unusual museums to visit in london

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

This website uses cookies to improve your browsing experience and analyze the use of the website. Learn More

24 Weird, Quirky, Cool, and Unusual Museums in London

If you know one thing about me, it’s that I love museums. In fact, museums are one of the main reasons I moved here more than a decade ago - London is home to some of the world’s greatest museums.

In the space of a few hours, I can pop into The British Museum, The National Gallery, and the Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A).

But let’s be honest – sometimes I’m craving something a little stranger (ok, I’m always craving something a bit stranger)! If you’re like me, I’ve got you covered.

If you want to get off the beaten track and explore some of the weirdest or most unique museums, there are tons of options in London. London’s strange museums are legendary! 

I’m a tour guide for Free Tours by Foot, but I’m also known as The Museum Guide, so for an even deeper dive, head to my YouTube channel and check out my video about the Top 12 Strangest Museums in London.

I regularly guide tours of these strange museums and offer itinerary planning for museum-lovers like myself. 

If you’re traveling to London, join our London Travel Tips Facebook Group for helpful hacks and advice.

If you want even more weird London, make sure you join my London Urban Oddities group . Let’s get started!

1. Handle Hendrix House Museum

The name alone tells you who is celebrated at this museum: musicians George Frederic Handel and Jimi Hendrix. Believe it or not, they both lived in London, 200 years apart, in buildings next to each other.

You'll find spaces where these two significant musicians created their music, along with instruments, clothing, bedrooms and living rooms, and much more.

The House also hosts talks, music rehearsals, guitar sessions, and more. Nearby, you’ll also find some great bars and restaurants in Soho – I personally recommend The Lyric for some great craft beer.

It’s one of my favourite places to go before a show, and It’s just a short walk from the former Bag o Nails, where Hendrix played his first gig.

John Lennon, Paul McCartney, Keven Ayers, Peter Townshend, and Mick Jagger were all in the audience – and all blown away. 

Website : Handel Hendrix House

Location: 25 Brook St, London W1K 4HB | Mayfair

Admission : £14 Adult | £10 Student | Free under age 16

Hours : Monday-Tuesday: closed | Wednesday-Sunday 10:00 am-5:00 pm.

2. Leighton House Museum

When I feel like going somewhere both eccentric and refined, I like to head to the recently refurbished and spectacular Leighton House Museum.

It is located in the former home of Victorian-era artist, Frederic, Lord Leighton.

Walking in, I’m always filled with wonder. The house is "crammed to the rafters" with art from Leighton's contemporaries, and his own, of course, as well as sculptures and furniture.

Particularly stunning is Arab Hall, which is topped with a dome with a metal spire and lined with antique tiles from Syria. I feel whisked away to the Middle East without even leaving London.

Website : Leighton House Museum

Location: 12 Holland Park Road, London W14 8LZ | Holland Park

Admission : £11 Adult | £5 Children (age 6-18) | Free under age 6

Hours: Wednesdays to Mondays: 10:00 am-5:30 pm | Tuesday: closed

3. Freud Museum

I’m particularly fascinated by Freud, but before I moved to London I didn’t realise he spent his final years here.

The museum is located in the North London home where Sigmund Freud lived after escaping the Nazis, along with his daughter, Anna Freud, who lived there until her own death.

Sigmund, of course, was the founder of psychoanalysis, and Anna became a pioneering child psychoanalyst. 

Inside, visitors will find Freud senior's study along with his famous psychoanalytic couch.

There are also pieces of art, knickknacks, paintings, furniture, photographs, mementos, films, a gift shop, a garden, and much more.

Website : Freud Museum London | Tickets

Location: 20 Maresfield Gardens, London NW3 5SX, UK | Hampstead

Admission : £14 Adult | £9 Children (ages 12-16) | Free under age 12

Hours: Wednesday to Sunday: 10:30am-5:00pm | Tuesday: closed

Note: nearby is the home of poet John Keats.

4. God’s Own Junkyard

I’m a neon fanatic, and God’s Own Junkyard is my idea of heaven. This psychedelic neon paradise is housed in a warehouse in Walthamstow, Northeast London.

Late founder Chris Bracey got his start selling his neon creations to Hollywood directors such as Stanley Kubrick and Tim Burton.

Today, this warehouse shows off both neon salvage and art pieces. There's also a cafe and bar, The Rolling Scones, with food and drink.

There’s nothing quite like feeling the warm neon glow cast across your face – this is great lighting for photos!

Website : God's Own Junkyard

Location: Unit 12, Ravenswood Industrial Estate, Shernhall St, London E17 9HQ | Walthamstow

Admission : Free

Hours : Friday and Saturday: 11 am-10 pm | Sunday: 11 am-6 pm

5. Foundling Museum

In the 18th Century, the Foundling Hospital was opened by Captain Thomas Coram as the UK's first children's charity.

It was created with the purpose of caring for and housing vulnerable children, with a focus on healing them of diseases.

The Foundling Hospital Museum was created to house items from the hospital, including small items mothers left with the children they handed over, as a way of perhaps connecting the two in the future.

It makes me cry every time – it’s impossible to walk away with dry eyes.

Interiors have been recreated, and one can now find the works of several artists on the walls, including Gainsborough and Hogarth.

Note that the composer Handel held concerts of the Messiah in the hospital to raise money for it.

Website : Foundling Hospital Museum

Location: 40 Brunswick Square, London WC1N 1AZ | Bloomsbury

Admission: £10.50 Adult | £8.25 Concessions

Hours : Monday: closed | Tuesday to Saturday: 10 am - 5 pm | Sunday: 11 am - 5 pm

6. Pollock's Toy Museum

This quirky 70-year-old museum is home to toys of the past and was named after a printer of Victorian toy theatres.

They have a "much-loved collection of puppets, optical toys, teddy bears, tin toys, dolls and dolls’ houses, games, folk, and traditional toys from around the world."

How far back does their collection go? They have over 4,000 toys, including the world's oldest Teddy bears. I was gutted to find out it is temporarily closed, but they do have regular pop-up events around town.

Website : Pollock's Toy Museum

Location: 1 Scala St, London W1T 2HL, United Kingdom | Camden (see below)

Admission: £9.00 Adult | £4.50 Children

Hours : The museum is temporarily closed as they look for a new home for their collection. Check their website for pop-up locations until they reopen.

7. Sherlock Holmes Museum

Where else would you find the Sherlock Holmes Museum than at 221B Baker Street? 

This museum, in a four-story Georgian townhouse, was created to give visitors a sense of where Sherlock Holmes would have put his mind palace to good use. 

In addition to fully recreated Victorian living spaces, there are all sorts of memorabilia related to Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's greatest creation, as well as a gift shop full of items Holmes might find interesting.

Website : Sherlock Holmes Museum

Location: 221b Baker St, London NW1 6XE | Westminster

Admission: £16.00 Adult | £11.00 under age 16 | free under age 6 | £14.00 Concessions

Hours : Monday-Sunday: 9:30 am - 6 pm

Note: After you visit the museum, you might like to visit the nearby Regent's Park .

8. Museum of Brands

The Museum of Brands is incredibly unique – filled with 150 years of branding, packing, and advertising in this museum. It’s the only one of its kind in the world!

Even though I grew up in Canada, it's a tour down memory lane. You’ll definitely come across items in their collection that bring back memories of your own childhood.

Website : Museum of Brands

Location: 111-117 Lancaster Rd, London W11 1QT | Notting Hill

Admission : £9.00 Adult | £7.00 Senior | £5.00 Children

Hours : Monday to Saturday: 10 am - 6 pm | Sunday and Bank Holidays: 11 am - 5 pm

Note: You might find our post on the nearby Portobello Road Market of interest if you visit the area.

9. Sir John Soane's Museum

Walking into the main sitting room of the Sir John Soane Museum will take your breath away –grandeur and gravitas fills his side-by-side townhouses.

This museum was founded by neo-classical architect Sir. John Soane, and his love of bric-a-brac, archaeology, and art continues to benefit us today. 

I always describe the museum as unique, eclectic, chaotic, and magnificent. Just wait until you walk into the stairwells, jam-packed with casts and treasures from antiquity – stop for a moment and really take it all in.  

Soane was a collector of all things interesting – you’re sure to find something that piques your interest. Oliver Cromwell’s death mask, a Roman fountain, or the sarcophagus of Seti I – and so much more.

Website : Sir John Soane's Museum

Location: 13 Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, WC2A 3BP | Holborn

Admission: Free

Hours: Monday - Tuesday: Closed | Wednesday to Sunday: 10 am to 5 pm

10. Kirkaldy’s Testing Works

This purpose-built building was designed to house 'The Kirkaldy Machine,’ the original hydraulic testing machine designed by Scotsman David Kirkaldy in 1874.

He used it to test new industrial materials during the 19th century to keep people safe.

You need to book one of their tours to gain entry, but it’s worth it. When I went, I saw the machines in action, and I tried my hand at testing the strength of a parachute cord. It’s a great activity for kids and adults alike.

Website : Kirkaldy Testing Works

Location: 99 Southwark St, London SE1 0JF | Southwark

Admission : £8.83 - £25.63 depending on the tour chosen.

Hours : Hours vary; check the website (click on the top of the page) for upcoming open days.

11. Bethlem Museum of the Mind

Bethlem Hospital was originally founded in 1247, where Liverpool Street Station is today. It moved to a few other places in the City, before settling on this site in Croydon in 1930 

Known as the origin of the word “bedlam,” this was a grim and exploitative place.

The museum chronicles this dark history and showcases artwork and writing by former patients.

I’ll admit it – it’s a fair old journey to get here! But I found it so worth it – and if you’re interested in medical history, you will, too.

Website : Bethlem Museum of the Mind

Location: Bethlem Royal Hospital, Monks Orchard Rd, Beckenham BR3 3BX | Bromley

Hours : Wednesday-Saturday: 9:30 am-5 pm

12. Grant Museum of Zoology

This museum is close to my heart because I used to volunteer here! It’s home to more than 67,000 specimens, and is London’s last university zoological museum.

During your visit, you can see remarkable examples of extinct animals, such as the bones of a Dodo and the bones and skins of a Quagga and a Tasmanian Tiger.

Also, don’t miss the Micrarium (a museum within the museum) and the beloved Jar of Moles. Yep, you read correctly – it’s literally a jar of taxidermised moles.

It’s famous on social media (or should I say infamous?) and even has its own Twitter account! It’s right when you enter the museum, by the front desk. 

Website : Grant Museum of Zoology

Location: Rockefeller Building, 21 University St, London WC1E 6DE | University College London

Hours : Temporarily closed for an improvement program. Reopening in January 2024.

Note: For a slightly less weird look at the natural wonders, you might enjoy the free-to-enter Horniman Museum in Forest Hill. This garden museum covers natural history, anthropology, and much more.

13. Museum of Freemasonry

For an ancient secret society shrouded in mystery and conspiracy theories, the Freemason’s Hall in London is remarkably open about their rituals, artifacts, and memorabilia – or at least, they want us to think they are!

In addition to the fantastic free museum, they also offer regular free guided tours throughout the stunning Art Deco building.

I got a real kick out of the stately older gentleman who gave the tour – it’s the only time I’ve ever heard Upper Received Pronunciation in person! (That is, a really, really posh accent).

Website : Museum of Freemasonry

Location: 60 Great Queen St, London WC2B 5AZ | Between Holborn and Covent Garden

Hours : Monday-Saturday: 10 am-5 pm | First Thursday of the Month: 10:00 am-8:00 pm

14. The Magic Circle Museum

From one secretive society to another!

In addition to the basement museum filled with magical pop culture memorabilia, there are also a lot of incredible artefacts displayed throughout the entire building.

You can only visit the museum when you purchase a ticket for an event, which always includes at least one magic show and often a tour of the building.

On the day I visited, my ticket included three magic shows, including some utterly bewildering close-up magic. I still don't know how he did it…

Website : The Magic Circle Museum

Location: Centre for the Magic Arts, 12 Stephenson Way, London NW1 2HD | Euston

Hours : Hours vary; check the website for upcoming events.

15. House of Dreams

This East Dulwich museum/art project was started in 1998 by Stephen Wright, an artist and designer.

He is lovely, and he’ll be there when you visit – we had a lovely chat about the strange outsider museums we’ve both visited around the world. 

Every inch of the space is decorated with dolls, false teeth, used wigs, old toys, and old wills, letters, and photographs collected from European junk markets. It sounds creepy and dingy, but it really isn’t!

He and his husband actually live there, and it is actually really lovely and magical. I kept wandering around with a big dumb grin on my face, like a big kid.

This is part home, part art gallery, and part personal record – and it’s only open on special open days, so check his website.

Website : Stephen Wright House of Dreams

Location: 45 Melbourne Grove, London SE22 8RG | East Dulwich

Admission : £12 per adult

Hours : Hours vary; check the website under "book now" for open days and times.

16. Novelty Automation

Pushing the limits on the definition of museum, Novelty Automation is part art gallery, part museum, part arcade - and 100% fun and bizarre.

It’s filled with satirical game machines, all constructed by hand by cartoonist and engineer Tim Hunkin.

Make sure out the interactive divorce machine, the “My Nuke Personal Nuclear Reactor," and the Housing Ladder slot machine.

My husband and I had an absolute blast here – this is a perfect date night activity. 

Website : Novelty Automation

Location: 1a Princeton St, London, WC1R 4AX | Holborn

Admission : Free, but to play the machines it's: £5 for 5 tokens| £9 for 10 tokens | £27 for 34 tokens

Hours : Tuesday-Wednesday: 11 am-6 pm | Thursday: 12 pm-8 pm | Friday and Saturday: closed | Sunday: 12 pm-6 pm

17. The Cartoon Museum

This small museum "is dedicated to preserving the best of British cartoons, caricatures, comics, and animation.”

You'll find thousands of these, some dating back to the mid-1700s, many with a focus on political history.

It’s not a big museum, but it’s well worth a visit if you’re interested in how comedy and artwork have been used together throughout the ages.

Website : The Cartoon Museum

Location: 63 Wells St, London W1A 3AE | Fitzrovia

Admission: £9.50 Adult | £6.00 Senior | £4.00 Student

Hours: Monday: closed | Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday: 10:30 am - 5:30 pm | Thursday: 10:30 am - 8 pm

18. Old Operating Theatre & Herb Garret

This little museum is housed in the attic of the early eighteenth-century church of the old St Thomas’ Hospital, and it’s my personal favourite on this list. 

The set-up predates the use of anaesthetics and antiseptics - it is the oldest surviving surgical theatre in Europe, and it details the early history of modern surgery. 

