If there is one type of attraction that London has plenty of, it’s museums. The capital is home to some of the world’s most famous museums, alongside fascinating hidden gems covering everything from ancient history and science to fashion, transport and popular culture.
One of the best things about visiting museums in London is how easy they are to reach by train, and many of them are either free to enter or you can get discounted entry with your train ticket.
Whether you’re looking for free museums in London, family day out ideas, or inspiration to discover somewhere new, London has something for every type of visitor.
Which museums in London should you visit?
| If you're looking for... | You should visit... |
| Famous, world-class exhibits |
British Museum, Natural History Museum, Science Museum, Victoria and Albert Museum |
| Free museums in London |
Natural History Museum, Science Museum, Imperial War Museum, British Museum, London Museum Docklands, Museum of the Home, Bank of England Museum |
| A family day out | Science Museum, Young V&A, London Transport Museum, Horniman Museum |
| A fun, quirky, interactive experience | Museum of Illusions, TWIST Museum, Viktor Wynd Museum of Curiosities, The Clink Prison Museum |
| Art, design and creativity | The Design Museum, Fashion and Textile Museum, The Cartoon Museum, The Fan Museum |
| Something totally new | Hunterian Museum, Museum of Brands, The Postal Museum, Sir John Soane’s Museum, The Cinema Museum |
The best free museums in London
If you’re visiting London for the first time, looking for free museums, or want to discover some of the world’s most famous collections, these iconic museums are a great place to start. They offer world-leading exhibits, impressive architecture, and plenty to explore, making them some of the most popular London museums.
British Museum
Location: Bloomsbury
Best for: Ancient history, world cultures and iconic artefacts
Entry: Free (charges apply for some exhibitions)
One of the most famous museums in London, the British Museum houses a vast collection spanning thousands of years of human history. Highlights include the Rosetta Stone, the Parthenon sculptures, and collections exploring civilisations from across the world.
With galleries covering ancient Egypt, Greece, Rome, Asia and beyond, it’s easy to spend several hours exploring the British Museum’s collections.
Find out more and plan your visit: www.britishmuseum.org
Natural History Museum
Location: South Kensington
Best for: Families, dinosaurs and natural history
Entry: Free (charges apply for some exhibitions)
The Natural History Museum is one of the most recognisable buildings in London, known for its spectacular Victorian architecture and fascinating collections.
Visitors can discover everything from dinosaurs and fossils to volcanoes, earthquakes and the natural world. Its dinosaur gallery and impressive blue whale skeleton are among the museum’s most popular attractions.
It’s one of the best family-friendly museums in London, offering plenty to keep younger visitors interested.
Find out more and plan your visit: www.nhm.ac.uk
Science Museum
Location: South Kensington
Best for: Science, technology and interactive experiences
Entry: Free (charges apply for some exhibitions and experiences)
The Science Museum brings science and innovation to life through engaging displays covering space, medicine, engineering and technology.
It’s one of the best interactive museums in London, with hands-on galleries designed to help visitors understand how scientific discoveries have shaped the modern world.
Families can explore fascinating exhibits including space technology, historic aircraft and medical breakthroughs.
Find out more and plan your visit: www.sciencemuseum.org.uk/home
Victoria and Albert Museum
Location: South Kensington
Best for: Art, fashion, design and creativity
Entry: Free (charges apply for some exhibitions)
Known as the V&A, this world-leading museum celebrates art, design and creativity across more than 5,000 years of history.
Its collections include fashion, textiles, jewellery, ceramics, photography, sculpture and theatre. It’s an inspiring destination for anyone interested in design, making it one of the most popular museums in London for art and culture.
Find out more and plan your visit: www.vam.ac.uk
Best museums in London for families
London has plenty of museums designed to inspire curious minds, with interactive displays, hands-on experiences and fascinating collections making for the perfect family day out.
Young V&A
Location: Bethnal Green
Best for: Children, families and creative play
Entry: Free (charges apply for some exhibitions)
The Young V&A is dedicated to children, young people and families, with collections exploring creativity, design, childhood and play.
Following a major redevelopment, the museum reopened with spaces designed around making, imagining and exploring, making it a great choice for a family day out.
Find out more and plan your visit: www.vam.ac.uk/young
London Transport Museum
Location: Covent Garden
Best for: Transport fans and families
Entry: Paid admission (get 2FOR1 entry when you travel by train)
The London Transport Museum explores the history of London’s transport network, from horse-drawn vehicles to the iconic Underground.
