Museums in London

100+ London Museums

There are so many wonderful things about London. In fact, they’re countless. And, if you’re a resident, you might not even realize how good you have it until you travel and compare.

We’re devoting this blog post to museums in London. So, do you know that many of the best London museums are free? Now, you might expect that if you’re a museumgoer. But, look at any of our US museum pages, and you’ll see $20 or $30 price tags for a few hours in some museums that might even pale in comparison.

So, we’re excited to share three picks for excellent museums in London, and all three are free. However, that’s just the start, as we have a list of 100+ other museums throughout the area. Maybe we’ll even surprise you with a few you haven’t heard of yet!

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Three London Museums to Start

Science Museum in London, London Science Museum

Science Museum

Museums allow us to do two primary things: look forward and backward. At the Science Museum, your mind can race with the possibilities of the future. However, you can also understand the context in which such advances have arisen over the last three centuries.

Simulators and IMAX

Featuring an IMAX cinema, jet plane simulators, and all kinds of interactive galleries, the Science Museum is a must-see. With over 15,000 objects on display, you can get lost here for a whole day without seeing everything.

Best of all, entry is free for any visitor, local or tourist. However, charges apply to specific exhibitions and shows at the IMAX cinema, but they’re well worth the extra cost.

London Science Museum Hours

During the school holidays, the museum is open seven days a week—the rest of the year, you can visit Wednesday-Sunday, between 10 am and 6 pm. The building is fully accessible for wheelchairs and prams, with accessibility aids like subtitles and audio descriptions on all touch screens and exhibits.

The nearest tube station is South Kensington, only a short five-minute walk from the museum.

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Imperial War Museum in London

Imperial War Museum

Few things have rocked our world in recent history more than war. From the most remote conflicts in the modern world to the most significant battles of the 20th Century, the mark that war has left on contemporary society is indelible. The Imperial War Museum in London is the leading museum globally for this subject. Over a century old now and founded during the height of the First World War, you can find the voices of those who had none at this museum.

A fascinating look into the darker aspects of our history and a celebration of feats of engineering, it’s another London museum you don’t want to miss. With free entry except for some special exhibitions, you can visit the museum seven days a week, 10 am to 6 pm. The building does have full, unassisted access for wheelchairs, though some exhibits are not suitable for limited mobility visitors.

The museum is less than ten minutes from Lambeth North tube station, or Elephant and Castle.

Victoria and Albert Museum London

Victoria and Albert Museum

Celebrating 3,000 years of art and performance, the Victoria and Albert Museum is the must-see art museum in London. Housing a permanent collection of over 2 million objects, including architecture, painting, textiles, fashion, jewellery, and much more, there are few better treasures troves of art than this museum.

The permanent collection boasts such famous works as copies of Michelangelo’s David, and special exhibitions have seen displays courtesy of designers such as Carl Fabergé and his famous eggs.

Plan Your Visit

Entry is free, although booking a timeslot in advance is advisable to avoid disappointment. The museum’s vast displays could easily take a whole day to browse. You won’t go hungry, though, as you can get lunch in the café and shop for beautifully crafted items inspired by the collections.

There is wheelchair access as well as accessibility facilities. The Victoria and Albert Museum is a five-minute walk from the South Kensington tube station.

