In this article, we will discover that, even if the city of London is quite expensive, it is still possible to do many things for free such as seeing wonderful museums. Among other things, given the rather changeable weather that characterizes the splendid English capital, visiting a museum is an excellent alternative for rainy days! There are many museums with free entry in London and all are really interesting, so you necessarily have to select a few at a time; many of these have paid exhibitions inside them but the essential part is all free. These are some of the best free museums in London:
National History Museum
British Museum
National Gallery
Tate Modern
Victoria and Albert Museum
Museum of London
Science Museum of London
Tate Britain
National Maritime Museum
Princess Diana Memorial Fountain
Wallace Collection
Sir John Soane's Museum
Grant Museum of Zoology
Barbican Centre
Whitechapel Gallery
National Portrait Gallery
Saatchi Gallery
As you can see, you are truly spoiled for choice... but without a doubt, the ones you really can't miss are the Natural History Museum, the British Museum, the Tate Modern and the National Gallery. These are my absolute favorites, but also the ones I recommend you visit especially if it's your first time going to London... actually, they are so beautiful that it's always worth going back: I try to pop in every time I'm there, in the city.
Let's see the best 5 free museums you shouldn't miss when in London and let's discover them together!
Natural History Museum
I must warn you... Natural History Museum is absolutely my favorite museum in London and in general in the world: every time I'm in the city I pop in and wander around it all without ever getting tired. I have very sweet and dear memories of when I was little and I used to come there with my father and remain enchanted in front of the immense centuries-old oak tree... walking these corridors really feels like family and home! The Natural History Museum is without a doubt one of the most beautiful and interesting museums in London and is also located in one of the most beautiful buildings which is already worth a visit in itself, in the Kensington district. Within easy reach, you'll also find the Science Museum and the Victoria & Albert Museum, all three on Cromwell Road.
The Natural History Museum in London houses one of the largest collections of rare animals in the world as well as the splendid dinosaur gallery with skeletons that are more than 4.5 billion years old. The museum is divided into 5 main collections: botany, entomology, mineralogy, paleontology and zoology. Access is free but I strongly suggest you to book your visit online in order to make sure to get inside once there and not be left out on days with high attendance - book your visit here. Remember that there are two entrances: the main one on Cromwell Road and the side one on Exhibition Road. There are also free temporary exhibitions but some also require payment: to keep up to date on current events, visit the What's On section on the museum website. Click here to take a look at the map of the Natural History Museum. Opening time: - every day from 10:00 to 17:50; - the museum is closed from 24 to 26 December. Nearest Metro stations: - South Kensington: 5 minute walk - Gloucester Road: 12 minute walk
British Museum
Once you reach the main entrance on Great Russel Street you will find yourself in front of an imposing neo-classical building which perhaps clashes a little with the surroundings, but once you enter the Great Court inaugurated on 6 December 2000 by Queen Elizabeth II will make you speechless. The British Museum was the first national public museum in the world and is one of the most visited in London: it houses a collection of artifacts, ancient objects and works of art for a total of over eight million pieces displayed in more than seventy galleries, bringing together an extraordinary variety of cultures from all continents.
My favorites are the Assyrian-Babylonian collection and the ancient Egyptian one, which never ceases to amaze me: there are finds that date back more than 3000 years ago, perfectly preserved sarcophagi and mummies, don't miss the Rosetta Stone! However, at the British you will also find an exhibition on Africa, Ancient Greece and Rome, Asia and Europe, finally ending in the Middle East. Access to the British Museum is free but I strongly suggest you to book your visit online in order to guarantee entry and not be left out on days with high attendance - book your visit. Click here to take a look at the map of the British Museum. Access to some exhibitions requires a paid ticket: check on the Exhibitions and events section on the website for the latest news. Opening time: - every day from 10:00 to 17:00, except Friday which closes at 20:30; - last entry 16.00 (Friday at 19.30 pm); - the museum is closed from 24 to 26 December. Nearest Metro stations: - Tottenham Court Road: 5 minute walk - Holborn: 7 minute walk - Russell Square: 7 minute walk - Goodge Street: 8 minute walk
Tate Modern
The Tate Modern is undoubtedly among one of the most beautiful museums in London, at least in my opinion, and therefore also one of those that you absolutely cannot skip on a trip to London. The Tate Modern (not to be confused with the Tate Britain) opened in 2000 and is located in a former power station on the Thames riverfront, on the same side as the London Eye. In 2016 it was expanded and today it is considered one of the most important contemporary art museums in the country and houses sensational works from 1500 to today within 88 galleries spread over 7 floors. Among the artists on display are Dalì, Picasso, Matisse, Rothko and Warhol.