The museum is packed with fascinating exhibits and things to do, from the last surviving steam locomotive to having a go at driving a train yourself (on a simulator, not for real). It’s a great option for families and will transport you back to the golden age of travel.
Find out more and plan your visit: www.ltmuseum.co.uk
Horniman Museum & Gardens
Location: Forest Hill
Best for: Nature, anthropology and family days out
Entry: Free (charges apply for some exhibitions and experiences)
The Horniman Museum and Gardens is one of the most unique and fascinating museums in London. The collections cover anthropology, natural history and even musical instruments plus outdoor space to explore.
Visitors can discover objects from around the world, see the famous Horniman walrus, and enjoy the museum’s gardens overlooking south London.
Find out more and plan your visit: www.horniman.ac.uk
Unusual and quirky museums in London
If you've already visited London's biggest attractions or you’re looking for something different, these unusual museums in London offer immersive experiences, quirky collections and fascinating stories.
Museum of Illusions
Location: Oxford Street
Best for: Interactive optical illusions and photo opportunities
Entry: Paid admission
The Museum of Illusions combines science, psychology and visual trickery through a series of interactive exhibits designed to challenge your perception. Highlights include illusion rooms, holograms, puzzles and installations that encourage visitors to get involved rather than simply observe.
It's a popular choice for families, groups of friends and anyone looking for one of the most interactive museums in London.
Find out more and plan your visit: moilondon.uk
TWIST Museum
Location: Oxford Street
Best for: Immersive experiences and perception-based exhibits
Entry: Paid admission
If you're looking for one of the most unique museums in London, TWIST Museum (The Way I See Things) invites you to question how you experience the world around you. Created in collaboration with artists, neuroscientists and psychologists, its interactive exhibits explore how our brains interpret colour, light, sound, movement and space.
As you move through the museum, you'll step into immersive rooms that play with perspective, discover striking optical illusions and experiment with hands-on installations designed to challenge your senses.
Find out more and plan your visit: twistmuseum.com
Moco Museum
Location: Marble Arch
Best for: Modern and contemporary art
Entry: Paid admission (get 2FOR1 entry when you travel by train)
Located near Marble Arch, Moco Museum London showcases modern, contemporary and digital art in an intimate gallery setting. Visitors can see works by internationally recognised artists including Banksy, Andy Warhol, Keith Haring and Yayoi Kusama, alongside immersive digital installations and changing exhibitions.
Combining iconic artworks with interactive experiences, Moco offers a fresh and accessible way to explore contemporary art, making it a great choice for first-time gallery visitors as well as dedicated art lovers. Its central location makes it an easy addition to a day out in London exploring Hyde Park, Oxford Street or Mayfair.
Find out more and plan your visit: www.mocomuseum.com/london
The Viktor Wynd Museum of Curiosities
Location: Hackney
Best for: Curious collections and the unexpected
Entry: Paid admission
If ordinary museums aren't your thing, The Viktor Wynd Museum of Curiosities offers an experience unlike anywhere else in London. Its eclectic collection brings together natural history specimens, rare books, taxidermy, fossils, cultural artefacts and unusual curiosities from around the world.
Every display is designed to surprise, making this atmospheric museum a fascinating place to explore if you're drawn to the weird, wonderful and unexpected. It's a museum best suited to adults and visitors looking for something truly unusual.
Find out more and plan your visit: thelasttuesdaysociety.org/museum
The Clink Prison Museum
Location: Southwark
Best for: Medieval crime and punishment
Entry: Paid admission (get 2FOR1 entry when you travel by train)
Step inside the site of one of England's oldest prisons and discover the harsh realities of medieval justice at The Clink Prison Museum. Highlights include reconstructed prison cells, archaeological artefacts, interactive exhibits, and displays of historic torture devices and punishment methods.
This museum brings centuries of crime and punishment to life. It's an atmospheric experience that offers a fascinating glimpse into London's darker past, just moments from Borough Market and the River Thames.
Find out more and plan your visit: www.daysoutguide.co.uk/the-clink-prison-museum
Jack the Ripper Museum
Location: Whitechapel
Best for: Victorian London history
Entry: Paid admission
Step back in time to the streets of Victorian Whitechapel and explore one of London's most enduring historical mysteries. Set inside a restored Victorian house, the Jack the Ripper Museum recreates scenes from 1888 while examining the lives of the victims, the police investigation and the leading suspects.
