London is home to a plethora of wonderful museums — and you should totally take advantage of these complimentary opportunities! In this post, we’ll dive deeper into which free museums in London you ought to visit and what makes them so amazing.
Oh, and don’t forget to tell us which one you’ll be visiting next!
1. Natural History Museum
Closest Tube station is South Kensington (District, Circle, and Piccadilly lines)
When it comes to free museums in London, the Natural History Museum is one of the first that comes to mind. Located in South Kensington inside an iconic Victorian architecture, much can be said about this impressive building — it’s certainly hard to miss!
The museum is close to several other cultural London attractions like the Science Museum, Victoria and Albert Museum, and Royal Albert Hall. You can spend a lovely afternoon zooming around the area, perhaps finishing with a soothing stroll in Kensington Gardens.
As the name might give away, the museum is focused on teaching visitors about natural history. Most notably, the dinosaur exhibition, with its true-to-nature-sized skeletons, provides a breathtaking experience for visitors of all ages.
The central hall (known as Hintze Hall) also happens to have an impressive blue whale skeleton hanging from the ceiling. The rest of the museum is divided into themed sections such as the Darwin Centre, Butterfly House, and a personal favourite of mine, Cadogan Gallery.
Natural History Museum provides more information about their collections on their website. I encourage you to give it a visit if you’re interested in learning more about natural history!
Admission is free for all guests and tourists.
You simply enter from Cromwell Road straight into the Hintze Hall, or via either Exhibition Road or Queen’s Gate. It’s possible to exit the museum from these locations as well.
Natural History Museum frequently offers paid exhibitions that require booking tickets ahead of time. Sounds interesting? Find out what exhibitions and events are currently on.
In addition, members of the museum are granted access to all paid exhibitions. Membership is paid annually and supports the continued function of the museum.
Up-to-date as of December 2024.
2. Imperial War Museum London
Closest Tube station is Lambeth North (Bakerloo line)
IWM London is located in Lambeth, south London, near Elephant & Castle. The building itself is situated in a beautiful park-like setting, surrounded by trees, bushes, and greenery. I recommend exploring the surroundings after visiting the museum as the scenery is simply gorgeous!
Contributing to the majestic atmosphere are two large naval guns sourced from the HMS Ramillies battleship, which served in both the First and the Second World Wars.
If the outside guns were any indication of what’s inside, you’d not be surprised. IWM London is home to several collections related to military history and modern political conflict. Both the First and Second World War Galleries are especially worth a visit!
With that said, the entire museum is well-constructed, and there’s always something exciting on. Perhaps not the place I’d bring my first date, IWM London is nevertheless a solid winner for anyone interested in the warlike past and present. Additionally, IWM has other museums throughout London such as the infamous Churchill War Rooms, HMS Belfast, and IWM Duxford.
More information about the Imperial War Museums can be found on their website where you can read all about the various galleries and research facilities.
Access to IWM London is free, however, charges may apply if you’re interested in guided tours or special exhibitions.
You can also consider becoming a member to receive several perks and benefits.
The museum offers private guided tours of most of its galleries, allowing you to explore the stories behind the collection items.
Up-to-date as of December 2024.
3. Tate Modern
Closest Tube station is Southwark (Jubilee line)
With its distinguished chimney rising into the London skyline, Tate Modern is a hard-to-miss London attraction. Situated next to Millennium Bridge, the museum offers a unique view of the River Thames and St Paul’s Cathedral on the opposite side of the river.
The building used to be an old power plant but has since been converted into a modern house of progressive, contemporary art recognised around the world. Unsurprisingly, it’s also one of the best free museums in London.
As mentioned, Tate Modern is famous for its contemporary art, which means art produced by artists living today. Subsequently, the displays at Tate Modern are cutting-edge and represent a response by the artists to modern-day society and its many challenges and questions.
The museum hosts several temporary exhibitions, showcasing emerging artists through contrasting themes and mediums. It’s an exciting insight for someone new to the world of contemporary art to walk among these creations and an experience I can definitely recommend.
In the midst of the madness, you’ll find the Turbine Hall which makes up the centre of the museum. Its sheer magnitude is quite impressive and provides a unique space for large-scale sculptures.
Oh, and don’t forget to take in the breathtaking views of the London skyline from Level 10 in the Blavatnik Building! For someone who has seen most of London multiple times, the views from Tate Modern are truly unique.
General admission is free with the exception of specific exhibitions.
Tate hosts several special exhibitions that range from tours and talks to films and festivals. Some happen in Tate Modern, but many happen at other locations too. These include Tate Britain, Tate Liverpool, and Tate St Ives.
I encourage you to check the museum’s website for more information regarding these exhibitions as they typically vary depending on the season and time of day.
Up-to-date as of December 2024.
4. British Museum
Closest Tube station is Holborn (Central and Piccadilly lines)
The British Museum houses two million years of human history and culture — all under one roof. From camel caravans crossing desert dunes along the Silk Route to the history of tea drinking and gathering in Japan, the British Museum offers unique enrichment of the world’s cultural past and present.
The museum is located in the historic Bloomsbury area in central London. Many have pronounced Bloomsbury the intellectual capital of London due to its historical beauty and bookish charm. It also happens to be home to some of the most significant educational institutions in the UK like the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art and the University of London.
Embark on a journey through the cultural history of our society as humankind. Contrary to the otherwise slightly misleading name, the British Museum isn’t biased only towards British history. In fact, it features galleries from all over the world!
These include:
- Americas
- Ancient Egypt
- Ancient Greece and Rome (including the Roman Empire)
- Asia (China, South Asia, India, Korea, and more)
- Africa
- Europe
- Middle East (including Assyria)
Furthermore, the museum features a selection of themed rooms:
- Enlightenment
- Collecting the world
- The Waddesdon Bequest (funded by The Rothschild Foundation)
- Living and Dying (The Wellcome Trust Gallery)
- Clocks and watches (The Sir Harry and Lady Djanogly Gallery)
- Money
General admission is free and gives you access to most exhibitions.
Tickets to special exhibitions will cost you anywhere between £11 and £22. Members and under-16s have free access.
Several exceptional displays are available. Currently, the British Museum is promoting its Silk Roads, Hew Locke: what have we here?, and Picasso printmaker exhibitions, but these may vary or change over time.
Personally, I’m excited to discover the upcoming Gladiators of Britain exhibition coming in January 2025. “Gladiatorial fights in Britain” — how cool does that sound? I had no idea this was even a thing back in the day.
Anyway, make sure to stay updated on current happenings and special exhibitions at the British Museum.
Up-to-date as of December 2024.
Conclusion
When I envision free museums in London, these are my personal favourites. What do you think? Did I miss some? Do your favourites differ from mine? Feel free to let me know, and I’ll make sure to include them next.
Last but not least, thank you so much for reading. I hope you’ve acquired some inspiration for the next time you’re in the city and looking for some cultural enrichment!
