Art Museums in London

The British Museum is home to one of the largest collections of works and artefacts coming from all over the world. The museum was opened in 1759 and is dedicated to human history, art, and culture. The museum has ten departments with various collections, including artefacts dedicated to indigenous

The National Gallery is an art gallery that is housed in a neoclassical building built in 1838. The gallery holds an art collection of over 2.600 pieces which contains European paintings from the 13th to the 19th centuries. The highlights include paintings by El Greco, Jan van Eyck, Rembrandt, Ruben

The Victoria and Albert Museum holds the largest design and decorative art collection in the world, with over 2.27 million objects. The museum houses collections that span 5,000 years of art, from ancient times to the present day. Through these collections, visitors explore historical and contempora

Buckingham Palace is the official residence of British monarchs. Originally built as a townhouse, Buckingham Palace was turned into a private residence for Queen Charlotte in 1761. The palace was reconstructed and enlarged during the 19th century and it has been used as a residence of the British mo

Shakespeare's Globe is a modern replica of the theatre where some of Shakespeare's plays were staged for the first time. The original theatre was built in 1599 by the Lord Chamberlain's Men, Shakespeare's playing company. It was located roughly 250 metres from where the Globe Theatre stands now. The

The National Portrait Gallery (NPG) was the first portrait gallery in the world when it opened in 1856. The gallery houses a collection of portraits of historically important and well known British people. Works in the National Portrait Gallery include photographs, caricatures, paintings, drawings a

The Wallace Collection is an art collection that is housed in the Hertford House, the former townhouse of the Seymour family, Marquesses of Hertford. The collection consists of of fine and decorative arts from the 15th to the 19th centuries. Especially the holdings in the collection of 18th-century

The Courtauld Gallery is situated in Somerset House and houses the art collection of the Courtauld Institute of Art. The collection contains over 500 paintings, over 25,000 drawings and prints, various sculptures and other objects from medieval to modern times. The most famous pieces in the collect

Tate Britain is the national gallery of British art from 1500 to the present day. Tate Britain houses an extensive collection of the art of the United Kingdom since Tudor times, and is known for its large holdings of the works of Turner. Other artists include David Hockney, Peter Blake and Francis B

Tate Modern is one of the largest modern and contemporary art galleries in the world, housed in a former power station built between 1947 and 1963 that was designed by Sir Giles Gilbert Scott. Tate (Modern) holds the national collection of British art from 1900 until today as well as international m

Sir John Soane's Museum is a house museum that was formerly the home of the English architect John Soane, who specialised in the Neo-Classical style. The museum displays drawings and models of Soane's projects and the collections of paintings, drawings and antiquities collected by Soane.

The Saatchi Gallery is a gallery for contemporary art in London that showcases works by young artists or by established international artists whose work is rarely seen in the UK. Because of this the Saatchi Gallery has provided a springboard to launch careers of these lesser-known artists.

Journey through memories captured during years of magical filmmaking at the Harry Potter Photographic Exhibition. Housing iconic photographs, the Photographic Exhibition will take fans behind-the-scenes of key moments in the film series, from Harry’s first day at Hogwarts through to the Battle of H

National Theatre is a museum in London. The museum features exhibits related to Performing Arts and World Cultures.

The Charles Dickens Museum is an author's house museum, housed in a typical Georgian terraced house. The house was Charles Dickens's home from 1837 to 1839. The museum features the famous portrait of Dickens known as Dickens's Dream by R. W. Buss, with Charles Dickens surrounded by many of the chara

Wellcome Collection is a museum and library in London that aims to challenge how we all think and feel about health. The museum lets its visitors think deeply about the connections between science, medicine, life and art, by exhibiting an unusual mixture of medical artefacts and artworks. The perman

Eltham Palace is an unoccupied former royal residence owned by the Crown Estate that was transformed into an Art Deco mansion by Stephen and Viriginia Courtauld. The Eltham Palace incorporates original medieval features into an otherwise modern 1930s design. Visitors step into the shoes of the lavis

The Queen's Gallery is a public art gallery that rotates pieces from the Royal Collection showcasing numerous exhibits such as paintings and jewelry. Around 450 works are on display at any one time. It is located at the west front of the Buckingham Palace and first opened in 1962. It underwent a rec

Kenwood House is a former stately home that served as a seat for the aristocratic Murray and Guinness families. Famous paintings in its collection include The Guitar Player by Johannes Vermeer, Self Portrait with Two Circles, by Rembrandt, Portrait of Pieter van den Broecke, by Frans Hals, Portrait

