“Museums in London” or “London in museums”, won't be far off saying this considering the sheer number of museums London is home to. So believe us when we say that compiling this list of museums in London was a task. Having said that, though, we are sure that you will find our picks for the best museums in London very useful for you whenever you decide to explore the city.
So without further ado, here are some of the best museums in London that you can visit.
British Museum London
Address: British Museum, Great Russell Street, London WC1B 3DG
Website: britishmuseum.org
Timings: Everyday 10 am - 5 pm
Entry Fee: Admission is free for all, exhibitions might cost extra
Starting off the list of museums in London undoubtedly is the iconic British Museum. Enter the renowned museum, where you may see its incredible collection of historical artefacts from all around the world, many of which are unique.
The Parthenon sculptures, the Rosetta Stone, and Egyptian mummies are among the highlights of this museum. This is perhaps the most famous museum in London, so plan your visit well in advance to ensure you get to see this museum in London.
Science Museum London
Address: Exhibition Rd, South Kensington, London SW7 2DD, United Kingdom
Website: sciencemuseum.org
Timings: Everyday 10 am - 5 pm
Entry Fee: Admission is free for all, exhibitions and the IMAX show might cost extra
The Scientific Museum in London receives the most visitors of any science and technology museum in Europe. Over 15,000 items are on exhibit, including well-known items like the Soyuz TMA-19M descent module, which brought astronaut Tim Peake back to Earth from the International Space Station, and a genuine chunk of the Moon.
Natural History Museum London
Address: Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, South Kensington, London SW7 5BD
Website: nhm.ac.uk
Timings: Everyday 10 am - 5 pm
Entry Fee: Admission is free for all, exhibitions might cost extra
Explore Earth's past in the galleries of the Natural History Museum in London, which feature one-of-a-kind artefacts from the museum's collection of more than 80 million items dating back 4.5 billion years. At the Natural History Museum in South Kensington, the enormous blue whale skeleton in Hintze Hall, the fossils in the gallery's internationally renowned Dinosaurs section, and meteorites from space are among the top attractions.
Victoria and Albert Museum in London
Address: Victoria and Albert Museum, Cromwell Road, London SW7 2RL
Website: vam.ac.uk
Timings: Everyday 10 am - 5:45 pm
Entry Fee: Admission is free for all, exhibitions might cost extra
Visit the Victoria & Albert Museum in London to experience one of the top museums in London and the world for art, design, and performance. Objects honouring many styles of craftsmanship can be seen in abundance at the V&A. Additionally, it hosts an outstanding roster of passing exhibits, including popular exhibitions on popular fashion designers and cultural movements.
There are 2.3 million items in the V&A's permanent collection. Examples of international fashion, textiles, jewellery, ceramics, painting, sculpture, and architecture are all available.
The Freud Museum in London
Address: 20 Maresfield Gardens, London NW3 5SX
Website: freud.org
Timings: Wednesday to Sunday, 10:30 pm - 5 pm
Entry Fee: For adults: £14 per ticket
Concession Ticket: £4 per ticket
The Freud Museum in London, situated in the former residence of the renowned psychotherapist, allows visitors to enter Sigmund Freud's study and view his famous couch. The museum also includes some of his papers, journals and incomplete works available on display. Step into this museum and who knows, you might come up with your own theory here.
Tate Gallery and Museum
Address: Tate Modern, Bankside, London SE1 9TG
Website: tate.org
Timings: Everyday 10 am - 6 pm
Entry Fee: Admission is free for all
Modern and contemporary art is on display at the Tate Modern, a free national museum in London. Visit free exhibits at the Turbine Hall featuring works by Picasso, Rothko, Dali, and Matisse, as well as the most recent expansive installation. One of the most aesthetically pleasing museums in London, the Tate is a treat for shutterbugs.
Sir John Soane’s Museum
Address: Sir John Soane's Museum, 13 Lincoln's Inn Fields, Holborn, London WC2A 3BP
Website: soane.org
Timings: Wednesday to Sunday, 10 am - 5 pm
Entry Fee: Admission is free for all, exhibitions might cost extra
Visit the Sir John Soane Museum in London to learn more about the designer of the former Bank of England building. Aside from antiquities, Hogarth and Turner artwork, the sarcophagus of King Seti I, and about 30,000 architectural blueprints, the house has been abandoned for nearly 180 years.
Museum of London
Address: Museum of London, 150 London Wall, London EC2Y 5HN
Website: museumoflondon.org
Timings: Everyday 10 am - 6 pm
Entry Fee: Admission is free for all
Another great museum in London where you get a chance to learn about the history of legendary vehicles and the first Underground steam train in the world and explore the 1890s-era railway carriage known as the "padded cell." You can also explore Harry Beck's original drawing for his revolutionary London Underground map and follow the evolution of the iconic roundel transport symbol.
