London Museums and Galleries
London is home to many great museums and fine galleries many of which are free of charge. Listed bellow are some of the most popular choices among both first-time and returning London visitors and are considered one of the best of their kind in the world.
The British Museum. One of the most famous and largest museums in the world houses one of the most important collections of historical artefacts from all over the world. It was established in the mid-18th century, while its collection has been expanding ever since. It is estimated to house over 7 million artefacts covering nearly all world cultures and continents including the Americas, Africa, Asia, Oceania, the Middle East and of course Europe. The admission of free of charge but the temporary exhibitions usually are not. The British Museum is located on Bloomsbury in central London.
The National Gallery. The art gallery located on the famous Trafalgar Square in central London is home to an impressive collection of art works from the 13th to the 19th century. Like the British Museum, the entry to the National Gallery is free of charge although there is usually a fee for temporary exhibitions. The building that houses the National Gallery was built according to the design of William Wilkins in the 1830’s.
The Victoria and Albert Museum. The museum named after Queen Victoria and Prince Albert is home to the largest collection of decorative arts and design. In the Victoria and Albert Museum, you will be able to admire some of the finest pieces of ceramics, jewellery, furniture, drawings, printmaking, costumes, sculpture and much, much more. Entry to the museum’s permanent collection is free of charge.
The Natural History Museum. The world-famous museum of natural history is one of the finest of its kind in the world and an important research centre. It houses about 70 million items which are organized into five collections – zoology, botany, mineralogy, palaeontology and entomology. You can find this museum on Exhibition Road in South Kensington.
Tate Britain. This art gallery named after its founder Sir Henry Tate is home to the British art from the 16th century until the present day. This is most certainly the best place to learn more about the British art. The entry is free except for major exhibitions. You can find the Tate Britain on Millbank in the City of Westminster.
Tate Modern. This gallery is a part of the Tate group and is dedicated to international modern and contemporary art. The Tate Modern is one of the finest modern art galleries in the world, while the entry is free of charge. It is located in the former Bankside Power Station in central London.
Science Museum. One of the most visited London museums is a part of the National Museum of Art and Science, while the entry is free of charge like to other publicity funded national museums in the UK. You can visit it every day except 24 to 26 December. It is located in the Exhibition Road in Southern Kensington.