The British capital is rightfully considered one of the most expensive cities in the world for tourists, but even in London , travelers have the opportunity to have a great time without spending any extra money - free museums in London.
Museums and galleries in London are famous for their unique exhibits, interesting exhibits and collections, whether they are paid or not. SMAPSE experts have prepared for you a list of free museums in London with a work schedule, description and transport to get there.
-
Museum of London
A fascinating place where the long and eventful history of London is interestingly told. Here, visitors can see the British capital in different eras: prehistoric times, the heyday of the Roman Empire, the Middle Ages, a new history - a complete chronology of events from 1666 to our time. The institution considers its main mission to create a unique information resource that tells about London for present and future generations. The structure of the museum is well thought out, so it will be simultaneously interesting for both adults and children of all ages.
Address | Mode of operation | Nearest metro stations |
150 London Wall, London | Daily from 10 am to 6 pm. In December 24-26, the museum closes for the holidays. |
|
-
The British Museum
One of the oldest museums in London and the largest museums of history and archeology around the world, the year of foundation is 1753. A large number of famous and recognized masterpieces of world culture and art are gathered here under one roof. The exhibits reflect different periods of history, from the pharaohs of Egypt to the engravings of masters of the Middle Ages.
The visiting card of the British Museum is a huge library and reading room, but the latter is available for visits strictly on schedule: from Monday to Friday at the hours set after dinner. The museum’s infrastructure is well thought out: there is entertainment for children (puzzles, games, arts and crafts), a multimedia guide is used to describe more than 200 exhibits, and there is an interactive map for comfortable movement. The museum has two cafes, a restaurant and even a picnic area.
Address | Mode of operation | Nearest metro stations |
British Museum, Great Russell Street, London | Daily from 10 am to 5:30 pm, on Fridays - until 20:30. The museum closes on holidays: December 24-26, January 1. |
|
-
Victoria & Albert Museum
V&A Museum is the largest museum in the world dedicated to design and arts and crafts. Museum expositions reveal the features and history of architecture, painting, sculpture, religious art: these are objects that reflect more than 3000 years of history. The main collection of the V&A Museum includes more than 27 thousand works and about 43 thousand paintings, the total length of the galleries here is 11 km. The museum organizes various programs for families, interactive programs for children and teenagers from 11 to 18 years old.
Address | Mode of operation | Nearest metro stations |
Cromwell road london | Every day from 10 am to 5:45 pm. From December 24 to 26, the museum is closed. |
|
-
Museum of Science (The Science Museum)
Such a museum offers its guests the most interesting exhibits of the scientific world - more than 10,000 objects dedicated to the development of science, medicine and technology. Here you will have the opportunity to follow the progress of scientific thought from the Neolithic to the present. Most of the objects are free, but the museum also offers paid excursions. Also on the territory there is its own IMAX cinema, where popular science films are broadcast.
Address | Mode of operation | Nearest metro stations |
Exhibition Road, South Kensington, London | Every day from 10 am to 6 pm, the last excursion at 5:15 pm. In December 24-26, the museum is closed for the holidays. |
|
-
The Natural History Museum of London
One of the most respected and recognized museums of natural science on a global scale, where dozens of halls are decorated. For convenience, the entire museum is divided into 4 zones:
- Green shows artifacts related to life, planet, evolution and the environment.
- The red zone reveals the answer to questions about our planet, its shape and place in the universe
- The blue zone shows the diversity of life on the planet - from whales to the smallest invertebrates
- The Orange Zone is a wildlife garden that is only available during certain months (April to October) + the center of Darwin.
The flow of visitors here is so large that it is recommended to book a tour for visiting. The museum organizes interesting interactive events for young visitors: a special delight for such an audience is the exhibition of dinosaurs with a 30-meter skeleton. The London Museum of Natural History is able to surprise both adults and children!
There are cafes for relaxation in the museum plus you can take food with you and have a bite to eat in the picnic area.
Address | Mode of operation | Nearest metro stations |
Cromwell road london | Every day from 10 am to 5:50 pm, the last tour at 5:30 pm. Every last Friday of the month the museum is open until 10 pm. In December 24-26, the museum closes for the holidays. |
|
-
Jeffrey Museum (The Geffry Museum)
The exhibits of this museum are dedicated to the classic British interior and garden. The Jeffrey Museum is literally created in order to give people the opportunity to see the life of the British during the most diverse eras. You will see the architectural styles used by the middle class in the 16th century, and other interesting information.
Children will certainly be interested in an unusual exposition combining different materials - several types of wood, fabric and more. The museum also has its own picturesque garden, where various herbs and spices grow.
Address | Mode of operation | Nearest metro stations |
136 Kingsiand Road, London | The schedule differs from most museums in London: from Tuesday to Saturday, visits are open from 10 am to 5 pm, and on Sundays and public holidays - from 12 to 5 pm. |
|
-
Museum of Childhood
The London Museum of Childhood is a branch of the Victoria and Albert Museum. All eras from 1600 to the present are also considered here, only items directly related to childhood prevail among the exhibits. These are various dolls, starting from Egyptian ones, which are dated 1300 BC, and ending with puppets, soldiers and modern soft toys, designers.
Also among the museum exhibits you will find items of children's everyday life (strollers, clothes, furniture, dishes and much more), dated from the XVI to the present day. It is possible that among such a variety you will come across a toy from your childhood! Well, if you get tired of looking at toys, you can always take a break at a local cafe located in the central part of the museum.
Address | Mode of operation | Nearest metro stations |
Cambridge Heath Road, London | Daily from 10 am to 5:45 pm, the last entrance at 5:30 pm. |
|
-
Imperial War Museum
The museum’s collection presents exhibits of military equipment, weapons, things, the infrastructure has a library, a photo archive and an art collection dated to the beginning of the 20th century. Particular emphasis is placed on the events in which the countries of the United Kingdom took part, and the attributes of that time: tanks, aircraft, submarines used during the Second World War.
Address | Mode of operation | Nearest metro stations |
Lambeth road, london | The museum is open every day from 10 am to 5 pm, the beginning of the last tour from 5:30 pm. The last Friday of the month the institution is open until 10:30 pm. The museum closes at Christmas - from December 24 to 26. |
|
These free museums in London are also popular in the educational programs of English schools and language camps - in their free time, students can bring on an excursion to one of these museums. Depending on the season, students of different ages come to London: in the spring, winter and autumn, these are usually schoolchildren who have legal holidays. But in the summer, in addition to the standard vacation programs , the Parent + Child courses are popular in London, so you can take a walk through such interesting museums in the company of the whole family.