Top 10 museums to visit in London
Last update: September 2026
London is a city that I know very well and in which I return regularly. Yet, with each new visit, I discover new things.
During a stay in London over the holidays, we decided to dedicate part of our trip to exploring the cultural highlights of the British capital. With the wealth of museums in London, there is plenty to do!
If you are preparing your first stay in the British capital, start with my guide as well. Visiting London: Top 20 must-see places, In it, I take you on a tour of London's great classics.
And if you are planning a trip to England in general, be sure to also check out my page dedicated to England on Travel Me Happy, where I gather my tips, my good addresses and my various articles about the country.
London has an incredible wealth of culture: history, art, science, design, transport, the sea… There is truly something for everyone.
And good news for families: Many major London museums offer their permanent collections free of charge. It is therefore possible to enjoy a cultural stay without blowing your budget.
Here are my 10 must-visit museums in London, With some ideas for choosing which ones to use based on your preferences and whether you are traveling with children.
🏛️ 1. British Museum
It is impossible to begin this selection any other way than with the British Museum.
Located in the Bloomsbury district, it is one of the most famous museums in London and one of those I recommend for a first discovery of the capital.
One travels through civilizations and eras thanks to an exceptional collection of objects from all over the world.
Among the most famous pieces are, among others, the Rosette stone, as well as many Egyptian, Greek and Roman antiquities.
It’s a huge museum: so there’s no point in trying to see everything in just one visit.
👉 My advice: Choose a few collections that interest you and take the time to discover them.
📍 Bloomsbury
💰 Permanent collections: free entry
🎟️ Would you like to discover the British Museum with a guide? You can consult the guided tours and activities available on GetYourGuide.
2. Victoria and Albert Museum
Head to Kensington to discover the Victoria and Albert Museum, better known as V&A.
It is a museum that I particularly like for its collections dedicated to art, fashion, design and decorative objects.
Jewelry, clothing, furniture, sculptures, ceramics, photography… the collections are extremely varied.
And even the building is worth a visit.
👉 Good deal: You can easily combine the V&A with the Natural History Museum and the Science Museum, which are all located in the same area.
📍 Kensington
💰 Permanent collections: free entry
3. Natural History Museum
If you are traveling to London with children, This one should be at the very top of your list.
The Natural History Museum is one of the most impressive museums in the capital.
There you discover the planet, the animals, evolution and natural history, in a building that is already worth a visit in itself.
And of course, the dinosaurs are one of the major attractions of the museum.
This is typically the kind of visit where children can learn a lot while having fun.
👉 With children: yes, without hesitation!
🎟️ You can also watch the Guided tours of the Natural History Museum available on GetYourGuide if you would like to discover the collections with a guide.
📍 Kensington
💰 Free admission to the permanent collections
4. Science Museum
Also in Kensington, right next to the Natural History Museum, is the Science Museum.
We completely change the subject with collections dedicated to science, inventions, medicine, technology and great discoveries.
It is a museum that I particularly recommend. to families with children and teenagers.
👉 You can easily plan a visit to the Science Museum and the Natural History Museum during the same day, although personally I prefer to allow enough time for each of them.
📍 Kensington
💰 Free admission to the permanent collections
5. National Gallery
Located on the famous Trafalgar Square, The National Gallery is one of London’s great classics.
Even if you aren’t passionate about painting, I recommend you to visit its doors.
You will be able to admire works by great European masters, including Van Gogh, Leonardo da Vinci, Turner and even Gainsborough.
I particularly like incorporating it into a day dedicated to central London: after the visit, you can continue on foot towards Covent Garden, Leicester Square or Piccadilly Circus.
📍 Trafalgar Square
💰 Permanent collection: free entry
🎟️ Want a guided tour? Find the tours and activities available around the National Gallery on GetYourGuide.
6. Tate Modern
On the south bank of the Thames, the Tate Modern It is a must-see if you love modern and contemporary art.
Installed in an old power plant, it has a spectacular architecture.
Some works can sometimes leave us a bit perplexed — yes, that happens! 😄 — but I really like the atmosphere of the museum.
And above all, its location is perfect for continuing the day on foot along the Thames.
👉 After the visit, take the opportunity to cross the Millennium Bridge, Visit St Paul's Cathedral and continue towards Borough Market.
📍 Bankside
💰 Free admission to the permanent collections
7. National Maritime Museum
To discover another side of London, head to Greenwich.
The National Maritime Museum is dedicated to British maritime history and allows visitors to discover the history of explorers, navigation and great maritime adventures.
