London, United Kingdom

Museums in London

21 places, ranked by traveler reviews. The museums in London travelers actually rate, art, history and everything odd in between.

Museum4.7

National Gallery

41,086 reviews

Home to over 2,300 Western European paintings from the 13th to 19th centuries, including works by Van Gogh, da Vinci, and Rembrandt.

Museum4.5

National Portrait Gallery, London

5,979 reviews

Displays portraits of historically important and famous British people, from Tudor monarchs to modern celebrities.

Museum4.5

The Courtauld Gallery

3,487 reviews · Trafalgar Square / Embankment

The Courtauld Gallery, in the grand Somerset House on the Strand, holds one of Britain's finest small art collections, celebrated above all for its Impressionist and Post-Impressionist masterpieces.

Museum4.5

The Postal Museum

1,326 reviews · Clerkenwell

Explore the history of Britain's postal service through interactive exhibits, historic vehicles, and the unique Mail Rail ride.

Museum4.5

Charles Dickens Museum

1,244 reviews · Bloomsbury

The former London home of Charles Dickens, now a museum preserving his life and literary legacy.

Museum4.5

Old Operating Theatre Museum and Herb Garret

819 reviews · Southwark

A unique museum in a restored 18th-century church attic, featuring Europe's oldest surviving operating theatre and a recreated herb garret.

Museum4

National Army Museum

624 reviews · Chelsea

Explore British Army history through interactive exhibits, personal stories, and iconic artifacts at this Chelsea museum.

Museum4.5

Golden Hinde

611 reviews · Southwark

A full-scale replica of Sir Francis Drake's famous ship, docked in London and open for exploration.

Museum

Museum4

The Cartoon Museum

308 reviews · Fitzrovia

A museum dedicated to cartoons and comic art, featuring a vast collection of original artwork and rotating exhibitions.

Museum3.5

Whitechapel Gallery

271 reviews · Whitechapel

A historic contemporary art gallery in Whitechapel, known for groundbreaking exhibitions and a strong community focus.

Museum4.5

Two Temple Place

224 reviews · Trafalgar Square / Embankment

A stunning neo-Gothic mansion in London housing rotating art exhibitions, with exquisite interiors and free entry.

Museum

Museum4.5

The Museum of the Order of St John

177 reviews · Clerkenwell

Explore the history of the Knights Hospitaller at this fascinating museum housed in a medieval gate in Clerkenwell.

Museum4.5

Estorick Collection of Modern Italian Art

124 reviews

Museum in Islington dedicated to 20th-century Italian art, featuring works by Futurists, Modigliani, and more.

Museum

Museum2.5

Van Gogh Exhibition

88 reviews · Mayfair

An exhibition of Van Gogh's works at the Royal Academy of Arts in London's Mayfair district, exploring his life and artistic evolution.

Museum

Museum4

Royal London Hospital Museum

60 reviews · Whitechapel

Discover the history of nursing and the Royal London Hospital at this intimate museum in Whitechapel, featuring artifacts and stories from the hospital's past.

Museum4

The Tabernacle

51 reviews · Notting Hill

Historic community arts centre and music venue in Notting Hill, hosting concerts, theatre, and exhibitions.

Museum

Museum4

The Faraday Museum

45 reviews · Mayfair

Small museum in Mayfair dedicated to Michael Faraday's life and scientific discoveries, featuring original lab equipment.

Museum

Museum5

Print Club London

45 reviews

Print Club London is a hands-on screen printing studio and gallery in Hackney Wick, where visitors can create their own posters and art prints.

Museum

Museum5

Eyemazy Soho

38 reviews

An immersive museum in London's Soho where you explore optical illusions and interactive art installations that play with perception.

Museum

Museum5

Hang-Up Gallery

22 reviews

A contemporary art gallery in Hoxton specializing in innovative, often playful works by emerging and established artists, with a focus on textiles and mixed media.

Museum

Museum5

Walton Fine Arts

15 reviews · Chelsea

A small, independent gallery in Chelsea showcasing contemporary fine art in an intimate setting.

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Good to know

What is the best-known of the museums in London?

National Gallery is the most reviewed, with 41,086 traveler reviews and a 4.7 rating. That makes it the safe choice if you are only fitting in one.

Which of London's museums is worth going out of your way for?

National Portrait Gallery, London rates highest at 4.5 out of 5 across 5,979 reviews. Smaller crowds than the headline entry usually explain the gap.

How is this list of museums ranked?

By how many travelers reviewed each place, filtered to those rated well enough to be worth your time. No one pays to appear on it, and the order is refreshed monthly as new reviews land.

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