Beautiful museums and galleries

If you’re looking for great places to visit in London, there are so many museums and galleries to choose from. In this section I highlight the most interesting museums in London, as well as the free museums in London.

Wallace Collection

The Wallace Collection consists of fine paintings, sculpture, ceramics, furniture and armour, all displayed within a grand townhouse in Marylebone’s Manchester Square. The museum is free to enter and it is one of the city’s quieter cultural spots, still relatively undiscovered. Its most famous painting is Fragonard’s The Swing, and there are also Turner watercolours on display.

In addition to the 25 or so rooms you can walk round for free, there is also usually a special exhibition on, with paid entry. Compared with other major galleries, I find that these exhibitions are a more manageable size, and tend to be much quieter.

As well as the art collection there is a fabulous cafe in a pretty indoor courtyard.

Location: Central London (Marylebone). The gallery is located in Manchester Square.

Nearest station: Bond Street tube

More information: https://www.wallacecollection.org/

British Museum

One of London’s biggest and most famous museums, the British Museum is free to enter. The museum covers a lot of areas across more than 60 galleries, so you might want to prioritise sections that interest you the most. Highlights include Egyptian sculpture, African textiles, jewellery and pottery from the Roman empire, Greek vases, Islamic dishes, and objects made from jade in China.

The main entrance on Great Russell Street takes you through to the Great Court - a really impressive space with a glass roof, which is the largest covered public square in Europe.

It’s also worth checking out the museum website to see what’s on, as there are changing exhibitions. These are paid-entry and cover particular themes from the Silk Road to life in the Roman Army. The website also has great resources to enhance your visit, such as object trails and individual room guides.

Location: Central London (Bloomsbury). The main entrance is on Great Russell Street.

Nearest station: Russell Square tube

More information: https://www.britishmuseum.org/

Garden Museum

One of the city’s hidden gems, the lovely Garden Museum is located in a former church. Founded in the 1970s, the museum celebrates garden-themed art, and the history of gardening and gardens.

There is a permanent collection as well as special exhibitions on particular themes. The museum also includes a rooftop terrace with riverside views, accessed by climbing steps in a medieval tower. There is also a nice shop and cafe. It’s paid entry, so check the website for prices and opening times.

Location: Central London (Lambeth). The museum is on Lambeth Palace Road. Book tickets in advance or on arrival.

Nearest station: Lambeth North tube

More information: https://gardenmuseum.org.uk/

The Courtauld

The lovely Courtauld gallery, housed in the magnificent Somerset House, is famous for its excellent collection of Impressionist and Post-Impressionist paintings. The permanent collection includes Manet’s painting A Bar at the Folies-Bergère, as well as works by Van Gogh, Degas and Renoir.

The gallery also has changing special exhibitions. These exhibitions are displayed across just two rooms but are always excellent, and less crowded than exhibitions at the nearby National Gallery. I went to a fantastic exhibition recently about Monet’s paintings in London, and there have also been exhibitions recently on Vincent Van Gogh and Edvard Munch.

Location: Central London. The gallery is located on The Strand within Somerset House. Advance booking is recommended.

Nearest station: Charing Cross rail/tube

More information: https://courtauld.ac.uk/

Charles Dickens Museum

This charming museum about the novelist Charles Dickens is located in the house that he lived in between 1837 and 1839. Three of his novels were written here, including Oliver Twist.

The atmospheric rooms have been set up to look like Dickens has only just left: many items of furniture were owned by him, including the writing desk in the study. One of the house’s highlights is the dining room, featuring Dickens’ original sideboard. You can just imagine Dickens hosting a lively dinner party here with other local writers and artists.

The museum hosts changing exhibitions on different topics, as well as special events like story-telling, guided tours, and theatre performances. I recommend coming at Christmas, when it’s decked out with period-appropriate decorations.

Location: Central London (Bloomsbury). The house is located at 48 Doughty Street in Bloomsbury. You can book tickets online, or on arrival.

Nearest station: Russell Square tube

More information: https://dickensmuseum.com/

Tate Modern

Located on the South Bank by the River Thames in a former power station, Tate Modern has modern and contemporary art from around the world. From Rothko to Picasso, there are many great works of art displayed here, and it’s worth coming just to explore the unique building. As well as the main gallery there is a new extension, the Blavatnik building, which has a viewing platform.

The gallery is free to visit, although there are special temporary exhibitions which have an entry fee. It’s worth checking the website to see what’s on - as well as changing exhibits there are also evening events.

If you like modern art I would definitely recommend this gallery; if you’re not so keen on modern art I would suggest going to Tate Britain instead which also has modern art, but has a much wider collection that goes back 500 years. If you’d like to see both, you could get the Tate to Tate boat from Bankside Pier (for Tate Modern) to Millbank Pier (for Tate Britain).

Location: Central London (Southbank). The gallery is on Bankside, right by the river.

Nearest station: Southwark tube.

