Museums

London has some fabulous museums containing some of the world’s most important treasures and artefacts, and the good news is that most of them are free of charge, so you can come and go at your leisure.  

British Museum

This excellent museum of human cultural history contains over four million fascinating exhibits from all over the world. There’s far too much to see in one visit, so it’s probably best to pick out a few sections that appeal to you most and concentrate on them. Probably its most famous artefact is the Rosetta Stone, a tablet with Greek and Egyptian inscriptions. Created in the 2nd century BC and discovered by the French at the end of the 18th century, it allowed historians to decipher ancient hieroglyphics for the first time. The museum also holds the renowned Elgin Marbles, a set of exquisite sculptures brought to Britain from Greece by the Earl of Elgin in the early 19th century. The British Museum is free of charge – in fact it has been since 1753, making it one of the world’s oldest public museums.

Victoria and Albert Museum

The Victoria and Albert Museum is one of the world’s foremost collections of applied and decorative arts. It was founded in the 1850s to promote and encourage excellence in design. There’s jewellery, furniture, textiles, glass, ceramics, sculpture and more. The V&A is also free of charge.

Natural History Museum

This wonderful museum, again free, has collections that span the natural history of the Earth from prehistoric times to the present day. The dinosaur collections are amazing and a constant favourite among children. The key themes are the evolution of the planet and the environmental change affecting it today, and there’s also a fascinating section on space.   

Science Museum

Another excellent museum with free admission! The Science Museum traces the development of Western science, medicine and technology from the beginning of the industrial age, from invention and discovery to economics and society. The world’s oldest steam engine and the first mass-produced car, the Ford Model T, are on display here. There’s also an excellent interactive wing full of hands-on gadgets and experiments, which are great for kids. The IMAX cinema on the ground floor shows fascinating educational films.

Imperial War Museum

Covering key British and Commonwealth conflicts since the First World War, this thought-provoking military museum analyses the history and politics of war and aims to encourage understanding of how war affects people’s lives. Personal letters, photographs and sound recordings of first-hand accounts are juxtaposed against tanks, aircraft, guns and missiles. Admission is free.

Churchill Museum and Cabinet War Rooms

Part of the Imperial War Museum, the Cabinet War Rooms are the secure underground bunkers from which Winston Churchill led Britain during the Second World War. It provides an incredible insight into Churchill’s political life – how he ran the country and directed the war from these claustrophobic rooms – as well as his personal life. The museum won the coveted Council of Europe Museum Award in 2005 for excellence in promoting understanding of Europe’s cultural heritage. Admission is £10 for adults.