Make sure to poke around the herb garret at the Old Operating Theatre, where herbs would be stored for making medicines.

The whole experience really gets started when you begin climbing the treacherous spiral staircase! Sadly, the museum is not accessible.

Website : Old Operating Theatre and Herb Garret

Location: 9a St Thomas St, London SE1 9RY | Southwark

Admission : £7.50 per adult

Hours : Thursday-Sunday: 10.30 am-5.00 pm 

19. Dennis Severs' House

Dennis Severs was an American who purchased a dilapidated property from the Spitalfields Trust.

In 1979, he opened this museum in the house, one meant to display the life as it would have been lived by Huguenot silk weavers.

In each room, you encounter crackling fires, lit candles, half-eaten meals, and echoing laughter just out of earshot.

There are mysteries to be solved, and strange instances to witness. Trust me – you need to look, listen, and pay attention. It’s especially magical at Christmas time!

Website : Dennis Severs' House

Location: 18 Folgate St, London E1 6BX | Spitalfields

Admission : £15 over age 12 | £15 Over age 65/students/disabled/children under 12

Hours : Thursday 6:00-10:00 pm | Friday 5:00-11:00 pm | Saturday & Sunday noon-midnight. You may also find some special events taking place on Wednesdays.

20. Viktor Wynd Museum of Curiosities, Fine Art, & UnNatural History

In almost any city in the world, Dennis Severs would undoubtedly win the moniker of the strangest museum.

But we’re in London, and so we must visit the wild and wonderful Viktor Wynd.

This museum isn’t for the faint of heart – it’s loaded with occult objects, taxidermy, and bizarre celebrity memorabilia, including Russell Brand’s pubic hair, The Rolling Stones used condoms, and even Kylie Minogue’s poo.

Tucked amongst shrunken heads, old Happy Meal toys, pulp erotica, Feejee Mermaids, and two-headed kittens, you’ll find objects to horrify and delight you.

Even better, you can swig a strong cocktail before and after at The Absinthe Parlour & Cocktail Bar upstairs on the ground level.

I love this museum – it really reminds me of the reason I love museums in general.

Make sure you have a seat at the coffin table (containing a real human skeleton) next to the taxidermised lion in a fez hat. You have to see it to believe it…

Note: There is an online gift shop should you want to purchase something to remember your trip.

Website : Viktor Wynd Museum of Curiosities, Fine Art, & UnNatural History | Hackney

Location: 11 Mare St, Cambridge Health Road, London E8 4RP

Admission : £10 Adult | £6 for concessions

Hours : Tuesday to Friday: 3 pm-11 pm | Saturday: 12 pm-11 pm | Sunday: 12 pm-10 pm

21. The Fan Museum

Surprisingly, this is not the only fan museum in Europe!

There is an abundance of strange and unusual fans found in the historical record – after all, every gentlewoman used to carry a hand fan to keep herself nice and cool!

This museum also does a lovely afternoon tea, and it’s a good price – however, the stunning orangery where it is served is currently closed for refurbishments.

Website:   The Fan Museum

Location : 12 Crooms Hill, London SE10 8ER | Greenwich

Admission:  £5 Adult | £3 Child

Hours:  Wednesday to Saturday, 11 am-5 pm

Note: If you have an interest in design and textiles, you may find the Fashion and Textile Museum in Bermondsey interesting.

22. The London Sewing Machine Museum

Do you want a niche museum? We have one!

If you’re an avid sewer or just interested in the history of technology, you’ll enjoy this museum.

It’s home to a collection of more than 600 antique sewing machines, dating from 1850 to 1950.

Website:   London Sewing Machine Museum

Location : Balham High Rd, Tooting Bec, London SW17 7AA | Tooting Bec

Admission:  Free

Hours:  The first Saturday of every month, 2 pm-5 pm

23. The Vagina Museum

The world’s only museum dedicated solely to the vulva and vagina, this informative and cheeky museum will teach you everything you ever wanted to know about ‘down there.’

I told you London has a museum for everything!

Expect to learn a lot, even if you’re lucky enough to have your own.

Website :  Vagina Museum

Location:  18 Victoria Park Square, Bethnal Green, London E2 9PF

Hours : They have just moved to a new location, so check their website for re-opening hours.

Note: you might also enjoy the Wellcome Collection in Euston, a free museum that has permanent and temporary exhibits having to do with medicine and the human body, including the Being Human exhibit.

24. Anaesthesia Heritage Centre

Following a recent refurbishment, the Anaesthesia Heritage Centre is visitor-friendly and is often frequented by traveling anesthesiologists and medical students.

The displays, which can get quite grisly, include the history of chloroform, pain relief in childbirth, information on Queen Victoria’s births, and more.

It’s a small museum, but definitely worth a visit if you’re in the area and have an interest in the history of medicine.

Website : Anaesthesia Heritage Centre

Location: 21 Portland Pl, London W1B 1PY | Marylebone

Hours : Monday-Friday: 10 am-4 pm

Related Posts

• Free London Museums
• Medical Museums in London
• Military Museums in London

Choose a Destination... I want them all PLUS general travel tips. Amsterdam Berlin Boston Charleston Chicago Dubai Lisbon London Los Angeles Miami Nashville New York City New Orleans Paris Philadelphia Prague Rome San Francisco Washington DC

About The Author

Jessica O'Neill

North america, united kingdom & ireland, middle east & india, asia & oceania.

The Londoness

• London Art & Exhibition

London’s alternative museums: 22 quirky & unusual museums you absolutely must see when you visit London

Last updated on November 21st, 2022

Let’s go and discover some alternative museums in London: 22 must-see unusual, off-beat, historical and secret museums everyone should visit at least once in London

You’ve done the Tower of London, the British Museum, Madame Tussauds and Westminster Abbey. But there’s so much more to London than our superstar tourist landmarks. I am often asked to put together a list of my secret, hidden and unusual London favourites, so here it is: an alternative guide to London’s museums and galleries by yours truly.

Sir John Soane Museum

Recommended for: Hogarth fans and those who like something a little bonkers.

Let’s start with what I consider the best museum in London. I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve visited the Soane, drooled over the Hogarths in the Picture Room and gawped at the sarcophagus of Seti I, purchased by John Soane. The architect and collector inaugurated his new Egyptian purchase over a 3-day candlelit party for the who’s who of Georgian London. Museums will never look the same after you’ve been to the Soane. Just trust me with this one.

Soane Museum: 13 Lincoln’s Inn Fields, Holborn, London WC2A 3BP. Website . Free entry.

Wallace Collection

Recommended for: admirers of Marie Antoinette and the rococo

The Wallace is a close tie for first place. It has one of the world’s largest collections of Marie Antoinette memorabilia and furniture, a Picture Gallery which will blow you away and one of the prettiest pink cafes in London. Make sure you go say hello to The Laughing Cavalier . You can read more about the Wallace here .

Wallace Collection: Hertford House, Manchester Square, London W1U 3BN. Website . Free entry.

Dennis Severs

Recommended for: London time travel

If you’re looking for an alternative museum in London then look no further than the Dennis Severs House in Spitalfields. I don’t know whether to describe it as a house, an exhibition or a piece of historical theatre.  In this unique immersive experience, visitors step into the lives of a family of Huguenot silk weavers from 1725 to 1919. David Hockney refers to it as “one of the world’s greatest works of opera.” Try to book one of the evening tours, or even better, visit at Christmas.

Dennis Severs House: 18 Folgate Street, Spitalfields, London E1 6BX. Website is currently being updated and will launch sometime in May.

Sambourne House

Recommended for: Victorian enthusiasts and time travelling

Once home to Punch cartoonist and serial photographer Edward Linley Sambourne, Sambourne House at 18 Stafford Terrace is now a rare example of the Victorian “aesthetic” interior – from top to bottom.  You can read more about 18 Stafford Terrace here.

Sambourne House, London W8 7BH. Website .

Two Temple Place

Recommended for: architecture and neo-Gothic fans

Image: Bulldog Trust

This architectural gem is one of London’s best-kept secrets, but of course I am happy to share it with you, dear readers. Two Temple Place is the cats pyjamas when it comes to opulence – it just oozes more is more. Once home to William Waldorf Astor (he of deep, deep pockets), the house once boasted the country’s first home telephone.  The oak staircase is a neo-Gothic marvel –  check out the posts topped with figures from Astor’s favourite book, The Three Musketeers .  You may recognise Two Temple Place from Bridget Jones, The Crown and Mr Selfridge . It’s also used as a double for the House of Commons.

Two Temple Place:   2 Temple Pl, Temple, London WC2R 3BD.   The venue is only open during certain times of the year. Check the website. Free entry but booking essential.

Museum of the Home

Recommended for: interior design fans

1870 Parlour, Image courtesy of Museum of the Home, credit Em Fitzgerald

Once called the Geffrye Museum, the Museum of the Home explores the home from 1600 to the present day with a unique collection of period room displays. At Christmas, the rooms get decked out with Christmas through the ages, and it’s one of my favourite places to visit during the yuletide season. Don’t forget to visit the pretty gardens and stop off for cake and a cuppa in Molly’s Café, housed in a former Victorian pub.

Museum of the Home: Geffrye Almshouses, 136 Kingsland Rd, London E2 8EA. Website . Free entry.

Horniman Museum and Gardens

Perfect for: curious minds and budding archaeologists

One of the most unique museums in London, the Horniman in Forest Hill is famous for its anthropology, natural history and musical instruments displays. It’s also a great family alternative to the Natural History Museum. It holds a large collection of taxidermy animals (say hello to Mr Walrus who is a London celebrity in his own right). There’s also an aquarium, a lovely café and some of the prettiest picnic gardens in London. The Horniman may be bit of a schlep to get to from central London but it’s worth it. You can read more about the unusual Horniman Museum and Gardens here .

Horniman Museum and Gardens: 100 London Rd, London SE23 3PQ. Website . Free entry.

Note : You could combine a visit to the Horniman and to the Dulwich Picture Gallery in one day.

Dulwich Picture Gallery

Perfect for: Baroque buffs

Princess Victoria, aged Four, Stephen Poyntz Denning, 1823

Designed by Regency architect John Soane (see the first museum in this post), the Dulwich Picture Gallery is the world’s first purpose-built public art gallery. The iconic red telephone box was modelled on the gallery’s domed roof, so make sure you look up when you visit. It houses a fascinating collection of Old Masters including Gainsborough, Canaletto, Reynolds, Rembrandt and Poussin. My favourite though, is the tiny portrait of Princess Victoria, aged four, by Stephen Poyntz Denning. I’m also rather partial to a wander in the gardens and tea and cake in the café.

Dulwich Picture Gallery: Gallery Rd, London SE21 7AD. Website .

The Postal Museum

Recommended for: stamp collectors and British history lovers

This quirky London museum has the closest thing you’ll get to a Disney ride in town: the fun Mail Rail. As you trundle along original Post Office Underground Railway tunnels and past forgotten platforms, you’ll be immersed in the story of the post office and how it all started. Head to the exhibition rooms and see the historical post office vehicles, stamps, postcard displays and much more.

The Postal Museum: 5-20 Phoenix Pl, London WC1X 0DA. Website .

The Fan Museum

The Fan Museum is one of London’s most unusual museums, dedicated to the preservation of hand fans and with a collection that dates as far back as the eleventh century. There is also a delightful orangerie where you can have one of the best-priced afternoon teas in London.

The Fan Museum: 12 Crooms Hill, London SE10 8ER. Website .

Please note: the Fan Museum is closed until June 2021.

Emery Walker House

Recommended for: William Morris and Arts and Crafts fans

Image: Emery Walker House, Matt Clayton

This historic terraced house in Hammersmith was once owned by Emery Walker, a bosom buddy to Wiliam Morris and one of the leading figures in the Arts and Crafts movement. The house hasn’t really changed since Walker died: it’s an Arts and Crafts love letter and a must-visit for anyone who is interested in Morrisanelia. Look out for the linoleum in the entrance hall (the only surviving example of a Morris linoleum in a home), the Morris rug and the patterned wall-hangings. Make sure you pop in to the William Morris Society after a visit (next door to Kelmscott House where Morris lived and died).

Emery Walker House: 7 Hammersmith Terrace, London W6 9TS. Website .

Keats House

Must-see : for poetry lovers.

Visit the house in Hampstead where Keats wrote Ode to a Nightingale and where he lived before his ill-fated journey to Rome. It’s here where he met and fell in love with Fanny Brawne, the gal next door.

Keats House: 10 Keats Grove, London NW3 2RR. Website .

Strawberry Hill House and Garden

Recommended for: fans of gothic literature.

Once the most famous pad in England, this house museum is a mini-Gothic castle, complete with ghosts, a church-style library, damask-lined walls and a large dose of “gloomth.”. This one tops the chart for the most quirky and unusual pad in London so whatever you do, don’t leave town without a visit. You can read more about Strawberry Hill here .

Strawberry Hill House and Garden: 268 Waldegrave Road, Twickenham TW1 4ST. Website .

The Queen’s House

Recommended for: ghost hunters and Tudor history buffs.

This Inigo Jones masterpiece was built for Anne of Denmark, the queen of King James I. But Queen’s House in Greenwich is more famous for the queen who resides on its walls: Elizabeth I. You’ll be dazzled by the Virgin Queen’s bling in the Armada Portrait – not to mention how fierce she looks. Make sure you find the Tulip Stairs, the first self-supporting spiral staircase in Britain. Watch out though as it is thought to be haunted.

The Queen’ House: Romney Road, Greenwich, London SE10 9NF. Website . Free entry.

Painted Hall at the Old Royal Naval College

Recommended for: those who can’t get to the Sistine Chapel.

Staying in Greenwich, a jaunt over to the Painted Hall won’t disappoint. This epic masterpiece took the artist James Thornhill 19 years to complete, and it’s considered one of the finest baroque interiors in Europe.

Old Royal Naval College: Greenwich, London SE10 9NN. Website .

Leighton House

Recommended for: maximalists.

More is more in this jaw-dropping home which houses some the most spectacular rooms in London. It belonged to the Victorian artist Lord Frederic Leighton who was also President of the Royal Academy of Arts. Leighton designed his Arab Hal on a twelfth-century palazzo and brought in tile designer William de Morgan to help pimp up his Narcissus Hall, modelled after a house in Pompeii. One of my favourite designs is his drawing room fireplace with a window over. Never seen one of those before or since!

Leighton House: 12 Holland Park Road, London W14 8LZ. Website .

Dickens Museum

Perfect for: anyone who loves Dickens and Christmas.