London Museums

London MuseumsAddressCityPostal CodeWebsite
Bank Of England MuseumBarthomolew LaneLondonEC2R 8AHhttps://www.bankofengland.co.uk/museum
Ben Uri Gallery and MuseumBoundary RoadLondonNW8 0RHhttps://benuri.org
Brainiac Live2 Charing Cross RdLondonWC2H 0HHhttps://brainiaclive.com
British Dental Museum64 Wimpole StLondonW1G 8YShttps://www.bda.org/museum
Burgh HouseNew End SquareLondonNW3 1LThttps://www.burghhouse.org.uk
Cecil Sharp House2 Regents Park RdLondonNW1 7AYhttps://www.efdss.org/cecil-sharp-house
Charles Dickens Museum48 Doughty StLondonWC1N 2LXhttps://dickensmuseum.com
Churchill War RoomsClive Steps King Charles StLondonSW1A 2AQhttps://www.iwm.org.uk
Cuming MuseumThe Old Town Hall, 151, Walworth RdLondonSE17 1RYhttps://www.southwark.gov.uk/events-culture-and-heritage/explore-culture-in-southwark/heritage-and-local-history/cuming-museum
Design Museum224-238 Kensington High StreetLondonW8 6AGhttps://designmuseum.org
Estorick Collection39a Canonbury SquareLondonN1 2ANhttps://www.estorickcollection.com
Faraday Museum at The Royal Institution of GB21 Albemarle StreetCity of WestminsterW1S 4BShttps://www.rigb.org
Fashion & Textile Museum83 Bermondsey StLondonSE1 3XFhttps://fashiontextilemuseum.org
Forty Hall EstateForty HillEnfieldEN2 9HAhttps://www.fortyhallestate.co.uk
Foundling Museum40 Brunswick SquareLondonWC1N 1AZhttps://foundlingmuseum.org.uk
Freedom Centre International38 Upper Wickham LaneWellingDA16 3ADhttps://www.fcichapel.org
Freud Museum20 Maresfield GardensLondonNW3 5SXhttps://www.freud.org.uk
Fulham PalaceBishops AvenueLondonSW6 6EAhttps://www.fulhampalace.org
Garden Museum5 Lambeth Palace RoadLondonSE1 7EUhttps://gardenmuseum.org.uk
Grant Museum Of Zoology21 University StLondonWC1E 6DEhttps://www.ucl.ac.uk/culture/grant-museum-zoology
Guatemalan Maya Centre94 Wandsworth Bridge RdLondonSW6 2TFhttp://maya.org.uk
Guildhall Art GalleryBasinghall StreetCity of LondonEC2V 5AGhttps://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/things-to-do/attractions-museums-entertainment/guildhall-galleries/guildhall-art-gallery
Hackney Museum1 Reading LaneLondonE8 1GQhttps://hackney-museum.hackney.gov.uk
Handel & Hendrix In London25 Brook StLondonW1K 4HBhttps://handelhendrix.org
Havering Museum19-21 High StRomfordRM1 1JUhttps://www.haveringmuseum.org.uk
Hire The Science MuseumExhibition RdLondonSW7 2DDhttps://www.hirethesciencemuseum.com
HMS BelfastBattle Bridge LaneLondonSE1 2JHhttps://www.iwm.org.uk
Horniman Museum and Gardens100 London RoadLondonSE23 3PQhttps://www.horniman.ac.uk
Houses of ParliamentBridge StreetCity of WestminsterSW1A 2JHhttps://www.rosindell.com
Hunterian Museums At The Royal College Of Surgeons35-43 Lincoln's Inn FieldsLondonWC2A 3PEhttps://www.rcseng.ac.uk/museums-and-archives/hunterian-museum
Imperial War MuseumLambeth RdLondonSE1 6HZhttps://www.iwm.org.uk
Jack The Ripper Museum12 Cable StLondonE1 8JGhttps://www.jacktherippermuseum.com
Jewish Museum129-131 Albert StLondonNW1 7NBhttps://jewishmuseum.org.uk
Leighton House Museum12 Holland Park RdLondonW14 8LZhttps://www.rbkc.gov.uk
Livesey Museum For Children682 Old Kent RdLondonSE15 1JFhttp://www.liveseymuseum.org.uk
London Canal Museum12-13 New Wharf Rd King's CrossLondonN1 9RThttps://www.canalmuseum.org.uk
London Film Museum45 Wellington StreetLondonWC2E 7BNhttps://www.harrypotteronlocation.co.uk
