25 Free Museums in London That You Must Check Out

London is one of the best travel destinations if you want a vacation with your friends, family, or even your close ones. One of these things is the massive collection of free museums. 

There are various free museums in London. Whether a science lover or an art and music lover, London has something or the other for everyone.

Free Museums in London

There are plenty of free museums in London. Some of the top-rated museums in this place are mentioned below. 

1. Science Museum

Science Museum is one of the best museums in London. It is located in South Kensington and is also home to some other beautiful museums in the country.

If you are a science lover and love to know various new facts and technologies about science, then my friend, this is the perfect place for you to be in London. You will be awestruck by the amazing things this place has to offer.

It has a fantastic collection of antique science artefacts and technologies that will blow your mind. Apart from that, this museum also holds various fan adult events. 

It is the perfect destination to visit with your friends, families, and even your kids, as they will learn much about science and technology from this place.

2. Natural History Museum

Also located in South Kensington, this is one of the most visited places in the country. If you like to explore the things that happened in history and are interested in knowing various items, you will enjoy a lot in this place. 

The hall is situated at the museum’s entrance and is a major attraction. One of the major attractions of this place is it allows you to walk on the steps of the dinosaurs that guide you and take you to the escalator. Once you reach upstairs, you will find yourself in the solar system in outer space. Not only that, you will be able to learn about various things that happened in the past with our planet Earth. You will find a giant skeleton, “Hope,” ready to greet all the museum guests.

The Natural History Museum aims to provide the best 3D experience to all its guests.

If history was never your thing in school, do not worry; you can still visit this place and fall in love with the charms of the museum. 

3. The Victoria And Albert Museum

As you can already figure out by the name of this place, it was named after Queen Victoria and her husband, Prince Albert. 

The tremendous Victorian Gothic building is a major attraction, but there is much more to this place once you enter the museum.

The museum contains various artefacts and materials representing London’s art and culture. It has around two million pieces of different interesting objects spread around five acres.

If you visit this museum, do not miss the most extensive post-classical sculpture collection. Apart from that, there are also a lot of designs by William Morris and other fashion exhibitions.

4. British Museum

If you plan to visit the British Museum, wear comfortable shoes and have plenty of time on hand because the British Museum has a lot to offer.  

It is considered one of the country’s best places to visit and provides a fantastic tour through the various aspects of the history of humanity. 

Apart from this, you will also be able to find some of the old belongings from various civilizations like the Mesopotamian Civilization.

5. Museum of London

The Museum of London is different from the other museums in the county because it showcases London’s history, culture, and heritage. In contrast, the other museums showcase the history of the world along with London.

This museum presents all the sacrifices and hardships of the people of London. The place portrays the story of all the people responsible for making the city a beautiful place today. The museum emphasizes the characters, which are known as the city homes. 

6. National Maritime Museum

This museum is present in Greenwich and is full of surprises and treasures. The painted hall is one of the things that can be added to the list of wonders. It represents Britain’s maritime history in various ways.

Even if you do not like history, do not worry; you will still be able to enjoy this place to the fullest. Here, you can find the history of Britain, the Romans and other exciting things about the world.

Not only that, but this place also holds some temporary exhibitions which have amazing subjects. The subject or theme of the show varies every time but mainly revolves around current affairs, history and culture.

There are also several contests, like the Astronomy Photography of the Year, where you can participate freely.

7. Queen’s House

If you are in London, do not miss the Queen’s House. It was Queen Anne of Denmark’s old residence and is among Greenwich’s royal museums. Though it has recently been added to the list of museums in Greenwich, this place also has much to offer.

The Queen’s House is a great place to explore the neoclassical buildings of the country. It is known for its unique art and culture that impresses almost all visitors. It is also said that the art in this place is pretty impressive.

There are a lot of masterpieces that are found in this place apart from the things that are mentioned above. When you are in this place, visit the Armada Portrait of Queen Elizabeth I. Apart from its fame, many mysteries still needed to be figured out.

