13 Free Museums In London

It’s no secret that London is awash with fantastic museums with specialties starting from the wonders of the pure world to modern artwork. To encourage curious minds of all ages to find a few of the world’s most treasured collections without charge in any respect, we’ve rounded up the highest 13 free museums in London. Let’s take a look!

The 13 Greatest Free Museums in London, England

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British Museum

Based in 1753, the British Museum is dwelling to a everlasting assortment that includes eight million objects documenting two million years of human historical past and tradition.

Flick thru the museum’s galleries to marvel at world-famous relics such because the Rosetta Stone — a dark-colored granodiorite stela carved through the Hellenistic interval —, and the Parthenon sculptures and mummies from Historical Egypt.

Pure Historical past Museum

Located within the South Kensington space, this top-notch museum homes an exquisite assortment of 80 million objects courting again from billions of years in the past.

Highlights of the Pure Historical past Museum’s assortment embody Hope, the massive blue whale skeleton in Hintze Corridor, fossils within the world-leading Dinosaurs gallery, and meteorites from outer area.

Science Museum

Are you visiting London with the youngsters? Then, don’t move up the possibility to go to the Science Museum. This family-friendly museum takes guests to find the improvements that formed the trendy world by way of an array of interactive shows and valuable objects of scientific achievement.

Treasures you’ll discover on the museum embody Helen Sharman’s House Swimsuit, courting again to 1991, the Wells Cathedral clock, one of many world’s oldest clocks, from 1390, and a Pilot ACE pc, from 1950.

IWM London

Set inside a former hospital, the Imperial Struggle Museum in London was based to doc the extraordinary experiences of individuals caught up in WWI and WW2.

Whereas snooping across the museum’s award-winning galleries, guests will come throughout archives of non-public and official paperwork, images, oral historical past recordings, an intensive library, a big artwork assortment, and examples of navy automobiles plane, and gear.

A few of the museum’s highlights embody two large naval weapons constructed for 2 completely different British naval ships through the First World Struggle, a rampaging Russian T34 tank, and the Spitfire – some of the celebrated fighter plane of World Struggle II.

Nationwide Maritime Museum

The Nationwide Maritime Museum is the world’s largest maritime museum and the go-to vacation spot for these searching for to find Britain’s maritime historical past and the way it formed the world as we speak.

First created by the Nationwide Maritime Act 1934 below a Board of Trustees, the museum hosts a stunning assortment largely based mostly on the donations of Sir James Caird (1864-1954).

The museum has 14 completely different galleries stuffed with maritime treasures, similar to gadgets taken from the German Naval Academy Mürwik after World Struggle II, a number of ship fashions, work, and flags.

Victoria and Albert Museum

The Victoria and Albert Museum is the world’s largest museum of utilized arts, ornamental arts, and design. Based in 1852 and named after Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, this prestigious museum harbors a everlasting assortment of over 2.27 million objects, from historical Chinese language ceramics to Alexander McQueen night clothes.

Should-sees of the Victoria and Albert Museum embody work by Raphael, sculptures by Auguste Rodin, and Queen Victoria’s glistering sapphire and diamond coronet.

Tate Trendy

Tate Trendy is without doubt one of the world’s largest trendy and modern artwork museums. Boasting a complete inside flooring space of 371,350 sq ft, the museum includes an incredible assortment of artworks by artists like Salvador Dalí, Auguste Rodin, Pablo Picasso, and Andy Warhol.

Right here, remember to try the enduring “Marilyn Diptych” portray, by Andy Warhol, Picasso’s “Nude Woman With Necklace”, and “Seagram Murals” by Mark Rothko.

Sir John Soane’s Museum

Sir John Soane’s Museum is a home museum situated within the constructing that was previously the house of neo-classical architect and avid guide collector, John Soane.

This lesser-known museum is dwelling to a group of antiquities, furnishings, sculptures, and architectural fashions, in addition to jaw-dropping work by artists like Hogarth, Turner, and Canaletto.

Sir John Soane’s Museum additionally performs host to 30,000 architectural drawings, which might be seen by appointment on the Analysis Library.

