What are the must-visit museums in London, whether it's your first or tenth time? I've compiled a list of the 8 largest and most important museums in London, as well as recommendations for lesser-known but worthwhile museums near each one.
So, what's in store
Recommendations for the most famous and talked-about museums in London, including essential details about each. Between you and I, London is full of world-renowned museums, but for each famous museum, I’ve also included recommendations for unique, quirky, and interesting museums nearby. This way, you can choose whether to go with the safe and familiar or get a bit adventurous and visit the Fan Museum (for example).
THE BRITISH MUSEUM
The British Museum is the largest museum in London and one of the most popular museums in the world! It attracts around 6 million visitors annually, who come to admire its vast and varied collections. The museum houses exhibits, artworks, and artifacts from across the British Empire. You’ll find Egyptian mummies, statues from Greece and India, and even the Rosetta Stone—a piece that helped archaeologists decipher Egyptian hieroglyphics.
However, the British Museum is much more than just a collection of historical items. It offers a unique perspective on the scale of the British Empire and how it expanded across the globe.
Opening Hours
The museum is open daily from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm (last admission at 4:45 pm).
On Fridays, it stays open late until 8:30 pm (last admission at 8:15 pm).
Tickets
Entry to the British Museum is free, but they limit the number of visitors to avoid overcrowding and ensure everyone enjoys the experience. It’s recommended to book a (free) ticket in advance on the museum’s website to secure a slot.
Location
The British Museum is about a 5-minute walk from Russell Square
The main entrance is at: Great Russell Street, London WC1B 3DG
Special Museums Nearby
Charles Dickens Museum
A museum celebrating the life of the famous author, Charles Dickens ("Oliver Twist").
The Postal Museum
Learn everything you ever wanted to know about the Royal Mail—and even what you didn’t. You can even ride an underground train used to transport mail beneath London’s busy streets.
THE NATIONAL GALLERY
The National Gallery in London holds an impressive collection of artworks! You’ll find here a wide range of artistic movements: from Van Gogh’s Sunflowers to Monet’s Water Lilies and works by Leonardo da Vinci. And it’s all free! The National Gallery’s collection is said to belong to the public, and thus, no fee is charged to enter the permanent exhibitions.
In addition to the permanent collection, the gallery hosts temporary exhibitions (for a fee). When planning your visit to London, I recommend checking the National Gallery’s website to see what’s on display and, if you’re interested in the topic or artist, book a ticket in advance.
Opening Hours
Open almost every day of the year:
Monday to Thursday: 10:00 am to 6:00 pm
Friday: 10:00 am to 9:00 pm
Closed between December 24-26.
Tickets
Like most national museums in London, entry to the National Gallery and its permanent collection is free. However, donations are encouraged to help the museum continue its important work.
Location
The National Gallery is located at the northern end of Trafalgar Square, south of Leicester Square.
Special Museums Nearby
Benjamin Franklin House
Visit the home of Benjamin Franklin—scientist, philosopher, and one of the founding fathers of the United States.
The National Portrait Gallery
Although not particularly quirky, the National Portrait Gallery is definitely underappreciated (in my opinion). Here you can experience British history through a range of portraits, paintings, and stories of key figures in world history.
VICTORIA & ALBERT MUSEUM (V&A)
The Victoria & Albert Museum is entirely dedicated to creativity. You’ll find items from various fields in the museum’s collection. There are dresses by designer Alexander McQueen alongside ancient Chinese porcelain and works by famous street artists like Ben Eine. And if you thought you’d seen everything, they surprise you with a series of paintings by Renaissance artist Raphael. The permanent collection is complemented by rotating exhibits that keep me coming back again and again. Exhibits like "Fragile Beauty: Images from the Collection of Sir Elton John" are particularly special!
Opening Hours
Open almost every day of the year:
Monday-Sunday: 10:00-17:45
Fridays: 10:00-22:00 (some exhibits open after 17:45)
Closed between December 24-26
Tickets
Admission to the museum and its permanent exhibits is free. It’s recommended to leave a donation to support the museum’s essential work.
Location
The Victoria & Albert Museum is located in South Kensington.
The main entrance is at: Cromwell Road, London, SW7 2RL
Special Museums Nearby
Clockmakers' Museum
You're in London! The home of Big Ben! How can you skip a museum that includes the world’s oldest clock collection?
THE NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM
Museum that will take you on a journey through 4.6 billion years of Earth's history. From dinosaur fossils to amazing geological finds, the Natural History Museum features over 80 million items that tell the story of our world and how we can make it better. The museum first opened in 1881, but it owes its beginnings to Sir Hans Sloane, who traveled the world as a physician throughout his career and collected items from everywhere. After his death in 1753, Parliament purchased his collection of 71,000 items, which laid the foundation for the Natural History Museum as we know it today.
Opening Hours
Open almost every day of the year:
Every day of the week: 10:00 AM – 5:50 PM (last entry at 5:30 PM).
Closed between December 24-26
Tickets
Admission to the Natural History Museum is free, but they limit the number of people to prevent crowding and allow all visitors to enjoy the experience. Therefore, it is advisable to book a (free) ticket in advance on the museum's website to reserve your place for your time slot.
Location
The Natural History Museum is also located in South Kensington.
The main entrance is at: Cromwell Road, London, SW7 5BD
Special Museums Nearby
Dopamine Land
Less of a museum and more of a sensory experience, Dopamine Land is a perfect attraction for all ages. It’s an interactive museum that will awaken the child in each of us.
