Discover every museum in London all in one place.
There are nearly 250 museums in London – more than just about any other city in the world. Through London’s Museum Guide I want to encourage others to share my love of London’s incredible museum scene, and help you to discover gems you might not have heard of.
Below you’ll find a full, filterable list of everything the city has to offer. Head to the London Museum Guide homepage to explore bespoke guides.
A complete A-Z of London’s museums by theme & location
How to use this guide: The cards below show an A-Z directory of all 250+ 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. If you prefer to look at a map, visit my London Museum Map here.
Finally, have fun, and if you have any tips, want to leave a review for a museum, or notice an error, don’t hesitate to comment or contact me!
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All Hallows-by-the-Tower Crypt Museum
Read more: All Hallows-by-the-Tower Crypt MuseumA small museum in one of the oldest churches in London, housed in an atmospheric crypt. It included part of a Roman floor, Roman and Saxon artefacts, and charts the City of London’s history from Roman Londinium through the Great Fire.
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Bank of England Museum
Read more: Bank of England MuseumA 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.
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Barbican Art Gallery
Read more: Barbican Art GalleryAn art gallery showcasing rotating exhibitions of international artists, in the iconic brutalist Barbican complex.
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British Red Cross Museum and Archives
Read more: British Red Cross Museum and ArchivesThis 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.
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Crossness Engines (The Crossness Pumping Station)
Read more: Crossness Engines (The Crossness Pumping Station)A sewage station might not be your average day out – but the Crossness is a masterpiece of Victorian engineering, credited with playing a crucial role in saving London from the Great Stink in 1858 and subsequent cholera epidemics. Architecturally it’s massive in scale and stunning, giving it the nickname ‘the Cathedral of Sewage’. Only…
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Croydon Art Space
Read more: Croydon Art SpaceA small art gallery showcasing contemporary art, hosting a few exhibitions a year
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Danson House
Read more: Danson House1760s Georgian mansion in Danson Park with rich interiors. The gardens are free to visit, while the house is only available to visit as part of a guided tour. It is also Bexley’s Registery Office.
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Dr Johnson’s House
Read more: Dr Johnson’s HouseThe former home of Dr Samuel Johnson, where he compiled his famous and influential Dictionary of the English Language. As well as exhibitions about his life and work, you can explore the period rooms and gain a sense of 18th-century literary life in London.
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Eel Pie Island Museum
Read more: Eel Pie Island MuseumA funky little volunteer-run museum celebrating Eel Pie Island, which was home to a legendary 1960s music club. Everyone from Howlin’ Wolf to David Bowie, Rod Stewart to the Rolling Stones and Eric Claptop played there. The museum (which isn’t actually on the Island where the venue was, but nearby) celebrates this rock’n’roll heritage, and…
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Garrick’s Temple to Shakespeare
Read more: Garrick’s Temple to ShakespeareAn ornate 1750s ‘Temple to Shakespeare’, built by actor David Garrick to honor the playright. It originally housed his extensive collection of Shakespearean relics, but is now home to a small exhibition about Garrick himself, with reproduction of work by classic artist such as Hogarth. It’s only small, but it’s a beautiful spot, set in…
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Guildhall Art Gallery and Roman Amphitheatre
Read more: Guildhall Art Gallery and Roman AmphitheatreAn art gallery home to the City of London’s art collection, especially notable for its Victorian pieces – though the collection ranges from the 17th century to the modern day. Downstairs are the excavated remains of part of London’s Roman Ampitheatre, lost for centuries and discovered when the gallery was built in the 1980s.
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Hall Place & Gardens
Read more: Hall Place & GardensA stunning Tudor country house with exhibitions about its former residents, local history and free to visit gardens. It also has an owls experience, butterfly garden and hosts farmers markets.
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Ham House and Garden
Read more: Ham House and GardenOne of the best preserved and most lavish Stuart houses in England. Beautiful interiors, filled with original artwork and period furniture. Outside are lovely formal gardens, including the Cherry Garden. It’s often hailed as one of Britain’s most haunted houses.
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Hampton Court Palace
Read more: Hampton Court PalaceOne of London’s most spectacular historic sites, Hampton Court Palace is best known as the grand Tudor palace of King Henry VIII – complete with vast kitchens, courtyards, and a great hall fit for feasts. Later expanded by William and Mary in the 17th century, it’s a rare chance to see both Tudor and Baroque…
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Historic Croydon Airport
Read more: Historic Croydon AirportA historic airport, home to the world’s first purpose built airport terminal. Between the wars it was the UK’s only international airport, and for a time it was the biggest and most advanced airport in the world.