Visit the house where Charles Dickens wrote The Pickwick Papers, Oliver Twist and Nicholas Nickleby and where he lived with his wife Catherine. My favourite time to visit is at Christmas when the house is decked à la Dickens. There’s also a delightful garden café.

Read more about the Charles Dickens Museum here and my interview with the great author here .

Charles Dickens Museum: 48-49 Doughty St, Holborn, London WC1N 2LX. Website .

Handel and Hendrix

Perfect for: music lovers.

I’m more of a Handel than a Hendrix fan, but I love the idea of these two living next door to each other. You can now visit Handel’s Mayfair home where he lived for 40 years, where he wrote The Messiah and where he died in 1759. Hendrix, whose flat you can visit, only lived here for two years, but apparently he was quite the fan of the Georgian composer.

Handel and Hendrix: 25 Brook Street, Mayfair, London W1K 4HB. Website .

Old Operating Theatre

Perfect for: history of medicine.

This Southwark museum is dedicated to surgical history and is one of the oldest surviving operating theatres. Climb up up up to the quirky garret museum, crammed with apothecary and medical curiosities. The operating theatre was once used as eighteenth century amputation central for women (pre-dating anaesthetic!) You can practically smell the anguish as you wander around.

Old Operating Theatre: 9a St Thomas St, London SE1 9RY. Website .

Museum of the Order of St John

Recommended for: knights in shining armour

This unique museum is located in a 16th-century gatehouse which once was the entrance to the Priory of the Medieval Order of St John. The museum’s gallery is dedicated to the story of St John’s Ambulance which was founded by the Order of St John in the nineteenth century. The collections include paintings and illuminated manuscripts, rare armour, a bronze cannon given by Henry VIII, ancient coins, decorative furniture, ceramics, silverware and textiles. Make sure you visit the twelfth century Crypt and the Church Cloister Garden (both open to visitors by appointment (click  here  for details). The range of herbs in the garden gives an idea of the medicinal gardens that would have been cultivated by the Knights Hospitaller during Medieval times.

Museum of the Order of St John: St John’s Gate, St John’s Lane, Clerkenwell, London, EC1M 4DA. The museum is currently closed but will re-open later this year. Website .

Foundling Museum

The Foundling Museum tells the story of the Foundling Hospital, the UK’s first children’s charity.  It was founded in 1739 by retired sailor and philanthropist Thomas Coram, and its patrons included Handel and Hogarth. The museum holds a series of exhibitions throughout the year and also holds a permanent collection of paintings, sculpture and furniture. Be sure to check out paintings by Hogarth, Reynolds and Gainsborough. If you’re a fan of Handel, head upstairs to the Gerald Coke Handel Collection where you can learn about the composer’s connection to the Foundling Hospital and where four armchairs with built-in speakers play nine hours of Handelian music.

The Foundling Museum: 40 Brunswick Square, London WC1N 1AZ Website.

God’s Own Junkyard

Perfect for: neon art admirers

This fluorescent wonderland was the brainchild of the late British artist Chris Bracey who also fashioned neon props for Hollywood. The collection includes all sorts of quirky and unusual props, lights, disco balls and figures, some of which you might find a little shocking. Make sure you stop off for a cuppa in the Rolling Scones Café. If you can’t be bothered to travel all the way to Walthamstow, God’s Own Junkyard also has a concession in Selfridges.

God’s Own Junkyward: Unit 12, Ravenswood Industrial Estate, Shernhall St, Walthamstow, London E17 9HQ. Website . Free entry.

Neasden Temple

Perfect for: Taj Mahal fans

I’m finishing off with a temple, rather than a museum, and one of the seven wonders of London: the Neasden Temple, or BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir. This showstopper was the first traditional Hindu temple in Europe, built entirely in India before being transported to London. Make sure you stop off for a bite in the restaurant next door. Read more about the Neasden Temple here .

Neasden Temple: Pramukh Swami Rd, Neasden, London NW10 8HW Website . Free entry but check the website for access details.

Feature Image: Dennis Severs House

A London arts and culture blog featuring articles about art, theatre, opera, dance, music and design.

 previous

Nancy Mitford’s London: In The Pursuit of Love and Life in London.

newer 

Cake at the Museum: Strawberry Hill House Café in Twickenham

Leave a reply cancel reply.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed .

21 of the most wonderful and weird museums in London

If it’s your first time in London then chances are that you’ve got the city’s most famous museums at the top of your wish list. The Natural History Museum , British Museum, Victoria and Albert Museum , and Science Museum are some of London’s best known museums and deservedly so.

But, once you’ve ticked these big ticket items off your must-see list then it’s time to turn to some of London’s more unusual sights . The capital is home to dozens of other lesser-known museums – some that even locals don’t know about.

Whatever your hobbies or interests, chances are there’s a museum for you from textiles and cartoons to medicine and mail – there’s even a museum dedicated to sewing machines . Yes, there really are that many weird museums in London!

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. I have been or could be if you click on a link in this post compensated via a cash payment, gift or something else of value for writing this post. See our full disclosure policy for more details.

Our favourite unusual museums in London

Table of Contents

Of the many quirky museums open to visitors in London, the following are some of our favourites. One thing to note, the wonderfully quirky and popular Pollock’s Toy Museum is currently closed while the museum looks for new premises.

Museum of Brands

Located near Notting Hill, the London Museum of Brands tracks the history of consumer culture from Victorian times through to the present day.

It was started by Robert Opie, who came from a family of collectors and one day decided to save a packet of Munchies from a vending machine in Inverness. From here his collection grew until he one day had enough to open up a museum.

The museum’s collection is housed in the Time Tunnel , glass display cabinets packed full of items from across the last 200 years. The exhibition starts in the Victorian era with newspapers and magazines displays alongside song sheets, railway timetables and perfume bottles. Next is the Edwardian era and then onto the Great War and on through history until you get to the present day. 

Altogether it’s a fascinating look at social change, culture and lifestyle through British history.

Fashion and Textile Museum

Anyone with a love of fashion should head to the Fashion and Textile Museum in Bermondsey. The museum was founded by flamboyant fashion designer Zandra Rhodes and is the only museum in the UK dedicated to showcasing contemporary fashion and textile design .

The museum hosts a range of temporary exhibitions covering a broad range of textiles and designers. Current and past exhibits have included the Fabric of Democracy (exploring printed propaganda textiles) and the textile designs of Andy Warhol. 

Workshops, talks and events are regularly held here too. It’s a great option for teens in London. 

The Fan Museum

Located in Greenwich, The Fan Museum is the only one of its kind dedicated to the history, culture and craft of the fan.

The small museum is housed in a pair of Grade II listed Georgian houses and was found in 1991 by Dicky and Hélène Alexander – Hélène has spent her lifetime collecting fans and now has over 5,000 dating from the eleventh century to the present day. Additional fans have been subsequently been added to the collection making the museum home to the world’s largest collection of fans .

The permanent exhibition of this unique museum explores fans through the ages covering 1,000 years of fan history and culture from flat vellum rectangles used during the Middle Ages through to ornate folding fans from the 18th century. Also on display are a rare Elizabethan-period fan and a Fabergé fan with gold work and enamelling.

Old Operating Theatre 

One of the most unusual museums in London is the Old Operating Theatre , the oldest surviving operating theatre in Europe. Dating back to 1822, and housed in the attic of St. Thomas Church, this is where the poorest of patients came for treatment. Pain relief was limited to alcohol, opiates and chloroform as well as a wooden cane to bite down on when the pain became too much!

The operating theatre was only rediscovered in 1956 and opened as a museum six years later. Today it’s a fascinating insight into  medicine and medical procedures  from time gone by. On display are herb garrets used by the apothecaries, instruments used during procedures including cupping, bleeding and skull-driving, and information on the history of the church and hospital itself.

Old Operating Theatre Museum

The London Sewing Machine Museum

This wonderfully quirky museum really is a hidden gem , dedicated to the history of the humble sewing machine and houses some 700 machines, made for both domestic and industrial use. These aren’t any old sewing machines, however, among the collection is a machine gifted to Queen Victoria’s daughter and the very first machine by Singer. 

The museum is the result of Ray Rushton who built up the collection over a period of 40 years and is today one of the best and most extensive in the world . Make sure to check ahead if you want to visit, however, as the museum is only open on the first Saturday of every month between 2pm – 5pm.

Cartoon Museum

Anyone with an interest in cartoons and animation should head straight for the Cartoon Museum, home to over 6,000 original cartoon and comic artwork as well as over 8,000 books and comics. The permanent collection includes wartime cartoons, modern satirists including Ralph Steadman and original Rupert Bear artwork from 1921 . Exhibitions and events are held throughout the year. 

The Cartoon Museum

Alexander Fleming Museum

This niche museum is located in Paddington and well worth a visit. It’s dedicated to the life and work of Scottish scientist Alexander Fleming, the man responsible for discovering penicillin .

On display is a reconstruction of Sir Alexander Fleming’s laboratory , some of his personal belongings and a video explaining how a chance discovery after coming back from holiday led to a lifesaving drug that revolutionised the medical world and ushered in a new era of antibiotics.

Sherlock Holmes Museum

Located on one of the most famous streets in London – and the home address of the city’s most famous fictional detectives – is the Sherlock Holmes Museum. Dedicated to the stories of the super sleuth created by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, the museum offers visitors the chance to look inside the life and stories of the Sherlock Holmes and Victorian London.

Housed within a four-storey Georgian townhouse (with a cheerful London ‘Bobby’ standing outside) the rooms are filled with Victorian furniture and knick knacks as well as items from famous cases solved by Holmes and his sidekick Watson. There’s also a good gift shop on site.

Be prepared to queue for the Sherlock Holmes Museum, it is one of the most popular in London.

The Sherlock Holmes Museum

House of Dreams

A serious contender for London’s top weird museum is the magical House of Dreams , created by artist and designer Stephen Wright. Located in East Dulwich, this terraced house has been transformed into the most fantastical of destinations, decorated top to bottom , inside and out, with found objects.

You’ll spot dolls and teeth moulds, tinsel and family photographs, colourful plastic bottles and so much more. Alongside the thousands of items are hand-written memory boards that recall important event in his life. 

The House of Dreams is  only open to visitors on certain dates  (roughly once a month) so make sure you book well in advance. 

The House of Dreams

The Postal Museum

One of our favourite museums in London is the Postal Museum which examines the origins and history of the humble letter.

Located opposite the enormous Royal Mail depot in Kings Cross , the museum is formed of three parts. There’s the main museum itself detailing the history of the postal service with lots of interactive elements, quirky facts and even the chance to dress up. Then there’s Sorted! a brilliant play space for children under 8 and the final section is the Mail Rail .

The Mail Rail really is the highlight of this unique museum. From the 1920s until its closure in 2003,  trains transported letters and parcels  6.5miles across London along  underground tunnels . The train line linked six sorting offices with mainline railway stations and delivered four million letters every day! Today, two new trains have been adapted from the original design and take visitors on a  15 minute trip, 21 metres underground .

Horniman Museum

Located in Forest Hill, south London, the Horniman Museum is truly one of the best museums to visit in London with kids. It’s well known for its collections of anthropology and musical instruments as well as its aquarium and butterfly house. But what it’s most famous for is its over-stuffed walrus on display in the main Natural History Gallery.

Apparently, when Victorian taxidermists first received the walrus they were confused by the strange-looking creature and its heavy folds of skin. Having never seen a living walrus, they thought the wrinkles should be smoothed out and stuffed the skin until he was fit to burst.

As well as the permanent exhibitions, the Horniman regularly hosts temporary exhibitions on a whole range of subjects. Past exhibitions have examined the history of hair as well as our relationships to cats and dogs. The museum hosts excellent activities during the school holidays too.

The Horniman Museum

Sir John Soane’s Museum

One of the most beautiful museums in London has to be inside the museum dedicated to Sir John Soane. The British architect , who was responsible for designing the Holy Trinity Church and the Bank of England, among other buildings, was also a keen collector of art , furniture, architectural paintings and models.

Having amassed quite a collection in the 19th century he decided to open the doors of his house to ‘amateurs and students’ and today the home is open to all as a museum. Don’t miss the Sarcophagus of the Egyptian pharaoh Seti I .

London Canal Museum

London has a large and varied network of canal routes , originally built to transport goods. Today the canal routes are some of the prettiest corners of London . Canal boats often line these navigable waterways, many of them are homes but some are also businesses; one of the most unusual bookshops in London can be found on a barge and another canal boat has been transformed into a puppet theatre .

You can learn all about London’s canal networks and the London Canal Museum in Kings Cross, central London. Discover how they came to be built, learn about the lives of the workers and cargoes, and understand how the canals work.

The London Canal Museum

The Charles Dickens Museum

Discover the life and works of Charles Dickens , widely considered to be the greatest novelist of the Victorian era, in the house where he once lived.

The excellent Charles Dickens Museum is located in the house where the writer lived with his family between 1837-1839. It’s been set up to look as if Dickens was still living there and represents a traditional middle-class Victorian home with furnishings, portraits and decorations that belonged to Dickens.

Also on display are works by Dickens; it was while living here that he finished writing  The Pickwick Papers , and wrote  Nicholas Nickleby  and  Oliver Twist . 

Leighton House Museum

Another weird museum in London to add to your list is the Leighton House Museum . The former home of leading Victorian artist Sir Frederic Leighton, the house is nothing short of extraordinary. From the outside it looks like simply a very nice Kensington townhouse but inside the home is a ‘private palace of art’ .

Inspired by this travels, Leighton transformed his home into a rich, opulent reflection of his life and work. The most famous room is the Arab Hall , created following a visit to Syria in 1873, and decorated using antique tiles from Damascus . The museum has recently undergone an £8 million restoration project and has reopened with a new wing previously closed to visitors.

The Original Cockney Museum

You’d think that a museum dedicated to cockneys would be located in the East End of London but you’ll find this one – the only one of its kind – in Epsom. The museum is the work of George Major, the Pearly King of Peckham , who long had a dream of opening his own museum.

Today, the original museum celebrates the history and heritage of the cockney tradition , a truly unique part of London heritage. Discover what it means to the a Pearly King or Queen, test your Cockney rhyming slang, and learn what city life was like in the 19th century.

Florence Nightingale Museum

One of the best small museums in London is the Florence Nightingale Museum, located within St Thomas’ Hospital, just off Westminster Bridge. The unique museum, which opened in 1989, celebrates the life and work of the world’s most famous nurse .

