The city of London has been around for over two thousand years. This means that London has an incredibly diverse selection of museums to choose from. It would be impossible to visit them all in one trip!
There are many free museums in London, making both an insightful and affordable activity to partake in. Museums account for many of the top attractions in London and, with so many great options, you’ll need to choose which to fit in your itinerary.
As a London local, I’ve put together this list of my favorite museums, so you can plan your itinerary around which ones strike your fancy.
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Best Museums in London
The British Museum
England’s largest museum, unveiling 8 million works of human history and culture.
📍 Google Maps | British Museum Website | Cost: Free General Admission with the exception of special exhibits that require paid-for tickets | Hours: 10 am – 5 pm Monday-Thursday, Saturday & Sunday, 10 am – 8:30 pm Friday
The British Museum is an institution for art, culture, and human history, located in central London. It is home to the biggest collection of works in England, and one of the largest in the world.
There are many free exhibitions in the museum from the permanent collection, as well as temporary exhibitions that you can book paid tickets for. The British Museum is located in Bloomsbury, closely accessible to many of the other sites and attractions in London. It’s a must-see on your London itinerary.
The British Museum also has a number of dining options where you can stop in for a quick bite after exploring the collections, from cafes to takeaway eats, pizza, and a restaurant. This is a great place to explore on your own or with friends and family.
The Tate Modern
Funky modern art museum with quirky exhibits and special events including the famous Tate Lates with live music and drinks.
📍 Google Maps | Tate Modern Website | Cost: Free General Admission with the exception of special exhibits that require paid-for tickets | Hours: 10 am – 6 pm daily
The Tate Modern is a great modern art museum along the embankment, not far from London Bridge. Spend the day walking along the waterfront and stop in to enjoy some modern art any day of the week.
The Tate is home to art that ranges from as old as 100 years to pieces from today. It hosts a number of temporary exhibits that feature famous artists from around the world, such as Yayoi Kusamas ‘Infinity Mirrors’, and paintings from Philip Guston.
On Fridays, once a month you can experience live music and beverages while The Tate extends its hours for its famous ‘Tate Lates’ events. These events are a great choice for a romantic London date night!
The Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A)
Aesthetically pleasing museum specializing in fashion, art, and design with an amazing gift shop.
📍 Google Maps | Victoria and Albert Museum Website | Cost: Free General Admission with the exception of special exhibits that require paid-for tickets | Hours: 10 am – 5:45 pm Monday-Thursday, Saturday & Sunday, 10 am – 10 pm Friday
The Victoria and Albert Museum, otherwise known as the V&A is an aesthetically pleasing collection of works inspired by fashion, art, and design. The exhibits over the years have paid homage to a number of fashion icons including Gabrielle Chanel, Cristóbal Balenciaga, Alexander McQueen, and many others.
The Victoria and Albert Museum has free entry, with a recommended donation option, and exclusive paid-for exhibits. You can visit the V&A (plus the many other museums with free entry) and still do London on a budget.
I would highly recommend this specific museum for fashion lovers. Make sure you don’t leave the V&A without browsing their gift shop filled with unique goods of everything from jewelry to posters inspired by the famous exhibits.
The Wallace Collection
An extensive collection of 18th & 19th-century works situated in a stunning old house.
📍 Google Maps | The Wallace Collection Website | Cost: Free General Admission with the exception of special exhibits that require paid-for tickets | Hours: 10 am – 5 pm daily
Set in the stunning Hertford House in Marylebone, The Wallace Collection is a lovely collection of exhibits that include paintings, sculptures, furniture, arms and armour, and porcelain.
Outback at The Wallace Collection, you can enjoy breakfast, lunch, coffee, snacks, and cream tea while basking in the lovely courtyard café after enjoying some of the great exhibits.
In case you don’t get the chance to visit in person, you can enjoy the experience of two of the exhibitions from the comfort of your hotel or home virtually on the website.
London Transport Museum
Fascinating museum on the history of urban transport, including a vintage London vehicle collection.
📍 Google Maps | London Transport Museum Website | Cost: $30 for Adults, Free for Kids (discounted rates offered to locals living in specific boroughs) | Hours: 10 am – 6 pm daily
The London Transport Museum is a great spot to learn about the history of the world-famous London Underground, double-decker buses, and the oldest tube stations.
The London Transport Museum is a unique exhibition, unlike any other museum in London. You will walk away with fun facts from over 200 years of London’s transport history. You will have the opportunity to go behind the scenes of historical underground stations that are not open to the public.
This museum is perfect for families and anyone who has a knack for history, transport, and urban development.