TATE MODERN
The Tate Modern in London has set itself the mission of exposing the general public to contemporary international art. The museum showcases stunning and unique works that challenge us to look at art differently. In the gallery, you can see sculptures, installations, and works by artists from around the world, including Picasso and Matisse. Alongside the free gallery at Tate Modern, there are rotating exhibitions. To perfect your visit, remember to go up to the observation deck on the top floor of the museum.
Opening Hours
Open almost every day of the year:
Every day of the week: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM (last entry at 5:30 PM).
Closed between December 24-26
Tickets
Admission to the museum itself and the permanent installations is free. It is recommended to leave a donation to help the museum continue its important work.
Information about the changing installations, including prices and dates, can be found on the TATE website.
Location
The Tate Modern Museum is located at the end of the Millennium Bridge, on the South Bank of the River Thames.
The main entrance is located at: Bankside, London, SE1 9TG
Special Museums Nearby
The Old Operating Theatre Museum
Okay, this is really strange. This museum is located in the old surgical gallery of St. Thomas's Hospital, where you can learn about the strange history of medicine during the Victorian era.
THE SCIENCE MUSEUM
In the past, the Science Museum was just another part of the Victoria and Albert Museum, but it quickly became a hit on its own. Today, the Science Museum attracts curious people from all over the world and opens their imaginations with items like the space suit of Helen Sherman—the first British woman in space—or a giant machine called the "Totalizator"—the first of its kind that calculated in real-time the odds of gamblers on dog races at Wembley. And, of course, its interactive experiences will captivate you.
Opening Hours
Open almost every day of the year:
Every day of the week: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM (last entry at 5:15 PM).
Closed between December 24-26
Tickets
Entry to the Science Museum is free, but they limit the number of visitors to prevent overcrowding and ensure that everyone enjoys the experience. Therefore, it is advisable to book a ticket (free) in advance on the museum's website to secure your spot for your desired time slot.
Additionally, there are several galleries and paid activities worth experiencing. Tickets for the galleries can be found on the museum's website.
Location
The Science Museum is located in South Kensington, near the Natural History Museum.
The main entrance is located at: Exhibition Road, South Kensington, London, SW7 2DD
Special Museums Nearby
The Serpentine Gallery
These are two galleries in Kensington Gardens that feature rotating exhibitions of contemporary art from around the world.
DESIGN MUSEUM
This is a museum that celebrates everything related to contemporary design in every field, and it is the leading museum in the world on this topic. Its permanent collection will tell you about the rich history of design and how it reflects in the modern world. From architecture to fashion to household products, the changing exhibitions will give you a different perspective on everyday details of our lives. Past exhibitions presented in the museum include: a journey through the history of skateboarding and 30 years of London fashion.
Opening Hours
Open almost every day of the year:
Monday to Thursday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM (last entry at 4:45 PM)
Friday to Sunday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM (on Saturdays, the museum closes at 9:00 PM)
Closed between December 24-26
Tickets
Entry to the museum itself and the permanent exhibitions is free. It is recommended to leave a donation to help the museum continue its important work.
Information about the changing exhibitions, including prices and dates, can be found on the DESIGN MUSEUM website.
Location
The Design Museum is located in Kensington, south of Holland Park.
The main entrance is located at: 224-238 Kensington High Street, London, W8 6AG
Special Museums Nearby
The Brands Museum
Embark on a journey through 200 years of brands and consumer culture. The Brands Museum is the perfect way to get a dose of nostalgia.
THE ROYAL ACADEMY OF ARTS
The Royal Academy of Arts is the oldest art school in Britain and one of the important galleries in London. For the past 250 years, it has provided a platform for changing exhibitions from around the world. Throughout the year, you can enjoy various exhibitions ranging from ancient sculptures to modern works. The highlight of the gallery is their annual summer exhibition. This exhibition is so important that even during World War II, under the bombardments of the German Air Force, the gallery did not give up and, under challenging conditions, showcased the exhibition.
Opening Hours
Open almost every day of the year:
Monday: Closed
Tuesday to Sunday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM (on Fridays, the gallery closes at 9:00 PM)
Closed between December 24-26
Tickets
Entry to the gallery itself and the permanent exhibitions is free. It is recommended to leave a donation to help the academy continue its important work.
Information about the changing exhibitions, including prices and dates, can be found on the ROYAL ACADEMY website.
Location
The Royal Academy of Arts is located about a 5-minute walk from Piccadilly Circus.
The main entrance is located at: Piccadilly, London, W1J 0BD
Special Museums Nearby
Sotheby's Auction House
Once again, this is not an ordinary museum. Sotheby's is an auction house where public auctions of art and various items from around the world are held. Entry is free, and it is worth wandering around and enjoying everything that is up for sale!
BONUS: LONDON MITHRAEUM
The Mithraeum Museum is truly a hidden piece of history right in the heart of the City. Built on an ancient temple to the Roman god Mithras, this unique museum will give you a glimpse into a secretive society that operated in the underbelly of Londinium.
Opening Hours
Open almost every day of the year:
Monday: Closed
Tuesday to Saturday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Wednesday (during the school year): 12:30 PM – 6:00 PM
On the first Thursday of each month: 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Sunday: 12:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Closed between on December 25 and January 1.
Tickets
Entry to the Mithraeum is free, but it is advisable to book tickets in advance on the MITHRAEUM website to ensure entry at your desired time.
Location
The Mithraeum is located in the heart of the City of London, about a 10-minute walk from St. Paul's Cathedral.
The main entrance is located at: 12 Walbrook, London, EC4N 8AA
A final tip from me to you
This is only a small portion of the museums you can find in London. The best tip I can give you is to search for museums related to your interests or even just weird and interesting museums! These are sure to make your travel experience more personal and unique. And if you want to join me on a tour, feel free to take a look at my tours page.