10 Free Museums in London to Visit
London is one of the best cities to visit if you are looking for museums. The city houses some of the most visited museums in the world, housing extremely relevant masterpieces, and most of them, are completely free to visit!
In this post, you will discover the best free museums in London. So don’t miss the chance to visit them on your next trip!
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1. British Museum
The British Museum is one of the world’s largest and most comprehensive museums, dedicated to human history, art, and culture. Founded in 1753, it houses a vast collection of artifacts from all continents, spanning over two million years.
The museum houses the most relevant Egyptian collection on display outside Egypt, and among the British Museum highlights are the Rosetta Stone, and the Elgin Marbles.
2. The National Gallery
The National Gallery is one of the most renowned art museums in the world. Located in Trafalgar Square, it was founded in 1824 and houses a vast collection of over 2,300 paintings dating from the mid-13th century to the early 20th century.
Some of the most notable paintings in the gallery include Leonardo da Vinci‘s “The Virgin of the Rocks”, Vincent van Gogh’s “Sunflowers”, and Johannes Vermeer’s “The Arnolfini Portrait”
3. The Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A)
The Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A) is the world’s largest applied and decorative arts and design museum. Founded in 1852 and located in South Kensington, it houses a permanent collection of over 2.3 million objects spanning 5,000 years of human creativity.
Its notable pieces include plaster casts of famous sculptures such as Michelangelo’s David and Trajan’s Column, the British Gallery, displays British art and design from 1500 to 1900, and the Fashion Gallery, showcases fashion history from the 17th century to contemporary designs.
4. The Tate Modern
Tate Modern in London is one of the world’s leading modern art galleries. Opened in 2000 and housed in the former Bankside Power Station, it is part of the Tate network of galleries in the UK.
Tate Modern is dedicated to international modern and contemporary art from the 1900s to the present day. Among its masterpieces are Pablo Picasso’s “Weeping Woman”, Andy Warhol’s “Marilyn Diptych”, and Salvador Dalí’s “Autumnal Cannibalism”.
5. The Natural History Museum
The Natural History Museum is renowned for its vast collection of specimens and its unique architecture. Founded in 1881, it is located in South Kensington.
The museum houses over 80 million items covering various branches of natural history, including botany, entomology, mineralogy, paleontology, and zoology. Right at the entrance you will be welcomed by the skeleton of a giant blue whale, suspended from the ceiling.
Once inside, don’t miss the chance to see the Dinosaur Gallery, which counts with an impressive animatronic T rex, the Human Evolution Exhibit, and the Cocoon in the Darwin Centre, where you can see scientists at work.
6. The Science Museum
As the name suggests, this museum is dedicated to the history and development of science, technology, and medicine. Founded in 1857, it is located in South Kensington.
Its collection traces the development of science and technology, displaying innovations that have shaped the modern world. The highlights of the Science Museum are the Apollo 10 command module, James Watt’s steam engines, and the first Apple computer, it also displays historic aircraft and aviation artifacts.
7. The Imperial War Museum
The Imperial War Museum (IWM) is a major museum dedicated to the history of modern warfare and conflicts involving Britain and the Commonwealth. Founded in 1917, the museum provides insight into the impact of war on people and society.
The IWM counts on an extensive collection of First World War artifacts, personal stories, and interactive displays that detail the experiences of those who lived through World War I and World War II, including items such as a Spitfire and a V-2 rocket. Another remarkable experience is the Holocaust Exhibition which explores the history of the Holocaust through personal testimonies, photos, and personal belongings.
8. The National Portrait Gallery
The National Portrait Gallery is a premier art gallery dedicated to portraits of historically important and famous British people, covering over 500 years of history. Established in 1856, it is located just off Trafalgar Square.
The National Portrait Gallery features portraits of Tudor monarchs such as Henry VIII, Elizabeth I, and Mary, Queen of Scots as well as monarchs from different periods, it also features the portrait of William Shakespeare And other British artists.
9. The Tate Britain
Tate Britain is one of the country’s foremost art galleries, dedicated to British art from the 16th century to the present day.
Tate Britain has the world’s largest collection of works by Turner, one of Britain’s greatest landscape painters. The gallery also features significant works by William Blake, and a substantial collection of works by Pre-Raphaelite artists, including Dante Gabriel Rossetti, John Everett Millais, and William Holman Hunt.
10. The Design Museum
The Design Museum is dedicated to contemporary design in every form, from architecture and fashion to graphics, product, and industrial design. Originally established in 1989 by Sir Terence Conran, it relocated in 2016 to its current location in Kensington, in a former 1960s modernist building.
The museum showcases the impact of design on our everyday lives and its role in shaping the future. The permanent exhibition explores the relationship between the designer, the maker, and the user, featuring designs like the Vespa scooter and the original Apple Macintosh.
