London is an incredible city to visit. It’s the kind of city where everyone is welcome, and the diversity and communities make it so amazing. Also, there are heaps of the best free museums in London dotted all across the city. London is absolutely a world-class city to visit, especially with its museums.
Of course, you’ve got heaps of areas in London to explore – each with its own character and charm that feels like a cluster of towns—from the palaces to visit, exploring neighbourhoods like Covent Garden to day trips from London. There is honestly something for everyone.
So, to make the most out of your trip, I’m sharing some of the best free museums in London that I think you shouldn’t miss. Now, I’ve also added a few galleries and private collections too. The galleries are all free, but the private collection (which I’ve detailed) is free on certain days – so make the most of those days.
Anyway, have an amazing visit to London.
1.) Natural History Museum
The Natural History Museum is, as the name suggests, a natural history museum. Who’d have thought?
Perched within the west of London, it’s within easy reach of the Science Museum and the Victoria and Albert Museum. This all means you can visit the three in one big outing.
Not only that, the Natural History Museum in London is one of the largest natural history museums in the world, housing a vast collection of specimens of animal and plant life from all over the world. It’s colossal.
Over the years, I’ve visited around fifteen times and still haven’t made it to each and every exhibit.
Once here, make sure to stroll within the main concourse and spot the huge blue whale skeleton right above your head. You’ll also get to see meteorites, explore how the earth moves and even see dinosaur skeletons.
It’s one of the best free museums in London, and they never charge a fee to enter.
Read more: Best things to do in West London
2.) Imperial War Museum London
The Imperial War Museum London is one of Lambeth, London’s most famous war and peace museums.
It is dedicated to war history and features a collection of weapons, vehicles, and other exhibits. Moving exhibits explore the effect of war on the world and the place of the military in the modern era.
It’s really interesting, unsettling, and truthfully horrifying at times. Now, this might sound macabre and dark, but it’s often the realities of conflict, and the exhibits at the Imperial War Museum London detail them exceptionally well.
Give yourself at least 1.5 hours to wander between the exhibits (or all day if you visit them all). Again, it’s a free museum in London and you don’t need to pay anything to enter.
Read more: Best things to do in the south of London
4.) Museum of London Docklands
If you’re visiting the east of London or heading to areas across the Thames (like Greenwich), then consider taking the DLR to Canary Wharf to visit the Museum of London Docklands.
It’s a stone’s throw from Canary Wharf Station and has around nine free exhibits that you can explore. One of the things that makes the Museum of London Docklands so special is that it has heaps of exhibits on trade with and through London. It details the good, the bad, and the ugly of British colonial expansion, exploitation, slavery, and the Docklands during the war.
It’s one of the best free museums in London if you’re interested in British history and the development of the Docklands area. Open every day until 5 p.m., a visit will usually take around 90 minutes to fully explore.
Read more: Best things to do in East London
5.) British Museum
The British Museum, in Central London, is one of the world’s largest and most comprehensive museums, and it can be explored in days (not just hours).
It has a collection of over eight million works of art and artefacts from around the world, including the Rosetta Stone, the Parthenon Sculptures, and the Sutton Hoo Treasure. Now, there’s much-heated debate about the role of the British Museum in housing artefacts considered to be ‘taken’ from around the world.
Whatever your feelings are about this, it’s still one of the best free museums in London, truly one of the best in the world. Inside, you can wander around the exhibits and explore the extensive range of Egyptian artefacts. They also have heaps of African and Greek history, too.
Just be sure to give yourself around 4 hours to stroll briefly around the British Museum. It’s huge. Better still, split your visit over two days so you don’t get ‘museum fatigue’.
Read more: Best things to do in Central London
6.) Churchill War Rooms
The Churchill War Rooms are a museum located in Whitehall, London. They were the headquarters of the British government during World War II, and have been preserved as they were during the war. Located in the Whitehall area of London, you’ll get to explore secret corridors, bunkers and hidden chambers where Churchil led his cabinet during World War II.
