Experiences
The 6 Best Free Museums in London
World history, blue whales and Van Gogh's Sunflowers, all for nothing: London's best free museums.
In short: our top picks are British Museum, National Gallery and Tate Modern. 6 places in total, chosen on merit, with the full reasoning below.
London’s greatest museums are, remarkably, free. The British Museum walks you through two million years of history, the National Gallery hangs Van Gogh and Turner on Trafalgar Square, and South Kensington stacks the Natural History Museum, Science Museum and V&A within a few minutes of each other. Only the big temporary exhibitions charge. Go on a weekday morning if you can, and pick two rooms to love rather than trying to see everything.
| Place | Area |
|---|---|
| British Museum | Bloomsbury |
| National Gallery | Trafalgar Square |
| Tate Modern | Bankside |
| Natural History Museum | South Kensington |
| Victoria and Albert Museum | South Kensington |
| Science Museum | South Kensington |
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Editor’s choice
British Museum
Why we pick itTwo million years of human history across 80 galleries, from the Rosetta Stone to the Egyptian mummies, always free.
world history museum
-
National Gallery
Why we pick itMore than 2,300 paintings from the 13th to 20th centuries, Van Gogh's Sunflowers to Turner, free on Trafalgar Square.
European painting
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Tate Modern
Why we pick itThe world's most-visited modern art gallery, Picasso to Rothko to Kusama, free in a former Bankside power station.
modern art gallery
-
Natural History Museum
Why we pick itThe blue whale in Hintze Hall, dinosaurs and the Darwin Centre, in a cathedral-like building, free to all.
natural history museum
-
Victoria and Albert Museum
Why we pick itDesign, fashion, ceramics and sculpture across 145 free galleries, including the show-stopping Cast Courts.
art and design museum
-
Science Museum
Why we pick itSeven floors of science, from the Apollo 10 capsule to hands-on galleries, free beside its museum neighbours.
science and technology
Before you book
Entry to the permanent collections is free, though the blockbuster temporary shows are ticketed and often sell out. The British Museum and a few others use free timed-entry tickets in peak months, so book online to skip the door queue. Weekday mornings and Friday late openings are far calmer than weekend afternoons.
Common questions
What are the top picks in this guide?
British Museum is our editor's choice: Two million years of human history across 80 galleries, from the Rosetta Stone to the Egyptian mummies, always free. British Museum, National Gallery and Tate Modern lead the guide, with 6 places in total, all chosen on merit.
How does Lamplit London choose its recommendations?
Every place is chosen on merit, after first-hand visits where possible, with no pay-for-placement. Read our full method at https://www.lamplitlondon.com/how-we-choose/.
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