Most of the galleries and museums should be free to enter but certain exhibits will come at a cost. Tickets can be booked in advance via the embedded link in each place 🎟️ Zoom in on each location to find where it is - and the closest nearby pub marked with a 🍸 emoji. Each is no more than a 10 min walk and is rated at least 4.2 out of 5 on Google Maps (at least as of this writing). Cheers!
🎨 Art Gallery & Exhibitions
Charing Cross
The National Gallery
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Impressive spot in the heart of Trafalgar Square with works from da Vinci, van Gough, Rembrandt, Michelangelo, Picasso, Cézanne and more!
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National Portrait Gallery
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Hugely extensive collection of portraits from the 8th century through to modern-day stars, musicians, royalty and politicians.
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The Harp, Covent Garden
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3 min walk from National Gallery & National Portrait Gallery
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The Marquis
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5 min walk from National Gallery & National Portrait Gallery
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Chelsea
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Holborn
Novelty Automation
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A collection of homemade satirical arcade machines.
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South Kensington
Small is Beautiful London: Miniature Art Exhibition
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International miniature art exhibition in South Kensington.
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The Hereford Arms, South Kensington
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6 min walk from Accidentally Wes Anderson Art Gallery. 7 min walk from Small is Beautiful London exhibit. 10 min walk from the Natural History Museum.
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🌍 Cultural Museums
Covent Garden
London Transport Museum
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Amazingly located in the heart of Covent Garden - my favourite part of central London. Check out some vintage double decker buses, early tube maps, transport signs and an array of posters, artwork and photographs of London from 1800s to present day.
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The Nell Gwynne Tavern
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4 min walk from the London Transport Museum.
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Hoxton
Museum of the Home
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Charming place featuring the history of British homes and gardens from 1600s to present day in a Grade I listed 18th century house.
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Birdcage
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Particularly vibey outside in the summer - especially on a Sunday when the flower market is on! 8 min walk from Museum of the Home.
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King's Cross
Queer Britain
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UK's first LGBTQ+ museum and one of the newest ones in the city that offers a valuable peek into over 100 years of queer history, activism, art and culture. All totally free too!
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Notting Hill
Museum of Brands
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Features the history of branding and advertising in Britain over the last 200 years. Walking distance from lovely Notting Hill.
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The Pelican
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The interior design alone is enough to get me into this place. 9 min walk from the Museum of Brands.
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🖍️ Design Museums
Kensington
Design Museum
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Smaller spot featuring contemporary design. Brilliantly located - in Holland Park, on Kensington High Street and not far from Kensington Gardens!
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The Scarsdale Tavern
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5 min walk from the Design Museum and Holland Park.
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South Kensington
Victoria and Albert Museum
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Absolutely stunning building from the outside and in with a huge collection of 2.3 million objects of art, design, fashion and textiles. Located in lovely South Kensington.
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The Brompton Cross
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8 min walk from Victoria & Albert (V&A) Museum.
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🖼️ Fine Arts Museum
Marylebone
The Wallace Collection
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A museum that displays works of art collected in the 18th and 19th centuries by five generations of a British aristocratic family.
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The Coach Makers Arms Pub Marylebone
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This used to be one of my after-work local pubs - very fond memories here on the adorable Marylebone Lane. 3 min walk from The Wallace Collection.
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Pimlico
Tate Britain
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Right on the River Thames, it houses a substantial collection of UK art since Tudor times.
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🏛️ Historical Museums
Bloomsbury
The British Museum
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Amazing space with incredible artefacts to see like the Rosetta Stone and Parthenon sculptures.
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City of London
Bank of England Museum
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Home to a collection of diverse items over the history of the Bank of England and the UK economy from the late 1600s to the present day.
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The Tokenhouse, Moorgate
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3 min walk from the Bank of England Museum
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Greenwich
National Maritime Museum
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Ode to all things nautical and right in the heart of beautiful Greenwich.
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Trafalgar Tavern
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7 min walk from National Maritime Museum and right on the River Thames!
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Mayfair
Handel Hendrix House
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The former house of both George Frederic Handel and Jimi Hendrix - two of history's most significant musicians who happened to both live here 200 years apart. Now a museum and and live music venue.
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The Iron Duke, Mayfair
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1 min walk from Handel Hendrix House.
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South Kensington
Natural History Museum
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Your go-to museum for plant, animal, fossil and rock artefacts dating back millions if not billions of years! Impressively big dinosaur bone display right at the entrance. The Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibit is absolutely worth paying extra for - I go every year and absolutely love it!
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🌌 Immersive Art
Mayfair
Frameless Immersive Art Experience
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The largest permanent multi-sensory experience in the UK, featuring four immersive galleries with work from Cezanne, Monet, Van Gogh, Rembrandt and more.
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Soho
Twist Museum
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An immersive art space that combines interactive exhibits with innovative technology.
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Spitalfields
Van Gogh London Exhibit: The Immersive Experience
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A very popular immersive, multi-sensory experience. Tickets required, recommend booking in advance.
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Duke Of Wellington
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4 min walk from Van Gogh Immersive London Exhibit.
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🔳 Modern Art
Bankside
Tate Modern
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One of the largest museums of modern and contemporary art in the world. Right on the River Thames in bustling Bankside.
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Mc & Sons
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8 min walk from Tate Modern. Irish pub that serves Thai food.
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📸 Photography Exhibits
Soho
The Art Of Banksy
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The world’s largest collection of 150+ original and authenticated Banksy artworks, many of which are on public display for the very first time.
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The Cambridge
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1 min walk away from The Art of Banksy London.
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South Kensington
Accidentally Wes Anderson London
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Whimsical display of Wes Anderson photography. Tickets required, recommend booking in advance.
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The Hereford Arms, South Kensington
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6 min walk from Accidentally Wes Anderson Art Gallery. 7 min walk from Small is Beautiful London exhibit. 10 min walk from the Natural History Museum.
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⚔️ War Museums
Lambeth
Imperial War Museum
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Extensive display of World War and Holocaust memorabilia - from weapons to uniforms, letters, keepsakes, film and art.
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The Prince of Wales
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6 min walk from The Imperial War Museum
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Westminster
Churchill War Rooms
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I love this museum - but it can get quite crammed so be aware. The original Cabinet war rooms where Churchill and his inner circle strategised and worked during WWII, tucked away beneath Westminster. It's been completely preserved since the 1940s and now also features a newer more interactive display of Churchill's life. Worth spending about 2 hours there.
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One final note...🤍
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