England is known to have rainy days, most of the year. If you are visiting London and the weather turns south, there are plenty of indoor activities to explore! One of the more popular indoor activities is museums! This is the perfect city that is full of them! It is hard to choose which one to go to. In this blog, I will give you a breakdown of the top museums to visit in London!
British Museum
The British Museum is one of the largest we have ever visited. It has one of the most beautiful exteriors and interiors! You could easily spend hours roaming through the many, many exhibitions and time periods – dating back to the Assyrian Empire! One of the popular things to see at the British Museum is the Rosetta Stone. It can be difficult getting a great picture without other guests and reflection. Discovered in 1799, it was the incredible link to the Ancient Egyptian language that had been lost for over 1,000 years.
Another popular attraction in the museum is the mummy of Cleopatra! Don’t get too excited, this is not the infamous Cleopatra (who died 150 years earlier) that resulted in many Hollywood films. This Cleopatra is the ‘daughter of Candace, a member of the family of Cornelius Pollius, Archon of Thebes in the time of Emperor Trajan’.
The British Museum is open daily, from 10 am to 5:30 pm (Friday until 8:30 pm), and free to enter!
National Gallery
One of my favorite places in London is the National Gallery! Located in the heart of Trafalgar Square, it is hard to miss! Tip: Don’t mix the National Gallery with the National Portrait Gallery, which is right next door. Spend the afternoon, strolling through the two levels of art, with an additional wing, and 2,300 paintings, dating from 1200 to 1930.
Stop by the famous works of Claude Monet (level 2, room 41), a wonderful Impressionist landscape painter– my favorite is The Water-Lily Pond.
Right around the corner is the unappreciated (during his lifetime) Vincent van Gogh. Catch a glimpse of the gorgeous Sunflowers and Farms near Auvers painting. When you are done looking at all the beautiful paintings, don’t forget to stop by the shop to see all the amazing trinkets you can buy! There are small canvases available in your favorite paintings, jewelry, and even pillows!
The National Gallery is open daily, from 10 am-6 pm (Fridays until 9 pm), and free to enter!
Victoria and Albert Museum
The Victoria and Albert Museum is the world’s largest museum of decorative arts and design and has a permanent collection of over 2.27 million objects! When visiting, it reminded me of a place that is filled with things your g
Follow the map to see the 20 Treasures of the Museum – including Notebooks of Leonardo da Vinci and The First Folio by William Shakespeare!
The Victoria and Albert Museum is open daily, from 10 am-5:45 pm (Fridays until 10 pm), and free to enter!
Natural History Museum
Right next door to the Victoria and Albert Museum is the Natural History Museum. (This, along with the Victoria and Albert Museum, is one of the three major museums on Exhibition Road in South Kensington, the other is the Science Museum.) This is a great place to explore for families!
There are 4 zones you can visit, in these zones are exhibitions for Marine Invertebrates, Human Biology, Fishes, Amphibians, and Reptiles, to name a few. Be sure to stop by the Blue Whale’s skeleton, catch a glimpse of a piece of rock from Mars, and check out all sorts of gemstones and rare minerals!
The Natural History Museum is open daily, from 10 am-5:30 pm, and free to enter!
Sherlock Holmes
If you are any type of Sherlock Holmes fan, you must stop by this museum in London! You will find this unique home located at 221b Baker Street, and the apartment will appear exactly how it would have in the Victorian era! Take the tube to Baker’s Street station, and from there, it is a short walk to the entrance. (Right next door is the Beatle’s Store for any fans out there).
Step back in time as you explore the museum, filled with wax figures from Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s books. Be on the lookout for the VR bullet carved into the wall and the famous pipe and hat worn by Sherlock Holmes!
The Sherlock Holmes Museum is open daily, from 9:30 am-6 pm. Admission: Adult $18 Child $12 (under 16 yrs.).
Churchill War Rooms | Imperial War Museum
This is one of the more unique museums to visit! Discover what it was like living during the German bombing raids of World War Two. This underground bunker was the workplace and sometimes living quarters of the English allied forces as they plotted to win the War. Give yourself around 2 hours to explore the Bunker, Cabinet War Rooms, and Churchill Museum.
The Churchill War Rooms is open daily, from 9:30 am-6 pm. Admission: Adult $26 Child $13 (5-15 yrs.).
These are just a few of the amazing museums that
The museums listed in the blog are the more popular ones to visit, here are a few others to visit: Charles Dickens, Royal Airforce, and even a Fan Museum.
Thank you for reading! Until the next destination!
If you have any specific questions, do not hesitate to comment down below! Or you can email us!
If you want to explore more of the English countryside *Here are Top Day Trips from London*
Two countries in one? Spend the *Weekend in Wales* to experience the gorgeous landscape!
Want to enjoy a day out with nature, here are the *Top Parks and Gardens in London*
Don’t know what to eat? *Check out the Best Places to Eat in London*
Planning a trip to England *Here is the Ultimate London Guide* and *Best Packing List*
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