Horniman Museum and Gardens

The Horniman Museum and Gardens is without doubt one of the extra inspiring free museums in London. Positioned in South London’s Forest Hill, this museum is good for households.

Open since Victorian instances, the Horniman Museum and Gardens museum holds an award-winning assortment of round 350,000 objects protecting pure historical past, cultural artifacts, and musical devices.

There, count on to see 80,000 objects from all over the world, a big assortment of taxidermied animals, round 4,700 butterflies, and a pair of bone clappers within the type of human palms made in Egypt round 3,500 years in the past.

The Nationwide Gallery

The Nationwide Gallery is without doubt one of the world’s most spectacular museums. Ideally situated within the coronary heart of London’s Trafalgar Sq., this prestigious establishment homes a powerful assortment of over 2,300 work by sensible artists similar to Leonardo da Vinci, Van Gogh, Diego Velázquez, Sandro Botticelli, and Johannes Vermeer.

A few of the masterful works you’ll see within the Nationwide Gallery are “The Arnolfini Portrait”, by Jan van Eyck, Van Gogh’s Sunflowers, and “The Water-Lily Pond”, by Claude Monet.

Royal Air Drive Museum

Gloriously situated within the former Hendon Aerodrome, the Royal Air Drive Museum (RAF) consists of 5 buildings and hangars displaying the historical past of aviation and the Royal Air Drive.

The museum harbors 1.3 million objects that doc the historical past of the UK’s air and area pressure, which was shaped in direction of the tip of the First World Struggle on 1 April 1918.

Be ready to catch a glimpse of age-old treasures like the unique Battle of Britain fighter plane, Avro Lancaster S-Sugar, which flew 137 sorties, and the Westland Sea King helicopter.

London Transport Museum

Curious to be taught concerning the fascinating hyperlink between transportation and the expansion of London? Then, remember to go to the Transport Museum, among the best free museums in London. Over right here, you’ll get the possibility to see greater than 500,000 objects — together with greater than 80 classic automobiles — protecting 200 years of London’s historical past,

A few of the museum’s relics are a purple Routemaster bus, the world’s first Underground steam practice, and the padded cell — a practice carriage courting again to the Nineties.

Tate Britain

Tate Britain is a part of the Tate community of galleries in England, with Tate Trendy, Tate Liverpool, and Tate St Ives. Opened in 1897, the museum homes the world’s largest assortment of British artwork, together with artworks from main artists from 1500 till the current day.

Highlights embody work by sensible British artists like William Blake, Francis Bacon, and Damien Hirst, in addition to the world’s largest assortment of works by J. M. W. Turner.

The Greatest Time To Go to London

Regularly Requested Questions

What are a few of the most well-known free museums in London?

• The British Museum: Residence to an unlimited assortment of antiquities from all over the world, together with the Rosetta Stone and Egyptian mummies.
• The Nationwide Gallery: Discover masterpieces of Western European portray from Renaissance to Publish-Impressionism.
• The Pure Historical past Museum: Encounter dinosaur skeletons, delve into the wonders of the pure world, and see interactive displays.
• The Science Museum: Journey by way of the historical past of science and expertise with hands-on shows and iconic objects.
• The V&A (Victoria and Albert Museum): Uncover ornamental arts, vogue, design, and extra from throughout the globe and all through time.

Are there any free exhibitions within the ticketed museums?

Sure, many London museums with ticketed particular exhibitions even have everlasting collections you possibly can discover free of charge.

Do free museums provide free excursions or talks?

Many free museums provide free guided excursions or talks at scheduled instances. You’ll be able to seek the advice of the museum’s web site for his or her schedule.

Which free museums in London are good for youngsters?

The Pure Historical past Museum is a well-liked selection for youngsters with its dinosaur skeletons and interactive displays. The Science Museum provides hands-on experiences associated to expertise and area, and the Horniman Museum has mixture of pure historical past and cultural artifacts.

Which free museums in London are the perfect for artwork?

• Nationwide Gallery
• Tate Britain
• British Museum
• Victoria & Albert Museum
• Tate Trendy

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