From atmospheric period rooms to original documents and artefacts, the museum offers a thought-provoking insight into the East End at a pivotal moment in London's history.
Find out more and plan your visit: www.jacktherippermuseum.com
The best museums in London for history lovers
London's history stretches back nearly 2,000 years, and these museums help bring the city's military, political and social history to life.
Imperial War Museum London
Location: Lambeth
Best for: Modern conflict and military history
Entry: Free (charges apply for some exhibitions)
Discover the powerful stories of people whose lives were shaped by conflict at Imperial War Museum London. Through moving personal accounts, remarkable artefacts and thought-provoking exhibitions, the museum explores the First and Second World Wars as well as more recent conflicts.
Highlights include iconic military aircraft suspended overhead, tanks, historic vehicles and immersive galleries that reveal the human impact of war, making it one of the most compelling and emotional museums in London.
Find out more and plan your visit: www.iwm.org.uk/visits/iwm-london
Churchill War Rooms
Location: Westminster
Best for: Second World War history
Entry: Paid admission
Hidden beneath the streets of Westminster, the Churchill War Rooms preserve the underground bunker where Winston Churchill and his government directed Britain's Second World War strategy.
Explore the remarkably preserved Cabinet War Rooms where maps, telephones and even Churchill's chair remain in place, before discovering the interactive Churchill Museum, which explores his life, leadership and legacy through personal objects, documents and multimedia displays.
Find out more and plan your visit: www.iwm.org.uk/visits/churchill-war-rooms
National Army Museum
Location: Chelsea
Best for: British Army history
Entry: Free
From the English Civil Wars to the present day, the National Army Museum tells the story of the British Army through the experiences of the people who served. Discover thousands of objects, from uniforms and medals to vehicles and weaponry, alongside interactive galleries and personal stories that explore courage, conflict and service. Whether you're interested in military history or family history, it's a fascinating museum that brings centuries of history to life.
Find out more and plan your visit: www.nam.ac.uk
National Maritime Museum
Location: Greenwich
Best for: Britain's maritime history
Entry: Free
Part of Royal Museums Greenwich, the National Maritime Museum explores Britain's relationship with the sea through exhibitions covering exploration, trade, naval history and scientific discovery.
Discover stories of explorers, sailors, naval heroes and everyday life at sea through historic ships' models, paintings, maps and artefacts. From polar expeditions to the history of the Royal Navy, the museum brings centuries of adventure, discovery and innovation to life for visitors of all ages.
Find out more and plan your visit: www.rmg.co.uk/national-maritime-museum
London Museum Docklands
Location: Canary Wharf
Best for: London's riverside history
Entry: Free
Set inside a beautifully restored 200-year-old warehouse on West India Quay, London Museum Docklands tells the story of the River Thames, the Port of London and the city's dramatic transformation over the centuries.
Explore interactive galleries covering everything from Roman trade and the Victorian docks to the rise of Canary Wharf, alongside the immersive Sailortown recreation, which transports you to the historic streets of 1840s dockside London.
Find out more and plan your visit: www.londonmuseum.org.uk/docklands
Bank of England Museum
Location: Bank
Best for: Finance and economic history
Entry: Free
Ever wondered how money is made or what a real gold bar feels like? The Bank of England Museum reveals the fascinating story of Britain's central bank through historic banknotes, coins, interactive exhibits and centuries of financial history, making it one of the most fascinating museums in London.
Learn how the Bank has helped shape the UK economy, discover the people behind major financial decisions and don't miss the chance to lift a genuine gold bar, one of the museum's most popular experiences.
Find out more and plan your visit: www.bankofengland.co.uk/museum
The best museums in London about historic figures and social history
Step inside the former homes of some of Britain's most influential figures and discover the stories behind their lives. From a pioneering thinker to the founder of modern nursing and an extraordinary architect, these museums offer a fascinating glimpse into the people who helped shape history.
Florence Nightingale Museum
Location: Lambeth
Best for: Nursing history
Entry: Paid admission (get 2FOR1 entry when you travel by train)
Discover the remarkable story of the woman who transformed modern nursing at the Florence Nightingale Museum. Through personal possessions, letters, medical artefacts and immersive displays, you'll follow Nightingale's journey from her childhood to her pioneering work during the Crimean War and the lasting impact she had on healthcare. It's an inspiring museum that brings one of Britain's most influential figures vividly to life.
