The 25 best museums in London for your next day out
Have you booked your ticket to the Barbie exhibition?
If you ask us to describe our perfect day out in London, then strolling around one of the city's many museums has to be mentioned. The capital has so much art, history, culture and more to offer in its museums and galleries – plus, a lot of them are free to visit!
Do you fancy yourself as a wannabe art critic, love science or do you prefer to delve into the history of Ancient Egypt, South Asia and beyond? Well, whatever you like, there is a museum for it in London and we've rounded up our favourites for your next day out in the city.
Whether you're based in London or feel happy jumping on a train, England's capital has some of the world's best museums, perfect for exploring over a long weekend or during a day trip. So, from art and architecture to fashion and transport, here's our pick of the best museums and galleries in London. Enjoy!
The Science Museum
Location: Exhibition Rd, South Kensington, London SW7 2DD
Price: Free, pre-booked ticket required
Theme: Science
Just because you didn't love chemistry in school, doesn't mean that you wouldn't enjoy the Science Museum. Situated in South Kensington, it has exhibitions on everything from driver-less cars and space to multi-sensory experiences and the impact of mathematics.
It's free to visit, but you do have to book a ticket in advance.
The Design Museum
Location: 224-238 Kensington High St, London W8 6AG
Price: Free
Theme: Art and design
Noteworthy exhibition: Barbie: The Exhibition until February 2025, tickets start from £14.00
Also situated in Kensington is The Design Museum, dedicated to product, industrial, graphic, fashion and architectural design. They have designers in residence and a number of dedicated exhibitions which are worth keeping an eye on.
The permanent collections are free to visit, but you have to book to see exhibitions with tickets starting from £14.
The Natural History Museum
Location: Cromwell Rd, South Kensington, London SW7 5BD
Price: Free
Theme: History
Noteworthy exhibition: Birds: Brilliant and Bizarre until January 2025, tickets from £16.50
If you haven't yet been to the Natural History Museum, you're certainly missing out. The dinosaur room (actual dinosaur skeletons!) is reason enough, and that's before you hear that they're currently displaying the Wildlife Photograph Of The Year entries.
The British Museum
Location: Great Russell St, London WC1B 3DG
Price: Free
Theme: History
Noteworthy exhibition: Silk Roads, until February 2025, tickets start from £17.00
The British Museum, situated in central London, celebrates all things human history, art and culture. Its permanent collection is comprised of eight million (!) works, making it one of the largest in history.
It's free to visit, but you have to book in advance to see any exhibitions.
The National Gallery
Location: Trafalgar Square, London WC2N 5DN
Price: Free
Theme: Art
Noteworthy exhibition: Van Gogh: Poets and Lovers, from September to January 2025, tickets start from £24.00
The National Gallery is situated in Trafalgar Square, and not only is it beautiful from the outside, but it has so much iconic art to see inside, too.
They also works by the likes of Monet, Seurat and Raphael on display and some great exhibitions all year round. Plus, it's free and stones throw away from Soho, Chinatown and more!
V&A
Location: Cromwell Road, London, SW7 2RL
Price: Free
Theme: Art and history
Noteworthy exhibition: Taylor Swift: Songbook trail, until September 2024, free
The V&A is dubbed "the world's leading museum of art, design and performance", and has a plethora of art, artefacts and sculptures from around the world.
From ancient Chinese ceramics to South Asian and Middle Eastern artefacts and more. Plus, on the last Friday of most months, they have Friday Lates which is a super fun, unique evening out.
The permanent collections are free, but you have to pay to see exhibitions which some of London's best.
Tate Modern
Location: Bankside, London SE1 9TG
Price: Free
Theme: Art and culture
Located on the south bank by the Thames, Tate Modern is great for a taste of modern and contemporary art. They have brilliant permanent collections including the likes of Andy Warhol, plus excellent exhibitions. Their Tate Late events, too? Fab!
The permanent collections are free, but you have to pay to see exhibitions. Trust us, they're worth it!
Serpentine Galleries
Location: Serpentine South Kensington Gardens, London, W2 3XA, Serpentine North, West Carriage Drive, London, W2 2AR
Price: Free
Theme: Art and culture
Firstly, the Serpentine Galleries are in Hyde Park, so great for combining with a walk around the iconic lake. As for the space, it's compact but fun, and has a year-round programme of exhibitions taking place across two galleries.
Tate Britain
Location: Millbank, London SW1P 4RG
Price: Free
Theme: Art and culture
Noteworthy exhibition: Now You See Us: Women artists in Britain 1520 - 1920, until October 2024, free
Often known as the 'old Tate', this museum is situated in Pimlico by the river, and the building is totally beautiful. Inside, you'll find British art from 1500 to the present day and they have some of London's most exciting, dynamic exhibitions that you won't want to miss out on.
Saatchi Gallery
Location: Duke of York's HQ, King's Rd, London SW3 4RY
Price: Free
Theme: Art and culture
This contemporary art museum located in the heart of Kensington showcases the work of up-and-coming, emerging artists through its various galleries, exhibitions and displays. Think modern art that will give you a fresh, new perspective!
National Portrait Gallery
Location: St. Martin's Pl, London WC2H 0HE
Price: Free
Theme: Art and culture
This one is home to a carefully curated collection of portraits of Britain's most important and famous people from notable artists. From William Shakespeare to Kate Moss and many more historical and contemporary figures, you don't want to miss out on this unique gallery.