The museum charts Florence’s life from childhood (when her parents tried to dissuade her from becoming a nurse) to her time in the Crimean war (where she contracted a life-changing illness) and how she campaigned for better healthcare for ordinary people .

On display are perusal items belonging to Florence Nightingale, including the actual lamp that earned her the nickname The Lady With The Lamp .

The Florence Nightingale Museum

Anaesthesia Heritage Centre

Sticking with the medical theme, the Anaesthesia Heritage Centre is probably one of the more unusual museums in London . The museum traces the incredible story of anaesthesia from ancient practices to modern day anaesthetists.

There’s a large collection of anaesthetic equipment on display including hand bellow and pipes from 1774, used to pump comatose patients back to life as well as the original 19th-century John Snow chloroform inhaler. The centre is also home to a large library dedicated to the history of anaesthesia. Events and educational programs are also held throughout the year. 

Cinema Museum

Dedicated to showcasing the history of the silver screen is this unique museum in London. The Cinema Museum houses a unique collection of artefacts, memorabilia and equipment that reflects the history and popularity of cinema from the 1890s to the present day. 

Enjoy the many photographs, art works, posters, projectors on display as well as usherettes’ uniforms and all manner of fixtures and fittings that you might find in a movie theatre from ashtrays to signage. 

The Cinema Museum

Handel and Hendrix Museum

This is less a weird museum in London and rather a truly exciting new museum that will open in May 2023 (tickets go on sale in April). The museum is dedicated to musicians Jimi Hendrix and George Frideric Handel , who both lived in London on the same street. Handel lived at 25 Brook Street from 1723 until his death in 1759 and Hendrix moved into a flat at number 23 in 1968. 

The new museum is a celebration of the two musicians and showcases their music, stories and collections. 

Dennis Sever’s House

One of the strangest museums in London (if not all of the UK) is the eccentric home of the late Californian Dennis Sever. In 1979 he bought a run-down Georgian house in Spitalfields and set out on a mission to create a living history of London.

Sever invented a fictional family who lived in the house from the late 17th to the 19th centuries and designed rooms that reflected stories of their lives. Each room is filled with objects that are either original period pieces or are items he made himself. 

When Severs opened the house to the public he would conduct tours of the property himself until he died in 1999. During lockdown, staff discovered hundreds of cassette tapes of Severs’ tours and today the tours are led by an actor using the original tours as a blueprint. 

It truly is one of the most unique museums in London. 

Photos sourced from Depositphotos.

Share this post:

About the author.

Katja Gaskell

Welcome to globetotting!

Join our mailing list and receive a free guide to discovering London with kids on the cheap!

Downloads London for Free Berlin Itinerary

You have Successfully Subscribed!

15 Unique Museums in London You’ll LOVE

I honestly think a huge mistake that London tourists make is to only visit the city’s most popular museums, like the British Museum and the London Transport Museum . Don’t get me wrong, they have some interesting items there (albeit, in the case of the British Museum, many stolen ones , but that’s for another article) but you’re missing out on plenty of unique museums in London that are absolutely worth a visit.

This list covers some of the most interesting and unique museums that you should add to your itinerary.

Prefer to watch instead of read? A few of the museums mentioned below are featured in our YouTube video, showing you a good look inside of each.

BTW… when you see (WA) this means that this museum is fully wheelchair accessible.

Some of the links in this article are affiliated and help support all of the free content we produce at no extra cost to you.

1. Handel and Hendrix in London

It’s purely coincidental, but two very famous musicians inhabited two side-by-side properties in Mayfair, also separated by a couple of centuries. Jimi Hendrix and George Frideric Handel’s homes are now museums dedicated to the life and work of both musicians. Hendrix’s flat has been set up to recreate what it actually looked like back in 1968-1969, and you can walk around Handel’s grand home to see what it might have looked like back when he was one of the most famous people in London.

WA, just get in touch with the museum before arrival so they can best accommodate your needs.

£ | Mayfair | Handel and Hendrix’s website

2. The Garden Museum

The Garden Museum is so underrated! Set in the stunning church of St Mary’s at Lambeth, which had been abandoned and was saved by the museum’s founders, it showcases and celebrates British gardens and gardening through permanent and temporary exhibitions. Of course, there’s a beautiful courtyard garden to visit and the museum’s cafe is regarded as one of the best places for breakfast or lunch in the area.

WA, use the Cafe entrance to avoid the gravel.

£ | Lambeth North | Garden Museum’s website

BTW if you’re big on gardens you can do this Secret London Gardens tour which includes a visit to the Garden Museum.

3. Dennis Severs’ House

Located in Spitalfields, Dennis Severs’ House is like a time capsule, taking you through the lives of a Hugenot family of silk-weavers from the 1720’s right up to the beginning of the 20th century. Dennis Severs is the American creator of the house, and his wish was for visitors to feel as if they’re experiencing a “still-life drama” as they take their escorted tour, which is conducted in complete silence. This is truly one of the most unique museums in London.

£ | Spitalfields | Dennis Severs’ House website

4. Fashion and Textile Museum

I always recommend the Fashion and Textile Museum in Bermondsey to anyone interested in fashion or design. The unique thing about this museum is that it has one exhibition at a time, which remains for just a few months, and then the museum shuts for a couple of weeks in order to create a completely new one. This means that you can visit multiple times and see completely different displays and learn something new.

£ | Bermondsey | Fashion and Textile Museum’s website

5. Museum of Brands and Packaging

I like this museum because it gives us a unique way to learn about British history and pop culture. Walk through the corridors of the Museum of Brands and Packaging and you’ll see how poignant elements of history impacted consumerism, fashion, packaging and other parts of British life throughout the centuries.

The museum also has a cute little cafe and garden where you can enjoy a post-visit pastry and coffee.

£ | Ladbroke Grove| Museum of Brands and Packaging tickets

6. Leighton House Museum

Leighton House Museum was the home of Victorian artist Frederic, Lord Leighton from 1830 to 1896. It’s the only studio-house open to the public and beyond just the incredible beauty of the home, it also houses a large collection of fascinating paintings and sculptures created by both Leighton and his contemporaries such as Burne-Jones, Millais, Stevens, Alma-Tadema and the Cecil French Bequest.

The most unusual-yet-breathtaking feature of the house is the Arab Hall, which is lined with over 1,000 mosaic tiles that Leighton collected on his travels around Syria, Turkey, and Persia.

£ | Kensington | Leighton House’s website

7. Cinema Museum

Charlie Chaplin fan? The Cinema Museum in Kennington is actually housed in the old Lambeth Workhouse where Charlie lived for part of his childhood. As you can expect, this unique museum in London celebrates the art of cinema by housing a collection of artefacts, memorabilia and equipment that preserves the history and grandeur of cinema from the 1890s to the present day.

You can only visit the museum via a guided tour or by attending a screening or event, so be sure to check their website to book yourself in for your visit.

£ | Kennington | Cinema Museum’s website

8. Anaesthesia Heritage Centre

To many, a museum on the history of anaesthesia seems a bit odd, but if you’re in the healthcare profession, this might be of interest to you. Through the museum’s over 4500 objects, you’ll see everything from the first demonstration of ether in 1846 to equipment that’s still used today.

All of the volunteers at the Anaesthesia Heritage Centre are retired Anaesthetists, and if you’d like to do a guided tour with one, you can choose from themes like wartime, chemistry and paediatrics. Be sure to book this in advance!

£ | Fitzrovia |  Anaesthesia Heritage Centre’s website

9. Vagina Museum

The founders of the Vagina Museum set it up because there was a penis museum in Iceland but annoyingly, no equivalent for vaginas. So they created one right in London, which is very fitting, and absolutely makes it a must for the unique museums in London list.

Visit the Vagina Museum to learn and appreciate the vagina in a way you may never have before. To get the most out of the museum experience, book into one of their “experiences”, which include crochet classes, quizzes, night-time comedy, and more.

WA. (Ground floor only until the lift is installed)

£ | Bethnal Green |  Vagina Museum’s website  

10. London Canal Museum

Canals are big in London. For many Londoners they’re a daily part of life, some live on a canal, and well, plenty of Londoners and tourists alike just love to visit them. At the London Canal Museum, you can learn more about the history of these London staples, the people and animals who have impacted them, and why you might see a lot of painted flowers and castles along them.

The museum itself is housed in a former ice warehouse built around 1862 for Carlo Gatti, the famous ice cream producer. The museum runs monthly evening talks, activities for families, guided towpath walks and guided trips through the Islington Tunnel, so check their website to find something fun to participate in.

£ | Kings Cross | Canal Museum’s website

11. Horniman Museum

The quirky Horniman Museum is a favourite of Londoners. The museum is home to the collections of the well-traveled Frederick John Horniman, a Victorian tea trader and philanthropist who picked up some very unique anthropological gems on his jaunts around the world.

Also unique for a museum is that visitors are encouraged to pick up artefacts and even try them on!

Free | Forest Hill | Horniman Museum’s website

12. London Sewing Machine Museum

Another super-niche option, the Sewing Machine Museum in Tooting Bec is the personal collection of Ray Rushton, a sewing machine salesman who opens up a public viewing once a month, on the first Saturday. It’s relatively unknown and isn’t advertised, so this is absolutely one of the most unique museums in London to go to if you can manage to plan a visit.

The collection houses over 600 sewing machines from many moons ago up until more recent, including one that was given to Queen Victoria’s eldest daughter as a wedding gift.

Free | Tooting Bec | London Sewing Machine Museums’s website

13. British Dental Association Museum

Another one for medical nerds! The British Dental Association Museum began back in 1919 when Lilian Lindsay, the first woman to become a qualified dentist in the UK, donated a bunch of her old dental instruments to the association. These days, there are over 30,000 items to check out, including various instruments, equipment, furniture, photographs, and archive items.

Interestingly, the museum also has a unique collection of oil paintings dating back all the way to the 12th century.

Free | Fitzrovia | British Dental Association Museum’s website

14. The Cartoon Museum

For some fun and nostalgia, head to the Cartoon Museum in Fitzrovia. You’ll see ever-changing displays of British cartoons, comic strips and animations, from artists like Gillray, Giles and Steve Bell. The curated collections are put together by the Cartoon Art Trust, a UK registered charity. The museum’s revenues support new work by cartoonists and comic artists, so your ticket price does some good!

£ | Fitzrovia | The Cartoon Museum’s website

15. Pollock’s Toy Museum

The oldest Toy Museum in the UK, Pollock’s Toy Museum in Fitzrovia was started in 1956 by Marguerite & Kenneth Fawdry and is run by the Fawdry family to this day. It’s home to a unique collection of toys, dolls, puppets, and curios from all over the world, arranged in colourful display cases. One of their most notable pieces is “Eric”, one of the world’s oldest teddy bears!

It’s said that David Bowie would visit Pollock’s Toy Museum for some outfit inspiration, and the museum has been featured in some notable written works. The museum almost had to shut due to COVID restrictions but fans of the museum were able to save it due to a successful crowdfunding campaign. Although, due to a change in circumstances regarding the ownership of the building, Pollock’s haan’t been able to negotiate a sustainable future for the museum collection at its current premises and have had to close, but they are looking for a new home.

££ | Pollock’s Toy Museum’s website (*They are currently looking for a new home for the museum.)

After being closed for so long due to the pandemic, these unique museums in London definitely need your support more than ever, so do consider booking a ticket or planning a visit the next time you’re after something interesting to do in London.

More London Tips:

11 Cool Hotels In East London To Book A Room In

13 Cool London Hotels With Rooftop Bars

Top Areas To Stay In London For A Local Experience

Pin this to your London board…

Jessica Dante

Jess is the founder of Love and London, an online travel guide that helps London tourists to visit London like they live there. She's been featured in Refinery29, Forbes, BBC Radio 2, HuffPost, and more. Jess is also a sustainable and ethical travel advocate.

Jess Dante - Founder

Search this site

Previous Post Top London Tours for Food Lovers

Next post fun things to do in london that are wheelchair accessible, related posts.

Hi I’m Jess, the founder of Love and London. My team of locals and I help London tourists avoid the overhyped and overdone, so they can have the trip of a lifetime.

• London Itineraries
• Casual Tourist Guides to London
• London Spending Guide
• Free London 101 Guide
• Free London Trip Checklist
• London Packing Guide
• London Planning Tips
• Find Your Perfect Accommodation
• London Area Guides
• London Food + Drink Scene
• Things to Do in London
• Top London Tours and Experiences
• London Transport
• London with Kids
• Accessibility in London
• Festive Season Guides
• London Photo Sessions
• Book your airport transfer
• London FAQs
• Work with Love and London
• How To Say “Thanks”
• Press + Features

12 Unusual London Museums To Visit This Year

London is full of quirky and often downright bizarre museums. These are my top 12 weird (but wonderful!) unusual London museums to visit this year.

1. The Foundling Museum, Bloomsbury

The Foundling Museum tells the story of the UK’s first Foundling Hospital, an orphanage established in 1739 as a way of dealing with the rising numbers of abandoned babies. Their display of memorabilia is emotional without being too sentimental and it raises interesting questions about historic and contemporary celebrity patrons.

On my latest visit I also noticed how much great contemporary art they have stored upstairs and you can read about this surprising feature in my post here .

2. Dalston’s Clown Museum, Holy Trinity Church

Caulrophobes might want to give this one a miss, but this has to be one of the weirdest museums on my list. Dedicated to clowning and founded in 1959 this is also one of London’s smallest museums and opens every 1st Friday of the month.

For more pictures from my visit last year, you can read my full blog post here .

3. Leighton House, Kensington

The best example of art simply for ‘art’s sake’ Lord Leighton created his home in the 1860s as a symbol of his success. The highlight is the Arab Hall, and if there’s a better or more jaw-dropping room in London, I’ve never heard of it!

For more pictures of this gorgeous (and thoroughly OTT home) click here .

4. Bethlem Museum of the Mind, Beckenham

The original Bethlem Mental Asylum was where Liverpool Street Station is today, then it moved to the site of the Imperial War Museum in Kennington. London can’t boast a proud history of its mental institutions, which regularly offered visits for the public to visit their so-called ‘lunaticks’ for a fee.

Thankfully this new museum, supported with help from the artist Grayson Perry, is sensitively curated and in a beautiful setting. It doesn’t shy away from the past but neither does it flaunt gruesome aspects of it. Read more about it here .

5. Royal London Hospital Museum, Whitechapel

Another suggestion on a medical theme is this hidden gem in E1. With curiosities ranging from Edith Cavell’s grave to the ‘Elephant Man’s’ skeleton and Jack the Ripper’s letters, the small space has lots of interesting finds.

I wrote about the 4 must-see items in a post here .

