Best South London Museums – 60+ Top Picks and Hidden Gems
South London is the capital’s largest and most varied region – stretching from the busy South Bank along the Thames, to the elegant and leafy South West and buzzy, culturally vibrant South East.
There’s a rich mix of culture and history, with more than 60 museums. There are some of London’s best known, including plenty of world-class collections, as well as peaceful hidden gems, community-run galleries, and much more besides.
On this page:
My top picks – the best museums in South London
Hidden gems and local museums
Themed guides: by interest or visitor type
An interactive tool to explore all 60+ museums in South London
With more than 60 museums across the huge area of South London, it can be hard to know where to start. My picks for the must-see museums in South London are:
Tate Modern (Southwark) – One of the world’s most important modern art galleries, housed in a vast former power station on the Thames. Home to a huge collection of 20th- and 21st-century art and major temporary exhibitions. Free entry (and one of my favourite places in London!).
National Maritime Museum (Greenwich) – Part of the Royal Museums Greenwich group (which also includes the Cutty Sark, Queen’s House and Royal Observatory). The museum explores Britain’s maritime history, with engaging exhibitions for all ages.
The Imperial War Museum (Lambeth) – When someone asks me my favourite museum in London, the IWM is often my answer. A huge space, exploring human conflict and people’s real stories. Informative, engaging and often very moving.
Horniman Museum and Gardens (Lewisham) – A brilliant, family-friendly museum in Forest Hill, with fascinating collections spanning natural history, anthropology and music. The gardens, with their city views, are worth the visit alone.
The Dulwich Picture Gallery (Southwark) – The world’s first purpose-built public art gallery, designed by Sir John Soane. Its collection includes European Old Masters like Rembrandt and Rubens, plus regular modern art exhibitions.
Kew Gardens (Richmond) – Huge botanical gardens, with large historic botanical gardens, several galleries and a Royal Palace.
Hampton Court Palace (Richmond) – The home of King Henry VIII, with original rooms and exhibitions all about the Tudor world.
Hidden gem museums in South London
Beyond the world-famous, must-see museums like Tate Modern, South London is home to an astonishing range of smaller, lesser known museums.
Garden Museum (Lambeth) – Located in a converted church by Lambeth Bridge, a unique museum celebrates the history and art of gardening. Small but beautifully curated, with a great café and courtyard.
Croydon Historic Airport (Croydon) – Something a little bit different – the world’s first purpose built airport terminal, now a volunteer-run museum.
Wimbledon Windmill Museum (Merton) – A small but charming museum in Wimbledon Common’s 19th-century windmill, exploring the history of windmills.
Fan Museum (Greenwich) – The world’s first museum dedicated to fans, including a fan with sketches by Dali.
Old Operating Theatre Museum (Southwark) – a historic operating theatre, giving an insight into Victorian surgery.
Eel Pie Island Museum (Richmond) – A small, volunteer-run museum celebrating Eel Pie Island and its historic music, which was graced by everyone from David Bowie to the Rolling Stones.
The Imperial War Museum is one of London’s best history museums, covering all aspects of human conflict, including top-tier permanent exhibitions on both world wars. There’s also the Biggin Hill Memorial Museum is another key site, an important airfield during the Battle of Britain and now a great museum for history enthusiasts.
There are a few interesting Tudor sites in South London, too – Eltham Palace (originally built earlier, but further developed during Henry VIII’s time) and, of course, Hampton Court, one of the best spots in London for history lovers.
There are some excellent science museums south of the Thames – the headline being two hugely important institutions in the history of science. Firstly the Royal Observatory, home to the Prime Meridian Line (making it the birthplace of modern timekeeping) and for many years the heart of British astronomy.
Then there’s Kew Gardens, home to over 50,000 living plants and a key hub for botanical research.
Elsewhere the highlights are a series of smaller museums exploring the history of medicine and science:
The Old Operating Theatre –a historic surgery theatre in the attic of a church, giving an insight into the history of medicine.
🎨 Art galleries in South London
South London’s art scene is second to none. The Dulwich Picture Gallery is the world’s oldest, while the Tate Modern is London’s blockbuster modern art gallery.
South London Gallery in Peckham has a strong reputation as for cutting edge exhibitions. There are a host of smaller galleries, such as the not-for-profit One Paved Court in Richmond, the Bankside Gallery in Southwark (home to the Royal Watercolour Society).
And finally, there’s the House of Dreams Museum, one of London’s most interesting artistic spaces – the home of artist Stephen Wright who has spent years covering it in artwork, and opens up to visitors.
🏗️ If you like architecture…
Visit Ham House (Richmond), Eltham Palace (Greenwich), or Charlton House (Greenwich) for striking historic buildings and palaces. And then there’s Strawberry Hill, one of London’s most famous architectural gems and seen as Britain’s finest example of the Georgian Gothic revival style.
Finally, for architecture lovers make sure to visit the Old Royal Naval College in Greenwich, designed by Sir Christopher Wren, and home to the famous Painted Hall.
These are just a small selection of the best museums in South London. Explore all museums in South London using the interactive tool below.
Interactive tool: explore all 60+ museums in South London
How to use this guide: The cards below show an A-Z directory of all 60+ museums in South 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 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.
A 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.
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…
1760s 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.
The 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.
The 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…
A 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…
Contemporary 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…
An 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…
A 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…
A 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.
One 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.
One 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…
An 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…
The 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.
One 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/
A 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.
A 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…
An 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.
A 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…
A elegant 18th-century Palladian villa set in 66 acres of riverside parkland. Recently renovated, home to Georgian artworks, period furnishings and a large garden.
A 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.
Richmond’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…
A 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…
Tucked 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.
A 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.
The former home of William Morris, stunningly decorated with original furnishings, Pre-Raphaelite art and gardens. Visit to the house is by pre-book only.
A 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.
A contemporary public art gallery in Peckham, which has been going for 125 years and has a reputation for cutting edge exhibition showcasing modern art.
A 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.
An 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.
One 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,…
The 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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