Museum of London Docklands
Learn about the history of London as a trading port at this unique museum.
📍 Google Maps | Museum of London Docklands Website | Cost: Free | Hours: 10 am – 5 pm daily
The Museum of London Docklands is a unique adventure into the history of London’s trading hub. You’ll have the chance to participate in interactive exhibits, making it a fun and engaging history lesson for the whole family.
The Museum of London Docklands is a free museum, which is perfect if you’re looking to do some activities on a budget. There are a number of permanent galleries to explore topics such as the trade expansion, docklands at war, the expansion that changed London’s river and port, and many more.
Tower of London
A medieval castle in the heart of the city of London filled with history, the crown jewels, and beefeaters.
📍 Google Maps | Tower of London Website | Cost: $42 for Adults, $21 for Children aged 5-15 | Hours: 10 am – 5:30 pm Monday & Sunday, 9 am – 5:30 pm Tuesday-Saturday (last admission is 3:30 pm)
Tower of London, located a stone’s throw away from London’s Tower Hill tube station, is one of London’s Historic Royal Palaces.
This medieval castle is the only place in London where you can view the world-famous crown jewels, some of which are still regularly used by the monarch for special national ceremonies. Keep your eyes peeled for the ‘In Use’ signs to spot the jewels that are still being worn today.
The Tower of London is a great spot to see some sparkly gems and brush up on your knowledge of their history in a historic castle setting.
Battersea Power Station – Power of Place Exhibit
A look into the history of London’s iconic Battersea Power Station located in a refurbished building that is now a cool industrial shopping centre.
📍 Google Maps | Power of Place Exhibition Website | Cost: Free | Hours: 10 am – 9 pm Monday-Saturday, 12 pm – 6 pm Sunday
The Battersea Power Station is a unique attraction. After decades of disuse, the home to a fifth of London’s electricity reopened in 2022 as a refurbished industrial shopping centre. Within this space, you will find a special exhibit called ‘Power of the Place’, where you can learn all about the history of this power-fuelled building.
You can make a day out of your visit to Battersea Power Station, and it’s a great area to go with friends, family, or a partner to enjoy some delicious food, and drinks, and learn a bit about the history of one of London’s most iconic historic buildings.
Imperial War Museum
A WWI institution with recreations of trenches, tanks, planes, and other military paraphernalia.
📍 Google Maps | Imperial War Museum Website | Cost: Free | Hours: 10 am – 6 pm daily
The Imperial War Museum is for all you World War I history buffs out there. By visiting this museum, you will get an up close look at the war through the eyes of the people who lived it.
You’ll have the opportunity to view and explore re-created trenches, tanks, planes, and other items that were used in the war, learning about each item as you go along. I would highly recommend the Imperial War Museum to anyone looking to brush up on their world history.
Royal Observatory Greenwich
Royal Observatory is home to Greenwich Mean Time, a planetarium, and the world’s Prime Meridian.
📍 Google Maps | Royal Observatory Greenwich Website | Cost: $22 for Adults, $11 for Kids | Hours: 10 am – 5 pm daily (last entry is 4:15 pm)
Located in a majestic building in beautiful Greenwich, the Royal Observatory immerses you in everything to do with the planet, including state-of-the-art satellites that are monitoring climate change.
Other cool things to explore at the Royal Observatory include the Prime Meridian, where you can physically stand on two hemispheres at once. This is a fun activity to bring the family along, as you learn about the story behind Greenwich Mean Time (GMT).
👉 Local Tip: Greenwich Mean Time was used as the basis for the USA’s national time zone system.
The Design Museum
Located next to Holland Park in West London, this museum displays cutting-edge and everyday design and innovation.
📍 Google Maps | Design Museum Website | Cost: Free General Admission except for special exhibits that require paid-for tickets | Hours: 10 am – 5 pm Monday-Thursday, 10 am – 6 pm Friday & Sunday, 10 am – 9 pm Saturday
The Design Museum in London is the world’s top museum focused on all things design. For those with an eye for details and a knack for contemporary design, I would recommend checking out this hidden gem in West London.
The Design Museum is super engaging and focuses on everything from fashion to abstract concepts. It also hosts several interesting talks, courses, and workshops allowing you to unleash your creative side.
📚 Related Reading: This museum is located next to Holland Park. For more information on this wonderful greenspace and others, check out my guide on the best parks in London.
The National Gallery
Historic art museum located in the heart of Trafalgar Square with pieces from the mid-13th century to 1900.
