Top Museums in London

Planning a trip to London and wondering which museums and galleries to visit?

You’ve come to the right place, as this post brings together 12 top museums in London that you should visit at least once in your life. Spread around some of London’s most visited streets and squares, these museums and art galleries will surely impress everyone.

London has an artistic, historical and cultural past that is unique. Join us on our museum tours London that are perfect for art lovers, history buffs and cultural travellers. From collections of ancient artifacts to painting and sculpture galleries, discover some of London’s most visited museums!

12 Top Museums in London

British Museum

You can spend a lifetime in Britain’s largest museum – the British Museum, and there is no shortage of artifacts to ponder. They have the largest collection in the world, arranged by location (Ancient Egypt, Asia, Africa, the Middle East, and Greece and Rome). The highlights being the Rosetta Stone, Pantheon Marbles (once a part of the original structure in Athens) and more than 120 mummies that draw millions of visitors every year. This is the most visited attraction in the city and it’s easy to see why.

Imperial War Museum

Located in what was once Bethlem Royal Hospital, London’s Imperial War Museum offers an interesting insight into the war and its aftermath. Beginning with World War I, the museum takes you on an amazing journey through the century before delving into World War II and more recent conflicts. The exhibits on display are extremely interesting and informative, with all 400 items on display highlighting the suffering of war. There are many films, photographs, videos and audio recordings included in the exhibits that will give visitors a deeper insight into the tragedy of war and its impact on society. The museum primarily focuses on the wars that affected Britain and remains one of the top museums in London thanks to its amazing collection and well-presented exhibits.

The Wallace Collection

The Wallace Collection is one of the world’s finest small museums and a treasure trove of art. But it’s somehow comfortably lost in a sea of London’s splendid museums. The Wallace collection is located in a stately palace and a perfectly preserved on-site collaboration of art and historical setting. The museum is famous for its 18th century French paintings, European paintings, Boulle furniture, and medieval armour. You’ll find works by Franz Hals, Rembrandt, Titian, Velazquez, and Canaletto. In addition, there is a wealth of works by artists from the Rococo era such as Watteau, Boucher and Fragonard. The museum is a closed collection of 24 rooms, wherein nothing can be added or removed from the collection. However, the collection is so extensive, with so many masterpieces, that it is advisable to book a guided tour.

Natural History Museum

Housed in a beautiful building, the Natural History Museum is a fascinating place for children and adults alike. It’s home to 80 million plant, animal, fossil, rock and mineral specimens. As you explore the museum you will come face-to-face with animatronic dinosaurs, a dodo, a man-sized model of a fetus, a giant sequoia tree, glow-in-the-dark crystals, an earthquake simulator, and much more. With state-of-the-art research facilities attached, the museum is also at the forefront of important scientific discoveries.

Science Museum

Love gadgets and how they work? The Science Museum is for you. The museum has 7 floors of exhibits that are educational and entertaining, and aims at understanding the science that has shaped our lives. Here, you’ll find exhibits that explain the development of science, medicine, anatomy, space, computers, and technology. It has an extensive collection of medical historical treasures. There are also a few digital exhibits for children. Like many modern science museums, the museum has an IMAX theatre. Science films are shown in 3D, allowing visitors to immerse themselves in outer space and the depths of the ocean. Don’t miss the museum shop; it has loads of crazy toys. While the Dana Centre hosts free lectures and performance events on current scientific issues.

London Transport Museum

Ok, stay with us, as this is a lot more fun than it sounds. Situated in the heart of Covent Garden, the London Transport Museum houses everything related to the transport heritage of London. The museum has huge halls full of historic tube carriages, double-decker buses, and interactive exhibits. With over 450,000 exhibits, the museum is a fun place to delve into the history of transport in London and see how it has changed and evolved over time. There are also nice posters and artwork!

Jewish Museum

The Jewish Museum in London is open to people of all backgrounds and faiths where they can explore the British Jewish heritage, identity and culture. The museum is set against a backdrop of modern architecture with displays spread across four permanent galleries. It brings Jewish history to life and places it in the broader context of British history. On display are a wide variety of objects, films, photographs, hands-on exhibitions and personal stories that not only explore contemporary social issues related to immigration and settlement, but also explore Jewish life in Britain and its history. The museum also features a rotating exhibition gallery, a 100-seat auditorium, an educational area, a cafe and shop.

The Design Museum

This museum was founded by Sir Terence Conran in 1989 and moved to Kensington in 2016. Today it’s one of the city’s premiere exhibition spaces. In fact, its building is a masterpiece in itself, with soaring well-lit spaces and was awarded European Museum of the Year in 2018. The museum hosts cutting-edge contemporary exhibits dedicated to all forms of design, from fashion, graphics and architecture to product and industrial design. The main masterpieces include – the Singer Sewing Machine, Saarinen Tulip Chair and the Dyson DC01 Vacuum Cleaner.

The Postal Museum

The postal system is one of Britain’s greatest inventions and is the first social network that has existed for 500 years. Visit the Postal Museum and discover the history of letter writing and communication through interactive exhibits and galleries. Hop onto the Mail Rail across the street and ride a miniature train through hidden tunnels to discover the world of mail beneath London’s busy streets. Another part of the Postal Museum tells the daredevil tale of a mailman who was armed with weapons to ward off robbers.

Churchill War Rooms

If you’re a fan of history, you must include the fascinating Churchill War Rooms in your museum tours London. The museum is divided into two areas. One part is devoted to Churchill’s life and career, while the other is devoted to the Cabinet War Office. In the war room, Churchill waged war in underground bunkers. Here, Churchill’s voice was broadcast to the public as German planes unloaded bombs. You can walk through the top-secret corridors of London’s war room. You can see what life was like in the long, tense days and nights of World War II. This second part of the museum features visual, audio, and interactive displays where you can listen to excerpts from Churchill speeches. There’s so much to see and understand that it’s best you book a guided tour of the museum.

National Gallery

The National Gallery is a jewel in Trafalgar Square, London. The museum is incredibly diverse, with 2,000 European paintings from the 13th to the 19th century. Taking a walking tour inside the museum is like opening a book of art. Here you’ll find the best names from the world of art like – Leonardo da Vinci, Rembrandt, Velazquez, J.M.W. Turner, Botticelli, Monet, and Van Gogh. Don’t miss the most famous painting on display – Leonardo da Vinci’s Madonna of the Rocks. While the Spanish Room is full of art students drawing paintings by Velazquez and Caravaggio. The National Gallery is an artistic experience in itself. It has high ceilings and a glass dome. The floor of the entrance hall is covered with beautiful mosaics depicting the hardships of life, joys of life and modern virtues. The gallery is massive and you’ll need a few hours to see this amazing museum in London.

Madame Tussauds

And now it’s time for some fun and frolic!! Go to Madame Tussauds and have an exciting time there. This is the most famous wax museum in the world where you’ll find life-size wax figures of your favourite stars and characters on display. The statues are made with the highest precision and look as real as you can imagine. The key personalities include – the Queen, Beatles, Mahatma Gandhi, David Beckham, Madonna, Ronaldo, Usain Bolt, Michael Jackson and the list is endless. In addition, there is a special zone dedicated to superheroes and imaginative characters such as Superman, Spiderman, Hulk, Iron Man, Batman and many more. Finally, don’t forget to take a selfie with your favourite superstar when you visit this amazing museum.

So, there you have it – here’s our roundup of 12 top museums in London. Whether you’re wanting to discover dinosaurs or looking to explore London landmarks – Our museum tours London will have you covered!