Free 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

The Natural History Museum in London is divided into four zones, each with a common theme. Follow the Red Zone if you're interested in geology. Learn about the history of the Earth and the forces that change it. The Green Zone focuses on birds and fossils, while the Blue Zone is devoted to human bio

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 Imperial War Museum London was founded in 1917 to show the impact war had on Britain and to show the progress in war-related technology the humanity has created. It tells the stories of people’s experiences of modern war and conflict. The museum has both temporary and permanent exhibitions. Them

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 Science Museum in London was founded in 1857 and currently holds over 300 000 exhibits, including famous exhibits as the first prototype of the 10,000-year Clock of the Long Now, documentation of the first typewriter, the oldest surviving steam locomotive, a working example of Charles Babbage's

Royal Air Force Museum, London is a museum in London. The museum features exhibits related to: social history, archives, personalities, costume and textiles, weapons and war, science and technology and aviation.

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

The London Transport Museum conserves and tries to explain the transport heritage of London. The majority of the exhibits in its collection originated in the collection of London Transport (the organisation that was responsible for the public transport network in London). Its collection has however

From Roman settlement to the development of Canary Wharf, the Museum of London Docklands, housed in a 200 year old warehouse, shows the history of London as a port through stories of trade, migration and commerce. Many of the objects it has in its collection are from the museum and archives of the P

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.

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

The Geffrye Museum of the Home is dedicated to home and home life in England from 1600 to the present day with a series of period room displays. Some of the individual artefacts of The Geffrye Museum are of national importance, but the real significance of the collection lies in its extensive covera

Established as early as in the 17th century, this bank is the central bank of UK. Though you can't actually access the Bank, you can pay a visit to the museum located inside and learn more about the financial system, fascinating history of the Bank, as well as its importance in today's economy.

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 Horniman Museum and Gardens holds a collection of over 350,000 related to anthropology, natural history and musical instruments. The museum is especially known for its large collection of taxidermied animals. It also features an aquarium.

The Grant Museum of Zoology is one of the oldest natural history collections in the UK (dating back to 1828), and is the last remaining university natural history museum in London. It houses a diverse Natural History collection of 68,000 zoological specimens covering the whole of the animal kingdom.

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

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

Kew Palace and Queen Charlotte's Cottage is a museum in Richmond. The museum features exhibits related to: personalities, coins and medals, architecture and social history.

The Queen's House is a 7th-century royal villa that was the first Classical building in England, designed by renowned architect Inigo Jones. The House is famous for its art collection including works by Great Masters such as Gainsborough, Hogarth and the van de Veldes.

The ancient Priory Church of St Bartholomew the Great was founded by a courtier of Henry I (son of William the Conqueror). It is a good example of Norman architecture which has survived the numerous transformations and upheavals London has undergone over the past 900 years, including the Great Fire

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 Petrie Museum of Egyptian Archaeology is part of University College London Museums and Collections and holds around 80,000 objects, including one of the greatest collections of Egyptian and Sudanese archaeology. The Petrie Museum illustrates life in the Nile Valley from prehistory through the ti

The National Army Museum is the main museum of the British Army. The museum houses five galleries that cover British military history from the English Civil War up to modern day. The five galleries are called: Soldier, Army, Battle, Society and Insight. It differs from other military museums in the

The Royal Hospital Chelsea is a retirement and nursing home for veterans of the British Army run by an independent charity. It dates back to 1682 when it was founded by King Charles II, who was inspired by Les Invalides in Paris. The site includes a chapel built by Sir Christopher Wren who also desi

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

The Museum of the Order of St John tells the story of the ancient religious military Order, from its origins as a pan-European Order of Hospitaller Knights caring for sick pilgrims in 11th century Jerusalem, through to its modern-day role with St John Ambulance, the international first aid charity.

Valentines Mansion and Gardens is a museum in Ilford. The museum features exhibits related to: architecture.

In the John Wesley's House and The Museum of Methodism visitors discover the origins and spread of Methodism through the museum's collection of objects, documents and paintings. Visitors learn how missionaries braved the journey to new countries overseas to spread their beliefs and what awaited them

Many people have heard of freemasonry. Most have no idea what it actually involves. At the Museum of Freemasonry, our goal is to help you learn about freemasonry in all its cultural richness. If you’re a freemason, the museum is a treasure trove for exploration. If you’re not a freemason, it’s the

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

Consisting of a Tudor manor house and a Victorian chapel, Fulham Palace was used as the main residence of Bishops of London from the 11th century until 1973. Nowadays Fulham Palace houses a museum that showcases the long history of the palace through paintings and other artefacts. The palace is surr

Honeywood Museum is a museum in Carshalton. The museum features exhibits related to: toys and hobbies, decorative and applied art, archaeology, industry, social history, inland waterways, trade and commerce and architecture. Key themes, people and exhibits in the museum include: london, brighton & s

Queen Elizabeth's Hunting Lodge is a museum in London. The museum features exhibits related to: personalities, archives, archaeology, fine art, natural sciences and social history.

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.