The feminine influence of generations of royal women has shaped this stylish palace and gardens. Kensington Palace features exhibits related to: social history, fine art, decorative and applied art and costume and textiles. Key themes, people and exhibits in the museum include: designated collection

The Leighton House Museum is the former home of the Victorian artist Frederic, Lord Leighton (1830-1896). The house features the Arab Hall with its golden dome, intricate mosaics and walls lined with Islamic tiles. The house museum holds a collection of paintings and sculpture by Leighton and his co

Apsley House is a Georgian building and is the London townhouse of the Dukes of Wellington. The house is open to the public as a museum and art gallery which has the Wellington Collection on display, a collection of paintings, other artworks and items of the career of the 1st Duke. The rooms inside

In a single street in London, separated by a wall, are the homes of two of history’s most significant musical artists: George Frideric Handel & Jimi Hendrix. 25 Brook Street belonged to Handel and was the place where he composed some of the world’s most enduring Baroque music. Visit the rooms wher

The Photographers' Gallery was the first public gallery in the UK devoted solely to photography when it was founded in 1971. Over the years it has introduced such international photographers as Juergen Teller, Robert Capa, Sebastião Salgado, Andreas Gursky and Taryn Simon to British audiences, whils

Founded in 1811, the Dulwich Picture Gallery was England's very first public gallery. The museum houses masterpieces by Rembrandt, Rubens, Watteau, Gainsborough, Van Dyck and many others. Besides these masterpieces, the collection consists of many more French, Italian and Spanish Baroque paintings a

Sherlock Holmes and Doctor John H. Watson lived at 221b Baker Street (where the Sherlock Holmes Museum is located) between 1881-1904, according to the stories written by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. The house was last used as a lodging house in 1936 and the famous 1st floor study overlooking Baker Street

Ham House and Garden is a museum in Richmond-upon-Thames. The museum features exhibits related to: decorative and applied art, architecture, fine art and social history.

The Musical Museum contains one of the world's foremost collections of self-playing musical instruments. From the tiniest of clockwork music boxes to the 'Mighty Wurlitzer' the collection embraces a comphrehensive array of sophisticated reproducing pianos, orchestrions, orchestrelles, residence orga

Guildhall Art Gallery displays the richness of London's history. It is home to the art collection of the City of London, consisting of around 4,000 pieces, of which around 250 are on display at any one time. The Gallery's permanent collection displays works dating from the 1600s onwards, including a

Banqueting House is a museum in London. The museum features exhibits related to: decorative and applied art and architecture.

Marianne North Gallery is a museum in Kew. The museum features exhibits related to: fine art and natural sciences.

Syon Park has been home to the family The Duke of Northumberland for over four hundred years and still owned and looked after by them. It is full of beauty and magnificence, of great paintings and furniture, with perhaps the finest Robert Adam interior in the country. Surrounded by its own parkland

The William Morris Gallery is the only public gallery devoted to the life and legacy of William Morris: designer, craftsman, socialist. The William Morris Gallery features exhibits related to: design, decorative and applied art, fine art, literature, costume and textiles and social history. Key them

Ranger's House - The Wernher Collection is a museum in London. The museum features exhibits related to: music, decorative and applied art and fine art. Key themes, people and exhibits in the museum include: francesco raibolini ‘il francia’, renaissance jewels and bronzes, meissen pottery figures, th

Madame Tussauds London is a wax museum in London, founded by wax sculptor Marie Tussaud. The museum displays the waxworks of famous and historic people and popular film characters.

Created by E.A. Bowles (1865-1954), Myddelton House Gardens have been refurbished and offer an impressive range of flora, fauna and historical artefacts. These gardens have a Green Flag Award.

The Florence Nightingale Museum is housed in the St Thomas' Hospital and is devoted to Florence Nightingale, covering her Victorian childhood, her life in the Crimean and her life as an ardent campaigner for health reform. Inthe museum visitors learn more about the legacy of Florence Nightingale and

Clarence House is a museum in London. The museum features exhibits related to Architecture, Fine Art, Design and Personalities. Key themes, people and exhibits in the museum include English porcelain and silver, Bowes-Lyon family history, Graham Sutherland, Augustus John, John Piper, WS Sickert and

Dr Johnson's House is a 300-year-old townhouse where Samuel Johnson, the writer and wit, lived and worked in the 18th century, compiling his great Dictionary of the English Language in the Garret. The museum houses a collection relating to Johnson, a research library, restored interiors and original

Red House is a museum in Bexleyheath. The museum features exhibits related to: personalities, architecture, social history, decorative and applied art and design. Key themes, people and exhibits in the museum include: dante gabriel rossetti, edward burne-jones, william morris and philip webb.

