Exhibition or browsed the renowned graduate art shows at the Royal College of Art, Goldsmiths and Central Saint Martins. And away from the established public-facing museums London is well known for amongst tourists—the V&A, Tate Modern or Serpentine, among others—there is a medley of commercial galleries where artists both established and emerging have their wares displayed for prospective collectors.

The United Kingdom accounts for around 18 percent of art and antique sales worldwide, second only to the United States, and we can barely scratch the surface of London’s sprawling network of commercial galleries—around 850, over half the number of total galleries in the U.K.—in a guide like this. However, we can still give a brief overview of some of the most significant art galleries worth a visit in the U.K.’s capital city, from new challenger ventures to century-old establishments.

The Best Art Galleries in London

Gagliardi gallery.

One of the oldest contemporary art galleries in London, Gagliardi sits in the affluent borough of Chelsea, on the bustling and boutique-filled King’s Road. The gallery opened its doors in 1978 and has been serving collectors ever since, with a history of clients it says “range from local residents to Royalty.” It stocks a mix of painting and sculpture from both well-established artists (think Andy Warhol , Damien Hirst ) and emerging stars, and has a hand in curating the London Art Biennale at Chelsea Town Hall every two years, alongside its involvement with exhibitions at the V&A Museum.

Tristan Hoare

The art dealer Tristan Hoare set up shop in Fitzroy Square, London, back in 2009, in a gorgeous 18th-century building that eschews the ‘white cube’ effect of many other contemporary galleries, allowing the high ceilings and decorative paneling to frame artworks with a quiet extravagance. 2023’s Kaori Tatebayashi exhibition saw the artist’s ceramic flowers embedded directly into the walls and paneling, or jutting from fireplaces, emerging from the structural environment in a way you won’t see elsewhere. Tristan Hoare gallery works with several leading contemporary artists, including Alessandro Twombly , and hosts occasional talks in its unique, multi-story space.

Whitechapel Gallery

This central London gallery in Whitechapel is well known for promoting early-career artists who went on to garner great fame, such as Mark Rothko and Bridget Riley , and has been operating in London for well over a century, opening in its current location in 1901, before expanding its premises in the late noughties to the adjacent library. While ostensibly a public art gallery, exhibited artists often create exclusive artworks (‘Editions’) for sale alongside ongoing exhibitions. Whitechapel Gallery attendees can enjoy the attached Townsend restaurant or the Gallery Archive that looks back on a century of art curation in this historical spot.

Guts Gallery

The Guts Gallery in Hackney, East London, was set up to challenge the elitism and inequality of the art world. It was founded by working-class Northern artist Ellie Pennick, who turned down a place at the Royal College of Art during financial straits and resolved to set up a gallery that could champion traditionally excluded artists, taking a below-market commission while connecting queer, POC and working-class creatives with interested collectors. Notably, the gallery is wheelchair-accessible, with provision for “interpreters or lip readers.”

Rebecca Hossack Art Gallery

The Rebecca Hossack Art Gallery has operated in London for the past 35 years, specializing in non-Western artistic traditions, and acting as an early European exhibitor (and champion) of Australian aboriginal painting – though you’ll find the occasional contemporary Western artist represented there. While you can see its artworks showcased often at Third Space gyms across London, you’ll need to go in person to Fitzroy Square to see the full impact of the gallery’s eclectic, uncompromising and outward-looking collection. Once or twice a year, the gallery will host creativity workshops, talks on aboriginal art or performance pieces.

Saatchi Yates

You’ll likely recognize the name, but this gallery venture from Phoebe Saatchi Yates , daughter of Charles Saatchi , is carving out its own space in the art world… albeit with guidance from the famous art dealer, and around the corner from Christie’s in the heart of Central London. Saatchi Yates is focused on bold, early-career artists, who are often discovered by the curator scrawling through artist profiles on Instagram and TikTok. Saatchi Yates recent “Bathers” exhibition brought together Cézanne’s Satyrs and Nymphs , rural bathing landscapes and even sharks preserved in formaldehyde.

• SEE ALSO : John Lennon’s Recently Rediscovered Guitar Is Poised to Smash Records at Auction

We noticed you're using an ad blocker.

