Specialist Interest Museums in London

Find out all there is to know about the postal service in the absorbing British Postal Museum. An assortment of stamps, post boxes and post office vehicles are just some of the artefacts on show. There's also a chance to learn about the Royal Mail and its evolution from its inception to the present day. Free entry

The Canal Museum tells the story of London's canals, cargoes, boats and trade. Discover a Victorian ice well and learn about the people who lived and worked on the canal. You can even learn about the process of ice cream making – all in a charming waterside former ice warehouse near Kings Cross.

The wonderful world of the big screen is brought to life in an awe-inspiring collection of posters, projects and memorabilia at The Cinema Museum. The comprehensive collection includes an incredible 17 million feet of film, cinema designs, seats and even samples of carpet! A must see for all cinema fanatics. By appointment only.

The small Cuming Museum houses an impressive collection of artefacts documenting the history of the people of Southwark, in particular the Cuming family. The museum includes a vast array of objects including coins, textiles and art .There's something for the kids too with craft activities, trails, games and costumes. Free Entry

Discover the drama in the history of the London fire service at the Fire Brigade Museum. Find out about the terrifying Great Fire in 1666, see the great leaps in technology and equipment in the years following, and browse the broad range of memorabilia on show. Visits by appointment only: tours start at 10.30am or 2pm, Monday to Friday.

Located in a converted church next to Lambeth Palace, the small but charming Garden Museum explores British gardens and gardening through its collection, temporary exhibitions and events. Don't miss the impressive walled garden, which contains an incredible 17th century-style knot garden.

The giant beam engines at Kew Bridge Steam Museum (the earliest was built in 1820) are the largest of their kind in the world. Housed in a Victorian waterworks, these engines pumped London's water for more than 100 years. Plan your visit for a weekend or Bank Holiday to see the steam-pumping engines in action.

The Museum of Brands, Packaging and Advertising in Notting Hill features more than 12,000 original items from the Robert Opie Collection. Step inside for a nostalgic journey through childhood toys, fashions, magazines and more from Victorian times, through austerity Britain to the swinging 60s.

Located in a Huguenot house, the Museum of Immigration was created by children and artists to explore how immigration has shaped Spitalfields and London's multicultural society. Discover stories of settlers from France, Ireland, Eastern Europe, Africa and Asia in the museum's many suitcases. Open on scheduled days only. Free entry

Whether you have a musical ear or are tone deaf, the Royal Academy of Music Museum is the place to go for all things melodic. On display are numerous instruments, documents, images and musical relics. There is also a large collection of rare Cremonese stringed instruments – you may even hear some in action! Free entry

Open the first Saturday of every month, the Sewing Machine Museum in Balham houses a fascinating collection of more than 600 antique sewing machines, dating from 1850-1950. Highlights include a unique machine bought by Queen Victoria for her daughter, a machine from the Great Exhibition and the first ever Singer machine. Free entry