6. Crossness Pumping Station, Abbey Wood

Known as the ‘Cathedral of Sewage’, you wouldn’t think a pumping station would warrant this level of beauty, but then again the Victorians loved fusing engineering with decoration. It’s open a handful of days per month but is well worth making a trip to SE2, especially on a ‘steaming’ day. Find out more here .

7. Sir John Soane’s Museum

Imagine a house owned by an avid – but slightly mad – art collector, hell-bent on cramming everything physically possible on the walls. Then you get an idea of John Soane’s home. Owned by the 19th Century architect John Soane and still laid out like a house, the only downside is that you can’t take photos inside, but this does add to its atmosphere. They also host candlelight evening tours which are pretty special. Find a date to visit on their website here .

8. Strawberry Hill House, Twickenham

On the subject of mad homes of eccentrics, Strawberry Hill House probably takes the crown. The Summer villa of Horace Walpole, son of Britain first Prime Minister, was built between 1748 and 1790 and is so gloriously over the top it even coined its own architectural style; Strawberry Hill Gothic. See more pictures from my last visit here .

9. Handel & Hendrix, Mayfair

On Brook Street there’s an odd mash-up of music styles in the pairing of George Frederick Handel and Jimmi Hendrix. In a coincidence that could only happen in London, the two lived next door to each other, 300 years apart. Number 25 is now a museum where you can walk through both musicians homes, treading through 18th century London before arriving in a methodically reconstructed Hendrix’s bedroom. Find out more here .

10. Charles Dickens Museum, Bloomsbury

The only surviving house that Charles Dickens lived in can be found on the charming Doughty Street, full of gorgeous Georgian terraced houses. If you’re a fan of the novelist it’s a must visit, but even if you’re not it’s worth walking through this home to get a sense of a 19th century London home.

I last visited for their ‘The Other Dickens; Discovering Catherine’ exhibition, which you can read all about here .

11. London Transport Museum Depot, Acton

You don’t need to be a massive TFL geek to visit here, but it helps. Containing over 320,000 objects ranging from tube carriages to tunnelling machinery to posters, this Depot is storage facility for the Covent Garden Museum and run occasional open days as well as more regular private tours.

Here are the 5 geekiest things I found on my visit .

12. Dennis Severs’ House, Spitalfields

Tucked off busy Bishopsgate is Norton Folgate, an enclave of forgotten 18th Century London. Of all the atmospheric facades the strangest address is that of number 18, Dennis Severs House. A cross between an art installation and an immersive theatre show, this museum doesn’t allow phones or any talking and you walk through a series of rooms that are laid out like the historic occupants have just left their seats.

Read about my visit to this haunting London peculiar here .

More London Inspiration

The Line London Sculpture Trail

The Most Unusual Steeple in London

Built in 1730, have you ever had a close look at St George's Bloomsbury? It's probably the most unusual steeple in London...

The Shoreditch Pump

This unloved pump in the churchyard of St Leonards, Shoreditch, might just hold a clue to the area's name!...

Where Can You Find Two Cherubs On The Phone? | Two Temple Place

Have you ever come across these curious little sculptures? You can find them in Central London but they have to be seen to be believed......

Why Is Coco Chanel On Every Westminster Lamppost?

Endangered 13

On Sunday 10 April, 13 artists took on a 120 metre stretch of railway arches in Tower Hamlets, creating a project called Endangered 13.   The project, organised by Human Nature and Friends of Tower Hamlets Cemetery, aiming to raise awareness of endangered species. This is emphasised by the line......

Michael Kennedy

The fresh idea is here). I have read the post with wonderful satisfaction and also could understand something new I will use for your own further requirements. The article is clear and bright, without any additional useless details or else. The speech is equally brilliant and colorful, so the further I see, the more I do like it! Besides, the info is rather cutting-edge, so just like it.

Post a Comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed .

Sign Up Today

Start your 14 day free trial today

The History Hit Miscellany of Facts, Figures and Fascinating Finds

10 Unusual Historical Museums to Visit in London

From comic books to public surgeries: these weird and wonderful london museums take visitors on a tour through the strange, the niche and even the macabre..

Harry Sherrin

06 nov 2021.

London is undoubtedly home to some of the world’s most revered and celebrated museums, from the British Museum to the Imperial War Museum.

But the city also houses a whole range of stranger institutions. At the Ragged School Museum in Mile End, for example, visitors can uncover the history of teaching in the Victorian era. And in Balham’s Sewing Machine Museum, some 600 sewing machines are on display, painting a vivid picture of the device’s changing form and use through time.

From quirky toys to historical hand fans, here are 10 of London’s most odd and unusual museums.

1. Old Operating Theatre Museum, Southwark

In the attic of St Thomas’ Church in Southwark, London, sits the oldest operating theatre in the city, dating back to 1822. It’s one of the Old Operating Theatre Museum’s key exhibits, and it attempts to transport visitors back to the gruesome days of 19th-century medicine.

Displays at the Old Operating Theatre Museum include barbaric surgical instruments, restraints for pinning patients to the operating table and even preserved human organs. It’s an uncompromising museum, housing everything from the grotesque to the bizarre, but an insightful one, artfully recreating the harsh reality of medicine in the Victorian era.

2. Pollock’s Toy Museum, Fitzrovia

Pollock’s Toy Museum is a quirky little collection of historic toys, dolls and games, housed in a pair of central London townhouses. Among the artefacts on display are old board games, mechanical toys and curious puppets and figurines.

Among the rarest items at Pollock’s Toy Museum are an ancient Egyptian toy mouse dating back to c. 2000 BC and the world’s oldest teddy bear, Eric, which was made in 1904. The author Robert Louis Stevenson once wrote of the museum, “if you love art, folly or the bright eyes of children, speed to Pollock’s.”

3. Grant Museum of Zoology, Bloomsbury

With displays of mammal skulls, preserved animals and even dissected heads, the Grant Museum of Zoology isn’t one for the squeamish. Perhaps the site’s most famed exhibit is a collection of 18 moles, fixed in a glass case of formaldehyde. The moles even have a dedicated Twitter account.

The Grant Museum of Zoology also boasts a collection of more than 1,000 rare stuffed animal species, including a Tasmanian tiger and even a quagga, which is an extinct mammal related to the zebra.

4. Clink Prison Museum, Southwark

The Clink Museum is housed in a former Southwark prison dating back to 1144. Much of the prison was rebuilt in the 14th and 15th centuries, when it earned the name ‘Clink’. Housed in the Bankside area, once a notorious red-light district, the Clink has no doubt seen more than its fair share of violence, scandal and criminality.

Visitors to the Clink Prison Museum can expect to be taken on a journey through the history of prison life in England. Exhibits include gruesome torture and restraining devices used by prison workers, weapons crafted by inmates and vivid recreations of life at the Clink.

5. The Cartoon Museum, Fitrovia

London’s Cartoon Museum boasts a comprehensive collection of comic books, original artworks and related memorabilia. Their exhibits include more than 8,000 books and 6,000 pieces of art, with fan favourites such as Billy Whizz and Dennis the Menace on display.

The Cartoon Museum’s collections span several centuries of cartoon creation, from the 1700s through to the golden age of cartoons and comic books in the 20th century.

6. Magic Circle Museum, Euston

The Magic Circle is a renowned – and characteristically mysterious – society for magicians. And now, interested parties can dive into the history of the secretive organisation at London’s Magic Circle Museum.

Among the institution’s collections are a pair of handcuffs used by famed escape artist Harry Houdini and an iconic fez worn by British comedian and magician Tommy Cooper. Be sure to book ahead, though: tours are by appointment only.

7. Sewing Machine Museum, Balham

The London Sewing Machine Museum offers a comprehensive overview of the history of sewing and haberdashery. Among the artefacts on display are a device purchased by Queen Victoria, the first-ever Singer sewing machine and a device sent to London from the US for the Great Exhibition of 1851.

In total, the museum holds over 600 historic sewing machines. The site is open on the first Saturday of each month.

8. Ragged School Museum, Mile End

Visitors to the Ragged School Museum in London’s East End can discover the fascinating history of 19th-century British education and beyond. The site allows guests to explore a reconstructed Victorian classroom and pore over hundreds of educational artefacts.

Among the exhibits on display at the Ragged School Museum are chalkboards, desks and ink bottles, all of which paint a vivid picture of historic learning establishments. On certain dates of the year, the museum hosts ‘open house’ sessions, where actors and guides don historic garbs and host interactive lessons and exhibits.

9. The Museum of Brands, Packaging and Advertising, Notting Hill

The Notting Hill Museum of Brands is a sort of shrine to logos, packaging and material goods from throughout history. The museum houses items from the Victorian era right through to the present day, taking visitors on a nostalgic journey through the history of advertising in Britain and beyond.

The Museum of Brands benefits from the vast Robert Opie Collection of some 12,000 artefacts, and as such its exhibits are comprehensive and wide-ranging. Among the objects on display are OXO cubes dating back to World War One, KitKat bars from the time of the Great Depression and various early Coca-Cola bottles.

10. Fan Museum, Greenwich

Opened in 1991 in the Greenwich World Heritage Site, The Fan Museum is the world’s first museum dedicated to the history of hand fans. With over 5,000 fans on display – the oldest dating back to the 11th century – the museum’s extensive collection is fascinating.

A ‘secret’ Japanese garden can also be viewed from the museum’s stunning orangery tea room, and visitors can also take a stroll around the beautifully restored Grade II-listed buildings within which the museum sits.

• Bournemouth
• My Bookings
• My Email Preferences
• Edit this page
• Access admin
• Back to search

7 Quirky And Unusual Museums In London

Published 15 March 2024 . By Katie Kirwan .

We get it, the Natural History Museum's great and the V&A's always a winner, but have you ever seen a wholphin skull? Take a few steps off the beaten track and you'll find a powder keg of curious venues, wacky collections and immersive exhibitions, all poised and ready to entertain you in the city. We've searched around and uncovered some of the quirky London museums  that you might not know about. Check them out below. 

Freud Museum

Hampstead: 20 Maresfield Gardens, London NW3 5SX

Delve into the private life of the founder of psychoanalysis (Sigmund Freud) with a visit to the Freud Museum in Hampstead. See the now-infamous patient couch as you explore the notorious thinker's home office and take a look at some of his pioneering theories and trailblazing works, alongside a number of other guest exhibitions, including a recent look at Sigmund's impact on South America. Admission for adults starts from just £14. Fair, if you think about it.  

Enjoy your psychology-filled day.

Dennis Severs' House  

Spitalfields: 18 Folgate St, London E1 6BX

A museum truly unlike any other in the city (and tucked away amongst the buzzing bars and back streets of Spitalfields), Dennis Severs' House will take you on an immersive adventure into the fictional home of 18th century Huguenot silk weavers. Venture around ten stunningly decorated candlelit rooms as you attempt to discover what's happened to the fabled inhabitants. Hailed as a 'still life', this is a London museum that feels frozen in time, and is a must for those with a fancy for a decadent history.

A trip back in time.

Sir John Soane's Museum  

Holborn: 13 Lincoln's Inn Fields, London WC2A 3BP

One of the ultimate unique museums in London, Sir John Soane's Museum is a treasure trove of historical gems. Step through the unassuming Georgian townhouse doors and you'll find walls covered with paintings, statues and antiquities,  including a 3,000-year-old sarcophagus.  As you weave between tight rooms and corridors, get familiar with impressive stone-work over the ages. Trust us, given its proximity to Holborn, this feels like a whole other world. 

Sir John Soane's Museum is only a hop, skip and a jump from Holborn underground. 

Pollock's Toy Museum  

Fitzrovia: 1 Scala St, London W1T 2HL

Pollock's Toy Museum is bringing you a heavy dose of childhood nostalgia (perfect for leaving the hustle of being an adult in London behind). As quirky museums in London go, this Fitzrovia destination doesn't disappoint. Take a look at toys through the ages with everything from teddy bears to folk favourites and dolls houses to puppets over six intimate rooms. Currently in 2024, two pop-ups in London and Leadenhall are housing the collection until a new location is found. 

Bizarre museums? This playground's a must for families and big kids alike.

The Viktor Wynd Museum of Curiosities  

Bethnal Green: 11 Mare St, Cambridge Heath Rd, London E8 4RP

Combining fact with fiction, The Viktor Wynd Museum of Curiosities is up there with the most entertaining and unusual museums in London. Expect an eccentric jumble of shrunken heads, wholphin bones (that's a killer whale-dolphin hybrid), cyclops skulls and fairies galore as Viktor Wynd's eccentricities are celebrated in a cosy basement space. One of our favourite parts? Head for absinthe cocktails in the bar upstairs to make a real trip of it.

For the strangest offerings, Bethnal Green's got you covered.

Fan Museum  

Greenwich: 12 Crooms Hill, London SE10 8ER

Whilst its name may leave you feeling uninspired, Greenwich's Fan Museum is an unexpected goldmine. Housing over 4,000 items, the venue will teach you the history of the fashionable accessory whilst showcasing some of the most exquisite pieces from around the world. Sounds fan-tastic .

Gaze at handheld artworks. 

Hunterian Museum  

Holborn: 43 Lincoln's Inn Fields, London WC2A 3PE

Not for the faint-hearted or easily squeamish ( but perfect for a date ), the Hunterian Museum is a haven of oddities. Filled with countless jars of animals, body parts and organs, this one-of-a-kind collection will have you gawping for hours. A celebration of the art and science of surgery, this truly unique specimen collection dates all the way back to the 18th century, with surgeon anatomist John Hunter at the heart of its work. 

A strong contender in the list of London's most quirky museums.

Looking to find more hidden spots around the city? Check out the best parks around London for animal-watching, here .  S ign up   to our newsletter for all the latest sent straight to your inbox.

If You Like This, You'll Love...

We Checked Out Moorgate’s Modern Five-Star Hotel That Doubles Up As An Art Gallery

13 Of The Best Day Trips From London To Try In 2024

Best Go Karting In London (And Even More Nearby)

The 2024 DesignMyNight Award Winners Are Here, Did Your Favourite Make The List?

Recommended by

How to work with us.

Whether you own a bar, restaurant, pub, club, private hire space, pop-up and/or run events, you can take advantage of our full suite of products. Explore one or more from the below.

Revolutionary booking and enquiry management software for bars, restaurants, pubs and clubs. Table management, pre-orders, payments and more.

An online event ticketing box office, catering for all kinds of events, pop ups to big music festivals, and free marketing and exposure to help sell more tickets.

