10 free museums you can't miss in London, England
When you travel to London, England, in addition to famous attractions such as the British Museum and the National Gallery, you can also explore many free museums that are equally worth a visit. These museums are not only free of charge, but some do not require advance reservations, making it easier for you to appreciate London's history and culture. From displaying ancient relics to modern art creations, these museums cover a wide range of topics, providing unique perspectives and experiences, allowing you to discover more surprises in the city.
1. British Museum
The British Museum is one of the largest museums in the world, with a collection of more than 8 million works of art and artifacts. The museum's collection covers a wide range of historical periods from prehistory to modern times, including the famous Rosetta Stone and Egyptian mummies.
Opening hours: Monday to Sunday 10:00 - 17:30
Main points:
Chinese Pavilion/Rosetta Stone/Egyptian Mummies/Parthenon Sculptures/Azurbanipal Library
2. National Gallery
Official website: https://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/
Address: Trafalgar Square, London WC2N 5DN
One of the most important art museums in Europe, it houses a collection of more than 2,300 paintings covering European paintings from the 13th to the 19th century. It houses masterpieces by many masters such as Leonardo da Vinci, Rembrandt, Van Gogh and Monet.
Opening hours: Monday to Sunday 10:00 - 18:00 (until 21:00 on Friday)
Main points:
Van Gogh's "Sunflowers" / Leonardo da Vinci's "Madonna of the Rocks" / Vermeer's "Portrait of a Young Woman" / Rembrandt's "Self-Portrait" / Monet's "Water Lilies"
3. Natural History Museum
Official website: https://www.nhm.ac.uk/
Address: Cromwell Rd, South Kensington, London SW7 5BD
The largest natural history museum in Europe, it houses about 80 million specimens, including fossils, minerals, animal and plant specimens. It is also the filming location for "Night at the Museum". The Darwin Center in the museum provides interactive exhibitions and scientific laboratories, making it a great place for family visits.
Opening hours: Monday to Sunday 10:00 - 17:50
Main points:
Dinosaur Hall/Blue Whale Skeleton/Earth Hall/Darwin Center/Gem and Mineral Hall
4. Science Museum
Official website: https://www.sciencemuseum.org.uk/
Address: Exhibition Rd, South Kensington, London SW7 2DD
The museum houses a variety of giant collections, from steam engines and steam trains to the Apollo 10 space capsule and various aerospace technologies. Its exhibits cover a wide range of scientific fields. The internal exhibitions are highly interactive and suitable for friends of all ages.
Image source: Trip advisor
Opening hours: Monday to Sunday 10:00 - 17:00
Main points:
Apollo 10 Space Capsule/Stephenson's Rocket/Computer History Exhibition/Medical History Exhibition Hall/Interactive Science Experiments
5. Victoria and Albert Museum
Official website: https://www.vam.ac.uk/
Address: Cromwell Rd, London SW7 2RL
The museum is named in honor of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. It is the world's leading art and design museum, with a rich collection of artworks from ancient to modern times, spanning 5,000 years of history. The exhibits in the museum cover fashion, furniture, jewelry, photography, sculpture and many other fields.
Opening hours: Monday to Sunday 10:00 - 17:45 (until 22:00 on Friday)
Main points:
Fashion Gallery/Porcelain Gallery/Sculpture Gallery/Jewelry Gallery/Photography Gallery
6. Tate Modern
Official website: https://www.tate.org.uk/visit/tate-modern
Address: Bankside, London SE1 9TG
Tate Modern is the UK's leading modern art museum, located in a renovated power station. The museum displays international modern and contemporary art from 1900 to the present, including paintings, sculptures, videos, performance art, etc. The museum houses masterpieces by famous artists such as Picasso, Dali, and Andy Warhol.
Opening hours: Monday to Sunday 10:00 - 18:00
Main points:
Turbine Hall/Picasso's works/Andy Warhol's pop art/Dalí's surrealist works/Contemporary artists' exhibitions
7. National Portrait Gallery
Official website: https://www.npg.org.uk/
Address: St. Martin's Pl, London WC2H 0HE
The National Portrait Gallery is the world's first art gallery dedicated to portraits, founded in 1856. It displays portraits of important British figures from the Tudor period to the present day, providing rich historical and cultural background.
Image source: official website
Opening hours: Monday to Sunday 10:30 - 18:00 (Friday and Saturday until 21:00)
Main points:
Tudor Portraits/Shakespeare Portraits/Queen Victoria Portraits/Modern Celebrity Portraits/Photography Exhibitions
8. Imperial War Museums
Official website: https://www.iwm.org.uk/
Address: Lambeth Road, London, SE1 6HZ
The Imperial War Museum in London is one of the three imperial museums in the UK. In 1917, the British Cabinet decided that a national war museum should be established to collect and exhibit wartime-related items of the First World War, which was still ongoing at the time.
Opening hours: Monday to Sunday 10:00 - 18:00
Main points:
WWI Exhibition/WWII Exhibition/Holocaust Exhibition/Machinery of War: Tanks, Planes and Artillery/Personal Stories and Memorabilia
9. National Maritime Museum
Official website: https://www.rmg.co.uk/
Address: Romney Rd, London SE10 9NF
It is one of the largest maritime museums in the world. It has a rich collection of maritime artifacts, paintings, maps and ship models, showing the maritime history and culture of Britain and the world. From sailing expeditions to naval battles, everything here allows people to gain a deep understanding of the important influence of the ocean on human history.
Opening hours: Monday to Sunday 10:00 - 17:00
Main points:
Nelson's relics/Ship models/Navigational instruments/Royal Navy exhibitions/Charts and paintings
10. Design Museum
Official website: https://www.rmg.co.uk/
Address: 224-238 Kensington High St, London W8 6AG
The Design Museum showcases everything from industrial design to fashion, graphic design and architecture. It not only exhibits classic design works, but also displays contemporary innovative designs, stimulating the public's interest and thinking in design. The museum's exhibitions are highly interactive, and it is worth a visit for friends with a design background.
Opening hours: Monday to Thursday 10:00 - 17:00 (Friday and Saturday until 18:00)
Main points:
Industrial Design Exhibition/Fashion Design/Graphic Design/Architectural Design/Future Design
Check in together: National Portrait Gallery, National Gallery
Check in together: Natural History Museum, Science Museum, V&A Museum
Whether you are a history buff or an art fanatic, these free museums in London will present you with a cultural feast. Come and explore these hidden gems to make your trip to London more fulfilling and memorable!
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