We get it: you like to have control of your own internet experience. But advertising revenue helps support our journalism. To read our full stories, please turn off your ad blocker. We'd really appreciate it.

How Do I Whitelist Observer?

Below are steps you can take in order to whitelist Observer.com on your browser:

For Adblock:

Click the AdBlock button on your browser and select Don't run on pages on this domain .

For Adblock Plus on Google Chrome:

Click the AdBlock Plus button on your browser and select Enabled on this site.

For Adblock Plus on Firefox:

Click the AdBlock Plus button on your browser and select Disable on Observer.com.

28+ Cheap Things to Do in London (Under $15)

L ondon may have a reputation for being an expensive city to visit, but in fact, there are plenty of cheap things to do in London, as well as a multitude of things to do in London for free.

George Orwell once famously wrote that “one of the worst things about London (is) the fact that it costs money even to sit down,” but that is simply not the case anymore, as there are so many cheap things to do in London. Keep reading below for all our best recommendations on free and cheap things to do in London while traveling on a budget!

This post was written by guest contributor Sarah from Slow Travel. Some of the links in this blog post are affiliate links, meaning that I earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase at no additional cost to you. This helps me keep the content on my website free for you to enjoy!

Free Museums

When asked about the free and cheap things to do in London, most people will mention the free museums, which are definitely a highlight of the city — free or not!

These museums range from major tourist attractions, such as the British Museum and the Science Museum, to the countless smaller museums, which are also free but less well-known.

1. The British Museum

The British Museum is the most popular of the big museums in London, with millions of visitors flocking to see the Rosetta Stone, the Egyptian mummies, the controversial Parthenon marbles, and thousands of other artifacts from across the world.

Although the British Museum can get really crowded during the day, visiting on a late-night Friday opening means that it is much easier to get up close to some of these incredible objects and makes the whole experience a far more enjoyable one.

2. The Science Museum

The Science Museum takes you through innovations from across the centuries with five floors of space exploration, a James Watt engine, a Herschel telescope, early computers, and whole displays dedicated to science and technology.

Many exhibits have interactive features, making them ideal for those visiting London with children or families.

3. Smaller Museums

However, it’s in the lesser-known free museums in London where visitors can find some real surprises. Visitors can hold a real bar of gold at the excellent Bank of England Museum , watch a light show in an underground Roman Temple at the London Mithraeu , or explore the golden Inner Temple of Freemasons in the Museum of Freemasonry — all for free.

Petrie Museum of Egyptian Archeology is also a wonderful place to explore, filled with thousands of ancient Egyptian artifacts cobbled together on dusty shelves, and the British Library has rooms filled with some of the oldest and greatest works in British literature, making it one of the best literary spots in London !

Free Art Galleries

Exploring the numerous art galleries in London is one of the best things to do in London for cheap (or for free!) — whether you’re an art lover or not.

4. The National Gallery

London has some of the finest art galleries in the world, of which The National Gallery is the crown jewel! Home to works by Van Gogh, Monet, Turner, Da Vinci, Botticelli, Rembrandt, Titian, and more, The National Gallery is a fabulous place to spend hours just sitting, contemplating, and deciding which works are your favorites!

5. National Portrait Gallery

Right behind The National Gallery is the newly opened National Portrait Gallery , where there are galleries filled with famous British faces such as Queen Elizabeth I, Shakespeare, the Bronte Sisters, Mary Seacole, and Churchill.

6. Tate Modern

If modern art is a preference, then the enormous Tate Modern on the banks of the River Thames is perfect. Although there is a charge for some of the smaller, changing exhibitions, there is free access to most of the museum, which is home to some truly surreal and thought-provoking art, as well as a viewing gallery that has wonderful views over the capital.

7. Tate Britain

Tate Britain is another large, free art gallery, but has a combination of traditional and modern art, making it ideal for those who like a bit of both genres. Rosetti, Millais, Turner, and Spencer combine with some outlandish sculptures and designs in a neo-Classic listed building.

Royal Heritage Sites

No visit to London is complete without seeing some of the royal heritage that dominates the city!

8. Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace

Although visiting one of the palaces is not cheap, you can still watch the Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace for free.

There is no need to join one of the many tours — it is just a case of getting to the railings in good time and staking a claim to a space from which to watch it. Mounted royal guards can also be seen at Horseguards Parade, just down the road from Downing Street, and are happy to be included in photos so long as you don’t touch their horses.

9. Traitor’s Gate

Traitor’s Gate at the Tower of London is another one of the best things to do in London for cheap. This is where many Tudor royals saw their last glimpse of the outside world before being transported into the Tower of London by boat to await their executions.

Anne Boleyn, Elizabeth I, Lady Jane Grey, and more all made their final journey through this dramatic-looking, ancient portcullis.

9. Ceremony of the Keys

It’s also possible to get into the Tower of London for about $6 by booking to see the Ceremony of the Keys — one of the best cheap things to do in London!

This ancient ritual has been performed every night for the past 600 years, and visitors can watch as the King’s Guards lock down the Tower in full Tudor regalia, complete with a rendition of the Last Post. Tickets must be bought in advance from the Royal Collection Trust .

Cathedrals, Churches & Cemeteries

London is home to some extraordinary cathedrals, abbeys, and churches — many of which you can visit for free (or for cheap!).

10. St. Paul’s Cathedral and Westminster Abbey

Although some cathedrals, including St Paul’s Cathedral and Westminster Abbey , charge visitors quite a lot of money to explore inside their hallowed walls — there is no charge to attend one of their services.

Evensong is a particularly good service as it is at the end of the day and lasts for less than an hour. Although most of the buildings are closed for sightseeing and photography is not allowed during this time, it is still a great chance to see inside these magnificent buildings for free!

11. Smaller Churches

London has about 2,000 smaller churches and religious buildings, and they are all open for free. Many have small museums in their crypts, and it is possible to spend hours at a time in some of the best ones.

St. Bride’s Church on Fleet Street and All Hallows by the Tower are well worth an extended visit and are some of the best churches to visit in London for free.

12. The Magnificent Seven Cemeteries

The cemeteries of London are a fantastic place to spend time, particularly those known as “ The Magnificent Seven ” — Abney Park Cemetery, Brompton Cemetery, Highgate Cemetery, Kensal Green Cemetery, Nunhead Cemetery, Tower Hamlets Cemetery and West Norwood Cemetery.

Highgate Cemetery is perhaps the most famous of them all, where graves and vegetation jostle for supremacy in this truly unique overgrown space. Although it costs just over $12 to visit, visiting this cemetery is one of the best cheap things to do in London, as it’s easy to spend a whole day wandering amongst the graves, spotting famous names, which include Karl Marx, George Michael, Douglas Adams, Malcolm McLaren, and many more.

The catacombs on Egyptian Avenue in Highgate Cemetery are amazing pieces of architecture and, once visited, will never be forgotten. Other cemeteries and graveyards across the city are free to visit and have some equally famous burials and fascinating sights to see.

Spectacular City Views

London is a sprawling city that extends as far as the eye can see. Naturally, many visitors want to see the incredible views from above! People pay about $38 to visit the top of the Shard for those views — but there are other places to get similar sights.

13. Sky Garden

Sky Garden — London’s highest public garden — is one of the best places to enjoy incredible views of the city for much cheaper than the Shard. Although the “garden” part of its name is something of a misnomer, this building has some fantastic views over the city for free — just be sure to book tickets in advance!

14. More Free Views

Just outside the Greenwich Observatory, there are some wonderful open views over the skyscrapers of the business district in Canary Wharf. The benches on Parliament Hill — part of Hampstead Heath — also provide the perfect place to enjoy the views from the comfort of a more rural setting.

Sunset River Cruises

River cruises are much touted by tour companies keen to sell a trip down the River Thames at great expense. They often include food and drinks and even sunset views to entice people in. It is possible, however, to book your own cruise down the River Thames at a fraction of the cost. 