More information: https://www.tate.org.uk/visit/tate-modern

Imperial War Museum

The Imperial War Museum London is a free-entry museum and a great place to visit if you’re interested in wartime history. There are permanent displays on the First World War, Second World War, the Holocaust, and peace and security from 1945 to the present day.

Other highlights include the new art and photography collection, and the spectacular entrance hall which has many large objects on display, such as a spitfire plane, V2 rocket, Harrier Jet, and T-34 tank.

The museum also has changing exhibitions on different topics. I went to an excellent one recently about spies. Check the website to see what’s on. If you’re interested in this kind of history, I’d also recommend visiting the Churchill War Rooms in Westminster - the underground headquarters used during the Second World War.

Location: Central London (Lambeth). The museum is on Lambeth Road.

Nearest station: Lambeth North tube

More information: https://www.iwm.org.uk/visits/iwm-london

Foundling Museum

A fantastic small museum in London, the Foundling Museum tells the story of the Foundling Hospital which once was home to abandoned children in the 18th and 19th centuries.

As well as being the UK’s first children’s charity, the hospital was also the UK’s first public art gallery, as many leading artists such as William Hogarth donated their work to raise funds for the children. The hospital was a fashionable place for local people to visit, and the composer George Handel held annual concerts here. You can see the manuscript score of his most famous work, Messiah, here. The museum also includes original furniture and artwork displayed in historic rooms, and you can learn more about the children who once lived here - there’s a really moving display of tokens left by mothers when they brought their children here.

Location: Central London (Bloomsbury). The museum is in Brunswick Square. Booking tickets in advance is recommended.

Nearest station: Russell Square tube.

More information: https://foundlingmuseum.org.uk/

National Gallery

The National Gallery is a fantastic, world-class art museum with works by artists ranging from Titian, Van Dyk and Vermeer, to Cezanne, Van Gogh, and Monet. The main permanent collection is free to visit, and there is usually a special exhibition on as well which is paid-entry.

The gallery has something for everyone as it covers an expansive period in history, from the mid-13th century to 1900. You can see many famous paintings here, including Van Gogh’s Sunflowers and the Hay Wain by John Constable. The building dates back to the 19th century and was designed by William Wilkins.

The gallery has enhanced security at the moment, following protests by Just Stop Oil, so you may have to queue to get in - but it’s definitely worth it. You can also get advance tickets online to avoid waiting.

Location: Central London (West End). The museum is situated in Trafalgar Square.

Nearest station: Charing Cross tube/rail

More information: https://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/

V&A South Kensington

Of all the museums in London, the V&A is my personal favourite. Featuring everything from photography to fashion, furniture and paintings, this museum has so many wonderful objects to explore. There is a lot to see, and you could spend several hours here, but my favourite sections are the fashion collection (covering five centuries worth of clothing), and the jewellery section (featuring over 3,000 jewels from around Europe).

The museum is free to visit, but there is also a programme of excellent special exhibitions which are usually paid-entry. Often, multiple exhibitions are running at the same time, so do check the website to see what’s on. I particularly recommend the fashion exhibitions: in recent times the museum has hosted exhibitions focusing on Chanel and Dior.

As well as the museum itself, the beautiful 19th century building also includes a lovely cafe and central courtyard garden with a pretty water feature used for paddling in the summer.

Location: West London (Kensington). The museum is located on Cromwell Road.

Nearest station: South Kensington tube.

More information: https://www.vam.ac.uk/

Natural History Museum

The Natural History Museum is a really fun place for families, with its free-to-enter displays on space, dinosaurs and reptiles. At Christmas there is an ice rink outside the museum.

I have to admit that I’m not hugely interested in natural history, but I still really like coming here. Firstly, the building is incredible. Dating back to the late 1800s, it was designed by the little-known architect Alfred Waterhouse who used terracotta for the whole building. With its striking facade, the museum almost looks a bit like a cathedral. I can’t resist taking a photo each time I visit.

My other main reason for visiting is to see the annual Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition which showcases the best wildlife photographers from around the world who enter the competition each year. There are different categories, from mammals to sealife, and there’s usually an interesting photojournalism section.

Location: West London (Kensington). There are entrances on Cromwell Road or Exhibition Road.

Nearest station: South Kensington tube

More information: https://www.nhm.ac.uk/

Queens House

Part of the Greenwich World Heritage Site and designed by the great architect Inigo Jones, this striking white villa was seen as quite radical when it was built in the 17th century, as most buildings in that period were made with red brick. The house was previously a favourite retreat for Kings and Queens, and you can learn more about who lived there when you visit.

The House includes an art collection, which is free to visit and features artists including Canaletto and Lowry. As well as taking in the stunning Great Hall with its black and white marble flooring, you can climb the Tulip Stairs - a gorgeous spiral staircase with a flower pattern in the bannister.

Location: South London (Greenwich)

Nearest station: Greenwich rail or Cutty Sark DLR.

More information: https://www.rmg.co.uk/queens-house