London Transport Museum35-39 Wellington StLondonWC2E 7BBhttps://www.ltmuseum.co.uk
M O C AM O C A 113 Bellenden RdLondonSE15 4QYhttps://www.moca.london
Madame Tussauds LondonMarylebone RdLondonNW1 5LRhttps://www.madametussauds.com/london
Merton Heritage CentreThe Canons, Madeira RdMitchamCR4 4HDhttps://www.merton.gov.uk
Museum Of Brands Packaging & Advertising111-117 Lancaster RdLondonW11 1QThttps://museumofbrands.com
Museum Of CroydonKatharine StCroydonCR9 1EThttps://museumofcroydon.com
Museum Of Cultural Arts22 Shepherds CloseRomfordRM6 5ADhttps://www.museumofculturalarts.co.uk
Museum of Freemasonry60 Great Queen StreetLondonWC2B 5AZhttps://museumfreemasonry.org.uk
Museum Of Immigration & Diversity - 19 Princelet Street19 Princelet StLondonE1 6QHhttps://www.19princeletstreet.org.uk/
Museum Of Methodism & John Wesley House49 City RoadLondonEC1Y 1AUhttps://www.wesleysheritage.org.uk/the-museum-of-methodism/
Museum of the Home136 Kingsland RoadLondonE2 8EAhttps://www.museumofthehome.org.uk
Museum Of The Order Of St JohnSt Johns Gate 26 St John's LaneLondonEC1M 4DAhttps://www.sja.org.uk
Museum Of The Royal Pharmaceutical Society1 Lambeth High StLondonSE1 7JNhttps://www.rpharms.com
National Army MuseumRoyal Hospital RdLondonSW3 4HThttp://www.national-army-museum.ac.uk
National GallerySt. Vincent House, 30, Orange StLondonWC2H 7HHhttps://www.nationalgallery.org.uk
National Maritime MuseumRomney RoadLondonhttps://www.rmg.co.uk
National Portrait Gallery2 St Martin's PlaceLondonWC2H 0HEhttp://www.npg.org.uk
Natural History MuseumCromwell RdLondonSW7 5BDhttps://www.nhm.ac.uk
Pendon MuseumHigh StreetLong SuttonPE12 9DBhttps://pendonmuseum.com
Petrie Museum Of Egyptian ArchaeologyMalet PlaceLondonWC1E 6BThttps://www.ucl.ac.uk/culture
Polish Institute & Sikorski Museum20 Princes GateLondonSW7 1PThttps://www.pism.co.uk
Ragged School Museum46-50 Copperfield RdLondonE3 4RRhttp://www.raggedschool.museum.org.uk
Royal Air Force Museum LondonGrahame Park WayLondonNW9 5QYhttps://www.rafmuseum.org.uk
Royal Armouries in the Tower of LondonHM Tower of LondonLondonEC3N 4ABhttps://royalarmouries.org/venue/white-tower/
Science MuseumExhibition RdLondonSW7 2DDhttps://www.sciencemuseum.org.uk
Science Museum LibraryDana Research Centre And Library, 165 Queen's GateLondonSW7 5HDhttps://www.sciencemuseum.org.uk
Sir John Soane's Museum13 Lincoln's Inn FieldsLondonWC2A 3BPhttps://www.soane.org
Somerset HouseStrandCity of WestminsterWC2R 1HHhttps://www.somersethouse.org.uk/
TateMillbankLondonSW1P 4RGhttps://www.tate.org.uk
The Bethlem Art & History Collections TrustMonks Orchard RdBeckenhamBR3 3BXhttps://www.museumslondon.org/museum/145/bethlem-museum-of-the-mind
The British Dental Museum63-64 Wimpole StreetCity of WestminsterW1http://bda.org
The British MuseumGreat Russell StreetLondonWC1B 3PPhttps://www.britishmuseum.org
The Brunel MuseumRailway AvenueLondonSE16 4LFhttps://thebrunelmuseum.com
The Cartoon Museum63 Wells StreetCity of WestminsterW1A 3AEhttp://cartoonmuseum.org
The Chocolate Museum187 Ferndale RoadLondonSW9 8BAhttps://www.thechocolatemuseum.co.uk/
The Clink Prison Museum1 Clink StLondonSE1 9DGhttps://www.clink.co.uk
The Courtauld GalleryStrandCity of WestminsterWC2R 0RNhttps://courtauld.ac.uk
The Design Museum224-238 Kensington High StLondonW8 6AGhttps://designmuseum.org
The Fan Museum12 Crooms HillLondonSE10 8ERhttps://www.thefanmuseum.org.uk