8. Imperial War Museum

In this museum you will find a lot of harsh realities that take place during a war. Here, you will be able to find a lot of letters, photographs, films, and artefacts related to the war zone. It also has modern warfare that impacts society to a great level.

The collection found in this place is interesting, and it also offers various perspectives on wars fought worldwide. It is one of the most attractive London museums and one of the most famous free galleries in London City.

9. Sir John Soane’s Museum

 It is one of the best museum houses in London, offering the most incredible artefacts. The museum dedicated its work to the rich history of London and other parts of the world.

The museum also has various fantastic art collections and is therefore known as one of the best art galleries in London. It has an electric array of furniture, art, and other antique artefacts.

They host a special event annually where they light candles and tour the place. 

10. V&A Museum of Childhood

Located in Bethnal Green, this museum is the world’s leading museum of toys. When you visit this place, you will get a nostalgic feeling of your childhood after seeing various types of ancient and modern-day toys used worldwide.

You can find antique doll houses that date back to the 1970s. There is a fusion of ancient, modern, and contemporary art in the toys and artefacts of this place.

Apart from the abovementioned things, you will also find some exhibitions at various intervals throughout the year. The family’s adults and your kid will love this place. 

One sad part is that this museum of London is currently not in action but will reopen very soon.

11. London Mithraeum

London Mithraeum is one of the most exciting yet lesser-known spots in London. It is centred around the remains of an ancient Roman temple in the middle of the city.

If you visit this place, you can witness a sensory experience apart from the artefacts. You will be led into the Roman world for an hour fun-filled and dramatic experience as this place has a timed entry.  

12. Wellcome Collection

It might seem strange, but this museum in London consists of arts about medicines. This unique museum concept attracts more than 550,000 visitors every year.

Inside this London museum, you will find various books, arts, and artefacts. All of these are related to medicinal aspects and growth worldwide. This place has also a library, a cafe, and a bookshop. 

13. Royal Air Force Museum

The unique museum of London consists of various things from the British Air Force. There is also a collection of books and photographs from the Battle of Britain and other ancient wars, even the World War.

Apart from the individual items, this place also has some of the original belongings of people from the old time of war.

In addition, a special section for kids contains replicas and duplicates of planes, helicopters, and other aircraft types. The kids will be able to learn a lot about ancient wars and the equipment used in them through these replicas. You will also find a fantastic cafe inside the Royal Air Force Museum.

14. British Library

There are so many books in the British Library that a person can’t know the exact number. However, there are approximately 150-200 million items including books, manuscripts, maps  in the largest national library in the world.

The sad part about this place is that some sections are closed and inaccessible to the readers. However, there are a few exhibition spaces where various exhibitions with different themes are held yearly.

15. Petrie Museum

You might not want to miss this place if you want to know more about ancient Egypt, the people during those times, and their culture. It is a section of the University College London that has a lot to offer to the world.

Once inside this place, you will find many amazing things like paintings, clothing, pottery, carvings, and much more that express the story of the ancient Egyptians. This museum of London started with a small collection and later expanded to around 80,000 items.

16. Design Museum

The Design Museum was first situated on the bank of the Thames, but now it has moved to Kensington High Street.

The items found here are from different perspectives of fashion, architecture, graphic design, and various other views. You will be amazed by the interesting designs and ideas of this place. 

17. Museum of Brands

Are you interested in knowing various things about marketing, advertisements, and brands? Then, you will love this place. 

You will be able to find various things related to marketing and advertising. There are references to different commercials of 150 years related to makeup items, toys, clothing brands, and whatnot.

It is impressive to see how the marketing and advertisements of various areas have influenced the style and attitude of the people.

18. National Army Museum

The National Army Museum is also one of the most visited places in London.

Inside this place, you will find some collections completely devoted to Britain’s land force. Apart from that, all the corners of this museum will tell you different stories about the victory and struggle of the British army in ancient times.