Sell e-gift vouchers to your customers; whether it be a packaged up experience or a monetary value. Generate an extra revenue stream and open up your venue/event to even more customers.

Advertising

Need to get your venue out to millions? Use our targeted marketing packages to instantly push your venue to a young professional audience.

40+ Hidden Gems & Unusual Things To Do In London

Looking to explore London beyond the typical tourist hotspots? Look no further. In this guide, I take you on a journey to discover some of the city’s most magnificent hidden gems and secret spots.

You may be thinking, “hidden gems in London, is that even possible?” Well, the truth is, there are plenty of off-the-beaten-path attractions waiting to be discovered. With its rich history and diverse culture, London offers a wealth of unique experiences that can’t be found in your average guidebook.

Having visited London numerous times and even lived there for a while, I’ve had the chance to uncover some of the city’s best-kept secrets. So, join me as we venture off the tourist trail and explore the hidden gems that make London such a special place.

Some of these lesser known sites in London are overlooked landmarks, underrated museums, or recently unveiled attractions that are still under the radar.

When you’re done admiring London’s popular landmarks, you can visit these places and have a secret spot all to yourself.

None of them are blighted by mass tourism, interminable queues, or the requirement of skip the line tickets.

40+ Hidden Gems In London

Here’s my handpicked list of 43 hidden gems and secret spots in London, just waiting to be explored by the discerning traveler or repeat visitor to London.

1. London Mithraeum

The Roman Temple of Mithras is a hidden gem in the heart of London — and the best part? It’s completely free to visit! This fascinating archaeological site is one of only 100 Mithraic temples found throughout Ancient Rome, making it an important piece of British history.

The temple was first discovered back in 1954, but it wasn’t until the Bloomberg Project that it was excavated between 2010-14 and moved to a publicly accessible space. Now, visitors can explore the reconstructed temple and marvel at the remarkable collection of artifacts uncovered during the excavation.

Although little is known about the Roman cult of Mithras and its rituals, the central icon of the cult depicts Mithras killing a bull, which is believed to represent a creation myth.

Tours of the temple depart every 20 minutes, and while you wait for your turn, you can explore the exhibition space and learn more about this intriguing site. You can also visit the Mithraeum on a  3 hour guided tour of Roman London .

Here’s my complete  guide to the London Mithraeum .

2. Billingsgate Roman Bath House

Another Roman site that’s a hidden gem in London is the Billingsgate Roman Bath House . Like the Mithraeum, it was part of ancient Londinium.

You’ll find it underneath an office complex on Lower Thames Street. The bath house was abandoned after the fall of Rome.

First discovered in 1848, these Roman ruins were once an impressive bath house with a courtyard and underfloor heating. The best preserved part of the ruins is a hot bath with hypocausts, which were used for heating the room.

Artifacts discovered during excavations are in the Museum of London, another hidden gem in London that I discuss below.

The site opens to the public on Saturdays via guided tours. You can also visit this site on a tour of Roman London . You’ll get some fascinating insight into a London from over 2,000 years ago.

3. St. Pancras Old Church

St. Pancras Old Church was once a riverside country chapel. The church claims to have been a site of Christian worship since the 4th century.

The current structure has been around since the 12th century. But it got a major remodel in the 19th century and then again in the 20th century to repair bombing damage from WWII.

The church has a well stocked graveyard, including the tomb of Sir John Soane, England’s great Neo-Classical architect.

In the 19th century, the cemetery was a target for grave robbers, who dug up freshly interred bodies and sold them to doctors for medieval dissection. The graveyard was featured in Charles Dickens’ book A Tale of Two Cities .

One of the most striking oddities in the cemetery is the Hardy Tree. It’s an ash tree surrounded by hundreds of gravestones chock-a-block on top of each other.

They were arranged in that fashion to make way for an expansion of Britain’s rail system. Who got the job of exhuming and reburying? A young Thomas Hardy, who would go on to become one of Britain’s greatest classic novelists.

The church hosts lectures and concerts. You can check out its Facebook page for the latest events.

4. Garden At 120

Everyone heads to the Shard for views, but there’s an equally stunning place for views that’s not nearly as well known and perfectly free, the  Garden at 120 .

It’s located atop the Fen Court building at 120 Fenchurch Street right near Leadenhall Market. You don’t need to make any bookings or reservations for this beauty.

At 15 stories, it offers exceptional 360 views from its outdoor terrace. The gardens are also gorgeous.

The Garden at 120 is still a hidden gem in London. What that means is a short wait time before passing through airport-style security, heading up the speedy lift, and emerging into one of London’s prettiest roof spaces.

5. Wallace Collection

Housed in a palatial mansion, the Wallace Collection is a stunning example of art and period settings perfectly preserved in situ.

The museum boasts an impressive collection of old Masters paintings, set amidst some of the finest French furniture you’ll ever lay your eyes on.

The Wallace Collection is particularly renowned for its 18th century French paintings, European paintings, Boulle furniture, and medieval armor.

Visitors can marvel at works by famous artists such as Rembrandt, Franz Hals, Velazquez, Titian, and Canaletto, as well as an array of Rococo-era works by Watteau, Boucher, and Fragonard.

Speaking of Fragonard, the museum’s most famous painting is none other than his masterpiece, The Swing . With so much to see and appreciate, the Wallace Collection is an unmissable hidden gem for any art lover visiting London.

6. John Soane Museum

Sir John Soane was one of Britain’s foremost Neo-Classical architects and a professor of architecture at the Royal Academy.

On top of that, he created his own  house museum . Built in 1812, Soane designed the house to hold his vast collection of art and objects from around the world. You can feel his spirit and legacy in the cluttered, bejeweled place.

Soane was a curiosity collector. You’ll find a mishmash of Roman, Greek, and Egyptian artifacts, urns, statues, and vases. There’s even a sarcophagus in the basement.

There are also some world class paintings, including ones by Watteau, J.M.W. Turner, Canaletto, and William Thomas Beckford. And over 30,000 drawings, including famous ones by William Hogarth.

7. Charles Dickens House Museum

Charles Dickens bought this house when he was flush with cash from the success of his first novel, The Pickwick Papers . He moved in March 1837. It’s the only surviving house in London in which Dickens lived.

The Charles Dickens House was renovated in 2011 to coincide with the bicentenary of Dickins’ birth. When Dickens lived there, it was a 12 room dwelling outfitted in pink brick. What you see today is more a dark brown brick.

The museum is a charming little treasure house of memories. In the renovations, rooms were redecorated to reflect the style of the time.

You can see some of the novelist’s letters, theater posters, and portraits of Dickens and his family. You can see his signature, with an extravagance of curls and flourishes. And a copy of his last unfinished novel, Edwin Drood .

The dining room is kitted out with china bearing the image of Dickens. The drawing room is where he held readings and amateur theatrics.

His sister-in-law, Georgina Hogarth, has her own room. It’s rumored that she and Dickens had an affair. Dickens had a rather scandalous love life by the standards of the Victorian era.

8. Ben Franklin House

For those who are fascinated by history and enamored with Georgian era architecture, the Benjamin Franklin House is an absolute must visit. This extraordinary building is the only surviving residence in the world where Franklin both lived and worked, having resided there from 1757 to 1772.

Franklin was, of course, a highly influential figure during the American Revolution. His diplomatic prowess and scientific innovations continue to inspire to this day.

Built in 1730, the house museum is something of a time capsule, complete with original period features. It’s also a Grade I site in London, which means it receives the highest level of conservation in Britain.

Visitors are able to explore three levels of the house and marvel at the stunning Georgian interior painted in the signature “Franklin Green.” On the first floor, the parlor and cards room await.

On the second floor, guests can tour Franklin’s bedroom and office space, which features massive Victorian windows. While there, be sure to play the glass harmonica — a musical instrument invented by Franklin himself.

9. Freud House Museum

In 1938, Austria was taken over by the Nazis and Sigmund Freud and his family fled to London. The famous neurologist settled into what is now the  Freud Museum  for the last year of his life.

Freud’s study has been preserved just as it was during his lifetime. It contains  Freud’s original psychoanalytic couch , on which patients were invited to recline and say whatever came to mind.

Freud was a passionate collector of antiquities, especially ancient statuettes. His study holds his remarkable collection. 

Almost 2,000 items fill cabinets and are arranged on every surface. There are rows of ancient figures on the desk where Freud wrote until the early hours of the morning.

The walls are lined with Freud’s personal library of over 1,600 books, interspersed with several notable pictures hung as he arranged them. It was the working library of a well read man.

10. Dr. Samuel Johnson’s House

Dr. Johnson’s House is s a little hidden gem in London tucked into a quiet spot not far from the hustle and bustle of Fleet Street.

The house was once home of acclaimed London wit and writer, Dr. Samuel Johnson. The 300 year old townhouse is an amazing example of late 17th century architecture at its finest.

The house museum also has a Grade I building, which means conservation is strict. It’s one of very few 18th century residential houses in London still standing.

In fact, it was in one of these rooms that Johnson compiled his famous Dictionary of the English Language . Copies of the world’s first dictionary are on display.

The house museum is open four days a week, check the website. You’ll visit via a guided tour which will make Johnson’s life come alive. Ring the bell to be let in.

11. Apsley House

Apsley House is the seat of the dukes of Wellington. The present duke lives upstairs part time. 

The museum’s marquis masterpiece is a colossal sculpture of  Mars The Peacemaker  by the Italian Neo-Classical sculptor Anthony Canova. The piece is a sculpture of Napoleon.

The suite of public rooms upstairs is the setting for the duke’s astonishing painting collection. You’ll find important old master paintings, including art works by Rubens, Velazquez, Goya, and Titian.

The ticket price is £14.20. The museum’s audio guide is narrated by the duke. 

You can book a  3 hour guided tour  of both Apsley House and the V&A Museum.

12. Courtauld Gallery

Tucked away in Somerset House, the Courtauld Gallery is a true hidden gem in London, having first opened its doors in 1932.

If you’re an art lover with a passion for Impressionist and Post-Impressionist works, you’ll feel right at home at the Courtauld Gallery. You will instantly recognize some of the world’s most iconic paintings.

Recently reopened in November 2021 after a meticulous 3-year renovation, the Courtauld Gallery is now a sight to behold, with spacious and well-lit galleries that showcase some of London’s finest art.

In the Great Room, you’ll find masterpieces by Renoir, Manet, Monet, Cezanne, and Van Gogh, including Britain’s largest collection of Cezanne works.

But that’s not all—the Courtauld Gallery also boasts an impressive collection of early Renaissance art, featuring works by Botticelli and other northern Renaissance artists, as well as two striking rooms filled with Rubens paintings.

If you’re a serious art lover, you may want to consider this  private art tour  that takes you London’s top museums and galleries, including the Courtauld.

13. Bermondsy Street

The Bermondsy area of London is just across the Thames from the Tower of London.

Bermondsy is a bit of a hidden treasure in London that’s where the locals go. It’s undergone rapid transformation. 

It’s a happening place now with cobbled squares and grand buildings that make it feel right out of a period drama.

Bermondsy is also one of London’s culinary destinations. It’s home to street food markets rivaling Borough market and some of London’s best new restaurants.

One of the hottest tables to book right now in Bermondsy is  Trivet . It was a just awarded a Michelin star.

14. Eltham Palace

Eltham Palace is an architectural masterpiece that offers a rare glimpse into the passage of time. Few historic buildings in London can match its charm and grandeur.

The palace has a rich history, dating back to the Saxon era, and was a favored hideaway of monarchs from Edward II to Henry VIII. Unfortunately, the castle fell into disrepair after being damaged by Puritans in the 17th century.

In 1933, philanthropists and socialites Stephen and Virginia Courtauld leased the palace and embarked on a stunning $3.4 million Art Deco makeover. While the exterior of the building remains modest with its red brick and stone facade, the interior is a breathtaking display of Art Deco elegance.

A curved entrance hall with a concrete dome welcomes you inside, while the dining room features recreated paintings by Turner that once adorned its walls.

Visitors can explore the walk-in wardrobe of former owner Virginia Courtauld, stocked with period clothes that you can try on. The golden bedroom, adorned with a statue of a Greek goddess, is another highlight.

Additionally, the palace boasts a medieval banqueting hall from 1475, complete with a stunning hammer-beam ceiling. The gardens at Eltham Palace are equally beautiful and worth a visit.

Overall, Eltham Palace is a hidden gem in London that offers a fascinating glimpse into London’s rich history and architectural heritage.

15. St. Paul Cathedral’s Secret Spiral Staircase

St. Paul’s Cathedral , designed by Christopher Wren in the late 17th century, is one of the most popular tourist destinations in London.

As the seat of the Bishop of London, it is also an important Anglican cathedral. However, there is a little known secret hidden within the cathedral’s bell tower.

There lies a mysterious spiral staircase, which played a role in the filming of the Harry Potter movie, Prisoner of Azkaban . This is the Divination Staircase that led to Professor Trelawney’s Divination classroom.

Unfortunately, visitors on a standard tour of St. Paul’s cannot access this hidden gem. It can only be seen on a guided Harry Potter tour or a private tour of the cathedral.

And to make it even more exciting, the key to unlock the staircase is a massive and clunky one, right out of the Harry Potter universe.

Click  here  to book a skip the line ticket to St. Paul’s. Click  here  to book a guided tour of the cathedral.

16. Columbia Flower Market

Want to know where local Londoners buy their flowers? On Sunday, they head to the open air Columbia Road Flower Market on Columbia Road in London’s Bethnal Green neighborhood.

The market is budget friendly, chic, and extremely pretty. It’s a colorful spectacle of 60 stalls with blooms, plants and even trees.

The flower market is only held on Sundays, although some shops are open on other days of the week. It’s open 8:00 am to 2:00 pm. It could close earlier, depending on how quickly everything sells and the weather, etc.

Aside from the colorful flowers, Columbia Street is lined with dozens of tiny shops.

17. Brick Lane

Brick Lane is an iconic street in the Shoreditch area of East London . It was once a rough and tumble neighborhood in London. But seedy has long since given way to charming.

It’s a bohemian multi-cultural paradise for vintage hunters, foodies, and street art lovers. The street is teeming with cool shops, buzzing markets, and of course its famous curry houses. 

Brick Lane is home to more than 50 Bangladeshi restaurants, whose fragrance you’ll no doubt detect. This led the lane to be nicknamed “Banglatown.”

Brick Lane is also linked to London’s famous 15th century serial killer Jack the Ripper who terrorized people in this area. Naturally, you can take a guided Jack the Ripper walking tour in London .

You can also book a street art tour of the area.