Valence House is a Medieval and later timber-framed and partially moated building situated in parkland. Valence House Museum features exhibits related to: personalities, fine art, costume and textiles, archives, decorative and applied art, archaeology, land transport, medicine, weapons and war and s

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

For centuries Richmond has been a centre of fashion and the arts, as well as a home to many of Britain’s Royals and other famous figures. Our collection spans prehistory to the modern day. Come and discover more about one of London’s most historic boroughs.

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.

Bethlem Museum of the Mind is a museum in Beckenham. The museum features exhibits related to: fine art, social history, medicine, archives and personalities. Key themes, people and exhibits in the museum include: caius gabriel cibber's statues of 'raving and melancholy madness' from 17th century bed

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 Chocolate Museum is an independent museum established by Isabelle Alaya, a French artisan chocolatier, who started her own brand, Melange Chocolate, in 2008. Our mission is to inspire a passion for learning about quality chocolate and its history both in Britain and worldwide. Located in the hea

Royal College of Physicians is a museum in London. The museum features exhibits related to: science and technology, personalities, fine art, decorative and applied art, archives, coins and medals, social history and medicine. Key themes, people and exhibits in the museum include: medical instruments

The Vestry House Museum is housed in an 18th century brick house that was originally built as a workhouse and later used as a police station. This house museum focuses on local history and holds a collection that includes artifacts dating from the Victorian Era to the 20th century including archived

Barnet Museum is a museum in Barnet. The museum features exhibits related to Coins and Medals, Fine Art, Science and Technology, Personalities, Costume and Textiles, Social History, Archaeology and Archives.

Gunnersbury Park is is a park that was purchased for the nation from the Rothschild family. The name derives from Gunylda, the niece of King Canute who lived here until her banishment from England in 1044. The mansion on the grounds is now the Gunnersbury Park Museum that holds objects related to lo

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

The Twickenham Museum is a museum in Twickenham, Middlesex. The museum features exhibits related to: social history.

Crystal Palace Museum is a museum in London that keeps the history of the Crystal Palace alive. The museum is housed in the only surviving building constructed by the Crystal Palace Company that was built around 1880 as a lecture room for the Crystal Palace Company’s School of Practical Engineering.

Greenwich Heritage Centre is a museum in London. The museum features exhibits related to: medicine, weapons and war, fine art, science and technology, coins and medals, costume and textiles, archaeology, archives, world cultures, natural sciences, social history, music, decorative and applied art an

The Anaesthesia Heritage Centre is a unique resource for the history of anaesthesia, resuscitation and pain relief. Visit the centre to explore the inspiring stories of the people, past and present, who have done so much to keep patients safe and pain-free. The museum’s collection includes over 4

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

The Clockmakers' Museum is a museum in London. The museum features exhibits related to: science and technology, decorative and applied art and fine art. Key themes, people and exhibits in the museum include: clockmaking, timepieces, horology, watches, clocks and watch.

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,

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

The RCN Library and Archive Service is Europe’s largest nursing resource for practice & history. We host several public exhibitions every year on different areas of healthcare history, from mental health nursing to women's health. We also have a rolling programme of free events including talks, pane

In the Hackney Museum, visitors learn about the stories of people who have moved to Hackney and made it their home, from Anglo-Saxon settlers to early Victorian villas and recent refugees. Through interviews, objects and images, and listening to personal stories of living, working and moving to Hack

The British Optical Association Museum at the College of Optometrists is the museum of the eye care professions. Founded in 1901, the museum is recognised as the oldest optical museum in the world. The collection comprises more than 30,000 items, including historic spectacles, sunglasses, contact le

Wimbledon Windmill Museum is a museum in London. The museum features exhibits related to Social History and Science and Technology.

The Metropolitan Police Museum was founded in 1949 and houses archives, photographs, medals, art, trophies, uniforms, equipment, truncheons and other objects. These can be accessed by police and non-police researchers at our Research Room in Sidcup by appointment on Tuesdays , whilst one-hour tours

Geology Collections, University College London is a museum in London. The museum features exhibits related to Archives and Natural Sciences.

The British Red Cross Museum is a museum in London. The museum features exhibits related to: law and order, social history, land transport, coins and medals, world cultures, archives, personalities, fine art, decorative and applied art, costume and textiles and medicine.

The Markfield Beam Engine and Museum is a Grade II listed building with a 100 horsepower restored, working steam-powered beam engine from 1886. It is considered to be a masterpiece of Victorian engineering and an example of industrial heritage of social and engineering importance. The building that

The Royal College of Music Museum houses one of the richest and most relevant collections of music-related objects in the UK and Europe. Visit us to discover the oldest guitar in the world, and explore our fascinating displays of musical instruments, paintings and objects that cover more than five c

The Sikorski Museum is a museum that was created by Polish exiles living in London who didn’t want to go back to Poland after World War Two, when it was controlled by the Russians. The museum holds collections of artefacts from the war, all labeled in English as well as Polish.

