Best Free Museums in London
Are you looking for free museums in London, England? As a frequent traveler who loves both museums and things that are free, I’ve rounded up all the best free museums in London that are worth a visit.
Previously, I’ve written about my favorite free museums in Paris and the free museum days in NYC you should know about. But I have to say that there’s probably no other city in the world that comes close to London in terms of free, high-quality museums. And that’s something I absolutely love about London!
If you’re like me and enjoy visiting museums and saving money when you travel, read on. I’ve rounded up all the best free London museums for you below so you know what’s worth prioritizing.
I’ve personally visited most of the museums on this list after many trips to London over the years. Note that though all of these museums are free, some still require advanced timed entry tickets.
For the museums and other attractions in London that aren’t free, I recommend looking into the London Pass. This pass gives you access to dozens of popular tourist attractions like the Tower of London, Westminster Abbey, and the London Eye, and can save you money compared to buying individual tickets.
Without further ado, let’s get into the best free museums in London:
1. British Museum
You can’t talk about the best museums in London without mentioning the British Museum. This massive museum is home to countless treasures from around the world that were “acquired” (ahem) by the British over the years, from the Rosetta Stone to the Elgin Marbles of Greece to many Egyptian mummies.
If you’re interested in human culture and history, this is a great museum to check out. It’s huge, though, so you’re best off choosing a few exhibits you really want to see to avoid getting museum fatigue. This museum is open every day of the week, and stays open late on Fridays, making for a fun evening activity.
2. National Gallery
Another great free museum in London is the National Gallery. This is an incredible art museum situated in Trafalgar Square. It’s always pretty busy because of its central location and impressive collection, but it’s definitely worth a visit if you’re interested in seeing iconic art ranging from da Vinci to Van Gogh.
Much like the British Museum, the National Gallery is open every day of the week, and it stays open for several extra hours on Friday, which makes it a cool spot for a date night or evening outing.
3. Victoria and Albert Museum
It took me a while to visit the Victoria and Albert Museum, but I’m so glad I did! I actually need to return to this museum to see more of it one day, because it’s huge with so many interesting exhibits. This museum is broadly dedicated to art and design, but it has an incredibly expansive and eclectic collection.
It’s located in South Kensington, right across from the Natural History Museum and the Science Museum (which are also on this list!) The museum is open seven days a week and stays open late on Fridays.
4. Tate Modern
The Tate Modern is probably my favorite art museum in London. This large museum dedicated to modern art has a great location in a former power station right on the River Thames in South Bank.
Not only does the museum have a great permanent collection, but there are also always cool temporary exhibits here. You can also see amazing views of the London skyline and St. Paul’s Cathedral directly across the river from inside. The museum is open every day of the week, and open late on Fridays and Saturdays.
5. Tate Britain
The Tate Britain has a very different vibe from the Tate Modern, but it’s also worth checking out if you’re looking for free art museums in London. This sister collection is located in the Pimlico neighborhood.
It’s famous for its collection of British art, dating from the 16th century through the present day. The expansive J.M.W. Turner collection here is a major highlight. This museum is open seven days a week.
6. Natural History Museum
The Natural History Museum is one of my top recommendations for kid-friendly museums in London, but it’s great for adults too (especially those who never outgrew their childhood dinosaur phase!) Not only is the collection here very impressive, but the museum building itself is extremely beautiful.
In addition to many dinosaur skeletons and unique natural history exhibits, a highlight here is the giant blue whale skeleton hanging in the main hall. This museum is open every day of the week.
7. Science Museum
Speaking of kid-friendly museums in London, the Science Museum is another one. And it happens to be located right next door to the Natural History Museum, so you could even visit both on the same day!
This museum is dedicated to all things science, from the history of medicine to the future of space travel. There are lots of hands-on, immersive exhibits, which make this ideal for younger visitors, although there’s still a lot for adults who are interested in science too. The museum is open seven days a week.
8. Wallace Collection
The Wallace Collection is a bit of a hidden gem. If you’re not keen on massive museums and prefer a smaller collection that still has plenty to see, you should definitely head to this museum, which is housed in a palatial historic townhouse in the chic Marylebone neighborhood of London.
This museum contains an extensive private collection of historic French paintings, sculptures, ceramics, and furniture. It’s open every day of the week. The Wallace Collection is also located just down the street from Daunt Books, which happens to be my favorite bookstore in London — pop in for a visit!
9. Design Museum
If you’re interested in design, you definitely should not miss the Design Museum. This free museum is situated in Kensington’s Holland Park, which is a great place for a post-museum stroll or picnic.
The collection here is dedicated to every aspect of contemporary design, including fashion design to graphic design to industrial design and more. You can visit this museum every day of the week.
10. National Maritime Museum
The National Maritime Museum is located in Greenwich, which is located about 35 minutes from central London in the southeastern part of the city. However, Greenwich is well worth a visit if you want to explore a different part of London, and there’s plenty to do here to fill a whole day besides this museum.
For maritime history enthusiasts, this museum is a must-visit while in Greenwich. It tells the story of England’s impressive naval history over the centuries, and is open to visitors seven days a week.
11. Imperial War Museum
One more free museum in London for history buffs is the Imperial War Museum. Situated in the Lambeth neighborhood of London, this museum was originally founded to focus on WWI.
While that is still a big part of the museum, it has also expanded to focus on other conflicts from the 20th and 21st centuries, viewed through the lens of the British Empire. It’s open every day of the week.
More Free Museums in London
These museums don’t quite make the cut for the best free museums in London in my book, but I’m including some more options in case you’ve visited all of the museums above or you’re looking for something a little more under-the-radar. These are some more great free museums in London to check out:
- National Portrait Gallery: Right next to the National Gallery but way less crowded, the National Portrait Gallery contains an impressive collection of portraits of famous Brits throughout history.
- Saatchi Gallery: Located in Chelsea, this cool gallery showcases emerging contemporary artists.
- Queen’s House: If you take a day trip to Greenwich, you shouldn’t miss visiting this museum, which houses an impressive art collection in a beautiful, historic former royal residence.
- British Library: The “Treasures of the British Library” exhibit is small, but shouldn’t be missed. It houses all kinds of historic treasures, from the Magna Carta to original Beatles lyrics.
- Sir John Sloane’s Museum: This quirky museum is packed to the rafters with art and antiquities.
- Young V&A: If you’re looking for a family-friendly museum that is specifically designed for kids, look no further than this fun, creative, and interactive museum in Bethnal Green.
- Fulham Palace: Once home to the Bishops of London, Fulham Palace has now been turned into a museum. You can wander around the historic interior as well as the botanical gardens outside.
- Bank of England Museum: A fascinating niche museum located inside the Bank of England!
Best Free Museums in London
This guide showed you the best free museums in London.
With so many options to choose from, you could easily spend weeks exploring all of the great free museums this city has to offer. My personal favorites for art are the National Gallery and the Tate Modern. The British Museum and the Victoria and Albert Museum are also on my “must-visit” list as well.
Enjoy your trip to London!
Related Guides:
