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Published 2/22/2026
List of the 18 Best Free London Museums for First Time Visitors
Free definitely doesn’t mean low quality when it comes to London museums. With its reputation as a spendy city, you might be surprised to learn that London, England is absolutely peppered with world class museums that cost absolutely nothing to visit.
I’m not just talking about London’s most famous free museums – Natural History, Science, and Victoria and Albert – in South Kensington. From Pimlico to Trafalgar Square and the City of London to Greenwich, you’ll find free museums in every corner of London covering all manner of topics from classical art, banking, and nautical exploration.
I’ve been traveling to London for more than two decades and even spent one winter working in the City. As a young adult living in one of the most expensive cities in the world, I quickly became an expert on London’s free attractions. I whiled away many a weekend in favorite free London museums like the National Gallery and V&A.
Even now that I’m older (and a little more fiscally stable) I still love visiting London’s free museums. Not only does the free admission stretch my travel funds for other fun London expenses like dining and West End theatre tickets, but these museums are truly the crème de la crème, showcasing some of the most stunning artwork, artifacts, and stories in the world.
To help you discover these excellent London institutions, I’ve created a list of what I consider London’s 18 best free museums. I’ve arranged them by category (art, design, history, culture, and science) and included useful information like the nearest Tube stop and other nearby attractions so it’s easy for you to decide which one will work best in your London itinerary.
Let’s dive right in and find the best free museums for you and your group to explore on your next trip to London.
Map of Free London Museums
Art
1. National Gallery
If you only go to one art museum in London, it should be the National Gallery. Centrally located overlooking Trafalgar Square, the National Gallery is an absolute London institution which presents some of the best Western art in the world including Vermeer, Van Gogh, Da Vinci, and many, many more. There are also excellent gift shops and dining options.
- Don’t miss: The self portrait of the most famous female Renaissance artist, Artemisia Gentileschi, John Constable’s The Hay Wain, Paul Delaroche’s The Execution of Lady Jane Grey, and Monet’s Westminster views of the Thames.
- Kid Friendly: Yes – grab one of the free children activity booklets and check the event schedule for family focused events
- Possible to reserve entry ticket: Yes – book ahead for fast track entry
- Paid special exhibits: Yes
- Tours available: Audio guides available for a fee
- Nearest Tube station: Charing Cross
- Close to: Trafalgar Square, St. Martin-in-the-Field, National Portrait Gallery, Covent Garden, St. James’s Park
2. National Portrait Gallery
As the name implies, this counterpart to the National Gallery features only portraits. While paintings dominate the National Portrait Gallery collection, you’ll also find photographs, sculptures, miniatures, and mixed media artwork. I could spend hours gazing at all the faces on display here. It’s a great way to get acquainted with all the kings and queens of England!
- Don’t miss: This museum! Located right around the corner from the National Gallery, this museum doesn’t have an impressive façade to draw you in.
- Kid Friendly: Not particularly, but could be fun with late elementary school kids or teens
- Possible to reserve entry ticket: Yes
- Paid special exhibits: Yes and often well worth the admission price.
- Tours available: The museum offers two free daily tours: a Highlights tour (45 minutes) at noon and 3 p.m. and Portrait of the Day (30 minutes) at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Audio guides and other tours also available.
- Nearest Tube station: Charing Cross
- Close to: Trafalgar Square, St. Martin-in-the-Field, National Portrait Gallery, Covent Garden, St. James’s Park
3. Tate Modern
London’s premier modern art museum is located in a repurposed power station on the Thames’ south bank. The Tate Modern collection includes Picasso, Matisse, Warhol, and many more.
- Don’t miss: The walk across the Thames on the Millennium Bridge which runs between St. Paul’s Cathedral and the Tate Modern.
- Kid Friendly: Yes. Family friendly tours and workshops available on select dates.
- Possible to reserve entry ticket: No
- Paid special exhibits: Yes
- Tours available: Free 45 minute tours of the galleries offered most days at noon, 1 p.m., and 2 p.m.
- Nearest Tube station: Blackfriars
- Close to: Borough Market, Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre, Clink Prison Museum, Southwark Cathedral, St Paul’s Cathedral
4. Tate Britain
Tate Britain is an elegant art gallery showcasing British art located on the banks of the Thames just south of the Houses of Parliament in the Pimlico neighborhood. With western art masterpieces from all over the United Kingdom, the Tate Britain has a similar vibe to the National Gallery but has a smaller, more specific collection.