London Transport Museum
Address: London Transport Museum, Covent Garden, London WC2E 7BB
Website: ltmuseum.co
Timings: Everyday 10 am - 6 pm
Entry Fee: For adults: £21 per ticket
Concession Ticket: £20 per ticket
The London Transport Museum displays notable designs and transportation memorabilia, such as the red London bus and the very first Tube map. Discover the evolution of transportation in London at this museum which is perhaps the most well-known transport museum in London and the UK.
Museum of Brands
Address: Museum of Brands, 111-117 Lancaster Road, Notting Hill, London W11 1QT
Website: museumofbrands.com
Timings: Monday to Saturday: 10 am to 6 pm, Sunday and bank holidays: 11 am to 5 pm
Entry Fee: For adults: £9 per ticket
The Museum of Brands in Notting Hill will engulf you in a swirl of pictures and recognisable companies. Discover the evolution of brands and our own evolution by travelling through the time tunnel. From the Victorian era to the present, this museum in London takes visitors on an immersive visual journey that explores how social and cultural changes have affected everything from consumer culture to the wrapper of a chocolate bar.
Imperial War Museum
Address: Imperial War Museum, Lambeth Road, London SE1 6HZ
Website: iwm.org.uk
Timings: Everyday 10 am - 6 pm
Entry Fee: Admission is free for all, exhibitions might cost extra
IWM London is perhaps the world's most renowned museum of war. It was established during World War I to give voice to the unusual experiences of everyday people who were compelled to live in a war-torn world. Step inside the renowned atrium to see award-winning exhibits that have the ability to move, inspire, and transform you as you learn about the ongoing impact of war on the world, from the First World War to the present.
Charles Dickens Museum
Address: 48-49 Doughty St, London WC1N 2LX
Website: dickensmuseum.com
Timings: Tuesday to Sunday 10 pm - 5 pm
Entry Fee: For adults: £9 per ticket
Concession Ticket: £6 per ticket
Expect some twists in this museum in London. The largest collection of Dickens-related items is preserved at the Charles Dickens Museum and includes letters, photographs, first editions, furniture, mementoes, and meticulously reconstructed rooms. The renowned author lived here from 1837 to 1839, and it was in this residence at 48 Doughty Street that he penned his masterpiece Oliver Twist, forging his reputation as one of Britain's greatest storytellers.
Design Museum
Address: The Design Museum, 224-238 Kensington High Street, London W8 6AG
Website: designmuseum.org
Timings: Everyday 10 am - 6 pm
Entry Fee: Admission is free for all, exhibitions might cost extra
A fabulous museum in London that focuses only on modern design in all its forms. They provide anything from transient exhibits to bookable pop-ups and displays. This is perhaps the most well-known and designed dedicated museum in London, you can indulge yourself in this colourful and vibrant museum.
National Maritime Museum
Address: Romney Rd Greenwich London SE10 9NF
Website: rmg.co.uk
Timings: Everyday 10 am - 5 pm
Entry Fee: Admission is free for all, exhibitions might cost extra
A tribute to everything nautical and a trove of memorabilia, art, maps, and artefacts related to the sea. This museum in London is a part of the Royal Museums, Greenwich, which also houses the Royal Observatory, Cutty Sark clipper ship, and Queen's House gallery, to be astounded by almost 2.5 million historical objects, including Admiral Nelson's Trafalgar uniform.
Horniman Museum and Gardens
Address: Horniman Museums and Gardens, 100 London Road, Forest Hill, London SE23 3PQ
Website: horniman.ac.uk
Timings: Everyday 10 am - 5:30 pm and 7 am - 8:50 pm for the gardens
Entry Fee: Admission is free for all
As a result of The Horniman's remote Address (almost an hour outside of central London), you can anticipate plenty of delightful breathing room at a museum in London that would otherwise be crowded.
With its rising clock tower, the enormous structure resembles an extremely elaborate railroad station and is encircled by 16 acres of gardens. Large natural history and anthropological displays, an aquarium, tastefully designed gardens that seem untamed, and a stunning Victorian conservatory are all present.
Fashion and Textile Museum
Address: Fashion and Textile Museum, 83 Bermondsey Street, Bermondsey, London SE1 3XF
Website: ftmlondon.org
Timings: Tuesday to Saturday from 11 am - 6 pm
Entry Fee: For adults: £9.90 per ticket
Concession Ticket: £6 - £7 per ticket
Zandra Rhodes, a pioneering figure in British design, established the Fashion and Textile Museum. It houses cutting-edge collections of modern clothing, textiles, and jewellery. The history of fashion as well as the newest trends in clothing, jewellery, and accessories are on display in an engaging programme of changing exhibitions. This museum in London is all things fashion.
Leighton House
Address: Leighton House, 12 Holland Park Road, London W14 8LZ
Website: leightonhouse.co
Timings: Wednesday to Monday from 10 am - 5:30 pm
Entry Fee: For adults: £9 per tiicket
Concession Ticket: £7 per ticket
The museum in London once served as the London residence of artist Frederic Leighton, 1st Baron Leighton (1830–1896), who hired architect and designer George Aitchison to construct him a combined home and studio notable for its use of tiles and other items bought in the Near East to construct a magnificent Qa'a (room).