16. Uber Boat by Thames Clippers

Uber Boat by Thames Clippers is a fabulous (and cheap!) way to travel up and down the Thames River for cheap. You can book a sunset cruise for only £10 (or just about $12) with comfortable seating, a snack bar that serves food and drinks, and all the amenities you need.

Getting on one of these boats — much the way you would any form of public transport, like the tube — and sailing from west to east provides a luxurious boat ride. Plus, if you time it right, the setting sun will fall between the bastions of Tower Bridge as you approach, which is a truly spectacular sight. Try an evening trip from Greenwich to Tower Millennium for the best views!

Beautiful Parks & Green Spaces

Known as one of the greenest capital cities in the world — London has countless parks and gardens that are completely free to visit.

17. Hyde Park

Hyde Park is perhaps the largest and most famous of the public parks in London. In addition to the assorted monuments, flower gardens, and sports courts in the park, visitors can hire a small rowing boat to ride out onto Serpentine Lake for minimal cost.

There are also free art galleries and exhibition spaces in the middle of Hyde Park, some large playgrounds (including one for seniors!), and — most entertaining of all — Speaker’s Corner. There is a centuries-old London tradition of people being able to speak on any subject matter in Speaker’s Corner. This tradition dates back to when the park was next to Tyburn, an area where thousands of people were hanged for all manner of crimes.

18. More Free Parks

Other parks in London to visit for free include Richmond Park , Hampstead Heath , Regent’s Park & Primrose Hill , and a host of others. They all have free activities and events happening throughout the year — all of which can be found on their websites.

Bustling Markets

London is home to many famous markets which span the city and sell a huge range of goods. There is no need to spend any money or join an organized trip — exploring these markets on your own time will cost nothing (unless temptation strikes!).

19. Borough Market

Borough Market , which dates back to the 12th century, is located underneath railway lines in a huge Victorian structure of glass and wrought iron.

Borough Market is the oldest food market in London and now sells food from around the world, with sumptuous displays of fresh and exotic fruits, cheeses, breads, meats, and countless food stalls serving street food from across the globe.

20. Portobello Road Market

Portobello Road Market , located in Notting Hill, is the place to go for collectibles, vintage knick-knacks, jewelry, and ornaments — as well as to explore the famous streets and mews that are featured in this part of the city.

21. Greenwich Market

Greenwich Market is the place to go for art, antiques, and vintage goods. Since it’s an indoor market, it is also ideal to explore on one of London’s (not unusual) rainy days.

22. Convent Garden Market

Covent Garden Market is popular with all visitors. Though it was once famous for its fruit and vegetables, the market now also includes clothes, gifts, and hand-crafted goods and usually has street entertainers to keep the crowds amused (entirely for free!).

Colorful Street Art & Graffiti

Street art is another aspect of London that attracts many visitors, with its colorful designs lighting up dark and neglected corners.

23. Banksy Tunnel

Underneath Waterloo train station is the Banksy Tunnel. Banksy Tunnel was named in 2008 after Banksy held a graffiti festival in this once dingy tunnel where buses had been stored.

Since then, it has become a mecca for some of the best graffiti artists around and is now the only place in London where they are allowed to work without a permit. The entire tunnel, including the ceilings, is covered in street art, with the designs changing daily and sometimes in front of your eyes.

24. Brick Lane

Brick Lane is another great place for some serious street art. Although it is not technically permitted, that hasn’t seemed to stop the graffiti artists, and the designs cover the already quirky street. The overall effect is an overwhelming mishmash of bright colors, skillful art, and unique shops and businesses.

Leisurely Walking

Walking is an underrated activity in London, which is crisscrossed with countless walking routes, including the Thames Path, Jubilee Walkway, Jubilee Greenway, and London Loop. The routes, which are marked with symbols on the pavements, cover the whole of London’s landscapes, including riverside, urban, and rural areas.

25. Southbank

Southbank — alongside the Thames River — is the perfect place for a stroll on a warm day. It’s easy to see why so many people love strolling in Southbank, with the beautiful views over the city, food stalls, a famous second-hand book market, and musicians and street entertainers who attract large crowds with their family-friendly fun.