📍 Google Maps | National Gallery Website | Cost: Free General Admission except for special exhibits that require paid-for tickets | Hours: 10 am – 6 pm Monday-Thursday, Saturday & Sunday, 10 am – 9 pm Friday
In the heart of central London, you’ll find the National Gallery, a historic art museum with over 2,300 paintings spanning several centuries. A few of the most popular pieces include works by Vermeer, Cezane, Seruat, and Monet. This museum is a London icon and a great place for art lovers worldwide.
You can experience the best of the National Gallery during the free daily guided tour that starts in the Central Hall and takes place from 3-4 pm on Tuesdays-Thursdays. The guided tours are for individuals and small groups of up to 4.
Sir John Soane’s Museum
A museum that was the former home of and built by Sir John Soane, one of the most renowned English architects.
📍 Google Maps | Sir John Soane’s Museum Website | Cost: Free General Admission except for special exhibits that require paid-for tickets | Hours: 10 am – 5 pm Wednesday-Sunday
Sir John Soane’s Museum is a house museum offering some great tours that will take you through the unique exhibits featured around the famous architect to whom the museum was named.
A few of the top exhibitions at the Sir John Soane’s Museum that offer tours include the private apartments of Sir John Soane and his wife Eliza; Sir John Soane’s drawing office, which recently opened to the public for the first time in 200 years in May of 2023; and a highlights tour that covers various main features of the home.
Make sure to check out the website for the times that each specific tour is offered.
The Tate Britain
500 years of British artwork packed into a historic building in Pimlico.
📍 Google Maps | Tate Britain Website | Cost: Free General Admission except for special exhibits that require paid-for tickets | Hours: 10 am – 6 pm daily
The Tate Britain is another museum within London’s famous Tate Collection that offers a collection of tasteful artwork on topics including travel, queer lives, black identities, disability, migration, weather, wellbeing, women, family, animals, and Asia, all expressed through art.
This free museum has something for everyone. The Tate Britain is well worth the visit to learn about different minority groups and topics from an artistic perspective.
The Science Museum
A great activity for families, where you can enjoy a range of fun interactive exhibits.
📍 Google Maps | Science Museum Website | Cost: Free General Admission with the exception of special exhibits and events that require paid-for tickets | Hours: 10 am – 6 pm daily
Located in South Kensington, The Science Museum is a place where your imagination can run wild as you experience several fun scientific exhibitions.
By visiting the Wonder Lab (this requires tickets at a small fee), you will have the chance to interact with real scientific phenomena, see lightning strikes, play with forces, and travel through space, for a special immersive experience. The Science Museum is a great choice for families because everyone will love the interactive exhibits.
👉 Pro Tip: South Kensington is one of the best museum districts in London, where you can tour multiple in one day, and is also home to the Natural History Museum and the V&A.
HMS Belfast
A 9-deck WWII warship converted to a museum on the Thames with a view of Tower Bridge in the distance.
📍 Google Maps | HMS Belfast Website | Cost: $30 for Adults aged 16-64, $27 for Adults aged 65+, students with ID, Disabled Adults, $15 for Kids aged 5-15, Free for Kids under 5 | Hours: 10 am – 6 pm daily
The HMS Belfast is a museum located on a ship built for the Royal Navy. This special war-inspired museum is unlike any other in London.
Step on board to take a walk through WWII history, with each of the nine decks offering different stories from the people who lived and served on the ship during the war. The HMS Belfast is a sister museum to the Imperial War Museum but offers a completely different experience.
Enjoy views of nearby London landmarks while you soak up the history.
The Natural History Museum
One of London’s most diverse and engaging museums, offering exhibits on everything from dinosaurs to space.
📍 Google Maps | Natural History Museum Website | Cost: Free General Admission with the exception of special exhibits and events that require paid-for tickets | Hours: 10 am – 5:50 pm daily (last entry 5:30 pm)
The Natural History Museum is one of the best all-around museums in London, showcasing everything from dinosaurs to nature, with objects spanning 4.5 billion years of Earth’s history.
The Natural History Museum is massive. You could easily spend an entire day here without running out of things to see. It’s also a great spot for the family as it has such a diverse range of exhibits, including ones that cater to children.
Head over to nearby Hyde Park after your visit to the museum for a lovely nature walk.
Churchill War Rooms
Explore the secret underground home and workplace of Prime Minister Winston Churchill during WWII.
📍 Google Maps | Churchill War Rooms Website | Cost: $34 for Adults aged 16-64, $30 for Adults aged 65+, students with ID, Disabled Adults, $17 for Kids aged 5-15, Free for Kids under 5 | Hours: 9:30 am – 6 pm daily
The Churchill War Rooms is another spot popular with history buffs. You will have the opportunity to visit where Prime Minister Winston Churchil spent his days during WWII during your visit to this museum.