The Royal Academy of Art
Location: Burlington House, Piccadilly, London W1J 0BD
Price: Free
Theme: Art and culture
This art institution is based in Burlington House on Piccadilly in London, and it's gorgeous. They have the iconic Summer Exhibition every year and display all kinds of art, from modern to classic.
This one, like many of the others, is free to enter but you have to pay to see their selection of exhibitions.
The Wallace Collection
Location: Hertford House, Manchester Square, London W1U 3BN
Price: Free
Theme: Art and culture
Discover traditional and intricate paintings, sculpture, ceramics and more gifted to Britain in 1900s inside this hidden gem. The museum is perfect if you like old art and artefacts, plus, it has the cutest pink café for you to treat yourself at!
Sir John Soane's Museum
Location: 13 Lincoln's Inn Fields, London WC2A 3BP
Price: Free
Theme: Art and culture
Tucked away inside an unassuming house in Holborn is the former home of architect John Soane, which holds his collection of paintings, sculptures, drawings and more that he acquired over many years.
Fun fact, Soane founded the museum in order to disinherit his son, who he hated so his house and collections pass into the care of a board of trustees acting. Family drama aside, this is a truly unique visit!
Wellcome Collection
Location: 1183 Euston Road, London NW1 2BE
Price: Free
Theme: Science and art
Just a stones throw away from Euston and King Cross stations is the Wellcome Collection, connecting science and medicine with art and culture. They have exhibitions, live events and gallery tours plus a great café and library, where you can work.
Queer Britain
Location: 12 Granary Square, London N1C 4BH
Price: Free
Theme: Art and culture
This small museum in Kings Cross is dedicated to British LGBTQ+ history and culture and is the first and only of its kind in the UK. Think art by queer artists, exhibitions and more!
The space also houses a shop selling Queer Britain merchandise and a selection of books curated by Gay’s The Word, with all profits going directly back to support the museum and charity.
Frameless
Location: 6 Marble Arch, London, W1H 7AP
Price: From £27
Theme: Art
This immersive art exhibition is like no other, with iconic paintings by the likes of Monet, Dali, Van Gogh and more displayed in a spectacular, multi-sensory experience. Get up close and personal with the art and take some envy-worthy Instagram photos!
Imperial War Museum
Location: Lambeth Rd, London SE1 6HZ
Price: Free
Theme: History
Noteworthy exhibition: Storyteller: Photographer by Tim Hetherington, until September 2024, free
This grand museum in south London explores conflict from WW1 to the present day, and houses recreations of trenches, the Blitz, war-time homes and more. Recent exhibitions include a memorial to the Holocaust, and it's a very moving and thought-provoking visit!
The London Transport Museum
Location: Covent Garden Piazza, London, WC2E 7BB
Price: From £18
Theme: Transport
In the heart of Covent Garden is The London Transport Museum, where you can look back on the history of London transport, from secret tube stations to women in the workforce and more.
You need to pay for an annual pass for this one, but it does mean you can go again and again!
Fashion and Textile Museum
Location: 83 Bermondsey St, London SE1 3XF
Price: From £12.65
Theme: Art and fashion
Noteworthy exhibition: The Biba Story, until September 2024, tickets from £12.65
The only UK museum dedicated to showcasing contemporary fashion and textile design is home to ever-changing exhibitions as well as educational courses, talks, events and workshops. Delve into the world of fashion and textiles and leave feeling inspired!
Dusty Baxter-Wright is an award-winning journalist and the Entertainment and Lifestyle Director at Cosmopolitan, having previously worked at Sugarscape. She was named one of PPA’s 30 Under 30 for her work covering pop culture, careers, interiors and travel, and oversees the site’s Entertainment and Lifestyle strategy across print, digital and video. As a journalist for the best part of a decade, she has interviewed everyone from Louis Theroux and Channing Tatum to Margot Robbie and Ncuti Gatwa, while she has also spoken on Times Radio and BBC Radio. You can find her on Twitter and Instagram here.
Furvah Shah is Acting Entertainment Booker for ELLE, Harper's Bazaar, Esquire, Cosmopolitan, Red and Prima. She secures interviews with your favourite celebrities and covers everything from TV and films to music and books. Furvah has previously written for The Independent, BBC, Refinery29 and Amaliah and she is super passionate about highlighting diverse talent and projects, having interviewed the likes of Jenna Ortega, Charithra Chandran, Ambika Mod and more. She graduated with a First in BA Media and Communications from Goldsmiths University and is an NCTJ-qualified journalist. In her free time, you can find her at an arts or culture event, eating Middle Eastern or Asian food, searching for modest fashion inspiration on Pinterest or cuddling with her cat. You can follow Furvah on X, Instagram, TikTok and LinkedIn.
Lydia Venn is Cosmopolitan UK’s Senior Entertainment and Lifestyle Writer. She covers everything from TV and film, to the latest celebrity news. She also writes across our work/life section regularly creating quizzes, covering exciting new food releases and sharing the latest interior must-haves. In her role she’s interviewed everyone from Margot Robbie to Niall Horan, and her work has appeared on an episode of The Kardashians. After completing a degree in English at the University of Exeter, Lydia moved into fashion journalism, writing for the Daily Express, before working as Features Editor at The Tab, where she spoke on BBC Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour and Talk Radio. She has an encyclopedic knowledge of Gilmore Girls and 00s teen movies, and in her free time can be found with a margarita in hand watching the Real Housewives on repeat. Find her on LinkedIn.
The complete guide to a Las Vegas trip
How to do Paris like a local (not a tourist)
First time in Paris? See our perfect 48-hour plan!
The best bottomless sushi restaurants in London