26. Chinatown

Chinatown is another place for a fascinating walk. Chinatown is beautifully decorated with Chinese lanterns and is located right in the heart of the theatre district. This area is filled with an endless stream of people — and it is the perfect spot for some people watching. 

27. Guided Walking Tours

Free Tours by Foot is an awesome company that does free walking tours in London. Westminster, the Royals, Jack the Ripper, Harry Potter, and World War II are just a few of the subjects they’ll cover during the tour. These guided tours can last a couple of hours or nearly a whole day, and there is no cost — making them one of the best cheap things to do in London!

28. Self-Guided Walking Tours

However, the best way to explore London is to “follow your feet” and see where they take you! Spend some time exploring the hidden alleyways, small parks, and quiet residential roads. London’s city center is very safe, and a walk through it can be very rewarding, with cool sights and buildings surprising you around each corner.

FAQs: Cheap Things to Do in London on a Budget

What are some free things to do in london.

Some of the best free things to do in London include watching the Changing of the Guard Ceremony at Buckingham Palace, walking around Hyde Park, free walking tours, and visiting popular museums and art galleries, including the British Museum, the Science Museum, The National Gallery, and Tate Modern.

What is famous and cheap in London?

Some of the best famous attractions to visit in London for cheap include Hyde Park, Borough Market, Highgate Cemetery, the British Museum, the National Gallery, and the Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace.

How can I save money on London attractions?

In addition to making your way through this list of free and cheap things to do in London, look into bundling attractions with the Go City All-Inclusive Pass .

With the Go City All-Inclusive London Pass , you will pay a one-time fee (£89–199) for a pass to visit as many attractions as you can during a selected timeframe (2–10 days). Attractions include the Tower of London, Westminster Abbey, St. Paul’s Cathedral, Kensington Palace, Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre Tour, and 90+ more.

By bundling, you can see more and spend less — in fact, you can save up to 50% on top attractions, tours, and activities. Go City is a great tip for traveling to London for cheap if you still want to see the major attractions and sites.

Experience the Best of London on a Budget with These Cheap Things to Do in London

This is just a small selection of all the free and cheap things to do in London! 

As you can see, it’s perfectly possible to have a fun-filled stay in London while only paying for your flight, accommodations, and food. If you know where to look — there are tons of cheap things to do in London that make traveling on a budget a breeze!

Save the Best Cheap Things to Do in London for Later

Planning a trip to Europe? If so, check out some of these other fabulous destination guides for inspiration:

• What I Wish I Had Known Before Traveling to Paris
• 7 Delectable Food and Drinks to Try in Cinque Terre
• Detailed One-Day Itinerary for Copenhagen

Simple Flying

The top 5 military aviation museums in the world.

Some of these places house unique prototypes or fighter jets that have served with various air forces globally.

• Plenty of bucket list-worthy aviation museums globally focus on military aircraft.
• This includes locations such as the Musée de l'air et de l'espace (Air and Space Museum), the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum, and the Royal Air Force (RAF) Museum.
• In the US, military aviation enthusiasts should visit the National Museum of the United States Air Force (USAF) and/or the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum.

Plenty of iconic military aircraft have been built over the years. Seeing them all in person might be difficult if not for some of the aviation museums that house dozens of bombers, fighters, and other types of military aircraft that various air forces have used throughout the years.

5 Musée de l'air et de l’espace (Air and Space Museum)

Located at paris–le bourget airport (lbg).

Aircraft to see:

• Nieuport XI ‘Bébé’
• Dassault Mystère IV A
• Dassault Mirage 2000

While the museum is perhaps known for its impressive collection of civilian aircraft collection, which includes an Air France Boeing 747-100, Airbus A380, and two Concorde aircraft, the Musée de l'air et de l'espace (Air and Space Museum) also has a few aircraft that were important to the French Air and Space Force (Armée de l'air et de l'espace).

This includes the Nieuport XI' Bébé,' the French-built fighter. Initially designed by Gustave Delage, the single-seat biplane was not supposed to be a military aircraft. However, in 1915, the aircraft's design was altered, including a smaller lower wing than the upper one, providing exceptional maneuverability. The aircraft reached the front in 1915.

