Founded by the Romans in 43 AD and known as “Londinium,” the sprawling city of London is a place of enormous cultural and historical significance. With so much rich heritage and long history, it’s no wonder that London boasts one of the finest collections of museums in the world. On your next visit to Londinium, be sure to add these impressive museums to your itinerary.
Natural History Museum – The first thing you’ll notice upon entering the Natural History Museum will be the excited screams from the children gazing up in awe at the blue whale skeleton suspended from the ceiling. That sense of wonder will fill the rest of your time in this legendary museum, full of dinosaur skeletons and exhibits about the wonders of our amazing world.
Victoria & Albert Museum – Commonly known as “the V&A,” this jaw-dropping establishment houses a vast collection of beauty. From jewelry to home decor, paintings to stained glass, the exhibitions at the V&A will impress even the most jaded visitor. Be sure to check out the world’s first museum cafe, spread across three rooms. Each room is decorated in a unique style, including one by a young up-and-comer named William Morris (aka, the father of the Arts and Crafts Movement.)
Tate Modern – Do you prefer your art to be a bit more conceptual and avant-garde? Then the Tate Modern is the place for you. Housed in a former power station, this iconic museum is home to modern masterpieces to baffle and inspire you. Think Andy Warhol, Salvador Dalí, Sonia Boyce, Picasso, Bridget Riley, Lubaina Himid, and more. Even if modern art isn’t your thing, it’s worth visiting for a trip up to the Viewing Terrace alone, with its birds eye view of that iconic London skyline.
London Transport Museum – If you’ve ever stood on the London Underground and wondered, “How on earth did they build all of this?” then you’ll want to visit the London Transport Museum. Even if you’ve never given a second thought to public transportation, this fun museum is still worth a trip. Trace the birth and development of London’s world-famous transport system, from its inception using horse-drawn carriages underground up to the modern day. The kids (and probably the husbands) will love the real-life, antique buses and train carriages. For the more adventurous, the museum also offers “Hidden London” walking tours of disused stations deep underneath the city.
Museum of London – This museum celebrates the cultural diversity of this unique city. Learn about the stories of the Windrush generation and the history of the Afro-Caribbean community in London. View photograph exhibitions and hear oral histories of the protests in London from Brixton in 1981 to the BLM demonstrations of 2020. Dive into the history of dub reggae and learn about its influence on London’s music scene. The rotating exhibits at the Museum of London are always inspiring, educational, and fascinating.
British Museum – The British Museum is the most iconic museum in London and one of the most famous in the world. This infamous institution houses a dizzying array of objects from all around the world. The Rosetta Stone, sculptures from the Parthenon in Greece and the tombs of Egypt, mummies and jewels, artwork and religious artifacts from across the globe – the collection under the roof of the British Museum is breathtaking. It also provides a learning experience for your kids beyond the objects they’ll see, as it creates an opportunity to discuss colonialism and how all these objects came into the hands of the British Museum.
This is just the tiniest taste of all the museums you’ll find in London. From dinosaurs to double-decker buses, Egyptian mummies to reggae music, there is no shortage of ways to educate, enliven, and entertain yourself next time you visit the capital of England!
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