In the 'National Maritime Museum' visitors van familiarise themselves with the history of the British navy as well as the naval history of the whole of Europe. The museum was established in 1937 and is one of the largest maritime museums in the world. The museum displays artefacts involving sea and

Brent Museum holds collections of material about the history of Brent with over 10,000 objects. The museum holds items that are thousands of years old but also objects from the people living and working in Brent today, representing all communities in both the past and the present. Oil paintings, toy

Situated in the middle of Wanstead Park, The Temple was designed in the 18th century as a feature for the formal gardens of Wanstead Park, complete with a classic portico. These days The Temple serves as a visitor centre, where you can discover the story of Wanstead House and the park that surround

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

Established in 1872 as the Bethnal Green Museum, the collection of the V&A Museum of Childhood is part of the Victoria and Albert Museum. The museum displays various objects related to childhood, including toys, equipment for kids and costumes.

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

The Upminster Tithe Barn houses a collection of artifacts of nostalgic origin and is located in Hall Lane, Upminster in the London Borough of Havering. It is owned by Havering London Borough Council and run in partnership with the Hornchurch and District Historical Society. The museum holds around 1

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

The Museum of Wimbledon is a local history museum. Exhibits from the collections are grouped together into historical periods and topics of interest, including artefacts, books, ephemera, manuscripts, maps, photographs, portraits, press cuttings and prints, watercolours and drawings.

Enfield Museum is a museum in Enfield, Middlesex. The museum features exhibits related to: industry, inland waterways, archives, trade and commerce, social history and archaeology.

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.

Barnet Local Studies and Archives is a museum in London. The museum features exhibits related to Archives and Social History.

Avenue House, the principle building of Stephens House & Gardens, was commandeered as a VAD Hospital during World War One and in 1918 became the Central Hospital of the newly formed Royal Air Force. The Gardens provide a mixed landscape and include an arboretum, a rockery, a bog garden, large park a

Headstone Manor Museum is a museum in Harrow, Middlesex. The museum features exhibits related to: decorative and applied art, land transport, costume and textiles, fine art, social history, archaeology, science and technology and archives.

The Royal London Hospital museum holds collections that document the hospital from its earliest days, as well as some of patients, nurses and doctors who have passed through the doors of the hospital doors. Visitors can learn more about the hospital’s history, its role in the development of modern m

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

St Bartholomew's Hospital was founded in 1123. Its archives and museum collections include documents from the 12th to the 21st centuries, and objects reflecting the changes to patient care, teaching and administration at hospital. Through these objects, visitors can learn more about the nine centuri

Redbridge Museum is a museum in Ilford. The museum features exhibits related to Agriculture, Archives, Social History, Coins and Medals, Archaeology, Costume and Textiles, Fine Art and Industry. Key themes, people and exhibits in the museum include Ilford Ltd, Sylvia Pankhurst, Winston Churchill, Cl

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

Marylebone Cricket Club Museum is a museum in London. The museum features exhibits related to: sport.

British Dental Association Museum is a museum in London. The museum features exhibits related to: photography, archives, coins and medals, medicine, science and technology, fine art, social history and film and media. Key themes, people and exhibits in the museum include: pelican extraction tools fr

Chartered Insurance Institute Museum is a museum in London. The museum features exhibits related to Law and Order, Science and Technology and Archives. Key themes, people and exhibits in the museum include History of fire-fighting and fire insurance and Firemarks.

Walthamstow Pumphouse Museum is a museum in London. The museum features exhibits related to: maritime, science and technology, social history, land transport, industry, aviation and toys and hobbies. Key themes, people and exhibits in the museum include: our unique marshall c class grade ii listed s

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

The London Sewing Machine Museum is a museum in London. The museum features exhibits related to Costume and Textiles and Industry.

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

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.

Museum of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society is a museum in London. The museum features exhibits related to Photography, Medicine, Industry, Decorative and Applied Art, Science and Technology, Trade and Commerce, Natural Sciences, Fine Art, Social History, Coins and Medals, Design and Archives. Key th

The Fusilier Museum London is a museum in London. The museum features exhibits related to: archives, weapons and war and social 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.

The Museum of Immigration and Diversity is the first museum of immigration and diversity in Europe. In the museum visitors discover stories of the centuries of newcomers who have shaped Spitalfields, London and Britain.

Merton Heritage & Local Studies Centre is a museum in Morden. The museum features exhibits related to Social History and Archives.

British Airways Speedbird Heritage Centre is a museum in Harmondsworth. The museum features exhibits related to Archives, Aviation, Costume and Textiles and Social History.

Inns of Court and City Yeomanry Museum is a museum in London. The museum features exhibits related to Weapons and War.

The Salvation Army International Heritage Centre tells the story of The Salvation Army from its origins in the 1860s to the present, both in the UK and overseas. The Heritage Centre includes a library, archive and museum. The archive holds the official records of The Salvation Army’s International a

The first Museum for the Kurdish heritage in the world is one of the main culture resources for the school-age children of Hammersmith and Fulham Borough and to the academics and researchers in the UK. Let’s make Hammersmith and Fulham Borough more colourful and tourist area for all nations and fo