If you would like to take a look at the Tate Modern map here you can find it - Tate Modern Map. Access to the Tate Modern is free but to access some temporary exhibitions you must book entry and pay for the ticket. If you are interested in knowing which exhibitions will be on display when you are in London then take a look at the museum's website and visit the Temporary Exhibitions section.
I would like to point out that the Yayoi Kusama: Infiniti Mirrors Rooms exhibition is still on and will be until 28 April 2024 (free entry for Members, otherwise the cost is £10 each). Last year I couldn't make it.. tickets were sold out everywhere but this year I managed to find tickets booking a few months in advance!
Honestly, I had very high expectations that weren't completely met! The exhibition is small, in less than half an hour you can see it entirely as it consists of two small halls of mirrors and some photographs of Yayoi Kusama's works. She's definitely an incredible and very interesting character, and the hall of mirrors with the fairy lights was spectacular, but overall I don't know if it's worth all the fame that precedes it!
Last tip on the Tate Modern: you can't leave without visiting the panoramic terrace on the top floor of the Blavatnik Building! Take the lift and go up to Level 10 to reach the bar and access the splendid terrace from which you can enjoy incredible views of the Thames, St. Paul's Cathedral and the City!
Opening time: - every day from 10:00 to 18:00; - the museum is closed from 24 to 26 December.
Nearest Metro stations: - Southwark: 6 minute walk - Blackfriars: 8 minute walk - St Paul's: 13 minute walk
National Gallery
The National Gallery in London is located in the splendid Trafalgar Square, one of the most famous squares of the city. It hosts over two thousand paintings from the Middle Ages to the 20th century: this museum boasts one of the richest and most famous art collections in the world. The National Gallery is divided into four areas with art pieces distributed in chronological order: you will find paintings by artists of the caliber of Jan Van Eyck, Leonardo Da Vinci, Michelangelo, Monet, Renoir, Vincent Van Gogh or the British William Turner, considered one of the most important artists in England in the Romantic period.
Even if you're not an art enthusiast, I highly recommend you stop by, even if it's a short visit of half an hour to an hour! The building is truly gorgeous and the rooms alone are really worth the visit; in addition, there are some very famous paintings that it is impossible for you not to know, such as Van Gogh's Sunflowers and some wonders by Renoir and Monet.
If you are interested in learning more about visiting the National Gallery, then you may be interested in the free guided tour which runs every day from 2 pm to 3 pm.
Access to the National Gallery is free but it's recommended to book your visit online in advance - book your ticket. I really suggest you book your visit: it's free and if you don't get in time you won't lose anything... but if you manage to be there for your reservation you'll save yourself queuing hundreds of meters to enter!
Most of the temporary exhibitions are free but for some, you pay a separate ticket. If you are interested in knowing which exhibitions will be on display when you are in London then take a look at the museum's website and visit the Temporary Exhibitions section. Opening time: - every day from 10:00 to 18:00, except Friday which closes at 21:00; - the museum is closed from 24 to 26 December and 1 January. Nearest Metro stations: - Charing Cross: 4 minute walk - Leicester Square: 5 minute walk
Victoria & Albert Museum
The Victoria & Albert Museum is located a few steps from the National History Museum, in the elegant South Kensington district, and is the world's leading art and design museum with over 2.3 million objects. It hosts the largest collection of art and design in the world: here you will find collections of clothes, Middle Eastern fabrics, Chinese ceramics and photography exhibitions but also modern objects such as Nike shoes and Mac computers... a must for fashion, architecture and design enthusiasts! Take a look at the map of the Victoria & Albert Museum. Access to the V&A Museum is free and without reservation but to access some temporary exhibitions you must book entry and pay for the ticket. If you are interested in knowing which exhibitions will be on display when you are in London then take a look at the museum's website and visit the Temporary Exhibitions section. Opening time: - every day from 10:00 to 17:45, except Friday which closes at 22:00; Nearest Metro stations: - South Kensington: 5 minute walk - Gloucester Road: 10 minute walk
These 5 are, in my opinion, the best and most popular museums in London that you absolutely must visit if you plan to travel to the British capital.
As we saw at the beginning, the opportunities that London offers for free are many, and if you have a lot of time in the city, then I recommend you also take a visit to the Museum of London, to find out more about the history of the capital, but also the Science Museum! We could spend hours talking about the splendid museums of London, but I chose the ones that in my opinion are truly a must and that you absolutely cannot miss!
If you are thinking of going to London during the Christmas period, don't miss my post dedicated to Christmas in London to discover all the Christmas markets in the city and the delicious street food that fills the streets READ ALSO: It's not Christmas if it's not in London: 10 unmissable things to do Christmas in London
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Have a nice trip!