History museums in London

St Paul's Cathedral, situated on Ludgate Hill in the City of London, serves as the seat of the Anglican Bishop of London. This iconic structure has a rich history and is a significant landmark in the city. Visitors can appreciate the architectural grandeur of the cathedral and learn about its historical significance.

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

Also known as Her Majesty's Royal Palace and Fortress, The Tower of London was one of the many castles built as part of the Norman Conquest of England. It has been extended several times in the past and has always played a major role in English history. For some time, the Tower was used as a prison.

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

Located in both of the twin towers, the exhibition is dedicated to the history and construction of the well-known suspension bridge the Tower Bridge. Apart from various short films and interactive displays, visitors can also see some of the original designs of the bridge and visit the Victorian engi

In the Churchill War Rooms visitors can discover the original Cabinet War Rooms, the wartime bunker that sheltered Churchill and his government during the Blitz. Explore the historic rooms to experience the secret history that lives on underground. Discover the stories of those who worked undergroun

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 Palace of Westminster, also known as the Houses of Parliament, is a significant landmark located on the banks of the Thames in the London district of Westminster. This historic building serves as the seat of the British Parliament, making it a central hub of political activity in the United Kingdom. Its location offers visitors a picturesque view of the Thames, adding to the overall appeal of the site.

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.

The HMS Belfas is a light cruiser that has been converted into a museum permanently moored on the Thames. Visitors are invited to explore the warship and learn what it was like to live on board from the Second World War to 1963. Visitors can explore all 9 decks of the ship and the museum includes in

The Museum of Brands, Packaging and Advertising is devoted to the history of consumer culture from Victorian times to the present day. The collection of the museum consists of over 12,000 items, including domestic everyday products, such as packaging, toys, posters, games, and more that show how bra

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

KIDS GO FREE! Discover the Painted Hall, one of the most iconic sights in London, located at the heart of the Maritime Greenwich UNESCO World Heritage Site. An awe-inspiring artwork covering more than 3,700m walls and ceiling recounting tales of kings and queens alongside mythological, historical,

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

The Royal Mews is a mews of the British Royal Family. The state coaches and other carriages are kept at The Royal Mews situated at Buckingham Palace, along with some horses, together with the more modern state motor cars.

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

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.

Step aboard a full-size reconstruction of the famous Golden Hinde - the first English ship to circumnavigate the globe. Under the command of Sir Francis Drake, the crew faced considerable challenges along the way including skirmishes, storms and scurvy. Discover more about this incredible journey, a

The Foundling Museum tells the story of the Foundling Hospital, the first home for abandoned children established in Britain. The institution was opened in 1739 by the philanthropist Thomas Coram. The collection the museum holds includes paintings and sculptures by well-known British 18th-century ar

Dennis Severs was an artist who lived in this house (from 1979 to 1999) in much the same way as its occupants in the 18th century (a family of Huguenot silk weavers) would have done. He used his visitors' imagination as his canvas while they are taken on a historical tour around the house.

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.

Strawberry Hill is a museum in Twickenham, Middlesex. The museum features exhibits related to Literature, Decorative and Applied Art, Architecture and Agriculture.

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.

Osterley Park and House is a museum in Osterley, Middlesex. The museum features exhibits related to: architecture, social history, fine art and decorative and applied art. Key themes, people and exhibits in the museum include: robert adam.

In the Jewish Museum London visitors learn about the life of British Jews, their history and their culture. The museum was established in 1932 and it comprises of four permanent galleries and two temporary exhibition spaces. The collection includes Jewish ceremonial art, paintings, drawings, photogr

Household Cavalry Museum is the official museum of the Household Cavalry housed in the 18th-century stables. Visitors can explore the informative exhibition full of sometimes rare items, such as ceremonial uniforms, horse furniture and silverware.

The Guards Museum explores over 380 years of history behind the Foot Guards – the five Regiments of Grenadier, Coldstream, Scots, Irish and Welsh Guards. These Regiments are world-famous for their role guarding the British Monarch and Royal Palaces, but they have always been highly trained, frontlin

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.

Chiswick House is a Palladian villa that was built and designed by Richard Boyle, 3rd Earl of Burlington, who completed it in 1729. The garden of the house is one of the earliest examples of the English landscape garden, designed by William Kent. Burlington was one of 18th-century Britain's greatest

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

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

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 Fine Art Society is a renowned gallery with locations in both London and Edinburgh's New Town. Established in 1876, the gallery has a rich history and has been a significant player in the art world for over a century. It has been home to many notable exhibitions and has a focus on British art and design from 1600 to the present day. The Edinburgh branch specializes in Scottish art from the same period.

The National Army Museum, the premier museum of the British Army, is situated in the Chelsea district in the heart of London. It is conveniently located next to the Royal Hospital Chelsea, making it an accessible destination for tourists exploring the city. The museum offers a deep dive into the history and heritage of the British Army, providing a unique perspective on the country's military past.