- Don’t miss: The impressive J.M.W Turner collection
- Kid Friendly: Yes, some kid focused activities and family tours on specific dates.
- Possible to reserve entry ticket: No
- Paid special exhibits: Yes
- Tours available: Free 45 minute tours of the galleries offered most days at noon, 1 p.m., and 2 p.m.
- Nearest Tube station: Pimlico
- Close to: Kind of off by itself, but easy to dovetail into visits to Westminster Abbey, the Houses of Parliament, or Westminster Cathedral
5. Guildhall Art Gallery
Located in the heart of the City of London (sometimes referred to as the Square Mile because this banking/business center is still mostly contained by the walls of the Roman city Londinium) the Guildhall Art Gallery displays art belonging to the City which also has a connection to the city either through the artist or the subject matter.
- Don’t miss: Popping in to see the Roman Amphitheatre in the gallery’s basement
- Kid Friendly: Family events held on the second Saturday or each month
- Possible to reserve entry ticket: Yes – recommended
- Paid special exhibits: Yes
- Tours available: Free 30 – 45 minutes tours available Tuesday to Sunday at 12.15 p.m. and 1:15 p.m. Paid guided tour of the Roman amphitheatre also offered.
- Nearest Tube station: St. Paul’s or Moorgate
- Close to: St. Paul’s Cathedral, Mansion House, the Barbican, the Monument to the Great Fire, Leadenhall Market (aka London’s Diagon Alley)
6. Serpentine Galleries
Of all the museums in London, the Serpentine Galleries, located on the shores of the Serpentine Lake which runs through Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens, are nestled in perhaps the most idyllic spot.
Take the Serpentine Bridge to travel between the original Serpentine Gallery (Serpentine South) to Serpentine North. These petite art galleries serve up frequently rotating contemporary art exhibits.
- Don’t miss: Part of what I love about the Serpentine Galleries is the surprise; I’ve never looked up exhibits ahead of time; I’ve just queued for entrance and usually been delighted (and sometimes challenged) by what I find inside.
- Kid Friendly: The Serpentine Galleries strive to create a family friendly environment, but exhibits definitely cater to an adult audience.
- Possible to reserve entry ticket: Yes – recommended
- Paid special exhibits: No
- Tours available: Can ask for an introduction tour and the galleries host regular curator talks on Saturdays.
- Nearest Tube station: Lancaster Gate (north) or Knightsbridge (south)
- Close to: Hyde Park, Kensington Gardens, Kensington Palace, Royal Albert Hall, High Street Kensington
Art and Design
7. Victoria and Albert Museum
Lovingly referred to as Britain Empire’s attic, you can find a little bit of everything inside the Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A). It’s known for its wide-ranging collection of cultural artifacts which include art work from around the world, costume jewelry, pottery, miniatures, and basically every other curiosity you can think of.
This is one of the three South Kensington museums that were created with money generated from Prince Albert’s Great Exhibition of 1851. In fact, its gorgeous café with rooms designed by famed British designers James Gamble, William Morris, and Edward Poynter is the first museum café in the world!
- Don’t miss: The cast court (casts of some of the most famous sculptures in the world), the period rooms, and fashion exhibits. The gift shop is also excellent.
- Kid Friendly: Not inherently, but definitely plenty to look at. For the most child focused V&A experience, consider heading to Young V&A in Bethnal Green in East London.
- Possible to reserve entry ticket: No
- Paid special exhibits: Yes
- Tours available: Yes – various tours daily; enquire at the information desk
- Nearest Tube station: South Kensington
- Close to: Science Museum, Natural History Museum, Royal Albert Hall, Kensington Gardens, High Street Kensington
8. Sir John Soane’s Museum
If the V&A is the British Empire’s attic, Sir John Soane’s Museum is the London museum that actually lets you look in an 18th century architect’s attic!
Actually, you get the collection spills in every room of Sir John Soane’s house overlooking Lincoln’s Inn Fields. Soane amassed thousands of artifacts in his lifetime, including artwork, Ancient Egyptian artifacts, sculptures, and more. Even during his lifetime, his house was used as museum to display his impressive collection. One note: the house is quite narrow and truly chock-a-block full of artifacts. I got a little claustrophobic!
- Don’t miss: The massive sarcophagus in the museum’s basement.