Now, a caveat here: the Churchill War Rooms isn’t technically free. There is a fee to pay for entry. That being said, it can be free, so hear me out. If you are already an IWM (Imperial War Museum) member, you’ll get totally free entry to go inside.
Read more: Best palaces in London to visit
7.) National Maritime Museum
The National Maritime Museum is located in the Greenwich area of London. It’s one of the best free museums in London, especially if you’re visiting Greenwich to explore the wider area.
Dedicated to the history of seafaring, with a collection of ships, models, and other exhibits. The museum was founded in 1695 and is one of the largest maritime museums in the UK. Once here, you can follow expeditions, trade and other centuries-old history connected to Greenwich.
Afterwards, make sure to spend some time visiting the Queen’s House (next door and free to enter). You’ll also get to stroll around the Royal Naval College, visit the Cutty Sark (tea clipper) and visit the Painted Hall.
The latter is like London’s version of the Sistine Chapel and is totally beautiful.
Read more: Best things to do in Greenwich
8.) The Design Museum
Located in the west of London, the Design Museum is one of the best free museums in London. It is near High Street Kensington tube station.
Now, it’s totally free to enter, and almost all exhibits are free. There is occasionally one exhibit that requires a small fee to enter, but that’s about two percent of the overall museum. It’s so interesting to explore the past, present, and future design-led projects that have shaped our world.
Just make sure to give yourself at least 90 minutes to stroll around inside. The museum is vast.
Read more: Best things to do in West London
9.) Science Museum
The Science Museum is, as you guessed, a science museum located in South Kensington. It is one of the largest science museums in the world, housing a huge collection of exhibits on science and technology. Over the years, we’ve visited a handful of times, and it’s always really interesting.
Once you’re here, make sure to wander around the exhibits and spot the Stephenson Rocket, the first steam locomotive to travel at over 30 miles per hour.
Not only that, the Science Museum also has an extensive collection of aircraft and spacecraft, including the Concorde supersonic airliner. It’s so epic to see.
10.) Victoria and Albert Museum
The Victoria and Albert Museum is the world’s largest museum of decorative arts and design. Based in the west of London (South Kensington), it’s within walking distance of the Natural History Museum, and you can easily explore both on the same trip.
Once inside, you’ll be able to browse over 2 million objects that are on display (or in the vaults). It’s colossal and well worth exploring whilst in the wider West London area. As always, entry to the V&A is totally free.
Read more: Best things to do in West London
11.) Guildhall Art Gallery
Based in central London, the Guildhall Art Gallery is well worth visiting while strolling the streets. It’s free to enter, and you’ll get to explore the art galleries that exhibit everything from current paintings to artwork from centuries gone by.
Oh, and don’t forget they have free tours, five days a week. These happen from Tuesday to Sunday (at 12.15 pm and 1:15 pm). Tours take less than an hour, and you don’t have to book before showing up. It’s a great way to get the bigger picture of the art and learn more about its history.
Finally, don’t forget to go ‘underground’ and see the foundations of what remains of London’s Roman Amphitheatre. It’s thousands of years old, and although it’s just the foundations, it’s still pretty impressive to see.
Read more: Free things to do in London
12.) Tate Modern
Technically, it is not a museum, but the Tate Modern is an international art museum in Bankside, London. It is one of the most popular museums in the world, and entry is free.
Housing a collection of modern and contemporary art, you’ll see everything from Picasso to Yayoi Kusama. Though, you may need to pay a small fee for certain seasonal exhibits, over 90% of the floor space in the Tate Modern is totally free to enter.
Read more: Best things to do in Central London
13.) National Gallery
Open daily, the National Gallery is one of Europe’s most prestigious art spaces to visit. Not only that, it’s one of the best free museums in London to explore if you’re already in Traflagar Square or even Covent Garden.
Inside, the National Gallery houses a vast collection of paintings from the 13th to the 19th centuries. Each room follows a certain period and it’s soincredible to see some of the world’s most famous art.
Once inside, make sure to spot the Arnolfini Portrait, which is a painting by Jan van Eyck that depicts a couple on their wedding day. It really is so special to see, especilly as it dates back to 1434.
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