The National Army Museum, the premier museum of the British Army, is situated in the Chelsea district in the heart of London. It is conveniently located next to the Royal Hospital Chelsea, making it an accessible destination for tourists exploring the city. The museum offers a deep dive into the history and heritage of the British Army, providing a unique perspective on the country's military past.

The London Canal Museum tells the story of London's canals, their people, cargoes, and the horses that pulled their boats. The museum features exhibits related to: trade and commerce, social history, industry, land transport, decorative art, archives, inland waterways, costume and textiles and scien

Fenton House is a 17th-century merchant's house. The house was bought by Lady Binning in 1936. She filled it with her decorative collections of porcelain, Georgian furniture and 17th-century needlework. In addition to this, the museum houses the Benton Fletcher collection of early keyboard instrumen

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.

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

Based next to the River Thames and the Thames Barrier, the Thames Barrier Learning Centre offers school packages based around environmental issues. Packages on offer range from river walks and pond dipping, to role-play games such as ‘River of Life’.

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

Bentley Priory Museum is a museum in Stanmore. The museum features exhibits related to: weapons and war and aviation.

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

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

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

Carlyle's House is a museum in London. The museum features exhibits related to: personalities, social history and literature. Key themes, people and exhibits in the museum include: thomas carlyle.

Eastbury Manor House is al Grade 1 listed Tudor mansion, dating back to the Elizabethan period. It is owned by the National Trust and managed by the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham. The museum features a permanent exhibition on the history of the building and its various owners.

Severndroog Castle on Shooters Hill is a 60-foot high triangular, brick-built tower designed in the gothic style by architect Richard Jupp. Severndroog is a nationally-listed Grade II* building.

The Jewel Tower was built around 1365 to house Edward III’s treasures and was known as the ‘King’s Privy Wardrobe’. It is a surviving element of the royal Palace of Westminster. The Jewel Tower and the surrounding site of Westminster Palace were declared a World Heritage site in 1987. Inside the Jew

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

The Ragged School Museum in London is housed in three canalside buildings which once formed the largest “ragged” or free school in London. The museum was founded to make the history of the Ragged Schools and the broader social history of the Victorian East End accessible. Within the original buildin

Opening in 1865, the pumping station at Crossness is the southern outfall of the system designed by Sir Joseph Bazalgette to deal with Victorian London's sewage. The Crossness Engines site comprises of two Grade 2 listed buildings and the Grade 1 listed Engine House which houses four of the worlds

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

Pollock's Toy Museum is the UK's oldest toy museum housing over 7000 toys in 6 magical rooms across two historical buildings in the center of London. Here you will see a huge array of toys form all over the world and from different centuries, including a 4000 year out toy mouse and one of the worlds

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.

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

Lambeth Palace is a museum in London. The museum features exhibits related to: religion, social history and literature. Key themes, people and exhibits in the museum include: archbishops' archives including archbishop of canterbury, archives of bishops, churchmen and societies, designated collection

Alexander Fleming Laboratory Museum is a museum in London. The museum features exhibits related to: social history, archives, science and technology and medicine. Key themes, people and exhibits in the museum include: alexander fleming, microbiology, bacteriology, antibiotics and penicillin.

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

HQS Wellington is a museum in London. The museum features exhibits related to: archives and maritime.

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 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

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

Crofton Roman Villa is a museum in Orpington. The museum features exhibits related to Archaeology.

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 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 Wednesdays, whilst one-hour tours

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 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.

The small museum in the crypt shows various treasures donated to the cathedral by wealthy 19th century patrons, as well as a rotating display of material from the archives of the Greek community in London, stretching back to the 18th century.

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

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

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

Cutty Sark - Royal Museums Greenwich is a museum in London. The museum features exhibits related to: world cultures, maritime, science and technology, trade and commerce 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.

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

Royal Armouries at HM Tower of London is a museum in London. The museum features exhibits related to: decorative and applied art, weapons and war, archaeology, fine art and archives.

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

Ride through hidden tunnels and discover a unique piece of industrial heritage, then explore inspiring exhibitions packed with incredible objects, exciting stories and fun-filled interactive displays.

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.

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

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

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.

Havering Museum is an independent local history museum which opened in part of the old Brewery building in Romford town centre in May 2010. The Museum is supported by a Heritage Lottery Grant. It tells the story of the history of the Borough of Havering through objects, text and images. There are fi

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

The small but comprehensive regimental collection is well displayed on two balconies in the drill hall at Regimental Headquarters. It includes uniforms, personal equipment, small arms, medals, paintings and other regimental memorabilia. The medals and uniform of Colonel Robert Ogilby, founder of the

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

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

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.

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

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

A small private collection relating to the Westminster Dragoons.

Alexander Fyodorovich Kerensky (1881-1970) was the last President of Russia before the Bolshevik coup d’état of October 1917 (often referred as ‘old’ Russia or ‘that’ Russia to distinguish it from Russia of the Soviet and Post-Soviet times). Kerensky governed the State for only 109 days (from July

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

Wandle Industrial Museum is a museum in Mitcham. The museum features exhibits related to Social History, Land Transport, Archaeology, Decorative and Applied Art, Costume and Textiles, Maritime, Fine Art and Archives.