Many visitors to London barely step beyond Westminster — and with good reason. The borough is home to many of London’s most iconic landmarks and world class museums, from the Houses of Parliament and Westminster Abbey to the Tate Britain.
By my count, Westminster alone hosts nearly 40 museums — just under 20% of the city’s total — covering almost every aspect of human culture. You’ll find everything from the history of the royal family and its regiments, to progressive contemporary art spaces like The Showroom, and sites of real scientific importance such as the Hunterian Museum.
I won’t go into them all in detail here. Instead, I recommend using the map above to find one that takes your fancy, or exploring all of Westminster’s museums below.
Explore all museums in Westminster below. You’ll also find museums in nearby boroughs further down the page.
Complete A-Z of museums in Westminster, London
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Alexander Fleming Laboratory Museum
The laboratory where Alexander Fleming discovered penicillin - a discovery which revolutionised medicine and earned him a Nobel Prize. It's... -
Apsley House
Once home to the Duke of Wellington, famous for his victories over Napoleon. A stunning stately home, which is also... -
Banqueting House
The only surviving building of Whitehall Palace, designed by iconic architect Inigo Jones. Famous for its epic painted ceiling and... -
Benjamin Franklin House
The world’s only remaining home of Benjamin Franklin, telling the story of his life in London, his scientific work, and... -
Bow Street Museum of Crime and Justice
An award-winning museum in a former Police Station and Magistrates’ Court, once home to London’s first official law enforcement service,... -
Buckingham Palace
The royal family's official London residence - millions of tourists peer through its gates every year, watch the famous Changing... -
Churchill War Rooms
The secret underground headquarters where Winston Churchill and his ministers planned Britain's strategy in the Second World War. Now open... -
Courtauld Gallery
London's best collection of impressionism, housed within the huge, beautiful Somerset House complex. Includes many of the big hitters, like... -
Frameless
An interactive and immersive art experience, which aims to bring some of the world's greatest masterpieces (works by those such... -
Handel & Hendrix House
A unique museum, showcasing the lives of two of the most iconic museums to live in London: Jimi Hendrix and... -
Household Cavalry Museum
A living museum at the heart of Horse Guards, telling the story of the history, traditions and day to day... -
Houses of Parliament
Arguably London's most famous building - home to the iconic Big Ben, as well as the heart of British political... -
Hunterian Museum
A museum exploring the history of surgery, from ancient times to cutting-edge technology. Housed at the Royal College of Surgeons,... -
Institute of Contemporary Arts (ICA)
A cutting-edge contemporary art gallery showing rolling exhibitions, focused on emerging and experimental art. Usually has one exhibition on at... -
Kennel Club Dog Art Gallery
A unique art gallery dedicated to art featuring dogs, dating from the present day all the way back to the... -
London Transport Museum
An excellent museum about the history of transport in London, going from Victorian times when the city was filled with... -
Mall Galleries
A unique art gallery, led by artists and entirely not-for-profit and self funded. Showcases exhibitions and competitions, providing a platform... -
National Gallery
London's world-famous major gallery, dominating Trafalgar Square. Home to a huge collection of art from the 13th century to the... -
National Portrait Gallery
Holds the world’s largest collection of portraits, including famous figures from throughout British history. It recently reopened after a major... -
Photographers’ Gallery
London's leading museum dedicated to photography. It has no permanent collection, but instead has several temporary exhibitions running at any... -
Polish Institute and Sikorski Museum
A museum dedicated to Poland’s experience in the Second World War, especially the story of the Polish Armed Forces in... -
Royal Academy of Arts
One of London's most historic and prestigious art institutions, founded 1768, housed in the beautiful Burlington House. Nowadays it's most... -
Royal Academy of Music Museum
The Royal Academy of Music (still an active education space)'s collection, including historic and rare instruments and original manuscripts from... -
Royal Mews (Buckingham Palace)
Part of Buckingham Palace, but entered separately and with a separate ticket. Home to the royal collection of stables and... -
Serpentine Galleries
A free to visit modern art museum across two galleries, within Kensington gardens. Hosts excellent contemporary art exhibitions, including with... -
Sherlock Holmes Museum
A musueum at the real 221B Baker Street, address of the world famous fictional detective Sherlock Holmes. Aims to recreate... -
Somerset House
A huge, neo-classical building on the River Thames, which hosts exhibitions - often contemporary art, but also exhibitions about photography... -
Spencer House
A rare 18th-century noble townhouse, describing itself as one of the finest buildings ever built in London, and home to... -
Tate Britain
One of London's major art galleries, sister to the Tate Modern on South Bank. It focuses on British art throughout... -
The Guards Museum
Tells the story of the five regiments of Foot Guards who guard the Royal Palaces (the ones with the big... -
The King’s Gallery, Buckingham Palace
Previously known as the Queen's Gallery, a public art gallery within Buckingham Palace that showcases work from the Royal Collection... -
The Showroom
A not-for-profit contemporary art space supporting emerging artists and socially engaged projects. It often focuses on political art, and supports... -
Twinings Museum (Tea)
A small museum inside Twinings' flagship store on the Strand, which is the oldest dry tea and coffee shop. It's... -
Wallace Collection
A world-class collection of 18th and 19th century art in the historic townhouse of the Seymour family (it was originally... -
Wellington Arch
The iconic triumphal arch at Hyde Park Corner. Inside is a small museum about the arch's history and World War... -
Westminster Abbey and the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Galleries
One of the key locations in British history, Westminster Abbey is a large Anglican church complex that has hosted the...
Museums near Westminster
Westminster is surrounded by London’s other most museum-rich boroughs. Just across the Thames you’ll find the Tate Modern, the Imperial War Museum, HMS Belfast and much more. To the East is the City of London, with the much-anticipated Museum of London opening in 2026. And Westminster also borders Kensington & Chelsea, home to the Natural History Museum, Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A), and Science Museum.
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