Anca is the founder and editor-in-chief of The One Day Itinerary.

London is without a doubt one of the most popular cities in the entire world. London was the heart of the British Empire for centuries. It had contacts and connections all over the world. This has led to a huge cultural diversity in the city today, which includes everything from fashion to gastronomy.

London museums are a great place to learn about all that, and also explore other topics. London is home to many fascinating museums. Some focus on culture and others on science.

Top Museums to Visit in London

What should you do first? Here is a list with the top London museums.

The Museum of Natural History

The Natural History Museum is also at the top list of the best London Museums.

This place is fascinating, even if you are not a fan of science. The sheer number of exhibits, literally tens and millions of items, from different fields of natural sciences, is astounding. The dinosaur skeletons in this building will fascinate any visitor. They even have specimens that Charles Darwin collected.

The Natural History Museum also has galleries dedicated to geology and human evolution. There are also many other exhibits. But what’s most interesting is the fact that it actively works to encourage its visitors to take part in scientific experiments and surveys (many are displayed here).

It’s a great place for children to spend time. You may even see British schoolchildren running about.

BRITISH MUSEUM

The British Museum is the only way to begin a list of London’s best museums.

The British Museum, a world-renowned institution, is full of valuable and fascinating artifacts. The sheer number of items on display is mind-blowing: there are eight million!

There are sections dedicated to ancient civilizations such as Rome, Greece, and Egypt. Also, there are sections for Asia, Africa, Oceania, and both Americas. The list is long and includes items belonging to Egyptian pharaohs. There are also parts of the Acropolis and the Rosetta Stone, as well as reliefs from Assyrian palatials.

There is simply no better place to see the progress and achievements of humanity and to reflect on how far we have come. This is the first museum in the entire world that has been fully opened to the public. Its roots date back to 1753. A must-see for any visitor to London.

LONDON TRANSPORT MUUSEUM

London Transport Museum offers a wonderful way to discover the history of this city. At least one aspect.

You can explore a wide range of vehicles, as well as photos, signs and posters. There is even artwork, uniforms, and art.

For example, you can see the evolution of a famous red bus from a horse drawn bus to a hybrid vehicle.

This place is also interesting for children, particularly if they like machines.

London Transport Museum has an additional depot where it displays many exhibits not found in the main building. The museum is only open on certain occasions. Check to see if it’s available when you visit. There are more than 300,000. These include everything from engineering drawings to trains.

VICTORIA & ALBERT MUSEUM

The Victoria and Albert Museum was founded in 1852 and it is considered to be the best art and design museum in the world. This illustrious museum, named after Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, covers 5000 years of history.

You can find here a wide range of design categories, including architecture, fashion, textiles and photography, as well as glass, ceramics and furniture. Its East Asian and Renaissance collections are especially admired, but the museum also has the largest collection of sculptures dating from the post-classical period in the world.

Every tourist should visit the Victoria and Albert Museum.

TATE BRITAIN

Tate Britain, another London art gallery, focuses solely on British art.

The museum was founded in 1897, and it houses artworks dating from the 16th century to the present day. There is no other place in the world that offers a better overview of British art. You can also see works by several revered artists in rooms dedicated to them.

Francis Bacon is among the many names that are featured in this gallery, including Tacita Dean and John Latham. Peter Blake is also included, but it is no surprise, given that this is the British National Gallery.

Tate Modern is also located in London. This is one of four Tate Galleries across England. If you are an art enthusiast, then you already know where to visit.

MADAME TUSAUDS

Who hasn’t heard about Madame Tussauds before?

The famous wax museum franchise has many branches around the world. However, the London Museum is the largest and first.

This is one of the top attractions in the city. It has over 250 wax statues that represent celebrities, members from the royal family, historical characters, and even famous criminals.

Join Queen Elizabeth II in an exclusive photo shoot with Donald Trump. Pose next to Martin Luther King. It’s a lot of fun!

MUSEUM OF LONDON

The Museum of London is the only museum in London that covers the entire history of the city. The Museum of London shows the evolution of London today in chronological order. It starts with prehistoric times.

Victorian Walk is one of the best features, as it has a variety of recreated Victorian buildings. There are interactive exhibits that allow you to learn about the history of the city.

The Museum of London Docklands, located in another district (Limehouse), focuses on London’s relationship with the River Thames. London has been a port since ancient Roman times. Here, you can also learn more about the rich history of this city. Enjoy!

CHURCHILL WAR SUITES

Do we all know who Winston Churchill is? The charismatic leader of the UK in WW2 defended the country from Hitler’s forces, and then helped the allies reach victory.

You will have the unique opportunity, during your visit to London, to descend into Churchill’s bunker underground from where he led all of his operations.

You can find a lot of interesting information here, from details about Churchill and his life to plans for Operation Overlord.

Churchill War Rooms is actually part of Imperial War Museum London. This institution is dedicated to studying contemporary conflicts (from WW1 and onwards) and their effects. You can also visit a real warship, HMS Belfast. It is a museum that’s open to the public and is located on the Thames.

CHARLES DICKENS CHARLES MUSEUM

Now for the book lovers. Charles Dickens Museum, 48 Doughty Street is in the building where this great writer lived at one time. In fact, it’s where he wrote Oliver Twist!

You can see Dickens’s study, his desk where he would sit and write late into the night to finish his novels and the drafts that he created. You can also visit other rooms and even the servants’ areas to get a feel for life during this time.

There are often special exhibitions and workshops, so you can get to know the giant of English literature better.

JACK THE RRIPPER MUSEUM

This list of the top London museums will be concluded with a bit of a scare.

The Jack the Ripper Museum pays homage to the most notorious serial killer of all time. This is another wonderful place to explore the Victorian period, and more specifically the latter part of the nineteenth century.

It is fascinating to hear the stories of these horrifying crimes from the victims’ perspective. You will also learn about the details of each murder that took place on different floors and in the basement. We know all the details. The murderer never was found and his identity inspired numerous books, films and other aspects in modern culture.

The museum also organizes Jack the Ripper Walks, which will take you to the actual places where the murders took place. This is a fantastic way to visualise one of the most famous crime stories in history!

Visit London Museums: More Tips

There are some extra tips that you should know before you decide where to go.

• You can visit many of the museums in London for free and view the usual exhibits. You will likely have to pay an entrance fee for any special exhibits or even just inside the museum.
• There are many interactive displays in museums, particularly the largest ones. Bring your kids along to the museum without worrying that they will be bored. This is especially true at the Natural History Museum.
• The gift shops in museums are excellent places to buy souvenirs.
• Be prepared for crowds! These museums are visited by millions of people every year. Some of these are so large that you may not even notice the crowds.
• Museums such as the British Museum and Natural History Museum are huge. Take your time and plan ahead. There are literally days you could spend there.

Anca is founder and chief Editor of One Day Itinerary. This travel blog is dedicated to people who want to get the most out of their one-day stay in a city. She has literally traveled the globe and can give you tips on how to make the most of your time in a new city, even if you only have one day. She’s done it in her blog.