The Fusilier MuseumTower HillLondonEC3N 4ABhttps://fusiliermuseumlondon.org/home
The Garden Museum5 Lambeth Palace RdLondonSE1 7LBhttps://gardenmuseum.org.uk
The Geffrye Museum Of The Home136 Kingsland Rd HoxtonLondonE2 8EAhttps://www.museumofthehome.org.uk
The Grant Museum Of Zoology UclThe Darwin Building, Gower StLondonWC1E 6BThttps://www.ucl.ac.uk/culture
The Guards MuseumWellington BarracksLondonSW1E 6HQhttps://theguardsmuseum.com
The Hermitage Development TrustSomerset House, StrandLondonWC2R 1LAhttp://www.hermitagerooms.org.uk
The Household Cavalry MuseumHorse Guards WhitehallLondonSW1A 2AXhttps://www.householdcavalrymuseum.org.uk
The Museum of Everything4 Chiltern StreetCity of WestminsterW1U 7QWhttps://www.gallevery.com
The National GalleryTrafalgar SquareCity of WestminsterWC2http://nationalgallery.org.uk
The Queen's Gallery, Buckingham PalaceAmbassador's CourtCity of WestminsterSW1A 1AAhttps://www.rct.uk
The Ragged School Museum46-50 Copperfield RoadLondonE3 4RRhttps://www.raggedschoolmuseum.org.uk
The Sherlock Holmes Museum221b Baker StLondonNW1 6XEhttps://www.sherlock-holmes.co.uk
The Space Centre94 Judd StLondonWC1H 9NThttps://www.thespacecentre.com
The Wallace CollectionHertford House Manchester SquareLondonW1U 3BNhttps://www.wallacecollection.org
The Wallace RestaurantManchester SquareLondonW1U 3BNhttps://www.peytonandbyrne.co.uk
The Wellingborough Museum12 Castle WayWellingboroughNN8 1XBhttps://www.wellingborough.gov.uk/info/200070/museums_and_galleries/844/wellingborough_museum
The William Morris SocietyKelmscott House 26 Upper MallLondonW6 9TAhttps://morrissociety.org
Type Museum100 Hackford RdLondonSW9 0QUhttp://www.typearchive.org
UCL Art MuseumGower StreetLondonWC1E 6BPhttps://www.ucl.ac.uk
V & A Museum of Art and DesignCambridge Heath RoadLondonE2 9LHhttps://www.vam.ac.uk
V & A Museum Of ChildhoodCambridge Heath RdLondonE2 9PAhttps://www.vam.ac.uk/info/young
Valence House MuseumBecontree AvenueDagenhamRM8 3HThttps://valencehousecollections.co.uk
Vestry House MuseumVestry RoadLondonE17https://vestryhousemuseum.org.uk
Victoria & Albert MuseumCromwell RdLondonSW7 2RLhttps://www.vam.ac.uk
Wandle Industrial MuseumThe Vestry Hall Annexe London RdMitchamCR4 3UDhttp://www.wandle.org
Wellington Museum28 Fore StreetWellingtonTA21 8AQhttps://www.wellingtonmuseum.org.uk

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Frequently Asked Questions

What are some of the best museums in London?

It’s impossible to narrow the list to the absolute best London museums. We have more than 100 on our list alone! However, a few of the most-visited include the National Gallery, British Museum, Victoria and Albert Museum, Tate Gallery, and Natural History Museum.

Can you share a few of the more unusual London museums?

Some of the more unique museums in London include the Jack the Ripper Museum, Madame Tussauds Wax Museum, the Sherlock Holmes Museum, Freud Museum, Handel & Hendrix in London, the Cartoon Museum, and Chocolate Museum.

What’s the Oldest Museum in London?

There’s some debate on which is the oldest museum in London, as some publications list the British Museum. The British Museum opened its doors in 1759, so it’s got some longevity. However, the Royal Armouries in the Tower of London opened its doors to visitors in 1660. So, it’s not just the oldest museum in London, but one of the oldest visitor attraction globally.