Best Central London Museums – 80+ Top Picks and Hidden Gems
Central London is home to a dizzying array of museums, including some of the best collections on the planet.
On this page you’ll find an interactive tool, where you can explore all the museums in London by theme and find the perfect museum for you. Before that, you’ll find my top 5 picks and my top 5 hidden gem museums in Central London.
Central London is just the start of London’s amazing museum offering. Make sure to check out my full London museum guide, or read my guides to museums in North, South, East and West London.
Best museums in Central London – my top picks
If you’re only in London a short time, these are my top 5 pick must see museums in central London:
The British Museum: One of the world’s greatest museums, with over eight million objects covering every continent and era of human history. It’s vast, fascinating, and free to visit.
The National Gallery – Home to some of the greatest paintings ever made, including works by Van Gogh, Turner, Monet and Rembrandt. Free entry.
Churchill War Rooms – The underground bunker where Churchill and his government directed operations during the Second World War. Many spaces are left just as they were when the war finished. One of London’s most memorable historic sites.
London Transport Museum – A huge museum exploring the history of transport in London and celebrating its modern transport network. A great, interactive museum for kids and adults alike.
National Portrait Gallery – It sounds a bit dull, but it’s far from it. Arranged chronologically, you literally walk forwards in time, each floor a fascinating ‘who’s who’ of British history. Plus, it’s home to that portrait of Henry VIII.
Top 5 hidden gem museums in Central London
Sir John Soane’s Museum – The extraordinary home of the neo-classical architect, preserved exactly as he left it in 1837. A maze of architectural models, artworks and curiosities
The Courtauld Gallery – One of London’s most underrated art galleries, home to an extraordinary collection of Impressionist and Post-Impressionist masterpieces, including Van Gogh’s Self-Portrait with Bandaged Ear.
Handel & Hendrix Museum – a museum in a historic house in Soho, where two iconic musicians – Jimi Hendrix and the composer Handel – both lived, though many years apart. You can explore the music of both, and how they both lived.
Photographer’s Gallery – A gallery in Soho dedicated to photography. There’s no permanent collection, but usually four or five temporary exhibitions going on – usually excellent.
Alexander Fleming Laboratory Museum – The very lab where Alexander Fleming discovered penicillin, restored to how it was when he worked there.
These are just my top picks – but there are so many to choose from. Explore all museums in Central London using the interactive tool below.
Interactive tool: explore all museums in Central London
How to use this guide: The cards below show an A-Z directory of all museums in Central London. Use the filters to the right to show only museums you’re interested in.
‘Primary focus’ splits museums by their broad area of focus. You can click ‘additional themes’ to see more specific categories, such as museums covering World War Two, or modern art galleries.
A museum within the Bank of England’s headquarters, which charts over 300 years of monetary history from banknote design to financial crises. Visitors can handle a real gold bar.
The world’s only remaining home of Benjamin Franklin, telling the story of his life in London, his scientific work, and his diplomacy leading up to the American Revolution. It offers a variety of experiences depending on the day you visit. On Wednesday-Thursday you can visit on a self guided tour, exploring the rooms and exhibition…
An award-winning museum in a former Police Station and Magistrates’ Court, once home to London’s first official law enforcement service, the Bow Street Patrols and Runners. Its original cells and corridors now house galleries that chart the evolution of policing, the lives of those who served here, and the stories of famous cases, prisoners, and…
This lesser-known collection showcasing the British Red Cross’ 150 years of history, featuring historical objects like medical kits from WWI trenches and documents from relief operations illustrating the evolution of emergency aid since 1870s.
The secret underground headquarters where Winston Churchill and his ministers planned Britain’s strategy in the Second World War. Now open to visitors, with many rooms – including the iconic ‘Map Room’, where many of the key decisions in the war were made – left as they were on the day the war ended. Other highlights…
A living museum at the heart of Horse Guards, telling the story of the history, traditions and day to day life of the Household Cavalry – the personal troops of the Monarch. Exhibits uniforms, armour, ceremonial equipment and a behinds the scenes view of its working stables, all located in the historic Horse Guards parade…
Arguably London’s most famous building – home to the iconic Big Ben, as well as the heart of British political life. Guided tours show you around the historic building, including the House of Commons and House of Lords. You can also book self guided tours when Parliament isn’t in session. They also offer Big Ben…
A free to visit, multi-sensory experience based around the ruins of an ancient temple of Mithras, a secretive and mysterious Roman cult. Found below Bloomberg’s London headquarters, the ruins of the 3rd century AD temple are brought to life by an immersive light and sound show. There’s also a small exhibition.
A museum dedicated to Poland’s experience in the Second World War, especially the story of the Polish Armed Forces in exile and the government-in-exile in London. Founded in 1945 to preserve archives, artefacts, and personal testimonies, it became a vital centre during the Cold War for keeping this history alive when it was suppressed in…
A small, free gallery showcasing a piece of London’s Roman Wall and Bastion. As well as the wall, there’s an exhibition of archaeological remains from the site, shining a light on how Londoners lived alongside the wall for centuries.
Tells the story of the five regiments of Foot Guards who guard the Royal Palaces (the ones with the big fluffy hats). The museum’s display follows these regiments’ histories from the English Civil War to modern conflicts.
A small museum inside Twinings’ flagship store on the Strand, which is the oldest dry tea and coffee shop. It’s mostly a shop, but features a small exhibit on tea and the history of Twinings.
One of the key locations in British history, Westminster Abbey is a large Anglican church complex that has hosted the coronations of 40 English and British monarchs since 1066. Thousands of people are buried here, including former kings and queens, as well as prominent figures such as Charles Darwin, Isaac Newton, Charles Dickens, and several…
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