British Museum & More: 12 Top London Museums

So without much further ado, let’s dive in to look at the top 12 London museums which are a must-visit if you are in the city.

The origins of the British Museum can be traced back to 1753 and has been one of the top destinations amongst london museums. With humble beginnings, the British Museum began its exhibits with 71,000 objects of historic significance, donated by Sir Hans Sloane. Since then the number of exhibits has grown to nearly 13 million, representing cultures all around the world. However, the below few artifacts just shouldn’t be missed –

Heading towards the Rosetta stone should be one of the first things you do in the museum. Scientists have dated the object to around 196 BC, and it has writings on it in Demotic, Hieroglyphics,and Greek. Believe it or not, it was this stone that served as a reference to archaeologists trying to decipher Egyptian writings on the pyramids.Before it was discovered, the secrets of the ancient Egyptians was still locked to the modern world.

Part of The Parthenon (an ancient Greek temple dedicated to Goddess Athena), this particular exhibit was added to the British Museum’s collection in 1801 by Lord Elgin. Giving observers fascinating insights into life in Ancient Greece, the Parthenon marbles dedicate a frieze 75 meters long, showing battles between centaurs and the Lapiths.

Walk past one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World which was built in 350 BC. Conceptualized and designed for King Maussollos, the region where it was constructed now is known as Bodrum,and is situated in modern-day Turkey.

Apart from the above, there are several other artifacts that are absolutely brilliant to behold. The British Museum truly is, one of the best London museums to visit.

Not just history, but London museums also document fascinating creatures and intriguing scientific theories. You can get up-close and personal with nature, and immerse yourself in understanding how our planet became what it is today. From exhibits explaining the various evolutionary periods the planet went through, to a separate section on fossils and dinosaurs, the Natural History Museum is one of the best London museums you can visit. If you have kids with you then heading to this museum would be a great idea as free and low-cost activities are run throughout the day. Here are a few things that you shouldn’t miss while there –

Quite hard to miss as it’s located on the ground floor, and includes a life-sized cast of a blue whale. You will also find such casts of animals that have gone extinct, including modern land mammals like giraffes, hippos, and elephants. If you head to the upper gallery, you can observe aquatic mammals.

Holding exhibits of rare minerals and materials, the Earth galleries are something that is unique to the Natural History Museum. Making it one of the few London museums to have such exhibits, be sure to go on a ride that simulates an earthquake. A special section also talks about the state of the land and its animals before the arrival of man, which is a fascinating thing to watch. There is a section which display moon rocks brought down to the planet during the Apollo missions

Exploring the origins of species and other Darwinist theories, this section is on the first floor of the museum. Check out the mineral gallery that accommodates some 130,000 specimens and accounts as samples of nearly 75 percent of the world’s known minerals. Another exciting thing on display here would be the massive 3.5-ton Cranbourne meteorite that had crashed into Australia

Apart from that, you can even stay overnight through occasional sleepovers if you visit during the night. There are movies, a delicious 3-course meal, and live music to give you company.

If you fancy the weird and macabre, then head to the Hunterian Museum that features some of the strangest artifacts in history. One of the very few London museums that cater to this niche area of interest, Hunterian museum accommodates some of the oldest zoological and anatomical exhibits in England. Initially curated by the surgeon John Hunter, the museum is constantly expanding its number of artifacts. However, if you are a lunch-break explorer, here are a few things that you probably don’t want to miss –

Acquired by John Evelyn, a writer by profession, is thought to be the oldest anatomical exhibit in all of Europe. With Padua,Italy being its home, these artifacts truly are a long way from home. Each table showcases almost every artery, nerve, and vein of a human body, and is truly a strange thing to look at. These have been here for the past 200 years.

Believe it or not, this was one of the earliest facial prosthetics designed for a human being. Commissioned by a woman who had lost her natural appendage to syphilis, it was donated to the museum when the woman claimed she didn’t require it anymore.

Surinam toads are famous for their unique mating ritual, which comprises multiple backward somersaults.What’s even more strange, is that unlike most animals, the young are birthed through holes in the mother’s back. A macabre exhibit that has frozen a Surinam female toad during such a process, is one of the museum’s many disconcerting things.