- Kid Friendly: Not particularly, but family friendly workshops offered occasionally
- Possible to reserve entry ticket: No
- Paid special exhibits: No
- Tours available: Yes, paid tours available
- Nearest Tube station: Holborn
- Close to: Hunterian Museum, Covent Garden, Twinings Flagship Store, Royal Courts of Justice, Temple Church, British Museum
9. Wallace Collection
The Wallace Collection is another house museum featuring the personal collection of the Marquesses of Hertford and Sir Richard Wallace in their posh Marylebone home, Hertford House, just north of Oxford Street. This spacious house has ample space for displays, so expect this to feel like a typical museum experience rather than the hoarder’s delight that is Sir John Soane’s house. The displayed artifacts include artwork, sculpture, furniture, and armor.
- Don’t miss: The armor display is especially renown.
- Kid Friendly: No, but the museum does host family focused events
- Possible to reserve entry ticket: No
- Paid special exhibits: Yes
- Tours available: Free digital guide available. A free daily highlights tour is offered at 2:30 p.m.; reserve your spot on this one hour tour at the information desk when you arrive.
- Nearest Tube station: Bond Street
- Close to: Oxford Street shops
History and Culture
10. British Museum
This is the big one! The British Museum is actually the number 1 visited attraction in the United Kingdom, so expect massive crowds with your displays of antiquities. The collections are undeniably excellent (and controversial depending on if you think the items were collected or stolen – personally, I say stolen) but visiting can be overwhelming. It’s best to have a plan of attack as you weave your way through the galleries displaying Greek Parthenon sculptures, the Rosetta stone, Roman artifacts and much more.
- Don’t miss: The Sutton Hoo gallery which tells the story and displays artifacts from one Britain’s most significant archeological finds.
- Kid Friendly: No
- Possible to reserve entry ticket: Yes – recommended
- Paid special exhibits: Yes
- Tours available: Yes, mixture of free and paid tours available. There is also paid audio guide app you can purchase to use during your visit.
- Nearest Tube station: Holborn
- Close to: Sir John Soane’s House, Russell Square, the West End Theatres
11. London Museum
This is the place to go to learn about the human history of London from prehistoric times through major events like the Great Fire of London and the Gin Craze up to today. For decades the London Museum (previously called Museum of London) was hidden in the Barbican complex just north of St. Paul’s Cathedral in the City of London. Now the museum has moved into the renovated Victorian General Market in the Smithfield meat market district.
While I haven’t been to the new location which is opening later in 2026, I have feeling that the museum’s going to be better than ever in its new location.
- Don’t miss: This is one of my favorite gift shops in all of London
- Kid Friendly: Yes
- Possible to reserve entry ticket: No
- Paid special exhibits: Yes
- Tours available: No
- Nearest Tube station: Farringdon
- Close to: City of London, St. Paul’s Cathedral, the Barbican, St Bartholomew the Great church
12. London Museum Docklands
This spin-off of the London Museum focuses on the interesting and diverse history of the London Docklands located just east of the City of London. This is the working class neighborhood featured in Call the Midwife. Exhibits focus on trade, slavery, shipbuilding, and all the other ways this part of London has shaped the city and nation’s story.
- Don’t miss: The World War II gallery and the Reflections Room which features artwork from contemporary artists
- Kid Friendly: Yes
- Possible to reserve entry ticket: No
- Paid special exhibits: Yes
- Tours available: No
- Nearest Tube station: West India Quay (DLR)
- Close to: This museum is tucked in a part of London that most tourists won’t venture to, but it’s easy to use the DLR to connect a visit with a Greenwich day trip.
13. Imperial War Museum
One of the leading institutions for military history in the world, the Imperial War Museum was created in the midst of World War I to help document the impact of warfare in human history. Today the museum oversees five different museums, including the Churchill War Rooms and the H.M.S Belfast museum ship. The flagship museum in Lambeth focuses on modern conflicts starting with World War I through today.
- Don’t miss: The Holocaust Galleries
- Kid Friendly: Not particularly, but kid friendly events are offered frequently
- Possible to reserve entry ticket: No
- Paid special exhibits: Yes
- Tours available: No
- Nearest Tube station: Lambeth North
- Close to: Garden Museum, London Eye, London Aquarium
14. Bank of England Museum
Today, the City of London is one of the most important financial centers of the world. You can learn all about the history of banking in England, the origins of England’s central bank – the Bank of England, and also the modern economy at the Bank of England Museum located in the heart of the City.