But what I like most is to take advantage of this visit to dedicate an entire day to Greenwich.
You will also be able to discover the Cutty Sark, Greenwich Park and the Royal Observatory.
👉 An excellent idea to get out of central London and discover another side of the capital.
📍 Greenwich
💰 Free admission to the permanent collections
8. Design Museum
If you love design, architecture and contemporary creation, the Design Museum deserves a place in your program.
The museum allows visitors to discover how design influences our daily lives through various exhibitions dedicated to, among other things, objects, architecture, new technologies and creation.
It is a different kind of visit from the great London classics, and that is precisely what can make it interesting.
📍 Kensington
🎟️ Some exhibitions are paid
9. London Transport Museum
Direction Covent Garden to discover the London Transport Museum.
Red buses, old metros, London taxis… the museum tells the story of the transport that helped shape London.
This is a visit that I find particularly suitable for families with children, This is especially evident thanks to the many vehicles on display.
And the big advantage: once the tour is over, you’re right in Covent Garden to continue your day of shopping, restaurants and small London streets.
📍 Covent Garden
🎟️ Entrance fee
10. Imperial War Museum
To conclude this selection, let’s head to the’Imperial War Museum.
The museum traces the history of conflicts and their consequences through objects, photographs, testimonies, and various exhibitions.
It is a more intense and sometimes difficult visit than the previous ones. I would recommend it more to those who are not familiar with the area. adolescents and adults, Depending on the age and sensitivity of the children.
📍 Lambeth / Elephant & Castle
💰 Free admission to the permanent collections
👨👩👧👦 Which museums to visit in London with the family?
If you are traveling with children, you don't need to visit ten museums!
For the first time in London, I would prefer:
🦖 Natural History Museum – for dinosaurs and natural sciences
🔬 Science Museum – particularly interesting with children and teenagers
🚇 London Transport Museum – playful and very London-like
🏛️ British Museum – to bring history and civilizations to the public’s attention
⚓ National Maritime Museum – to combine with a day in Greenwich
And with teenagers, you can also add the Tate Modern, the Design Museum or the Imperial War Museum depending on their interests.
📍 How to organize your visits?
My advice is simple: Don't try to visit all the museums in London during the same trip.
London is also revealed through its streets, its markets, its parks, its shops and its restaurants.
I recommend that you group the visits by neighborhood instead.
Kensington
V&A + Natural History Museum + Science Museum
London Centre
National Gallery + Trafalgar Square + Covent Garden
South bank of the Thames
Tate Modern + Millennium Bridge + Borough Market
Greenwich
National Maritime Museum + Cutty Sark + Greenwich Park + Royal Observatory
This allows you to limit your travel and make the most of your day.
🎟️ My activities to book in London
Museums are just one part of what you can do in London.
If you are preparing your stay, you can also book in advance some of the capital’s most popular activities on GetYourGuide.
Among the experiences you can watch:
- 🎡 London Eye
- 🏰 Tour of London
- 🌉 Tower Bridge
- ⛪ Westminster Abbey
- 🚢 Cruise on the Thames
- 🎭 Guided tours of London
- 🪄 Activities around Harry Potter
- 🏛️ Guided tours of the main monuments
❤️ My tips for visiting London
After all these years of returning to London, my main advice is to not wanting to do too much.
Even though the city is full of museums, monuments, and activities, take the time to wander around without a specific plan.
It is often while walking in London that one discovers the small boutiques, the pretty streets, the cafés and the neighborhoods that give the capital all its soul.
And if you’re traveling with family, let the children choose one or two visits too. The stay will be even more enjoyable.
To prepare your trip, also find my page dedicated to England on Travel Me Happy, where I collect my various articles about the country.
Are you looking for a hotel in London?
💕 Also read about London
Comments
Nice ranking! The British Museum is definitely worth a visit. Their collection is very impressive, which raises some interesting questions about how it was put together 😉
The British Museum is my favorite museum! You can spend a whole day there, there is really a lot to see 😀
I already visited the Natural History Museum and the War Museum, and both were very interesting… but I’ll note the others 🙂
Very nice this ranking! Let me suggest the Hunterian Museum which is also free. It is a fascinating museum composed of many human and animal specimens from the collections of 2 19th-century scientific brothers 🙂
I have visited most of these museums, but I’ve noticed one that I don’t know about and that looks really interesting! I’m going back to London in June and I’m already planning my itinerary 🙂
ribboned
3 March 2015
If I were to visit London, I would visit one of those museums.