Two Temple Place is a museum in London that is dedicated to promoting culture and philanthropy. The museum displays publicly owned art from regional collections in the United Kingdom. It is mostly known for its architecture and its collection includes works of William Silver Frith, Sir George Frampt

Cartoon Museum is a museum in London that is devoted to for British cartoons, caricatures, comic strips and animation. The museum organizes temporary exhibitions with more than 250 pieces from the collection of over 1,700 original cartoons and prints.

Forty Hall and Estate is a museum in Enfield. The museum features exhibits related to Fine Art, Archives, Archaeology, Coins and Medals, Industry, Architecture, Natural Sciences, Social History, Toys and Hobbies, Weapons and War, Costume and Textiles, Design, Decorative and Applied Art and Personali

From its conception, Spencer House was recognised as one of the most ambitious aristocratic town houses ever built in London and is, today, the city's only great eighteenth-century private palace to survive intact. Spencer House was built in 1756-66 for John, first Earl Spencer, an ancestor of Dian

Keats House is where the poet John Keats (1795-1821) lived from 1818 to 1820. Here he wrote some of his best known poetry, including "Ode to a Nightingale". The house is a Grade 1 listed building set in a peaceful garden in Hampstead. It has been open to the public since 1925. Keats House features e

The Fashion and Textile Museum is housed in a converted warehouse and is a contemporary fashion museum that offers an ongoing programme of temporary displays.

The Design Museum is dedicated to product, industrial, graphic, fashion and architectural design. The museum offers an introduction to the history of contemporary design with various permanent exhibitions and opportunities to explore the present and future of design through a programme of temporary

2 Willow Road (completed in 1939) houses treasures, furniture and objets d'art of Erno Goldfinger, one of the most influential figures in the British modern movement. Goldfinger lived here with his wife Ursula and their children until he passed away in 1987. Visitors can enjoy the collection of mode

Sutton House is a museum in London. The museum features exhibits related to: social history and architecture.

Rose Theatre is a museum in London. The museum features exhibits related to: performing arts, personalities and architecture.

Marble Hill House is a museum in Twickenham, Middlesex. The museum features exhibits related to: decorative and applied art and fine art.

The Cinema Museum in London is set in historic surroundings in Kennington. The museum is devoted to keeping alive the spirit of cinema from the days before the multiplex and houses a unique collection of artefacts, memorabilia and equipment that preserves the history and grandeur of cinema from the

Museum Of Croydon is a museum in Croydon. The museum features exhibits related to: social history and decorative and applied art.

Orleans House Gallery is a museum in Twickenham, Middlesex. The museum features exhibits related to Fine Art, Personalities, Photography, Costume and Textiles and Archives.

Hogarth's House is a museum in London. The museum features exhibits related to: social history, personalities, literature and fine art. Key themes, people and exhibits in the museum include: william hogarth.

Barbican Art Gallery presents major exhibitions by leading international figures, including a dynamic mix of architecture, design, fashion and photography.

Whitehall Historic House is a museum in Cheam Village. The museum features exhibits related to: personalities, social history, fine art and architecture. Key themes, people and exhibits in the museum include: victorian study bedroom, tudor house building, victorian parlour, nonsuch palace, william g

Royal Academy of Music Museum is a museum in London. The museum features exhibits related to: personalities, performing arts, coins and medals, social history, archives, fine art and music. Key themes, people and exhibits in the museum include: designated collection, english music prints, violin, pi

The Old Speech Room was built in 1819-21 as a chamber in which to encourage public speaking. It was converted into a gallery by Alan Irvine in 1976 as a repository for the School's varied and distinguished collection of antiquities and fine art. The Old Speech Room Gallery features exhibits related

Dorich House Museum is a museum in London. The museum features exhibits related to Personalities, Fine Art, Architecture and Decorative and Applied Art. Key themes, people and exhibits in the museum include Dora Gordine and Richard Hare.