- Don’t miss: The impressive banknotes collection and the chance to get your literal hands on a bar of gold.
- Kid Friendly: Yes – activity sheets available and kid friendly exhibits
- Possible to reserve entry ticket: No
- Paid special exhibits: No – but the space does host rotating free exhibits
- Tours available: Free audio tours available using your phone and exhibit QR codes
- Nearest Tube station: Bank
- Close to: Monument to the Great Fire of London, Sky Garden, Leadenhall Market, The Royal Exchange
15. National Maritime Museum
This Greenwich museum tells the story of the British notorious domination of the world’s seas including Napoleonic Wars, the mutiny on the Bounty, and the polar explorations of Franklin and Shackleton.
- Don’t miss: The Polar Worlds exhibit and seeing Horatio Nelson’s jacket in the Napoleonic Wars exhibit
- Kid Friendly: Yes
- Possible to reserve entry ticket: Yes
- Paid special exhibits: Yes
- Tours available: Yes daily tours and talks. Treasures Tour is a paid tour; all other talks and tours are free.
- Nearest Tube station: Cutty Sark DLR
- Close to: Greenwich Park, Royal Observatory, Old Royal Naval College, and Cutty Sark
Sciences
16. Hunterian Museum
Perhaps the grisliest free museum you can visit in London, the Hunterian Museum is located at the Royal College of Surgeons of England. The museum is based around the collection of 18th century surgeon, John Hunter, which includes thousands of curious and sometimes just plain gross specimens like crocodile embryos, jawbones, intestines, and so much more.
- Don’t miss: The Long Gallery of John Hunter’s specimens
- Kid Friendly: Family activities are offered
- Possible to reserve entry ticket: Yes – recommended
- Paid special exhibits: No
- Tours available: Curator Highlight Tour offered for free every Wednesday at 2:15 p.m., but limited to 12 participants on a first come, first served basis. A free digital guide is also available.
- Nearest Tube station: Holborn
- Close to: Sir John Soane’s House, Covent Garden, Twinings Flagship Store, Royal Courts of Justice, Temple Church
17. Science Museum
The Science Museum presents the history of scientific achievement including flight, mathematics, medicine, space, and more. With lots of hands-on galleries and an IMAX theatre, this is the most kid-friendly museum of the three South Kensington museums that were created with money generated from Prince Albert’s Great Exhibition of 1851.
- Don’t miss: The ticketed Wonderlab if you’re visiting with kids
- Kid Friendly: Yes
- Possible to reserve entry ticket: Yes
- Paid special exhibits: Yes
- Tours available: Yes, but vary from day to day
- Nearest Tube station: South Kensington
- Close to: Science Museum, Victoria and Albert Museum, Royal Albert Hall, Kensington Gardens, High Street Kensington
18. Natural History Museum
The Natural History Museum is one of West London’s most striking buildings. Inside you’ll find a hall of dinosaur skeletons, a full-size replica of a blue whale, and more. This is one of the three South Kensington museums that were created with money generated from Prince Albert’s Great Exhibition of 1851.
- Don’t miss: The dinosaur and mammal galleries. I also have a soft spot for the Earth’s Treasure Gallery which displays gems and other geological specimens.
- Kid Friendly: Yes
- Possible to reserve entry ticket: Yes – recommended
- Paid special exhibits: Yes
- Tours available: Paid tours and free audio guide available.
- Nearest Tube station: South Kensington
- Close to: Natural History Museum, Victoria and Albert Museum, Royal Albert Hall, Kensington Gardens, High Street Kensington
Conclusion: Include at least a couple free London museums in your visit
The secret’s out: the best way to stretch your tourist dollar in London is to include several of these free public museums in your sightseeing plans. As you can see, the likelihood that you’ll find a free London museum relevant to you and your group’s interests are very high, regardless of if you like art, history, science, antiquities, or even banking.
The only downside of these museums is that free often means quite busy. Whenever possible, I highly recommend booking a free timed entrance ticket so you don’t spend your precious vacation time queuing. A surprising upside of London’s free museums is that they often have some of the best gift shops in town and I’m always happy to support these institutions that offer complimentary access to their impressive collections.
I hope you’ll add at least a couple of these museums to your London itinerary. If you think I overlooked one of the best free museums in London, let me know and I’ll add it to the list!
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