Visiting one of the best museums in London is one of the things that we usually add to the list when we are planning a trip to the British capital, and it is that in London we can find some of the best museums in the world.
Most of the museums in London can be visited for free, so sometimes the only problem that arises is that sometimes we have to choose which one or which ones we want to see, since we usually lack time to see them all…
If you visit London with children, visiting a museum is undoubtedly a must, being one of the favorite attractions for the little ones, since they are usually very interactive and with workshops designed for children.
Some usually charge admission to enter temporary exhibitions, such as the Tate Modern or the British Museum. You must bear in mind that most of the museums close around 6 in the afternoon, so it is advisable to go in the morning, although there are some museums that close later on some days.
What will you find in this article?
Best Museums in London
Below we have prepared a list of the 12 best museums in London, but below you have some more that are definitely worth visiting and taking into account.
Natural History Museum
This impressive and fantastic museum is one of the best and most famous museums in London. Although it is a museum that adults usually love, it is one of the best to go with children. The first thing that strikes you about this great museum is its impressive and beautiful building, built in 1880. Upon entering, the first thing that strikes you is the imposing skeleton of a blue whale that hangs from the ceiling.
You can visit the numerous galleries that this museum offers, which include: dinosaurs, aquatic and terrestrial mammals, insects, evolution, the human body, gallery of the Earth, minerals… In addition to the dinosaurs, other main attractions are: a reproduction of a Japanese store that shakes to reproduce the 1995 earthquake and a cross section of an oak tree trunk that is more than 200 years old and 17 meters in diameter.
Information Natural History Museum
- Natural History Museum entrance fee: Free
- Natural History Museum hours: Monday to Sunday from 10:00 am to 5:50 pm
- Tube stop: South Kensington
- Where to Eat: Within the museum itself there are several places to eat and in the area of the South Kensington tube stop you will find numerous restaurants.
Science Museum
The famous science museum in London is ideal to go with children. It has five floors of interactive exhibitions, making it undoubtedly one of the most entertaining in the British capital. Although it is very successful among the youngest members of the family, it is also one of the favorites among the not so young, as it has an exhibition of vintage cars and a room dedicated to the latest technology, as well as an exhibition dedicated to airplanes and light aircraft. with a flight simulator.
Information Science Museum
- Science Museum ticket price: Free
- Science Museum hours: Monday to Sunday 10.00 am to 5.50 pm
- Tube stop: South Kensington
- Where to Eat: Inside the museum there is a cafeteria, and around the area of the South Kensington tube stop there are numerous restaurants. A recommendation: Bumpkin
Victoria and Albert Museum
Founded in 1852, this museum is specialized in design and decoration. The first floor is dedicated to design and art from Europe, Japan, Korea, India and China. We can also see the fashion room, where we can find everything from Victorian dresses to the latest catwalk trends, as well as an exhibition of the evolution of women’s underwear. Among other objects we can see: Islamic objects, Chinese porcelain, plaster casts from the Victorian era, Italian Renaissance sculpture. Located next to the Natural History Museum in South Kensington.
Information Victoria and Albert Museum
- Victoria and Albert Museum ticket price: Free
- Victoria and Albert Museum Hours: Monday to Sunday 10.00 am to 5.50 pm
- Tube stop: South Kensington
- Where to Eat: Inside the museum there are several places to have a drink, and around the area of the South Kensington tube stop there are numerous restaurants. A recommendation: Bumpkin
Tate Modern
It is the most popular contemporary art gallery in the world and is one of the most visited places in London. One of its charms is being able to contemplate the views from the restaurant on the seventh floor and from the cafeteria on the fourth floor. You can access it from St. Paul’s Cathedral, crossing the Millennium Bridge.
Information Tate Modern
- Tate Modern ticket price: Free
- Tate Modern hours: Sunday to Thursday: 10.00 am to 6 pm; Friday and Saturday: 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.
- Tube stop: Southwark
- Where to Eat: Inside the museum there is a cafe and a restaurant with stunning views, also along the Southbank promenade, along the river, there are several restaurant areas.
Tate Britain
Built in 1897, this museum houses an extensive collection of 19C British art. XVI until the end of the XX century. The permanent collection follows a chronological order and features some of the major works by artists such as Gainsborough and Constable, as well as Rynolds, Blake, Stuubs and Hogarth among others. Free guided tours are offered every day, starting on the hour, with the last one at 3:00 p.m.
Information Tate Britain:
- Tate Britain ticket price: Free
- Tate Britain opening hours: Monday to Sunday from 10.00 am to 6.00 pm and until 10 pm on the first Friday of each month.
- Tube stop: Pimlico or Westminster
- Where to Eat: Inside the museum there is a cafeteria and a restaurant.
National Gallery
Excellent gallery located in Trafalgar Square. Here you can find paintings by Caravaggio, Van Gogh, Bellini, Claude, Vermeer, Rembrandt, Gossaert, Velásquez, Monet, Van Dyck, Canaleto, Gainsborough, Rubens, Drouais, Ingres, Turner, Stubbs, Constable, Cézanne, Seurat, Leonardo da Vinci , Holbein, Michaelangelo, Raphael, Titian, Botticelli, Uccello… The Chandos portrait of Shakespeare and the portrait of the queen by Andy Warhol stand out.
Information National Portrait Gallery:
- Entrance fee National Portrait Gallery: Free
- National Portrait Gallery hours: Monday to Sunday from 10.00 am to 6.00 pm and Thursday and Friday open until 9 pm.