18. Spitalfields Market

Spitalfields Market is a true local’s joint compared to London’s other popular and more touristy markets. And it’s the best market in East London.

Spitalfields Market has been around since the Great Fire of London. But it’s also had a millennial rebirth, now housing 110 stalls.

It’s a place where you find all sorts of enticing dishes — from Thai to Indian to Japanese to French crepes. And some of the food trucks and stalls give free samples to entice you.

You can also find great vintage stuff — fashion items, clothing, jewelry, vinyl albums, decor, and semi-antique accessories. The market really comes to life on Sunday when the streets are filled with shops and stalls.

You can sample the wares of Spitalfields on an East End food tour .

19. Neal’s Yard

Neal’s Yard is a colorful cobblestone passage near Covent Garden. You likely won’t just stumble across it while touring central London.

You’ll have to seek it out with your GPS. It’s a 5-10 minute walk from Apple Market in the part of London called Seven Dials. It’s totally worth the short detour just for the colorful facades.

Neal’s Lane is filled with quaint shops and tasty cafes. You can find Chinese herbal medicine, organic therapies, beauty salons, a Sicilian deli, and Shiatsu massage places.

It’s also home to the famous Neal’s Yard Dairy , which is one of London’s best places to buy cheese.

There’s a great place to eat there,  The Barbary , which serves Mediterranean and Middle Eastern food. You can also just grab a delicious slice of pizza at Homeslice Neal’s Yard .

You can visit Neal’s Yard on a guided walking tour of Covent Garden and Soho .

20. Queen’s House In Greenwich

If you want to escape the hustle and bustle of the city for a day, then you might consider heading to Greenwich.

This beautiful district of London is home to some unusual London attractions such as the Greenwich Observatory, the Cutty Sark Ship, and the Prime Meridian Time Line.

For those with a cultural bent, head to the Queen’s House . It’s all that remains of a once Royal Residence.

The free museum is home to many a beautiful feature, like the Great Hall’s chequered floor and a well-stocked art gallery. This is where you’ll find the famous Armada Portrait of Elizabeth I.

But the museum’s Tulip Staircase is the real star and will blow you away. Built in the 17th century, it was the first geometric self-supporting spiral staircase in Britain. The striking shade of blue paint is made using crushed glass.

21. Westminster Cathedral

Most people have heard of Westminster Abbey , but few know about Westminster Cathedral . Situated in the heart of London near Victoria Station, it’s a hidden gem in London for history buffs.

Designed in the 1890s by Francis John Bentley and consecrated in 1910, the Westminster Cathedral is a relatively new church.

It’s a Neo-Romantic building, with hints of Byzantine influences. The facade is red and white striped. It has a 280 foot tall campanile, making it appear like an antique building from Istanbul.

Inside, you’ll find a 170 foot central nave, which is the the largest in England. There is marble, sculptures, and other elaborate decoration to admire.

Many of the chapels are covered in glittery beautiful mosaics. This all makes this hidden gem in London worth a visit.

22. Australia House

If you’re a Harry Potter fan, head to the  Australia House  on the Strand. I only found this spot because I was on a private tour of London hidden gems .

The glorious marble interior of Australia House served as the interior for Gringotts, the wizards bank run by goblins in the Harry Potter films. 

Or at least the inspiration for it. Some say Gringotts was modeled on the Vaults Nightclub in Exeter.

You can’t enter Australia House or take photos. But you can ask one of the security guards if you can walk in and take a peak through the glass door. You’ll see the giant crystal chandeliers from Gringotts.

23. Chartwell House

Chartwell House , located just outside London, is where Winston Churchill grew up and found solace from the political battles of London. For over four decades, it served as Churchill’s country retreat, a sanctuary from the turmoil of the city.

Despite not being a grand home, Churchill spared no expense in trying to make Chartwell House presentable.

However, due to financial troubles, Churchill almost lost the house twice. Fortunately, his friends bought it and gifted it to the UK’s National Trust, ensuring its preservation for future generations.

Now a museum open to the public, visitors can explore five rooms where Churchill once lived, including the dining room, library, drawing room, Clementine’s bedroom, and Winston’s study.

Three additional rooms are dedicated to Churchill memorabilia, where visitors can view his personal study and painting studio.

You can book a  guided day trip tour  to Chartwell House from London.

24. Primrose Hill

If you’re looking for a great view of the city, Primrose Hill is the perfect escape. Just north of Regent’s Park, take a small uphill trek.

Primrose Hill is a beautiful green space in the heart of London that used to be Henry VIII’s hunting grounds.

From the summit of 200+ feet, you’ll have 360 panoramic views of the city. You can relax and lay down on the grass with the locals.

William Blake once described the view as “conversing with the spiritual son.” A rock on the hill is inscribed with his quote.

The Primrose Hill neighborhood is filled with beautiful rainbow colored Victorian homes. Besides the Instagram-ready row homes, you’ll also find chic eateries, tearooms, boutiques, and pubs.

As a bonus, there’s a  farmers market  close by on Saturdays.

If you’d like to sit down for a meal, try Greenery (brunch), Lemonia (Greek), or fancy it up at Odette’s.

25. Horniman Museum & Gardens

The Horniman Museum is one of London’s most whimsical museums. And it’s a completely free museum, just out of the way enough to remain a hidden gem in London.

The Horniman is in southeast London, just a short tube ride from the city center. Designed by Charles Harrison Townsend in the Arts and Crafts style, the museum opened in 1901.

The museum contains the quirky personal collection of Frederick Horniman, a Victorian era tea trader. It’s a space where the full array of human cultures and anthropology is on display.

You’ll find objects and artifacts like puppets, toys, a camel saddle, a stuffed walrus, butterfly house, a torture chair, masks, and skulls. There’s also a modestly sized aquarium and 16 acres of lovely landscaped gardens.

There’s also a cafe and gift shop.

26. High Gate Cemetery

If you’re into checking out cemeteries, then  Highgate Cemetery  should be on your London itinerary. The cemetery opened in 1839.

It’s the resting ground for wealthy Londoners from the 19th century. It’s split into East & West and tickets can be purchased separately.

The East is creepy and atmospheric. The West has impressive architecture, including Egyptian Avenue and the Terrace Catacombs.

You’ll find the graves of Karl Marx, George Michael, George Eliot, and Hitchhikers Guide To The Galaxy’s Douglas Adams.

Legend holds that the  Highgate Vampire  haunts the cemetery. He’s said to be a tall dark figure that glides through the cemetery on cold dark nights. He’s blamed for scores of dead foxes and other animals.

27. Queen’s Gallery in Buckingham Palace

Buckingham Palace is not, of course, a hidden gem. But the Queen’s Gallery on site is.

The gallery was fully renovated and opened to the public in 2002. You’ll find a small collection of works from the British Royal Art Collection , which is the world’s largest private art collection.

The pieces are set out in three galleries, two of which have skylights to let in the natural light and better see the paintings on display.

There is a nice selection of old masters paintings. The selection is changed seasonally. The most famous paintings are Vermeer’s Lady at the Virginal with a Gentleman and Artemisia Gentileschi’s Self-Portrait as the Allegory of Painting .

Be forewarned, the gallery is small and security is tight. So you’ll need to be a patient art lover. You can also book a skip the line ticket and tour of both the Queen’s Gallery and Buckingham Palace.

28. Science Museum

Do you like gadgets and how they work? The  Science Museum  is a hidden gem in London just for you.

The museum offers up seven floors of educational and entertaining exhibits. It aims to make sense of the science that has shaped our lives.

You’ll find exhibits explaining developments in science, medicine, anatomy, space, computers, and technology. There’s a substantial collection of medical history treasures. There are some digital exhibits especially for kids. 

Like many science museums nowadays, the museum has an in-house IMAX cinema. It shows scientific films in 3D, allowing visitors to be surrounded by space or submerged in the depths of the ocean.

The museum shop is worth checking out for its wacky toys. The Dana Centre offers free lectures and performance events on contemporary scientific issues 

29. Design Museum

No list of hidden gems in London would be complete without a nod to London’s  Design Museum . It was founded by Sir Terence Conran in 1989 and relocated to Kensington in 2016.

The museum is one of the city’s premiere exhibition spaces. But for most tourists it’s a rarely visited hidden gem in London.

The building is a masterpiece itself with soaring well lit spaces and balconies. The museum won the European Museum of the Year award in 2018.

The Design Museum hosts cutting edge contemporary exhibitions dedicated to design in every form — from fashion, graphics, architecture, to product and industrial design. 

The museum just finished hosting a thought proving Amy Winehouse exhibition, which I was fortunate to see on my last trip. 

As well its temporary shows, the museum hosts an array of learning programs and activities aimed at children.

30. Leighton House

Leighton House  is one of the best small hidden gem museums in London. 

It attracts visitors with its lure of the Orient. You’ll find it on a quiet side street at the edge of Holland Park in Kensington.

Leighton House was the 19th century home of Sir Frederic Leighton, a leading Victorian artist and member of London’s Pre-Raphaelite tribe . He was known for his paintings of languid beauties like  Flaming June .

Leighton’s abode epitomizes the era’s fascination with Orientalism. It’s a wunderkind of Islamic art that’s been a frequent filming location for films and photos shoots. 

Stepping into the opulent Arab Hall, you’d almost expect a fez-wearing shopkeeper to hand you a glass of mint tea. The hall showcases more than 1,000 Islamic peacock blue tiles and is one of the most spectacular interior spaces in London. 

You can find Leighton’s own paintings. You can also see works by John Everett Millais, Lawrence Alma-Tadema, and G.F. Watts. 

31. Camden Lock Market

Camden Lock Market is named for the lock on the Regents Canal that it’s next to. It’s located in Camden Town, a hip district of London.

There are over 1,000 food stalls, bars, shops, and cafes at the Camden Lock Market. It’s about as diverse as a market comes.

You’ll find vinyl, clothing, vintage books, and handmade jewelry. A highlight is the liquid nitrogen ice cream at Chin Chin labs.

The weekend is the best time to visit. This is when most shops are open and you’ll see everything the market has to offer.

You’ll find some awesome food choices. But don’t be shocked if there’s nowhere to sit. You can also grab some food and head to the nearby canal.

You can also take a vegan food tour in Camden Town . Or take a hidden gems in London tour that includes the market.

32. Southwark Cathedral

Southwark Cathedral is a hidden gem in London, situated right next to the popular Borough Market. Despite its proximity, it remains unexplored by many.

The cathedral is a little Gothic treasure that has stood since 606 A.D, just a short 5-minute walk from the Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre and the Tate Modern.

As London’s oldest Gothic structure, you should take a few minutes to step inside and admire the breathtaking interior. The site has a long history, having been destroyed by fire in 1212 and subsequently rebuilt in the 13th century.

The rear facade is heavily influenced by Norman architecture, while the front is adorned with Gothic features.

Upon entering, you’ll be greeted by an airy vaulted ceiling made of sandstone-colored brick.

The stained glass windows are a sight to behold, and there is even a monument dedicated to the great Shakespeare. The 15th century wooden roof capitols add a touch of quirkiness to this elegant cathedral.

33. Cecil Court

Cecil Court is a quaint 17th century lane that spokes off from Charing Cross Road. It’s a hidden gem in London despite being so close to the high traffic street.

With its Victorian shopfronts, it’s said to be J.K Rowling’s favorite street in London and the possible inspiration for Dragon Alley in the Harry Potter series.

Cecil Court is home to many obscure antique shops, second hand book shops, and even more book shops selling books about witchcraft and magic.

You can also pop into the nearby Godwin’s Court to check out another charming alley.

34. Monument To The Fire Of London

The Monument to the Great Fire of London was built between 1671-77. It was built to commemorate the Great Fire of 1666 and celebrate the rebuilding of London.

The chief architects were Christopher Wren, the architect of St. Paul’s Cathedral , and Robert Hooke. 

Built between 1671 and 1777, the monument stands at 202 feet tall. It marks the very spot where the fire is thought to have started.

In 2007, it underwent an 18 month restoration. You can climb 311 steps up a steep spiral staircase for great views at the top.

35. The Painted Hall

Did you know London has a Baroque masterpiece that’s known as “England’s Sistine Chapel”? It’s one of London’s absolute best hidden gems.

It’s found in  The Painted Hall  at Old Royal Navy College in Greenwich. In the hall, there is 4,000 square feet of space with breathtaking paintings covering the ceiling and walls. 

They were painted by James Thornhill between 1707-26. He was the artist responsible for painting the cupola in St. Paul’s Cathedral . It took Thornhill 19 years to complete his masterpiece.

The paintings depict themes celebrating the greatness of Britain. You’ll see depictions of naval, cultural, and political successes. It was in this hall that the great Admiral Lord Nelson layed in state.

The Painted Hall was beautifully restored in 2016-18. You can now really appreciate the paintings’ vibrant colors.

You can even lay down to admire the paintings on “day beds” provided by the museum.

You can purchase a ticket with a multimedia guide. Or, alternatively, you can join one of the 30 or 45 minute tours.

If you’re visiting during high season, you may want to pre-book a skip the line ticket .

36. Hampstead Hill Garden And Pergola

Quite a few tourists make it out to Hampstead Health to enjoy one of London’s wild green spaces. But not many discover the elegant garden and pergola in the West Heath.

It’s a criminally underrated space in London that’s a pocket of faded glory. In the spring, wisteria blossom around the trellises.

The pergola was built by Lord Leverhulme at the beginning of the Edwardian era in the early 20th century. It was a space used for lavish parties.

From the pergola, you’ll have lovely views over the Heath and Hampstead Hill.

37. House of MinaLima

Need some Harry Potter gear or souvenirs? Head to the  House of MinaLima on Greek Street in Soho.

The shop was founded and designed by two individuals who did the graphic design work for the Harry Potter films.

MinaLima showcases graphic art and merchandise based on the Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts films. It’s all set amid a Potter-themed decor.

You’ll be wowed by the over-the-top displays and inevitably come away with a trinket.

READ : Guide To Harry Potter Places In London

38. St. Dunstan in the East

This 900 year old Saxon church is located between the Tower of London and London Bridge.

St. Dunstan was destroyed in the Great Fire, but faithfully rebuilt with a steeple designed by Christopher Wren. Only to be bombed during the blitzes of WWII.

As a result, St. Dunstan was left in picturesque ruins. The bombed out shell of the church was turned into a public garden as a sort of living memorial.

It’s on a secluded side street dwarfed by towering office buildings. It’s one of London’s secret gardens, with walls covered with flowers and ivy.

39. UK Supreme Court

The  Supreme Court of the United Kingdom  is located on Parliament Square. The building is a typical Gothic building, like a solemn palace.

