London is a haven for museum enthusiasts, offering a diverse range of cultural, historical, and artistic experiences. With world-renowned institutions that house extensive collections, the city provides an enriching and captivating journey through time. Here, we present a summary of the best museums in London that are sure to leave you inspired and enlightened.
The British Museum stands as a treasure trove of human history, housing an astonishing array of artifacts from civilizations across the globe. From the Rosetta Stone to the Elgin Marbles, its collection is truly awe-inspiring.
For those with an affinity for art, the Tate Modern is a must-visit. Located on the banks of the River Thames, it showcases contemporary and modern art from renowned artists, with its expansive galleries hosting a diverse range of thought-provoking exhibitions.
The Victoria and Albert Museum, often referred to as the V&A, is a haven for lovers of design, fashion, and decorative arts. Its vast collection spans centuries and continents, featuring everything from exquisite ceramics to stunning fashion garments.
The Natural History Museum offers an immersive exploration of the natural world, with captivating exhibits such as dinosaur skeletons, a blue whale skeleton, and interactive displays that educate and engage visitors of all ages.
The Science Museum is a haven for scientific discovery, featuring interactive exhibits that make learning about the wonders of science and technology both fun and engaging.
Finally, the Museum of London presents the fascinating history of the city itself, from its humble beginnings to its rise as a global metropolis. Through artifacts, interactive displays, and immersive exhibitions, visitors can delve into the rich tapestry of London’s past.
These museums are just a glimpse into London’s cultural wealth, offering something for every curiosity and interest. Embark on a journey through time, art, science, and history as you explore the best museums in London, where enlightenment and inspiration await.
#1 London Science Museum
The Science Museum, which was established in 1857, is one of the most celebrated London attractions. Located on South Kensington’s Exhibition Road, the museum plays host to as many as 3.3 million tourists every year. Like all the other publicly funded museums of the country, this one also doesn’t charge the tourists for admission.
However, if you want to check out any temporary exhibition, you will need to pay an entry fee. South Kensington tube station is about 5 minutes walk.
#2 Churchill War Rooms London
The Churchill War rooms are an amazing look into British life during World War II with the original underground war rooms and bunker remaining intact under the London streets of Whitehall. In this underground nerve centre, Winston Churchill and his cabinet help to direct British actions during the Second World War.
This museum is packed full of some amazing artifacts of war and is also packed full of information about the legacy of Churchill from his childhood through to his rousing wartime speeches that were inspirational to British morale during the war. Try one of the amazing Tours.
#3 London Transport Museum
The London Transport Museum is located in the heart of Covent Garden and showcases the history of the English Capital and the endless link between city and transport that continues in the 21st century.
Some of the main highlights of the museum include the world first underground steam train as well as a wooden Railway coach that was converted to electricity in 1901. Learn about the iconic underground map by Frank Pick which has been copied by most subway systems around the world, he also created the bar and circle logo that you will still see everywhere during your stay in London.
There is also an iconic red London bus as well as a great interactive area for younger kids. The best way to get to the London Transport Museum is using modern day public transport and getting off at Covent Garden underground station. Buy Tickets for the London Transport Museum
#4 The British Museum London
The British Museum is located in the London area of Bloomsbury and has a permanent collection of almost 8 million different artifacts. It is one of the largest museums of it kind in the world.
A lot of the artifacts on display were collected during the reign of the British Empire making some of the pieces quite controversial with their original owners.
Like most of London’s museums, The British Museum is free to enter and is a great place for visiting tourists of all nationalities and extremely popular with adults and children.
The easiest way to get to the British Museum is using the London Underground, The nearest tube stations are Tottenham Court Road, Holborn and Russell Square which are all within an easy walk of the museum.
#5 The London Natural History Museum
The Natural History Museum is one of the best Museums in London and is home to over 80 million specimens spanning billions of years of Earth evolution.
This FREE museum is extremely popular and attract more than 5 million visitors annually. The museum is split into five different types of collections botany, entomology, mineralogy, paleontology and zoology.
The London Natural History Museum has been in its current location on Cromwell Rd Kensington since 1881 and one of the stand out attractions is the 25.2-metre female whale skeleton which spans 3 levels. This museum will keep the kids happy for hours even if you have already visited the British Museum.
We recommend it for anyone interested in museums and it is a great attraction for visiting families. Like a lot of London’s Museums, the Natural History Museum offers free entry, however to get the most out of the museum it might be worth booking a guided tour.
#6 London Tate Modern
The Tate Modern is a free national gallery of international modern art that is based in a former Power station in Southwalk. The gallery holds a collection of modern art from 1900 to today and is the largest of its kind in the world. The Tate Modern is free to enter however you are required to buy tickets for some of the temporary exhibitions. The gallery hosts works by some of the 20th centuries greatest artists including Picasso, Rothko, Dali and Matisse.
Getting to the Tate Modern is easy and the closest tube stations are Blackfriars and Southwalk. The Millennium Bridge and Shakespeare’s Globe are other attractions nearby. Tate Modern Gallery is free to enter however you can book one of the Guided Tours to get more information about the amazing art on display.
#7 National Gallery London
The National Gallery London is an Art Gallery museum located in Trafalgar Square and home to more than 2,300 paintings. The biggest highlight of the collection of this gallery is that it includes works of artists from every era between the mid 13th century and the early 1900s.
Here, you will get to see works of almost every top Western European painter born during the period mentioned above. The most prominent names among them include Van Gogh, Raphael, Van Eyck, Leonardo da Vinci, Renoir, Van Dyck, Degas and Turner.
#8 London National Maritime Museum
A visit to the National Maritime Museum is a must for all those who are fans of stories of human endeavor and exploration. Here, you will get to learn about British heroes like Admiral Horatio Nelson. You will get to know about his performance as the flag officer of the Royal Navy and see his final uniform.
Nelson wore the uniform during his final triumph at the Battle of Trafalgar; sadly, he was killed during the same battle. The museum has a range of different ticketed and free events all through the year. These include lectures delivered by curators, seasonal celebrations, music nights, etc. You will also get to spend some relaxing time at one of its cafes.
The National Maritime Museum is located in Park Row, Greenwich. The two nearest rail stations of the museum are Greenwich and Maze Hill.
#9 HMS Belfast London
The HMS Belfast is a historic warship that was originally built for Britain’s Royal Navy. This iconic vessel who was a survivor of several major battles is now permanently moored as a museum ship on the River Thames in London. The family will love exploring the 9 decks of this mighty vessel including interactive games and an amazing 360 degree view of London from the flag deck.
The HMS Belfast museum is run by the Imperial War Museum and family tickets are available for between $40-$50. The HMS Belfast is free to enter if you have a London Pass.
#10 The Cutty Sark, London
The Cutty Sark is a British tea clipper ship that was built in Scotland in 1869 and her maiden voyage was in 1870 from London to Shanghai. Tea Clippers were designed to offer fast transport of tea and other goods from China to England and the Cutty Sark was one of the fastest.
This impressive sailing ship now stands as a museum near the banks of the River Thames outside the National Maritime Museum in Greenwich. A great attraction for families who can board, meet the crew and learn about the ships history and dangers of life at sea. It is recommended that you visit by using the Docklands Light Rail station located nearby. You can also catch one of the many river ferries and cruises that make the regular trip to Greenwich.
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