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Kew Gardens
Read more: Kew GardensOne of the world’s most famous and biggest botanical gardens, home to over 50,000 living plants, historic glasshouses, several galleries, a royal palace and a genuinely awesome treetop walkway. There’s an extraordinary amount to see – you can read my full guide here: https://whatsdownthatstreet.com/2024/06/12/kew-gardens-highlights/
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Landmark Arts Centre
Read more: Landmark Arts CentreAn arts and community centre in a former church which – as well as its programme of events, classes and shows – hosts small, free community led exhibitions. For example, hosts Richmond’s art fair twice a year.
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Langdon Down Museum
Read more: Langdon Down MuseumA small museum dedicated to the history of learning disability. Housed within the stunning Langdon Down Centre, a Victoria building established by Dr John Langdon Down, established as a place where people with learning disabilities could be cared for and educated at a time when most of them would have been condemned to life in…
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London Mithraeum (Bloomberg SPACE)
Read more: London Mithraeum (Bloomberg SPACE)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.
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Mansion House (The Lord Mayors Residence)
Read more: Mansion House (The Lord Mayors Residence)A Grade I listed Palladian mansion from the 1750s, and the official residence and office of the Lord Mayor of the City of London. Includes the striking Egyptian Hall and a large art collection.
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Marble Hill House
Read more: Marble Hill HouseA elegant 18th-century Palladian villa set in 66 acres of riverside parkland. Recently renovated, home to Georgian artworks, period furnishings and a large garden.
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Metropolitan Police Museum
Read more: Metropolitan Police MuseumA small museum, only available by booking ahead and only open on certain days, with exhibitions about the history of the Met Police, its offices, and crimes in the city.
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Museum of Croydon
Read more: Museum of CroydonCroydon’s local museum, sharing stories of the borough’s history and people. Also home to the Riesco collection, of Chinese ceramics.
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Museum of Richmond
Read more: Museum of RichmondRichmond’s local museum, inside the borough’s lovely Victorian Old Town Hall. Covers the borough’s history from medieval times to present, with community-driven exhibitions, talks and tours. Exhibitions are split across themes, such as Richmond’s Industry, Richmond’s Archaeology, Richmond’s Architecture and Richmond’s People. One of its highlights is the model of Richmond Palace, one of Henry…
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One Paved Court
Read more: One Paved CourtTucked away in a restored 18th-century building just off Richmond Green, One Paved Court is an independent, not-for-profit gallery showcasing contemporary art. Run by a collective of artists, it hosts an ever-changing programme of exhibitions spanning painting, sculpture, photography, and mixed media.
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Orleans House Gallery
Read more: Orleans House GalleryA free public art gallery, housed in the Baroque Octagon Room overlooking the River Thames in Twickenham. It’s home to the borough’s rich art collection, and also hosts (largely contemporary art) temporary exhibitions. Surrounded by woodland.
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Pollock’s Toy Museum (Leadenhall Market)
Read more: Pollock’s Toy Museum (Leadenhall Market)The UK’s oldest toy museum – currently split across two locations, Leadenhall Market and Croydon.
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Red House
Read more: Red HouseThe former home of William Morris, stunningly decorated with original furnishings, Pre-Raphaelite art and gardens. Visit to the house is by pre-book only.
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Shirley Windmill
Read more: Shirley WindmillA grade II listed, restored 1854 tower windmill offering Sunday tours. Most of the original machinery is still in place, give an insight into milling history.
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St Bartholomew’s Hospital Museum
Read more: St Bartholomew’s Hospital MuseumA museum charting 900 years of medical care at St. Bartholomew’s Hospital, with artefacts such as the 1546 refoundation agreement between Henry VIII and the City of London.
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St Pauls Cathedral
Read more: St Pauls CathedralLondon’s iconic domed cathedral, designed by Christopher Wren after the Great Fire of London.with religious art and architecture. Includes the crypt, which is the final resting place of Sir Christopher Wren and the DUke of Wellington,; a Whispering Gallery; and panoramic views across London from the dome.
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Strawberry Hill House
Read more: Strawberry Hill HouseAn extraordinary 18th building by Horace Walpole, seen as Britain’s best example of Georgian Gothic Revival Architecture. It’s a feast for the eyes inside and out, filled with eccentric details and Walpole’s art collection.
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Twickenham Museum
Read more: Twickenham MuseumA cozy volunteer-run museum on Twickenham’s waterfront, exploring the local history of the area.
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World Rugby Museum
Read more: World Rugby MuseumThe award-winning definitive museum of rugby union, within Twickenham Stadium. Home to a huge collection of rugby memorabilia as well as interactive displays, exploring all aspects of the sport, its history, and key moments. Can be visited separately or as part of a stadium tour.
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