Rainy Day Guide to London: Museum Edition 🏺✨

There is nothing quite like the museums in London. First of all, there are SO many to visit. And second of all, most of them are FREE! I lived in London for 2 years and I tried my absolute hardest to take advantage of the opportunity and visit as many of London's museums as I could. However, if you're not like me and don't have 2 years to check off the museum bucket list, I've put this guide together to give you a sense of what each museum has to offer. Hopefully, this helps you decide which museum you'd like to visit on your next trip to London! Even after 2 years, I haven't visited all of London's museums, so give this guide a save for any future updates!

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Museums:

Victoria and Albert Museum

@czphoneshome

The V&A is all about art and design. But they expand beyond that and cover all types of creativity! What I mean by that is that they've had collections on fashion, makeup, photography and even Winnie the Pooh.

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Natural History Museum

@czphoneshome

The name kind of gives it away but this museum is all about Natural History. So this means that you'll learn about everything to do with nature including dinosaurs, space, oceans and wildlife!

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Imperial War Museum

@czphoneshome

The Imperial War Museum is rather underrated in my option! It is all about war but most specifically WWI, WWII, the post-war eras and the Holocaust. Fun Fact: the WWI exhibit is probably one of my favourite exhibits I've ever visited!

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Science Museum

@czphoneshome

The Science Museum in London doesn't have one particular focus on a branch of science. So here you can learn about space and flight, see the evolution of the clock, feel immersed in the gaming world or even discover more about the race to get the covid vaccine.

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The British Museum

@czphoneshome

This is probably London's most iconic museum which has been around since 1753. They say that the museum was the first to cover "all fields of human knowledge." But I would say that the British Museum is most known for being an ancient history museum. Fun Fact: I would only rate this museum a 6.5/10

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The Sherlock Holmes Museum

@czphoneshome

I love the concept behind this museum! The fact that they've taken a fictional literary character and created a museum all about him is super cool to me! This museum is located at 221b Baker Street and takes you through his house where you can see displays of this character’s life and some memorabilia from his cases. Important note: It is NOT free to visit - it costs £16 per adult.

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Galleries:

The National Gallery

@czphoneshome

I really enjoyed visiting the National Gallery. This is a very typical art gallery with a large collection (unlike the Tate Modern which just houses modern art). They carry works of art from some of the biggest names in art including Van Gogh, Rembrandt, Michelangelo, Turner, Raphael, Da Vinci, Velazquez, Reubens and Monet.

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Tate Modern

@czphoneshome

The Tate Modern is dedicated to Modern Art! But more specifically this museum carries work from the early 1900s until the present day. You can find paintings, sculptures, performances and installations from artists from all over the world.

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My personal favourite:

National Portrait Gallery

@czphoneshome

The National Portrait Gallery is dedicated to the most famous people in Britain. There are over 12,000 portraits of the most significant people in British History. I found it so interesting to learn about history through the faces of Britain's leaders and famous people. This gallery has been closed for a bit but plans on reopening June 2023

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I hope this guide was helpful and that you've left inspired to explore more of London's Museums!

Read more on my blog!

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If you're looking for more ideas of how to spend your time in London, feel free to explore and save some of my other guides below!

Thank you for stopping by!

Caity Zagar

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London 💂🏼✨

London is one of my personal favourite cities in the world. I might be biased because I lived there for 2 years but I honestly think everyone needs to experience it at least once (if not more!). Here I have put together for you all of my London guides from my favourite foodie finds to some of my favourite activities around the city! Also, at the end of the guide, you can find some helpful logistical information about London to make your visit even smoother!

Architecture • Art • Foodie • History • People & Culture • Slow Travel

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Caity Zagar

Available for hire

BLACK FRIDAY SALE 2024: ✨ Buy a custom guide or itinerary from Nov 29 - Dec 6 and get a FREE 30-minute consultation call! AND ✨ From Nov 29 - Dec 4, all PREMADE France and UK guides are 40% off! --------- I’m a seasoned traveler with experience in over 30 countries around the world, who’s been lucky enough to have lived in both France & the UK. Now I love helping travelers make the most of their trips and explore more underrated corners of France & the UK! My goal is to not overwhelm you with options— in my guides & itineraries, I provide suggestions that are truly worth it, based on personal experience or in-depth research. Whether you’re planning a dream trip to France, the UK, or beyond, I hope I can help you plan your next adventure! ✨ My expertise? 🇫🇷 On top of living in Lille, France for 2 years, my French fiancee has helped me develop a passion for this country beyond a typical tourist. Over the past 8 years, I’ve explored France from north to south: I’ve visited Paris 9 times, road-tripped through Normandy twice, & fell in love with Alsace. I’ve spent time castle-hopping in the Loire Valley, beach-hopping in Corsica, & explored Provence & the French Riviera multiple times. Bordeaux has become a second home, with over 10 visits to the region. 🇬🇧 I lived in London, UK for 2 years, mostly during the pandemic, when I really got to know the city in depth - since we couldn't go anywhere else! Beyond London, I’ve road-tripped through Scotland twice, explored gems like York and Liverpool, road-tripped through Cornwall & enjoyed countless day trips, from charming villages to coastal towns.

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