- Tube stop: Charing Cross
- Where to Eat: Inside the museum there is a restaurant with beautiful views of Westminster
British museum
One of the best known in London, this museum attracts more than 5 million visitors a year. It offers a stimulating journey through the cultures of the world, including galleries dedicated to Egypt, Greece, Africa, Italy, the Etruscans, the Romans, medieval antiquities, etc. Highlights are the Rossetta stone and the Egyptian galleries.
There are almost 8 million works of art, antiques, relics… spread over the 5 floors and almost 100 rooms of the British Museum, so it will be difficult for you to visit the entire museum in a single day. It is best to look at the guide or the map at the beginning and decide the 2 or 3 areas you want to visit.
Information British Museum
- British Museum ticket price: Free
- British Museum hours: Monday to Sunday from 10:00 am to 5:30 pm and Friday open until 8:30 pm
- Tube stop: Tottenham Court Road
- Where to Eat: Inside the museum there is a cafeteria and a restaurant, but in the area around the museum there are numerous restaurants
London Transport Museum
The London Transport Museum is one of the best to visit with children, and is located in Covent Garden, in the center of the city. This is one of the few museums where you have to pay to enter, although those under 18 are free.
Inside you can find buses, trains and subways, both old and the most modern, and the best thing is that there are simulators where the kids can pretend to be driving a London bus or even drive a London underground train like a train driver in London. An exact replica of the one they use to train new London Underground employees.
It doesn’t take long to see it, so you can add it to your travel plan for when you visit the Covent Garden area.
Information London Transport Museum
How to get there: Covent Garden Square. The nearest Tube station is Covent Garden.
Schedules
- Saturday to Thursday: 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
- Friday: 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
- Closed: January 1; December 24, 25 and 26.
Price of admission
- Adults: £17 and if anyone have London Sightseeing Pass then it is Free entry.
- Under 18 years: Free admission.
Madame Tussauds Wax Museum
The London Wax Museum is undoubtedly one of the most famous and most visited London museums by tourists visiting the city. It is a museum with more than 200 years old whose success has led to the creation of other wax museums around the world. Here you can find famous wax figures, without a doubt highlighting the celebrities and athletes. It is located next to Regent’s Park, one of the most beautiful parks in the British capital.
Information Madame Tussauds Museum
- How to get to the London Wax Museum: Marylebone Road, NW1 5LR, London United Kingdom.
- Nearest tube station: Baker Street, which is a few meters from the museum door, in zone 1. You can get there on the Bakerloo (Brown), Metropolitan (Purple), Hammersmith and City (Pink) and Circle line (Yellow) lines.
- London Wax Museum Hours: Monday to Friday: 09:30 am – 17:30 pm – Weekend: 09:00 am – 18:00 pm
- London Wax Museum Ticket Prices: Adults: 29 Pounds – Children (from 4 to 15 years old): 24 Pounds (Children under 4 years old are free)
HMS Belfast
A floating museum that shows us what life was like on board during the war. One of my favorites the truth, and a good option if you go with children.
You’ll be able to walk the deck of this impressive ship from bow to stern and even walk down the ladders used by British Army sailors to reach their cabins, galleys and even the ship’s engine room. It is amazing to be inside and think that hundreds of men lived there during the war, without knowing when they would return to port or even if they would be able to do so…
HMS Belfast Museum Information:
- HMS Belfast Hours HMS is open from 10am to 5pm (Nov – Feb) / 6pm (March – Oct) every day of the year except 24, 25 and 26 December.
- How to get to HMS Belfast: The nearest tube station is London Bridge (Northern line zone 1). From London Bridge you will see signs telling you where Tower Bridge and HMS Belfast are, and as soon as you reach the river you will see it.
- HMS Belfast Ticket Price: Adults £14.25, under 15s £7.25 and free entry for under 5s.
Museum of London
The Museum of London, as its name suggests, tells us the story of one of the best cities in the world. Its origins, its best moments, its most critical moments and how it evolved from a very basic city to the mega-city we know today.
It is quite interesting since the change in the urban organization, the banks of the Thames and the City has been incredible. In my opinion the most interesting is the part about London in Roman times and Medieval London.
- Opening hours Museum of London: The Museum is open from 10 am to 6 pm except on December 24, 25 and 26.
- How to get there Museum of London: The address of the Museum of London is 150 London Wall, London EC2Y 5HN, United Kingdom. The easiest way to get to the Museum of London is by tube to St Paul’s Station (Central Line).
- London Museum Ticket Price: Visiting the London Museum is free. Donations can be made voluntarily.
Imperial War Museum
The Imperial War Museum is one of the museums that are part of the set of 5 military museums that can be found in the United Kingdom and that mainly tell the story of World War II. It is a museum that can be visited for free.
Military suits, tanks, planes and weapons. Everything that lovers of history or war movies would want to see is here.
- IWM Hours: The Museum is open from 10 am to 6 pm except on December 24, 25 and 26.
- Directions IWM: The IWM address is: Lambeth Road, London, SE1 6HZ . The easiest way to get to the Museum of London is by tube to Lambeth North or Elephant and Castle station.
- IWM Ticket Price: Visiting the Imperial War Museum is free. Donations can be made voluntarily.
Other recommended London museums
In addition to these 10 museums that we have included in our list of Best Museums in London, there are also many other museums in London that we recommend you visit. Many of them have free admission, so it’s definitely an option to consider for London’s famous rainy days.
Also, if you like a particular topic, that is, things like history or advertising or theater. we can also recommend some museums and thematic exhibitions that may interest you a lot. Leave us a comment below and we will help you find the best ones.
By the way! In London there are many museums that close late on some days of the year. It is what in London we know as the “Museum Lates”.