The other two visit-worthy exhibits include two Dassault aircraft, the Mystère IV A, and a Mirage 2000. The museum described the former as the first French fighter jet to break the sound barrier, which was achieved by Constantin Rozanoff in January 1953. Meanwhile, the latter replaced the Mirage III and Mirage F1, both Dassault aircraft, entering service with the French Air and Space Force in 1984.

The Dassault Mirage F1: 5 Fun Facts

4 canadian warplane heritage museum, located at john c. munro hamilton international airport (yhm).

• Avro Canada Canuck
• Canadair CT-114 Tutor
• North American Sabre Mk. 6

The Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) has been an instrumental part of the Western Allies' war effort ever since its predecessor was formed during the World War I years, yet it did not serve during that conflict. Nevertheless, the RCAF has had plenty of interesting aircraft in its fleet throughout the years, including, for example, the Canadair CT-114 Tutor. According to the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum, where it is exhibited, Canadair, based in Montreal, Canada, developed the aircraft as a potential RCAF trainer.

They were phased out by the 2000s, by which point the aircraft had amassed over 1 million flight hours in nearly 40 years of service. Some still are actively flown, including by the Snowbirds, the RCAF's aerobatic team.

Other noteworthy aircraft include the Avro Canada Canuck, the first fighter jet to be designed and built in large quantities in Canada, and the North American Sabre, which served with the RCAF between 1951 and 1964. Out of 8,861 F-86 Sabres that were built, 1,815 were assembled in Canada.

Which Fighter Jets Are In The Royal Canadian Air Force's Fleet?

3 royal air force (raf) museum, located in london, the united kingdom.

• Supermarine Spitfire
• Avro Vulcan
• British Aerospace (BAe) Harrier II

While the Royal Air Force (RAF) Museum has two locations in the UK, namely near London and Cosford, the one in London houses some pretty interesting airframes. These include four different Supermarine Spitfire versions: the Spitfire I, Spitfire V, Spitfire Mk XVI, and Spitfire F24.

Another highlight of the RAF Museum in London is the Avro Vulcan, Britain's supersonic bomber aircraft. Part of the RAF's 'V bombers,' its goal was to deter nuclear threats against the UK, serving in that role for 15 years between 1954 and 1969. The last Vulcans retired from active service in 1984.

Why Was The Avro Vulcan's Performance So Good?

2 national museum of the united states air force (usaf), located in wright-patterson air force base (afb), dayton, ohio, united states.

• Lockheed SR-71A
• Boeing B-29 Superfortress Bockscar
• Boeing VC-137C SAM 26000

Naturally, if you are interested in visiting military aviation museums, the National Museum of the United States Air Force (USAF) is a must-visit, with the site exhibiting plenty of interesting aircraft that have served with the USAF. This includes the Boeing VC-137C SAM 26000 and the Boeing 707-based Air Force One – whenever the US President was onboard the aircraft – that has served in its role for 36 years before being replaced by the current VC-25As, namely two Boeing 747-200s.

One unique aircraft to view is the Boeing B-29 Superfortress Bockscar, which was one of the two B-29 Superfortress bombers that dropped atomic bombs on Japan, the other being Enola Gay. Another fascinating exhibit is the Lockheed SR-71A, also known as the Blackbird.

Why Was The Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird So Hard To Fly?

1 the smithsonian's national air and space museum, located in washington, dc, united states.

• Grumman F-14D Tomcat
• McDonnell Douglas F/A-18C Hornet
• Boeing B-29 Superfortress Enola Gay

Despite not being an exclusively military aviation museum, The Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum is definitely a worthy site to visit just because of the sheer number of aircraft and aviation-related artifacts that the museum has amassed over the years. This includes the other Boeing B-29 Stratofortress, nicknamed Enola Gay, which dropped its atomic bomb on the city of Hiroshima.

While plenty of other aircraft have appeared on the list as well, another interesting exhibit could be the McDonnell Douglas F/A-18C Hornet, which has actively served with the United States Navy (USN) during several tours, including Operation Desert Storm, in Iraq and Afghanistan before it was transferred to the 'Blue Angels.'

5 Must-Visit WWII Aircraft At The National Air And Space Museum