Stretching from the Thames through vibrant neighbourhoods like Brixton and Clapham, Lambeth has an impressive and varied collection of ten museums.
Most of them are in the North of the borough, close to the River Thames, including Lambeth’s best known museum: the Imperial War Museum. If you haven’t been, then go. It’s one of the best museums in the whole of London, an excellent, thought-provoking and free museum exploring conflict and its impact.
Elsewhere, Lambeth is also home to the Hayward Gallery, one of London’s best modern art galleries. There are also several lesser-visited but top-class museums like the Florence Nightingale Museum, the Cinema Museum and the Garden Museum.
You’ll also find smaller community-focused heritage spots, historic buildings like Lambeth Palace, and real hidden gems – most notably 575 Wandsworth Road, a Georgian terrace filled with extraordinary hand-carved interiors by its former owner Khadambi Asalache.
Explore all museums in Lambeth below. You’ll also find museums in nearby boroughs further down the page.
Complete A-Z of museums in Lambeth
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575 Wandsworth Road
An unassuming Georgian terraced house which on the inside is utterly beautiful, covered in hand-carved fretwork, decorated by its former... -
Black Cultural Archives
An archive and heritage centre devoted to Black British History. Temporarily closed as a museum, but continues to host events... -
Florence Nightingale Museum
A museum celebrating the pioneer of modern nursing, Florence Nightingale. Explores her life, how she pioneered nursing during the Crimean... -
Garden Museum
A small museum dedicated to British gardening history within a medieval church. Home to lovely gardens (as you'd expect!), and... -
Hayward Gallery
A leading contemporary art gallery which hosts rotating modern art exhibitions. Has a reputation for putting on cutting-edge exhibitions, including... -
Imperial War Museum London
An excellent museum exploring modern conflict. As well as military vehicles, rockets and artefacts, has excellent permanent exhibitions on the... -
Lambeth Palace
The historic London residence of the Archbishop of Canterbury (still in use), open for guided tours on specific days. One... -
Lambeth Palace Library
The National Library and Archive of the Church of England. Founded in 1610, it holds one of the most important... -
South London Botanical Institute
A small Victorian-era institute dedicated to botany, featuring a historic herbarium and peaceful botanic garden, with themed sections, including a... -
The Cinema Museum
A volunteer-run museum of cinema memorabilia housed in a former workhouse. Focused on cinema before the age of the multiplex,...
Museums near Lambeth
Lambeth is just across the river from Westminster – meaning it’s right next to some of central London’s best and biggest museums. Explore 80+ of central London’s best museums – from world-famous institutions to hidden gems – in our complete Central London guide
Lambeth also borders Southwark, where you’ll find many more of London’s best cultural institutions – such as the Tate Modern and HMS Belfast. And from Lambeth, you can also explore all of the gems that South London has to offer.
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