Top 25 free museums in London

Retrace the history of humankind through the British Museum’s amazing collection of artefacts from all over the world. Access to the permanent collection – including highlights such as the Rosetta Stone and Parthenon sculptures – is free.

Where: Bloomsbury (Great Russell St, WC1B 3DG)

Discover more than 2,000 paintings from the Middle Ages to the 20th century at the National Gallery. See works by western European masters of painting such as Da Vinci, Botticelli, Caravaggio and Van Gogh.

Where: Trafalgar Square (Trafalgar Square, WC2N 5DN)

Wander through the spectacular halls of the Natural History Museum, as you discover fascinating exhibits from the natural world. Marvel at dinosaur skeletons or gawp at Hope, a giant blue whale skeleton.

Where: South Kensington (Cromwell Road, SW7 5BD)

Experience the wonders of science first-hand with the Science Museum’s interactive displays. Showcasing more than 15,000 objects, the permanent collection includes must-see exhibits such as Amy Johnson's Gipsy Moth plane.

Where: South Kensington (Exhibition Road, SW7 2DD)

Discover the troubled history of modern war at the Imperial War Museum. Interesting displays guide you through the stories of modern conflicts, from the First World War to the present day.

Where: Elephant and Castle (Lambeth Rd, SE1 6HZ)

Set in historic Maritime Greenwich, the National Maritime Museum showcases Britain’s naval history, from sea battles to exploratory expeditions. See ancient maps and ship models, and don’t miss the iconic uniform Nelson wore the day of the Battle of Trafalgar.

Where: Greenwich (Romney Rd, SE10 9NF)

The Victoria and Albert Museum hosts one of the greatest collections of art and design objects in the world (more than 2.3 million items, to be precise). Discover its beautiful galleries and retrace the history of creativity through fashion, furniture, sculpture, photography, jewellery and more.

Where: South Kensington (Cromwell Road, SW7 2RL)

See how a power station has been transformed into London’s centre for modern and contemporary art at Tate Modern. Find world-class paintings, photographs and performance art, embrace the stunning view of the river from the gallery’s cafe, and explore the famous Turbine Hall, which has hosted large-scale installations.

Where: Bankside (Bankside, SE1 9TG)

Find some of the best of British art from 1500 to today at Tate Britain, including the world’s largest collection of works by JMW Turner. Follow the Walk Through British Art rooms and see stunning paintings by Gainsborough, Whistler and Bacon.

Where: Millbank (Millbank, SW1P 4RG)

Did you know London has a Roman amphitheatre? Be wowed by this ancient relic, which was found by archaeologists working on the site of the Guildhall Art Gallery in 1988. Entry to both the gallery and the amphitheatre is free.

Where: City of London (Guildhall Yard, EC2V 5AE)

Discover what it means to be human through the Wellcome Collection’s jam-packed displays of science, medicine, life and art objects. Become immersed in a host of Insta-worthy and quirky exhibits, including those that play on the senses.

Where: Euston (183 Euston Rd, NW1 2BE)

Step inside Inigo Jones' elegant masterpiece, Queen's House, and you'll discover rare works of Greenwich from Canaletto, Lowry and Turner, plus the unique Armada Portrait of Queen Elizabeth I. Don't miss the stunning Tulip Stairs for that Insta-perfect shot.

Where: Greenwich (Romney Rd, SE10 9NF)

Explore Sir John Soane's Museum, the former home to the architect of the Bank of England. His historic house contains a wide collection of paintings, architectural drawings and antiquities, plus the original sarcophagus of Seti I.

Where: Holborn (13 Lincoln's Inn Fields, WC2A 3BP)

Head to the quirky Horniman Museum and Gardens in Forest Hill to encounter an eclectic collection of musical instruments, anthropology and natural history. Here, you'll find a gigantic overstuffed taxidermy walrus and a rather ugly merman, two of the weirdest things to see in London.

Where: Forest Hill (100 London Rd, SE23 3PQ)

Delve into the ancient Roman Temple of Mithrus, which was originally built in AD 240 but only rediscovered in 1954 after centuries under the City of London's streets. Trace the story of the London Mithraeum through artefacts found during excavations and interactive displays.

Where: City of London (12 Walbrook, EC4N 8AA)

Delve into some of the world’s most important literary treasures at the British Library, the UK's national library. Marvel at the historic manuscripts, discover a rare example of Magna Carta and take a look at Shakespeare’s First Folio.

Where: St Pancras (96 Euston Rd, NW1 2DB)

Find out about Britain's army at the National Army Museum. Relive the history of the armed forces, from the British Civil Wars to the modern day, through thousands of inspiring objects in five galleries.

Where: Chelsea (Royal Hospital Rd, SW3 4HT)

Retrace the history of aviation at this fascinating London museum. With a huge amount of aircraft memorabilia under one roof, the Royal Air Force Museum gives a spectacular account of man's desire to take flight and the scientific advances to make it real.

Where: Edgware (Grahame Park Way, NW9 5LL)

Be amazed by The Wallace Collection's precious collection of 18th-century French paintings, together with works by Titian, Canaletto and Rembrandt. The superb building, situated just off Oxford Street, is a treasure in itself.

Where: Marylebone (Hertford House, W1U 3BN)

Learn all about London’s history as a port with the Museum of London Docklands’ exhibits. The interactive displays recreate life at the height of London’s 19-century naval supremacy.

Where: Canary Wharf (No. 1 West India Quay, E14 4AL)

World-class art institution Royal Academy of Arts introduced free displays for the first time in 2018, taking in works from its varied archives. Spot paintings by Michelangelo, Constable and Gainsborough, study Greek and Roman statues, and gaze at exquisite sculptures.

Where: Piccadilly (Burlington House, W1J 0BD)

In the middle of Hyde Park, the Serpentine Galleries (Serpentine Gallery and Serpentine Sackler Gallery) are two exhibition spaces devoted to displaying international contemporary art. Every summer, a new Serpentine Pavilion is set up in the Serpentine Gallery’s garden, showcasing the talent of a specific artist or architect.

Where: Hyde Park (Kensington Gardens, W2 3XA)

Head to the Whitechapel Gallery for cutting-edge contemporary art by emerging and renowned artists. In addition to the exciting programme of exhibitions, the gallery hosts talks, events and workshops.

Where: Whitechapel (77-82 Whitechapel High St, E1 7QX)

Money, money, money... Learn about the history of British currency at the Bank of England Museum, which is open Mondays to Fridays. Pick up a gold bar, delve back in time at the Stock Office and discover how banknotes have evolved over time.

Where: Bank (Bartholomew Ln, EC2R 8AH)

Visiting the Young V&A is like being a kid again, for one day. Discover a wide collection of childhood objects from the 1600s to the present day: toys, games, dolls and more. Closed for refurbishment until 2023.

Where: Bethnal Green (Cambridge Heath Rd, E2 9PA)