This is the birthplace of modern jurisprudence. It’s a place of great significance not only to the UK but also to the history of world law.

The court has been renovated and modernized. Two courts you can visit inside retain some of the characteristics of the Victorian era. Don’t miss the library. 

It’s free to enter the court building. You may get lucky and be able to see an actual case being argued. At 2:00 pm on Fridays you can  book a guided tour for £10.00 .

40. Museum Of London

Discover London’s rich history at the Museum of London, an overlooked hidden gem waiting to be explored. The museum is a treasure trove of fascinating exhibits that will take you on a journey through the city’s past.

While not nearly as sprawling as the British Museum , it still houses an extraordinary collection of ancient artifacts that tell the story of London from its earliest prehistoric days to the vibrant, multicultural hub it is today.

The museum boasts an impressive Roman collection of over 47,000 objects, including Viking war axes, Lord Nelson’s bejeweled sword, and intricate Roman mosaics.

Don’t miss the opportunity to see the ruins of the old London Wall just outside the museum, with a glass display in the Roman section providing a close-up view of the historic wall.

41. British Film Institute

The British Film Institute is a hidden gem in London on the south bank of the Thames. The BFI packs a lot of movie magic. It’s the leading repertory cinema in London.

BFI hosts a series of film and television festivals. You’ll find seasons featuring classic, independent, and non-English language films.

The BFI also houses the BFI Mediatheque. It’s a free library of more than 30,000 film and television titles, including rare broadcasts and British cinema classics.

In addition to the four screen cinema, there’s a brilliant common space and movie bookstore.

42. Alfred Hitchcock Mosaics

Alfred Hitchcock was born at 517 High Road in Leytonstone in 1899.

To mark 100 years since his birth, and to commemorate the director’s link with the area, 17 mosaics were installed in the entrance corridors of Leytonstone tube station. 

They were designed by artists at the Greenwich Mural Workshop. Each mosaic is an homage to Hitchcock and his movies, depicting a scene from his life or a movie.

43. Carlton House Terrace

Carlton House Terrace is a hidden gem in London that was built by the great Regency architect John Nash.

It’s a spectacular Grade I listed Georgian Townhouse located in the heart of Westminster. It’s known for its elegant terraces and viewing platform overlooking St. James Park.

It houses the The British Academy and the Institute of Contemporary Arts . it’s mostly used as a venue for events and wedding receptions.

I hope you’ve enjoyed my guide to hidden gems in London. You may enjoy these other London travel guides and resources:

• 3 Day Itinerary for London
• 5 Day Itinerary for London
• Tourist Traps To Avoid in London
• Free Museums in London
• Harry Potter Places in London
• Guide to the Tower of London
• Guide to the Churchill War Rooms
• Guide to The Wallace Collection
• Guide To Free Museums in London
• Guide To Hampton Court Palace
• Guide To the National Gallery of Art

If you’d like to visit some hidden gems in London, pin it for later.

Leave a Comment Cancel reply

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Last Updated on April 13, 2024 by Leslie Livingston

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.

Posted on 27th December 2022 Categories Arts + Culture

By: Author Lauren Kendrick

8 Brilliant Small Museums in London

Love This? Save and Share!

Discover the best small museums in London – these spots are designed to fascinate and educate you. 

Words by Austin Hodge

Sure, London’s well known museums offer plenty of insight into history, but they’re often jam-packed with tourists and difficult to snag a ticket to. 

Instead, these unique hidden gems feature collections on cartoons, gardens, brands (and more!). Not to mention that they offer a great alternative day out to London’s more well-known and busier museums.

Read on to learn about our favourite small museums in London.

Small Museums in London 

Leighton house museum.

One of the most visually-pleasing small museums in London, Leighton House Museum in Holland Park opens the doors to the former home of leading Victorian painter Frederic, Lord Leighton. 

It’s a beautifully decorated house, with gorgeous tiles, marble and ceilings to be found in each room. In fact, Leighton House doubled up as Leighton’s studio and offers an extensive collection of artwork owned by the artist during his life, with over 700 of his own pieces on show.

The building itself was designed by the architect George Aitchison, who (funnily enough) had never designed a house before. In spite of this, Aitchison was celebrated for the design and it defined the rest of his career.

We’ll be honest, the Arab room is one of the most exquisite and enchanting rooms in all of London – be sure not to miss it.

Booking: Tickets are £11 and you can book them here .

Garden Museum

The Garden Museum might chronicle the history of gardens in Britain and explore how they interact with our lives, but we promise you that this isn’t a yawn-fest. 

There’s lots to see at the Garden Museum, with plenty of intriguing temporary exhibitions held each year alongside their permanent archives. The Ark Gallery features a host of curiosities from the museum’s founder, John Tradescant.

Situated in the heart of Lambeth, the museum offers two verdant gardens of its own featuring rare plants, lush foliage and classic design. What’s more, the museum is home to a medieval viewing tower that offers stunning views of the Thames and the Houses of Parliament .

Booking: Tickets are £14 and you can book here .

Museum of Brands

Notting Hill

The criminally-underrated Museum of Brands in Notting Hill charts over 200 years of consumer culture and change. Its permanent collections explore how the classic brands we all know and love have evolved since the Victorian era.

The museum offers great insight into the past daily lives of ordinary people. It’s perfect for families, using sounds, smells, and tastes to give a true representation of the toys, chocolates, cereals and more of yesteryear.

Its amazing Time Tunnel takes you on an immersive cultural journey, illustrating how our brands have been shaped by cultural events and vice versa.

Booking: Tickets can be booked here , costing £9 for adults and £24 for a family of 4.

The Cartoon Museum

Hidden in the heart of London’s museum hotspot near Bloomsbury , The Cartoon Museum exhibits a range of original British editorial cartoons, caricatures and comics spanning hundreds of years of work.

Classic comics like The Beano and The Eagle sit alongside works from political satirists like James Gillray and William Hogarth. Meanwhile, temporary exhibitions shine a spotlight on trailblazing contemporary artists bringing new life to the artform.

The museum really aims to inspire and educate the next generation of cartoonists, offering a wealth of activities, competitions, and opportunities to school students and young people. In fact, a recent series of Cartoon Museum workshops gave young people the opportunity to create comics detailing their lives under lockdown. We love it.

Book: Tickets cost £8.50 and you can book here .

London Transport Museum

Covent Garden

It’s no secret that the London Transport Museum is one of our favourite small museums in London. The museum offers a fascinating exploration of the capital’s unique and world-famous transport system. 

The museum features exhibits on the buses, tubes and trains we are all familiar with nowadays as well as the trams, trolleybuses and horse-drawn carriages of historic London.

Special collections hone in on intriguing areas you might not think about in regards to London’s transport network, such as ‘London by Design’ which details how the iconic fonts, patterns, and posters found on London’s public transport came to life.

Other exhibitions give a vivid experience of how the transport system played its part during the First and Second World Wars, and a number of interactive installations make the museum perfect for curious youngsters.

Don’t miss the museum’s frequent ‘Hidden London’ exhibitions which gives you an immersive tour of the secret and forgotten places found on the Tube network under London’s streets.

Book: You need an annual pass to visit the London Transport Museum, which starts at £18.50. Learn more here .

Horniman Museum and Gardens

Forest Hill

A wonderfully diverse and unique institution, the Horniman Museum and Gardens is filled with collections on natural history, anthropology, musical instruments, and much more.

Established in 1901 by Frederick John Horniman, to accommodate his passion for collecting objects, the Grade II listed building is designed in Art Nouveau style and set in 16 acres of lush gardens. Among the 350,000 objects on show at the museum is an extensive collection of taxidermied animals including birds, insects, and mammals. 

However, if living animals are more your thing, don’t fret. The Animal Walk houses chickens, sheep, alpacas and more; you can interact with free-flying butterflies and moths at the Butterfly House; and there’s even an aquarium.

Book: The museum is free and you do not need to book ahead.

Museum of the Home

Located in trendy Shoreditch, the Museum of the Home takes you back through time as far as 1600 to explore the idea of the ‘home’.

The museum is based within a complex of Grade I listed 18th century almshouses, with the various rooms illustrating different historical styles of interior design and decoration. Sofas, wallpaper, and vacuum cleaners – anything you might find in a home – make up part of the 40,000 object collection.

An archive of ordinary people’s own testimonies and items on the idea of the home, ‘Documenting Homes’, offers a fascinating insight into the cultures and stories that make up our society.

Curated collections on food, housework, faith, and style make the Museum of the Home one of the best and most enlightening small museums in London.

Florence Nightingale Museum

The grounds of St. Thomas’ Hospital houses a space dedicated to one of the most famous nurses in history in the Florence Nightingale Museum .

Formed of three main collections, the museum relays the amazing life story of the ‘lady with the lamp’, from child, to nurse, to campaigner. 3,000 objects related to Nightingale are featured in the museum, including personal items such as the very same medicine chest the nurse took with her to Crimea.

A great hidden museum for children and adults alike to enjoy, the Florence Nightingale Museum offers a ‘Meet Miss Nightingale’ event on selected days, giving visitors the unique chance to hear the nurse’s life story from an actor in period dress.

Book: Tickets cost £10 and you can book here .

Practical Tips for Exploring Small Museums in London 

• Make sure to check the opening times of each museum, especially if you’re visiting one that doesn’t require booking. Many museums close on certain days of the week, so don’t miss out!
• These museums will be busier at the weekend. If you are able to visit on a weekday, you’ll have a bit more time and space to explore the collections.

Small Museums in London: Map 

Small Museums London: Read Next

• Brilliant Free Museums in London
• Unusual London Book
• Time to Discover: The Petrie Museum in London
• Weird and Wonderful Museums in London

LET'S GET SOCIAL!

London x London is the insider’s guide to discovering the best of London.

We delve into the cool, interesting and quirky spots that make London such a dynamic city, telling you the best things to do, eat and drink along the way. 

Tired of the same old dull suggestions? Want to know where to find London’s secret bars, tastiest eats and weirdest finds? We provide practical guides that help you do just that.

Find Out More

Recently Published

• Eltham Palace: Discovering South London’s Gorgeous Art Deco Secret
• Staying At: The Laslett, Notting Hill Review
• Carreras Cigarette Factory: A Curious Reminder of London’s Egyptian Art Deco Craze

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

I've been to more than 30 countries, but I'll always think this European city is the best destination for children of any age

• Of all the countries I've been to, I think London is the best place for kids of any age.
• My husband and I took our son to the city when he was a baby, a preteen, and a teenager.
• The city has many museums, parks, and other activities to entertain kids of all ages.

As a travel writer, one of my greatest loves is experiencing a new country , region, or city with my son. But one place has always been our favorite: London.

The city, which is projected to be the top summer travel destination in 2024 , is popular among tourists due to its iconic sites, gardens, and history. But if you ask me, London is also the best spot to bring your kids, especially if they range in age.

I've been to over 30 countries, and out of all of them, London is the place we chose to bring our child when he was a baby, a preteen, and a teenager.

From the city's amazing architecture to its bustling museums , there are plenty of activities to catch any kid's attention. Here's why I'll always believe London is a terrific destination for children of any age.

Transportation in London is usually a breeze

In my experience, arriving in and getting around London is pretty easy. The Heathrow Express, an airport rail link operating from London Heathrow Airport, can transport passengers to Paddington Station in 15 minutes or less.

Once in the city, we take the Tube, a rapid underground transit system, to get to the big sights. Children under 11 travel for free when accompanied by an adult, and discounts are available for older kids.

When my son was 11, he loved the Hop-On, Hop-Off bus, a touristy but fun experience that takes passengers to major city sights like Big Ben and the Tower of London. Passengers can get off the open-top double-decker vehicle anytime, take a tour, grab a bite to eat, and then continue their journey when the next bus comes.

I recommend getting a 48-hour pass because you can get a great city overview on the first day and then dig deeper into certain spots on the second.

Finally, in an emergency like an infant meltdown or a toddler tantrum, Ubers are almost always accessible.

The city is full of parks for children to play in

London has incredible green space for such a large city. Many of the city's parks are free to the public and are wonderful spots for kids to picnic, sightsee, and burn off energy.

Regent's Park has gorgeous gardens, a playground, and a lake. At Hyde Park, families with two adults and up to four children can swim in the Serpentine Lido for only £15, or about $19.

Related stories

Greenwich Park is another one of our favorites because it offers beautiful views of the River Thames and an expansive lawn surrounding the Royal Observatory and Prime Meridian.

There's no need to worry about a language barrier

I'm a seasoned traveler, but language barriers can still throw me for a loop. I always try to learn a few simple phrases, but not understanding a language and juggling a kid can cause a lot of stress.

In London, there's no need to worry about a language barrier. Though over 300 languages are spoken in the city, most people know English.

There might be different words for various objects — like "nappy" or "diaper" — but I've easily communicated with the people around us in London.

London is full of kid-friendly eateries

Each time we've traveled to London, I've seen terrific restaurant options for palates of all ages. For example, Gordon Ramsay's Bread Street Kitchen offers a deal so children 8 and under dine for free when ordering off the kids' menu.

Delicious international foods , such as Italian, Indian, Thai, and Ethiopian cuisine, are also available all over London. Fast-food chains like Simit Sarayi and Yo! Sushi are also located throughout the city.

We loved taking our son to sample sweets at Harrods' Food Halls and enjoy sandwiches and scones at St. Martin-in-the-Fields' Café in the Crypt in Trafalgar Square.

There are tons of entertaining museums that offer free admission

London offers nearly 200 museums for patrons to soak up the city's culture and history. They're the perfect places to seek shelter from rain or serve as quiet, interesting respites for a napping baby.

On our first family trip, we strolled our then 8-month-old son through several wings of The British Museum as he peacefully slept. When he was 11, we hit The British Library to marvel at the Magna Carta and checked out the artwork at the National Portrait Gallery.

On our most recent excursion, we watched as our 16-year-old perused the masterpieces at Tate Modern. Most of these museums offer free admission, great kids' activities, hands-on exhibitions, and terrific gift shops.

London is close to tons of easy day-trip options

If you're a traveler who needs a change of pace or scenery every few days, London is a gateway to several day-trip destinations. Places like Oxford, Cambridge, Bath, Birmingham, and Brighton are only a bus ride away.

Visiting cities like Paris , Brussels, and even Amsterdam in a single day is doable thanks to the Eurostar train, which runs through several Western European countries.

The bottom line: London's fun, full of great transportation options, and offers endless activities to entertain the entire family. It's truly a winner for kids of all ages.

• Main content