Find out more and plan your visit: www.florence-nightingale.co.uk
Freud Museum London
Location: Hampstead
Best for: Psychology and the life of Sigmund Freud
Entry: Paid admission (get 2FOR1 entry when you travel by train)
Step inside the London home where Sigmund Freud spent the final year of his life after fleeing Nazi-occupied Vienna. Preserved much as he left it, the museum features his famous psychoanalytic couch, personal library, study and family belongings, offering a rare glimpse into the man behind psychoanalysis.
Find out more and plan your visit: www.freud.org.uk
Sir John Soane's Museum
Location: Holborn
Best for: Architecture and historic interiors
Entry: Free
Formerly the home of architect Sir John Soane, this remarkable museum houses an extraordinary collection of paintings, sculptures, antiquities and architectural models displayed much as Soane intended. The house itself is considered one of London's most fascinating historic interiors.
Find out more and plan your visit: www.soane.org
Museum of the Home
Location: Hoxton
Best for: Social history
Entry: Free
How have our homes changed over the last 400 years? The Museum of the Home answers that question through beautifully recreated period rooms, fascinating everyday objects, and thought-provoking exhibitions exploring domestic life in England. From Tudor interiors to modern living spaces, it's a captivating journey through the changing ways we live, decorate and spend time at home.
Find out more and plan your visit: museumofthehome.org.uk
Foundling Museum
Location: Bloomsbury
Best for: Social history and art
Entry: Paid admission
Discover the moving story of the Foundling Hospital, the UK's first children's charity, at this unique museum in Bloomsbury. Through powerful personal stories, historic objects and an outstanding art collection featuring works by artists including William Hogarth, the museum explores the lives of London's foundlings and the people who supported them. It's a surprisingly uplifting visit that combines art, music and social history in one unforgettable experience.
Find out more and plan your visit: foundlingmuseum.org.uk
The best museums in London for art, design and creativity
Whether you're passionate about fashion, architecture or illustration, these London museums celebrate creativity in all its forms.
The Design Museum
Location: Kensington
Best for: Contemporary design and innovation
Entry: Free permanent collection (charges apply for temporary exhibitions)
The Design Museum explores how design shapes everyday life through exhibitions covering architecture, product design, fashion, graphics and technology. Alongside its permanent displays, it regularly hosts major temporary exhibitions featuring influential designers and global brands.
Find out more and plan your visit: designmuseum.org
Fashion and Textile Museum
Location: Bermondsey
Best for: Fashion history and contemporary design
Entry: Paid admission (get 2FOR1 entry when you travel by train)
Founded by designer Zandra Rhodes, the Fashion and Textile Museum showcases changing exhibitions exploring fashion, textiles and jewellery. The museum focuses on design, craftsmanship and the cultural influence of fashion from around the world.
Find out more and plan your visit: fashiontextilemuseum.org
The Cartoon Museum
Location: Fitzrovia
Best for: Cartoons, comics and political satire
Entry: Paid admission (get 2FOR1 entry when you travel by train)
The Cartoon Museum celebrates British cartoons, caricatures, comic art and graphic novels through changing exhibitions and an extensive permanent collection. It offers an entertaining look at how illustration has shaped politics, culture and humour over the centuries.
Find out more and plan your visit: www.cartoonmuseum.org
Garden Museum
Location: Lambeth
Best for: Gardening, horticulture and landscape design
Entry: Paid admission (get 2FOR1 entry when you travel by train)
Housed inside the restored medieval church of St Mary-at-Lambeth, the Garden Museum explores Britain's love of gardens through exhibitions on horticulture, garden design and the people who have shaped our outdoor spaces.
Find out more and plan your visit: www.gardenmuseum.org.uk
The Fan Museum
Location: Greenwich
Best for: Decorative arts and craftsmanship
Entry: Paid admission
The Fan Museum is the only museum in the UK dedicated entirely to fans and fan-making. Its collection spans centuries and includes beautifully crafted examples from Europe and Asia, offering a unique insight into decorative arts and social history.
Find out more and plan your visit: www.thefanmuseum.org.uk
Special interest museums in London worth discovering
These museums focus on specific subjects, making them ideal if you want to dive deeper into a particular interest.
