|
London
has a great variety of world class museums and galleries. Most of
the major venues also have free admission for all, although voluntary
donations are 'encouraged' and special exhibitions often have an
admission charge.
If you are interested in the subject matter, many of these museums
and galleries will take at least a day of your time.
As many are so large, a good approach is to make several visits
spread over your visit made possible by the free admission. Some
of the museums also have late night openings.All have restaurants
and most will have workshops and lectures available.
Note:
This page contains what we would call 'serious museums', we have
put places like Madame Tussaud's, London Dungeon and Ripley's under
our 'entertainments' section'
|
Natural History Museum |
FREE
Museums
Victoria & Albert Museum - South Kensington
The
Victoria & Albert museum is the acknowledged greatest museum in
the world devoted to decorative arts. Exhibits are drawn from around
the world, both modern and ancient. The museum has the largest collection
of Renaissance sculpture outside Italy, the largest collection of
Indian art outside India, similarly Chinese and Japanese.
In stark contrast the British Galleries house furniture, ceramics
and sculpture unfolding the story of British design from 1500.
Victoria and Albert
Museum Official Web Site
Natural History Museum
- South Kensington
The Natural History Museum is the home of the national collections
of living and fossil plants, animals, and minerals with many specimens
on display. What attracts most attention are the dinosaur exhibits,
including robotic life size examples. A full scale exhibit of a whale
also leaves a lasting impression.
From the outside the museum looks more like a palace and is truly
impressive. The museum was built between 1873 and 1881
Natural History Museum
Official Web Site
Science Museum - South Kensington
The Science Museum traces the development of science
and industry and their influence on life. There is something here
for everyone, including plenty of hands on exhibits and workshops
for the kids. Over 300,000 exhibits covering the entire history of
western science, technology and medicine.
Science
Museum Official Web Site
British Museum
- Bloomsbury
One of the world's greatest museums of human history
and culture. Its collections, which number more than 13 million objects,
are amongst the largest and most comprehensive in the world and originate
from all continents, illustrating and documenting the story of human
culture from its beginning to the present.
British
Museum Official Web Site
Imperial War Museum - Lambeth
The terms of reference of the museum cover both world
wars and all military operations in which Britain or the Commonwealth
have been involved since August 1914. It doesn't glorify war, and
certainly covers all aspects including the human and civilian side
of warfare.
Imperial
War Museum Official Web Site
Museum
of London - Barbican
Largest dedicated museum to London, tracing London
from its beginnings to modern day. The Museum of London is one of
the world’s largest urban history museums and cares for over
two million objects in its collection.
Museum
of London Official Web Site
Bank
Of England Museum - Bank
The Bank of England Museum tells the story of the Bank
of England from its foundation in 1694 to its role today as the United
Kingdom's central bank. The historical displays include material drawn
from the Bank's own collections of books, documents, silver, prints,
paintings, banknotes, coins and photographs.
There is a display of gold, including Roman and modern gold bars,
Bank
of England Museum Official Web Site
Museums with admission charges
HMS Belfast - Near Tower & London Bridge
One of the most powerful large light cruisers ever
built, HMS Belfast is now the only surviving vessel of her type to
have seen active service during the Second World War.Serving Britain
for 32 years, she played an important role in both the Second World
War and the Korean War as well as performing peacekeeping duties throughout
the 1950s and 1960s. The ship is now moored in the Pool of London,
London's original dock.
HMS
Belfast Official Web Site
Cabinet War Rooms - Off Parliament Square . Whitehall
The underground war rooms where Winston Churchill directed
the 2nd World War whilst London was being bombed during the Blitz.
Highlights are some of the most important rooms, including the Map
Room, the Cabinet Room and Churchill's bedroom. The Churchill Museum
part of the attraction chronicles the life of Winston Churchill.
Cabinet
War Rooms Official Web Site
Tower
Bridge Experience - Tower Bridge
You can walk across Tower Bridge at all times, but
this attraction allows you to go one step further. The Tower Bridge
Exhibition is inside the most famous bridge in the world.
Lifts take you high above the traffic deck to the high level walkways
where you can take your photographs unobstructed by glass. Another
part explores the engine rooms that enable the bridge to lift, (which
it still performs today).
Tower
Bridge Experience Official Web Site
London Transport Museum - Covent Garden
As its name implies, this museum is all about London's
public transport. Highlights at the London Transport Museum is more
than 80 road and rail vehicles in its collection representing public
transport in the city and its suburban and country areas over the
last two centuries, supported by displays to provide history and insight.
London
Transport Museum Official Web Site |
 |
|