The Churchill War Rooms provide the opportunity to explore the war rooms on your own or take a guided tour which takes place on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays from 9 am. Uncover secrets of WWII and hear fascinating stories of those who worked in the Prime Minister’s war rooms.
Museum of the Home
Situated within 300-year-old Almshouses in East London, visit this unique museum to discover the meaning of ‘home’ over the years.
📍 Google Maps | Museum of the Home Website | Cost: Free General Admission with the exception of special exhibits and events that require paid-for tickets | Hours: 10 am – 5 pm Tuesday-Sunday
Discover what ‘home’ means to you by visiting the Museum of Home. The museum is dedicated to exploring the concept of the home through different perspectives over the course of the last 400 years.
Throughout your time at the Museum of Home, you will learn about what things make up a home, the meaning behind these things, and what these ideas say about our taste and identity. This is the only museum in London dedicated to this concept.
Saatchi Gallery
Modern art gallery that offers a diverse range of curated exhibitions from emerging artists.
📍 Google Maps | Saatchi Gallery Website | Cost: Prices range on exhibition, with some free exhibitions offered, but most requiring paid tickets | Hours: 10 am – 6 pm Wednesday-Sunday
The Saatchi Gallery is a modern and abstract artistic space located in Sloane Square, featuring temporary exhibitions by emerging artists across a broad range of topics, some of which have included street art, selfies, and jewelry.
The Saatchi Gallery, which is also a registered charity, has provided the opportunity for many emerging artists to gain international exposure and recognition, making it a truly special place. The exhibits are eye-catching and contain really interesting pieces of information about the inspiration for the art.
The Charles Dickens Museum
Explore the home of famous Victorian-era writer Charles Dickens.
📍 Google Maps | Charles Dickens Museum Website | Cost: Free General Admission, tickets for live guided tours range from $16-25 | Hours: 10 am – 5 pm Wednesday-Sunday
Take a step back into literary history as you explore the home of the British novelist at the Charles Dickens Museum.
There are a number of tours you can explore, including one led by Dicken’s “housemaid,” who will take you on a journey through his abode where he wrote famous classics including Oliver Twist, A Christmas Carol, and David Copperfield.
If you’re a fan of literature, the Charles Dickens Museum is definitely worth checking out.
The National Army Museum
Museum representing the history of the British Army all the way back from the 1600s to today.
📍 Google Maps | National Army Museum Website | Cost: Free | Hours: 10 am – 5:30 pm Tuesday-Sunday
Now that you’ve received your history lessons on the two World Wars, it’s time to explore the British Army at the National Army Museum in Chelsea.
The galleries at the National Army Museum have recently been refurbished, providing new objects to learn about. In addition to the regular exhibits and chronological objects, there are a number of temporary exhibits featuring topics including female war artists, Shakespeare, and more.
Fashion and Textile Museum
Housed in a bright building that looks like it was transplanted from Malibu, this is London’s only museum celebrating textile design and contemporary fashion.
📍 Google Maps | Fashion and Textile Museum | Cost: $16 for Adults, $15 for Adults aged 60+, NHS staff, anyone currently out of work and receiving benefits, registered disabled, $13 for Students, Free for Kids under 12 | Hours: 11 am – 6 pm Tuesday-Saturday
The Fashion and Textile Museum is a hub for anyone with an interest in fashion. You can explore this creativity through the many great workshops they offer. Whether it’s different types of material painting, design, or pattern cutting, there are many great options at this museum for learning new fashion skills.
Beyond the workshops, the Fashion and Textile Museum’s programme consists of temporary exhibitions that are regularly refreshed and showcase innovative fashion from designers across the globe.
FAQs
What is the most visited museum in London?
The Natural History Museum is the most visited museum in London. This museum is located in South Kensington in West London and offers everything from science to history.
Which museums are best for children?
The Natural History Museum is the best museum in London for children, as it has dinosaur exhibits and events that are specially catered for kids.
Are museums in London free of charge?
Most museums in London including the British Museum, the Tate Modern, and the V&A are free of charge for general exhibits. Sometimes you will come across special-edition exhibits at certain museums that may charge or require tickets. Most museums offer the option to provide a donation that contributes to the museum’s operations.
What’s the biggest museum in England?
The British Museum is the biggest museum in England and is home to one of the biggest permanent collections in the world with eight million works.
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London’s museums are truly some of the best in the world, offering everything from art to history to science. I hope you get the chance to check out at least a couple of them! For more inspiration when planning your trip, check out my guide to London’s best restaurants.