Royal Air Force Museum London
Location: Colindale
Best for: Aviation history
Entry: Free
The Royal Air Force Museum showcases more than a century of aviation history through historic aircraft, interactive galleries and exhibitions exploring the RAF's role from its formation to the present day.
Find out more and plan your visit: www.rafmuseum.org.uk/london
Hunterian Museum
Location: Holborn
Best for: Medical history and anatomy
Entry: Free
Located within the Royal College of Surgeons, the Hunterian Museum explores the history of surgery, medicine and anatomy through scientific specimens, instruments and historical collections.
Find out more and plan your visit: hunterianmuseum.org
Petrie Museum of Egyptian Archaeology
Location: Bloomsbury
Best for: Ancient Egypt
Entry: Free
Home to one of the world's leading collections of Egyptian and Sudanese archaeology, the Petrie Museum contains thousands of artefacts spanning everyday life, religion and burial customs from ancient civilisations.
Find out more and plan your visit: www.ucl.ac.uk/museums-collections/petrie-museum-egyptian-and-sudanese-archaeology
Museum of Brands
Location: Notting Hill
Best for: Consumer culture and nostalgia
Entry: Paid admission (get 2FOR1 entry when you travel by train)
Self-described as a ‘nostalgia museum’, the Museum of Brands charts the evolution of consumer goods, advertising, packaging and design from the Victorian era to the present day. Its popular Time Tunnel offers a nostalgic journey through more than 150 years of British high street history.
Find out more and plan your visit: museumofbrands.com
The Postal Museum
Location: Clerkenwell
Best for: Postal history and interactive experiences
Entry: Paid admission
The Postal Museum tells the story of Britain's postal service through interactive galleries, historic objects and one of its biggest attractions: the underground Mail Rail, where visitors can ride through parts of the former postal railway beneath London.
Find out more and plan your visit: www.postalmuseum.org
London Canal Museum
Location: King's Cross
Best for: London's waterways
Entry: Paid admission (get 2FOR1 entry when you travel by train)
Situated in a historic warehouse beside Regent's Canal, the London Canal Museum explores the history of London's inland waterways, the people who worked on them and their importance to the city's development.
Find out more and plan your visit: www.canalmuseum.org.uk
Chelsea FC Museum
Location: Stamford Bridge
Best for: Football fans
Entry: Paid admission (get 2FOR1 entry when you travel by train)
Located at Stamford Bridge, the Chelsea FC Museum showcases the club's history through trophies, memorabilia, interactive exhibits and displays celebrating some of its greatest players and achievements.
Find out more and plan your visit: www.chelseafc.com/en/stadium-tours-and-museum
The Cinema Museum
Location: Kennington
Best for: Film history
Entry: Paid admission
The Cinema Museum celebrates the history of cinema-going with an extensive collection of film memorabilia, projectors, posters and artefacts from Britain's cinemas throughout the twentieth century.
Find out more and plan your visit: cinemamuseum.org.uk
Plan your visit to London's museums
With so many museums spread across the capital, it's worth planning your route before you travel. Many of London's biggest museums are clustered together, making it easy to visit more than one in a single day.
For example:
- South Kensington is home to the Natural History Museum, Science Museum and Victoria and Albert Museum.
- Bloomsbury offers the British Museum, Sir John Soane's Museum and the Petrie Museum of Egyptian Archaeology within easy reach.
- Greenwich combines the National Maritime Museum and the Fan Museum with the wider attractions of Maritime Greenwich.
- Westminster and Lambeth are ideal for visitors interested in British history, with the Churchill War Rooms, Imperial War Museum and Florence Nightingale Museum all nearby.
Why you should visit these museums in London by train
More sustainable: Travelling by train is one of the most environmentally friendly ways to reach the capital, helping you reduce your carbon footprint compared with travelling by car.
Great value: Make your day out go further with 2FOR1 entry at many of these museums, Kids for £2 tickets on eligible train journeys, and GroupSave discounts when travelling together with 3-9 people.
Accessible: London's extensive rail, Underground and bus networks make it easy to reach museums across the city, with many just a short walk from the nearest station.
More enjoyable: Sit back and enjoy the journey without the stress of traffic, finding parking, or paying congestion and emissions charges, leaving you free to make the most of your day exploring London's museums.
