Museums are one of the best ways to learn the history, culture, and art of a city. London has a plethora of world-class museums to visit that suit every interest.
The city boasts over 170 museums ranging from art, history, and design, to even the history of cartoons. Best of all, many of the city’s museums are free.
Here are seven of our favorite museums to visit when in London Town.
Related: Next Time You’re In London, Check Out These Black History Landmarks
British Museum
Did you know that the British Museum is the first national museum to open to the public? The museum opened in 1759 and houses artifacts such as the Rosetta Stone.
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Tour the main galleries for free — there are over 50,000 objects on display and their entire collection contains eight million objects!
Natural History Museum
If you’re a history buff, this museum is for you. Located in South Kensington, the National History Museum houses about 80 million animal, fossil, rock, plant, and mineral specimens.
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V&A
The art, fashion, textiles, and design objects will give you inspiration for days. The museum houses over 2.3 million objects in its permanent collection. Most of the museum is free, with the exception of temporary shows.
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After exploring the V&A all day, refuel in the Italianate courtyard.
Design Museum
Located in Kensington, this museum is the go-to for contemporary design. Explore its temporary exhibits, displays, and pop-ups. There’s never a dull moment when visiting London’s Design Museum.
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Museum of London
If you’re curious about the history of London, head to this museum. You’ll learn about the city from prehistoric times to today. The Museum of London Docklands houses an amazing permanent gallery about the city and the slave trade. The museum is free to visit.
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Science Museum
This seven-floor museum has been around since 1857. This museum is perfect for those who love hands-on learning experiences. You’ll get an up-close look at inventions throughout history as well.
London Transport Museum
Head to Convent Garden to learn about the history of London’s transportation system, dating back to 1860. From maps to early tub trains and photographs, you’ll get to see how London’s transportation progressed to the tube system it has today.
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Related: Five Black-Owned Book Stores In London You Can Support