Bruce Castle is a Grade I listed 16th-century manor house, named after the House of Bruce who owned the land on which it was built. Bruce Castle Museum has various objects and works of art in its collections. It holds the archives of the London Borough of Haringey, and has exhibitions on the past, p

South London Gallery is a contemporary art gallery. The contemporary collection includes self-portraits by a range of artists, works relating to the local area and the South London Gallery's exhibitions programme. The South London Gallery’s historic art collection contains more than 5,000 paintings,

Museum of Domestic Design and Architecture is in Colindale. MoDA is part of Middlesex University. We are an accessible research collection and we welcome students, researchers and members of the public by appointment. Our core collection is The Silver Studio Collection, a unique record of one of Br

Little Holland House is a museum in Carshalton. The museum features exhibits related to Personalities, Social History, Fine Art, Decorative and Applied Art, Architecture and Design. Key themes, people and exhibits in the museum include Give to Us Each Day our Daily Bread, Arts and Crafts style furni

The Museum of Asian Music offers an interactive way to discover the diversity of Asian music in a hands-on environment. Permanent exhibits of musical instruments from across the continent are accompanied by touch-screen displays featuring music and video clips, and digital access to an extensive AV

From 1800 to 1804 Sir John Soane, one of Britain’s most influential architects, designed and built the Pitzhanger Manor House. The Pitzhanger Manor Gallery is a venue for contemporary art exhibits that presents three exhibitions a year of work by artists, designers and architects. Visitors can also

No 7 Hammersmith Terrace is a tall terraced house on the River Thames. Its sober Georgian exterior hides a secret – the decoration and furnishings preserved as they were in the lifetime of the printer Emery Walker (1851-1933), a great friend and mentor to William Morris. It is the last authentic Art

Burgh House is a grade I listed house built in 1703/4. The Hampstead Museum is incorporated in the House on the first floor and offers permanent displays on Hampstead history. There is also a programme of changing exhibitions and events. Burgh House & Hampstead Museum features exhibits related to: p

The Fitzroy House is a four-storey house built in the 18th century as an example of Georgian architecture. The museum is devoted to the writer L. Ron Hubbard. In the Fitzroy House visitors go on a trip down memory lane, with its restored communications office equipment including Adler typewriters, G

The Embankment Galleries were originally a barrel-vaulted bargehouse linked directly to the Thames. It now serves as a modern and adaptable exhibition space. Spread over the ground floor and mezzanine level of the South Wing, it is host to annual exhibitions such as Photo London and the London Desig

Islington Museum is a museum dedicated to the history of the London Borough of Islington. The museum covers various themes on local and social history: childhood, food and drink, fashion, leisure, healthcare, radicals, caring, home and wartime. The Islington Local History Centre is a local studies c

Turner's House, Twickenham is a museum in Twickenham. The museum features exhibits related to: fine art. Key themes, people and exhibits in the museum include: jmw turner.

Kelmscott House is a museum in London. The museum features exhibits related to Decorative and Applied Art, Costume and Textiles and Personalities.

Discover Children's Story Centre is UK’s first Story Centre. It is a place where children and their families can enjoy playing, learning and making up stories together. The building houses a combination of different functions, including a dedicated ‘Story Trail’, ‘Storytelling Spaces’, a cafe, funct

Kingston Museum is a museum in Kingston upon Thames. The museum features exhibits related to: social history, world cultures, archaeology, decorative and applied art, coins and medals, fine art, weapons and war, costume and textiles, natural sciences, science and technology, archives and land transp

The only museum dedicated to the work of William Heath Robinson,illustrator, artist and cartoonist. Whether for his well known humorous drawings or his illustrations for Kipling, Shakespeare or children’s stories, he is integral to British cultural heritage. His name entered the language as early as

Ben Uri Gallery and Museum is a museum in London. The museum features exhibits related to: fine art. Key themes, people and exhibits in the museum include: key artists in the permenant collection include frank auerbach, mark gertler, david bomberg, jacob epstein, jacob kramer, leon kossof, r b kitaj

UCL Art Museum is a museum in London. The museum features exhibits related to Fine Art. Key themes, people and exhibits in the museum include Albrecht Durer, Apocalypse series, Anthony van Dyck, Iconographia, Joseph Wright of Derby, John Singer Sargent, Rembrandt van Rijn, Martin Schongauer, Hendric

New London Architecture organises research exhibitions that affect the construction in the city. A highlight is a 1:2000 interactive model of Central London.

Centre for Recent Drawing - C4RD is a museum space for drawing that was founded as an artist social practice project in 2004. Since then, C4RD has provided over a hundred public exhibitions, in addition to residencies, talks, projects, publications, and encouraged drawing production towards independ

Museum of Architecture is a charity dedicated to stimulating growth in the architectural industry. We do this by providing resources and programming for architects to be better entrepreneurs. We also create new business opportunities and collaborations for architects by engaging the public and linki

Cuming Museum is a museum in London that houses the collection of the Cuming family, an art collection as well as local and social history objects collected since the early 19th century right up to today, reflecting Southwark’s history.

A London-based gallery dedicated to supporting and promoting Scottish art.

The Wiener Library is a museum in London. The museum features exhibits related to: world cultures, social history, religion, photography and archives.