The Great Court in the British Museum, one of the best museums to visit for free in London. Photo by Adam Stawarz, via Flickr.
London’s an expensive city. It sometimes feels like just stepping out of the door costs money.
Luckily, when it comes to making the most of our city’s world-class museum collection, it doesn’t have to hurt your wallet.
London is home to 118 free museums. That includes global heavy-hitters like the British Museum and the National Gallery, as well as quirky, lesser-known gems across every borough.
Okay, so 118 is a lot of museums. I strongly encourage you to use the tool below to explore the full offering of museums available – but if you need a bit more guidance, these are my top picks of London’s best free museums.
Free ‘big hitter’ museums in London
Most of London’s ‘big-hitter’ museums are free:
If you’ve got kids, go to the Natural History Museum (dinosaurs!) or the Science Museum (highly interactive). Both are free to enter, but you may need to book a slot if you’re visiting at a busy time (it’s free and easy to do this).
If you’re after art, my personal favourite is the Tate Modern, London’s premier contemporary art gallery. If you’re after something a bit more traditional, the National Gallery is home to countless masterpieces, all totally free.
Outside these world-famous institutions, some of London’s best museums are free. Some of my personal favourites include
the Imperial War Museum, an important and moving collection of exhibitions about the history, harms and impacts of human conflict
the Wellcome Collection, an excellent interactive museum about health and what it means to be human
the British Library, with a free to visit exhibition showing treasures from its collection, including handwritten Beatles lyrics and important religious texts
Free hidden gems museums in London
Some of London’s hidden gem museums and most bizarre museums are free. For example:
London Mithraeum – the archaeological remains of a Roman Temple, built for the mysterious cult of Mithras, and brought to life by a multimedia display.
If you’re a London local, I’d also encourage you to explore my local museums page. London is home to some excellent local museums, telling the stories of the people that make up its many fascinating neighbourhoods. They vary in size and scope, but most are free and they’re usually excellent.
These are just a small selection of the best free museums in London. Explore all 118 free museums in London using the interactive tool below.
Interactive tool: explore all 118 free museums in London
How to use this guide: The cards below show an A-Z directory of all 118 free museums in 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.
One of London’s most beautiful buildings, tucked away in Brent. When it was built, it was the largest Hindu temple outside of India, built entirely using traditional methods. It’s extremely intricate and stunning inside, free to visit with people of all faiths welcome. But this is an active religious site so be respectful, and photos…
A small museum dedicated to Jewish and immigrant artists in Britain, focusing n themes of migration, identity and social change. It aims to showcase and celebrate the Jewish, refugee and immigrant contribution to British visual culture.
A small museum housed in the Willesden Green library, exhibiting Brents diverse local heritage and history, from Wembley Stadium memorabilia to everyday life artifacts.
Gallery at SOAS University showcasing rotating exhibitions highlighting art and artifacts from Africa, Asia, and the Middle East. Its aim is to promote a better understanding of the art, culture, history and contemporary contexts of Africa, Asia and the Middle East.
Venue for cutting-edge contemporary art exhibitions and educational programs, housed in a Victorian building, known for emerging artists and innovative works.
One of Europe’s leading biomedical research centres, which runs exhibitions that open up cutting-edge science to the public, exploring themes like genetics, health, and the future of medicine. If you’re interested in science, medicine or innovation, check what’s on – their exhibitions are usually excellent.
A large zoology collection, established during Victorian times, with more than 100,000 zoological specimins – including very rare and extinct specimens. Cabinet-style natural history museum with 68,000 zoological specimens, offering education about animal anatomy and evolution. Part of the University College London.
Harrow’s local history museum, and one of London’s best borough museums, in the historic Headstone Manor complex. Across the complex are four historic buildings – including Headstone Manor itself (a moated manor house) and the Great Barn, a 500 year old farm building. Inside Headstone Manor are interactive exhibits on Harrows past.
A small museum about the Inns of Court Regiment, tracing its unusual history and predecessor units from 1584 through many conflicts right up to recent operations in Afghanistan. Open only on request.
A stately home on Hampstead Heath, built in the 17th century and remodelled in the 18th. Famous for its elegant interiors, landscaped gardens, and world-class art collection – including work by Rembrandt.
A museum about the history of freemasonry, inside the impressive art deco Freemasons Hall. Exhibitions display regalia and ritual objects, and cover three centuries of Freemasonry in England. You can also take a guided tour which allows you to visit the Grand Temple. The Freemasons are a centuries-old fraternal organisation often shrouded in mistory, and…
The art collection of Harrow School, a prestiguous boarding school for boys. Features a wide range of treasures, including 19th century European watercolours; Greek, Roman and Egyptian antiquities; 19th century Japanese prints. The gallery rotates which parts of its collection are visible, through temporary exhibitions each term.
One of the world’s most important collections of Egyptian archeology, comprised of more than 80,000 artefacts, tucked away in the UCL’s campus. Highlights include the earliest representation of weaving; the oldest woven garment and the earliest example of metal from Egypt.
A museum in England’s oldest medical college, founded over 500 years ago by a Royal Charter from King Henry VIII. A collection showcasing centuries of medical history and the evolution of medicine. Its huge collection includes rare artefacts, ancient apothecary jars, old anotomical tables and a portrait collection. Also home to a Medicinal Garden, with…
The preserved home of neoclassical architect Sir John Soane, preserved as it was at the time of his death in 1837 and home to his vast, varied collection with artefacts from all over the globe. Also hosts a number of free to visit exhibitions, usually around architecture or art.
One of the world’s largest libraries, with a free exhibition showcasing some of its treasures – including handwritten Beatles lyrics and the Magna Carta, along with important artefacts from across the world.
One of the world’s most famous and London’s most visited museum, guiding you through Global history, with artefacts from every corner of the world. Highlights include the Rosetta Stone and the Benin Bronzes. It also hosts exceptional temporary exhibitions, among the best in London.
The oldest museum of optometry in the world, telling the story of eye care and eyewear. Housed in the British Optical Association’s historic headquarters, it’s home to a massive collection of more than 28,000 items from the history of eyecare, some of which is shown in galleries open to the public. By exploring the history…
The world’s oldest institution dedicated to the study of the Holocaust. Its collection includes over one million items, including published and unpublished works, press cuttings, photographs and eyewitness testimony. Hosts a variety of exhibitions on the Holocaust, its causes and its legacy.
A museum exploring the ‘human experience’ and health. Home to a permnanent exhibition ‘Being Human’, and rotating exchibitions on science, medicine, life, and art.
Thanks for visiting my blog! This post may contain affiliate links - which means if you make a purchase, I'll receive a small commission, at no extra cost to yourself. This helps me keep this site running for free.
