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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Bankside Gallery
Read more: Bankside GallerySmall public gallery, home to the Royal Watercolour Society. Showcases new and established watercolour artists.
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Brunel Museum
Read more: Brunel MuseumA small museum dedicated to the world’s oldest underwater tunnel and the iconic Sir Marc Isambard Brunel who designed it. It’s housed in the original 1843 engine house of Brunel’s Thames Tunnel. There’s also the opportunity to see the Grade II* listed Tunnel Shaft which once served as the Grand Entrance Hall for Victorian visitors.
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Clink Prison Museum
Read more: Clink Prison MuseumA hands-on museum on the site of London’s medieval Clink prison. It aims to showcase what the prison was like, filled with gruesome stories and torture implements.
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Dorich House Museum
Read more: Dorich House MuseumThe former studio-home of sculptor Dora Gordine, in a 1930s Art Deco house close to Richmond Park. Displays Gordine’s sculptures and studio spaces, preserved as they were. Also home to an important collection of Russian art, part of Gordine’s personal collection.
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Dulwich Picture Gallery
Read more: Dulwich Picture GalleryThe world’s first purpose-built public art gallery, home to an important collection of art by the old masters. You’ll find many big hitters here – including works by Rembrandt, Gainsborough and Van Dyck. The building is a landmark in its own right – designed by John Soane, its been a core influence on art galleries…
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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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Fashion & Textile Museum
Read more: Fashion & Textile MuseumContemporary fashion museum, founded by designer Zandra Rhodes. It hosts rotating exhibitions of fashion, textiles, and costume design – check what’s on, it hosts a wide range of stuff which will be of interest to many people. For example past exhibitions have covered the textiles of Andy Warhol, to how texiles have been used for…
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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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Golden Hinde
Read more: Golden HindeA full-scale replica of the Golden Hinde, the ship captained by Sir Francis Drake which became the first English ship to circumnavigate the globe. A very kid-friendly museum, with immersive and interactive experiences for children to learn about history in an engaging way. Also great for history buffs – built using traditional methods, with an…
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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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HMS Belfast
Read more: HMS BelfastAn iconic WWII Royal Navy warship museum moored on the Thames. You can explore its lower and upper decks to see what life was like for those onboard – all of its cabins are presented as they were, including the Mess Decks, the Sick Bay, and the opportunity to hold the steering wheel. Exhibitions explore…
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House of Dreams Museum
Read more: House of Dreams MuseumThe home of artist Stephen Wright, who has spent years covering with artworks, sculptures and designs with found objects – made up of things he buys at flea markets, or donated by visitors. Every inch is covered with mosaics, riots of colour, sculpture. And… many, many creepy dolls. An utterly unique place to visit.
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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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Kingston Museum
Read more: Kingston MuseumA small museum exploring the history of Kingston upon Thames. Notable collections include ‘Town of Kings’, exploring the borough’s royal history, and ‘Eadweard Muybridge’, about the pioneering Victorian photographer who was from the area. Also has a small art gallery which showcases temporary exhibitions.
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Kirkaldy Testing Museum
Read more: Kirkaldy Testing MuseumA unique industrial museum, home to engineer David Kirkaldy’s colossal Universal Testing Machine, which he designed to test building components, and other testing machines. For over a century, Kirkaldy, his team, and later his descendants tested materials of every kind, from metal to wooden beams, for major projects such as Hammersmith Bridge and the Sydney…
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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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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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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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Old Operating Theatre Museum
Read more: Old Operating Theatre MuseumA unique medical museum in the attic of an 18th century church, home to Europe’s oldest surviving surgical theatre for female patients. Provides insight into the history of medicine and Victorian surgery, back before anaesthetics and antiseptics. As well as exploring the old operating theatre, you can see the Herb Garrett above, which was used…
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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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Shakespeare’s Globe
Read more: Shakespeare’s GlobeA reconstruction of Shakespeare’s 16th century Globe Theatre. As well as its live productions in an authentic historic environment, it offers guided tours, during which you’ll learn about Shakespeare’s London and visit the Theatre’s exhibition space.
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South London Gallery
Read more: South London GalleryA contemporary public art gallery in Peckham, which has been going for 125 years and has a reputation for cutting edge exhibition showcasing modern art.
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Southwark Heritage Centre
Read more: Southwark Heritage CentreA small showcase of Southwark’s historic collection, including local history displays, artefacts from the Cuming Collection (which used to be housed in the Cuming Museum) and works from the borough’s collection of art. Housed within Walworth Library.
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Stanley Picker Gallery
Read more: Stanley Picker GalleryA small university art gallery, showcasing students and local artists.
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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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Tate Modern
Read more: Tate ModernOne of London’s premier art galleries, famous for its absolutely ginormous collection of 20th and 21st century art, and blockbuster temporary exhibitions. You could spend all day exploring its free permanent collection and still not see everything. For me, the highlight is the ‘Artist and Society’ section, which explores the interaction between politics and art,…
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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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