London has a reputation for being expensive but one thing that makes London unique is its wealth of top quality museums that are completely free of charge, something you don’t usually get in other global major cities.  

Funded by a combination of grants and public spending from the Arts Council, National Lottery, central and local government, you can enjoy some truly world class museums. Instead, to support our wonderful museums, consider making a voluntary contribution or buying something in the gift shop. Some special exhibitions may be chargeable but the bulk of the museum is free at the point of entry.   

Here is a list to help you plan your visit:

The British Museum – the fifth most visited museum is also widely considered one of the top three museums in the world. A good tip is to book your free one hour entry timeslot online to beat the queues. See the famous Rosetta Stone, Elgin Marbles (Parthenon Sculptures), Benin Bronzes, Easter Island statues and Egyptian mummies. The oldest exhibit is the Olduvai Stone Chopping Tool which is some 2 million years old. You could spend anything from 1 hour here to 6 and still not see everything. 

The Natural History Museum – possibly London’s most iconic museum, it is as impressive for its Gothic architecture as it is for its animatronic T-Rex and giant blue whale skeleton hanging from the ceiling. Again, prebooked timed entry tickets are advisable as they are free of charge and help you skip the queues. At Christmas time there is a charming ice skating rink on the grounds. 

The Science Museum – the third museum in South Kensington’s little Exhibition Road patch celebrates the history of innovation. With lots of interactive fun combined with exhibits behind glass cases, the first X ray machine and Stephenson’s rocket are a highlight. Paid experiences include the interactive Wonderlab and IMAX cinema. The space gallery inspires wonder and as you would expect, the exhibits don’t stay static as the nature of science is that it should always be forward facing. If you have been before, perhaps you should go again. 

Tate Modern – many years ago one of the main exhibits was Tracey Emin’s unmade bed. Some may dismiss modern art as “low effort” or simply ridiculous but others simply adore its break from the confines of classical tradition. Whatever your position, the Tate Modern is a riverside former Bankside Power Station awash with large open spaces. It is one of the largest museums of contemporary art in the world saved from demolition when repurposed. It features a Picasso, Dali, Matisse and a Warhol as well as a world class restaurant and very decent gift shop. Well worth whiling away an hour or two. 

The National Gallery – super famous building located on Trafalgar Square, it houses a collection of more than 2,300 paintings including Monet’s The Water Lily, various Boticellis and da Vincis, works by Rembrandt, Stubbs, Goya, Velazquez, Renoir and of course van Gogh’s Sunflowers. One visit is not enough, firstly because you need to take your time and secondly because of the vastness of the collection and space. 

The National Portrait Gallery – prior to social media, important historical figures would celebrate themselves via portraits (often self-portraits) and they really didn’t hold back. If you want to look at the faces of important British people from history then this is the place for you. From Shakespeare, Katherine of Aragon and Anne Boleyn (not together) to Samuel Johnson, this celebration of self-importance also depicts modern photography of icons such as Vivienne Westwood and the Beatles. 

The Imperial War Museum – covers conflicts from the Great War (WW1) to the present day. The Holocaust Galleries are particularly moving but you must be 14 years and over for admission. Worth the trip south of the river. 

The Bank of England Museum – this one is actually quite cute and somewhat reminiscent of a certain scene from Mary Poppins where young Michael struggles to part with his tuppence. It’s small and manageable, allowing you to pick up a gold bar and learn about the fundamentals of our economy. 

The London Museum in Docklands hosts 9 galleries that are free to the public, all based around the themes of London’s river, port and people. Set in a converted riverside warehouse, around 2 hours are recommended for a full tour. Excitingly, a new museum is due to open in late 2026 in Smithfield which is very hotly anticipated.  Most of the river Thames in London is technical coastal, meaning tidal, did you know that?

The National Maritime Museum in Greenwich actually hosts quite an eclectic range of exhibits under its maritime theme all accessed free of charge. Another riverside museum and architecturally impressive, you can get to Greenwich by riverboat for extra fun and the local area has much to offer including the Cutty Sark, Greenwich Mean Time line, Royal Observatory, the Trafalgar Tavern pub and a fabulous view of the London skyline from Greenwich Park. 

The National Army Museum – we need not describe this; the clue is in the name but actually it showcases soldier stories from the Army’s origins to the present day. With a strong emphasis on history and travel it offers perhaps a more interesting perspective than first meets the eye. 

This is not an exhaustive list! There are many many more free museums all over London and sometimes it is the smaller, lesser known venues that can pique your interest the most. A little bit of research can go a long way.