Museum of Comedy, Bloomsbury
Address: Museum of Comedy, St George's Church, Bloomsbury Way, London WC1A 2SR
Website: museumofcomedy.com
Timings: Everyday 6 pm - 10:30 pm
Entry Fee: For adults£4 per ticket
Without knowing what makes its people laugh, is it possible to comprehend a culture? One Ronnie at a time, the Museum of Comedy is on a quest to introduce us to the components that, when combined, make up the British sense of humour. It's more of a reference library than a museum, and it has hours and hours of nonstop humour literally in the form of every book, DVD, VHS, and LP that exists.
Museum of London Docklands
Address: No 1, West India Quay, Hertsmere Rd, London E14 4AL
Website: museumoflondon.org
Timings: Everyday 10 am - 6 pm
Entry Fee: Admission is free for all
The Museum of London Docklands houses all manner of objects charting London’s history as a port. Exhibits found within this 200-year-old warehouse include Sailortown, recreating what life was like in 19th-century London, Sugar & Slavery, and about the capital’s role in the transatlantic slave trade.
Bank of England Museum
Address: Bartholomew Ln, London EC2R 8AH
Website: bankofengland.co
Timings: Monday to Thursday 10 pm - 5 pm
Entry Fee: Admission is free for all
Discover how the Bank of England evolved from its founding by royal charter in 1694 to its development into England's central bank by taking a behind-the-scenes tour of the organisation. Check out historical accounts of the financial sector and economy and see how over time it has transformed.
Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Museum
Address: Church Rd, London SW19 5AF
Website: wimbledon.com
Timings: Everyday 10 am - 5 pm
Entry Fee: Adult: £25 per ticket
Concession: £21 ticket
Visit Wimbledon's backstage area to learn more about the sport's origins in the UK. Learn about the players who gained fame there while taking a tour of the renowned fields. This museum is the largest dedicated tennis museum in the world. A treat for not just tennis but all sports lovers in general.
London Canal Museum
Address: 12/13 New Wharf Rd, London N1 9RT
Website: canalmuseum.org
Timings: Tuesday to Sunday 10 am - 4:30 pm
Entry Fee: Adult: £6 per ticket
Concession: £5 ticket
Learn how the canals were constructed, what was transported on them, who lived and worked there, and how horses were crucial to the functioning of the canal ships. When you step inside a narrowboat cabin, you may experience what it's like to live on the canals. This museum in London, which is located in a former ice warehouse, also chronicles London's ice industry. Take a look inside a Victorian ice well that was used to store ice that was shipped from Norway by boat to keep London cold.
The Postal Museum
Address: The Postal Museum, 15-20 Phoenix Place, London WC1X 0DA
Website: postalmuseum.org
Timings: Wednesday to Sunday 10 am - 5 pm
Entry Fee: Adult: £16 per ticket
Concession: £11 ticket (For 16-24 years old)
At a museum devoted to the postal service, journey through London's first "social network" in the past. This kid-friendly museum demonstrates how the ability to send, receive and convey communications via mail revolutionised society. Ride the Mail Rail through the stations and tunnels of London's century-old postal line for some extra entertainment.
The Garden Museum
Address: 5 Lambeth Palace Rd, London SE1 7LB
Website: gardenmuseum.org
Timings: Everyday 10 am - 5 pm
Entry Fee: Adult: £10 per ticket
Concession: £5 ticket
The Garden Museum in London chronicles the development of gardening, from the first garden designs to the most recent garden gnomes. The exhibits feature pieces from the collections of the 16th-century naturalist John Tradescant, brand-new works of art by modern and historic artists that are inspired by gardens, as well as information about illustrious gardens. The museum also houses a store, cafe, and garden that you can explore.
Royal Air Force Museum London
Address: Grahame Park Way, London NW9 5LL
Website: rafmuseum.org
Timings: Everyday 10 am - 5 pm
Entry Fee: Admission is free for all, but exhibitions might cost extra
The Royal Air Force Museum in London will take you on a historical flight through aviation. Explore the incredible collection of more than 100 aircraft, find out about the first balloon flight, and put your piloting prowess to the test in a 4D flying experience.
Not in London, but I still wish to visit some amazing museums, no need to worry. Check out our blogs 20 Best Museums in Nottingham, 15 Best Museums In Bristol and 25 Best Museums In Manchester.
And there you have it, folks, our picks for some of the best museums in London and as you might have noticed, most of them are absolutely free of cost, so you need not worry about your budget (p.s if you’re having trouble budgeting then our guide to budgeting as a student might help, no need to thank us). We hope that this compilation of some of the best museums in London provides you with the necessary information needed to head out and explore them all.
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