It is a free museum in London which hosts occasional exhibitions too. Though these exhibitions are paid for, they are all worth checking out.

19. Grant Museum of Zoology

Another section of the University College of London, Grant Museum of Zoology is located in Bloomsbury. It was founded in 1828 and is very famous as it has one of the oldest natural histories in the country. 

Some of the antique collections of this place include skeletons of extinct animals like the Tasmanian Tiger, dodo, and many other extinct animals. 

Apart from that, you will also find many interesting things about animals residing in various places.

20. Horniman Museum

Horniman Museum is located in the Forest Hill section of South London. It is a natural history museum, one of London’s most beautiful places.

This museum’s collection is associated with various subjects like history, musical instruments, anthropology, etc.

21. Hampstead Museum 

Before turning it into a museum, this place was home to some of the most famous characters in the world. One of the inhabitants of this place was the daughter of Rudyard Kipling, who is also renowned as the author of The Jungle Book. 

After turning it into a museum, this place is open to everyone and is one of the best museums in town. It is more of a history museum where you can find several things related to the past of London. 

Apart from that, this place also hosts occasional exhibitions with an amazing collection. 

22. Museum of Docklands 

The Museum of Docklands is famous for possessing the history of the Docklands of London. The museum will provide an insight into one of the most exciting areas of the country, which was once regarded as the roughest area in London. Not only that, this area has undergone many changes and rejuvenation in recent times. 

It is a free place, but you can pre-book the tickets if you want a hassle-free and smooth museum-viewing experience. 

23. Bank of England Museum 

This place was not open to all long ago, but the Bank Of England Museum has much to offer today. Here, you can find many bank notes from several years back. Not only that, but you will also be able to witness the transition in the coins and messages over the years. 

All of the items in this museum have a lot of significance apart from the money. You will be able to learn about the history and transition of various phases in London. 

If you are interested in currency and the other vital factors of a country, you will love this place. 

24. Queer Britain 

It is one of the best museums that has been opened recently. The place consists of all the necessary information about the LGBTQ+ community. Not only that, but the site also supports the needs and wants of this community and helps it prosper like all the other communities. 

The place has all the things that date back to the history of the LGBTQ+ community, which also portrays a clear picture of the transition of this place

25. Anaesthesia Heritage Centre 

If you want to visit a quirky museum, this is the place for you. The museum is all about the history of anaesthesia and how it was used on people for various reasons. 

The first use of anaesthesia was made in 1846 and has been used since then for making the patients or the body parts(in some cases) inactive during surgery. 

Free Galleries in London

Apart from the museums in London, this country also offers some of the best free galleries. Let us dive into the list.

1. The Tate Britain

If you are in London, make sure to visit Tate Britain, which is always on the list of amazing places to visit in London.

The Tate Britain opened in 1897 and has been listed as one of the best free museums in London since then. The place is famous for its vast collection of young British art. If you are here, you can walk down memory lane of British history. 

2. National Gallery

Do not miss out on the National Gallery if you plan a trip to London. It is located near Trafalgar Square and has a vast collection of over 2300 paintings. All of these pieces date back from 1250 to the 1900s.

The national gallery is home to various arts from famous artists like Da Vinci, Degas, Monet, Titian, and other notable personalities.

Ensure you have enough time when you plan to visit this place because the national gallery is a vast area requiring a lot of time to see.

3. National Portrait Gallery

Located just at the back of the national gallery, this place has the world’s most extensive collection of pictures and portraits. It is among one of the best free museums in London, offering a variety of images related to many subjects.

All the paintings found here are chosen based on various topics people like. It has a permanent collection of some famous pictures.

The subjects used to make portraits include favourite topics from Shakespeare, Queen Victoria, and the Bronte Sisters.

Summing Up

We have listed a few of the many excellent free museums in London. Make sure to visit at least a few when you are in London. These places require time to explore as they are huge and have much to offer.

Make sure to carry a camera to capture all the fantastic things in these museums in London.