From lungs made of iron to proto-computers, and giant steam engines, the Science Museum is one of the best London museums to visit. Packed full of technological marvels, this museum exhibits products of the greatest minds on Earth. Here are a few exhibits that are sure to capture your imagination –

During the 50s and 60s, the world was in a race to pioneer space exploration.Although lofty dreams of glass buildings and flying cars weren’t realized,the iron lungs manufactured in 1953 sure helped save a lot of lives during the polio-endemic.

Giant steam engines may seem outdated to us, but during the nineteenth century, it was a technological marvel. Allowing the shift from agriculture to manufacturing, the Mill engine (designed in 1903) displayed at the Science Museum is a gigantic reminder of how far things have come.

Remember Alan Turing who cracked the enigma code of the Germans? There was another lesser-known individual called Tommy Flowers, a Post Office engineer who built a massive proto-computer at Bletchley Park. Named “The Colossus” after the ancient legend, it still sits in the museum, an ode to a time when computers would take up entire rooms.

Charles Babbage is universally considered the father of modern computing. His “analytical machine” consisted of thousands and thousands of transistors and needed huge fans to cool it down. Nevertheless, it opened the doors to computer development and piqued the public’s interest in a machine that does everything.

There are a lot more technological exhibits that are a shadow of a bygone era, but still, inspire millions to take risks and build something outrageous.

Throwing its doors open to the public in 2000, the Tate Modern is one of the top London museums to head to for a dose of modern art. The building was formerly known as the Bankside Power Station and is now home to some of the best works of famous 20^th and 21^st-century artists. From Cubism to Surrealism, the artworks accommodated by the Tate Modern will impress and enthrall you. Here are a few celebrated artworks housed in the museum that you definitely shouldn’t miss –

Inspired by the time he spent in the Mediterranean,artist Paul Klee uses a general linear style to represent colorful sailing boats and a shining moon.

Inspired by his mistress and muse Dora Maar, Picasso painted this masterpiece in the cubist style. Representing emotions and feelings of a distraught woman, this artwork is, in fact, an offshoot Guernica, another of his brilliant creations.

A sculpture rather than a painting, this has been conceived by Constantin Brancusi and has echoes of Romania which was his home country. Evoking inspiration from Romanian folk tales, the sculpture depicts a golden bird with magical powers. A real crowd puller during busy days.

Although Tate Modern has several works of art that might inspire you, the above five are definitely ones to look out for.

A wonderful place to soak in some British history, the National Portrait Gallery features in as one of the best London museums in the country. The building houses portraits of some of the most famous people in British history, including Shakespeare and King Henry VIII. The former was created by the painter Chandos and has a magnificent likeness to the descriptions of the writer and poet.

However, not all portraits are painted by a second person. The building also gives importance to famous artists and accommodates self-portraits of painters like William Hogarth, Sir Joshua Reynolds and other English men of repute. The modern extension to this museum was made possible by the contributions of Sir Christopher Ondaatje, and a Heritage Lottery Fund grant, worth nearly GBP 12 million. Not just portraits, the entrance to the original buildings constructed in 1896 also has stone busts of all the contributors who made the place possible.

The Crystal Palace Museum has many reasons for its qualification as the best London museums in the country. Originally created by Joseph Paxton, the Crystal Palace, the original building was destroyed in a horrible fire in 1936. The museum, however, was opened only in 1990 by the Duke of Devonshire.

Both buildings of the museum host tall scaled-up models of the glass palaces which burned, and display various ceramic items that were associated with them. School visits are quite popular here and you can see many students during weekdays.

Open from 9:30 am till six in the evening, the Sherlock Holmes museum is located on 221b Baker St and is an iconic tribute to the fictitious sleuth. If you are a Holmes fan, then this is the perfect place for you. The entire ground floor has been converted into a shop where you can buy books and curios. The theme inside is entirely Victorian, and costumed assistants maintain the vibe. From magnifying glasses to deerstalker hats, this museum has everything a Sherlock Holmes buff could ever want.

Purchase your ticket at the counter and explore all three floors. The first floor especially, as that’s where you can look out into the street just like Sherlock used to in the books. While the second floor is Dr. Watson’s room, the third is where the landlady Mrs. Hudson used to stay according to the tales. Arguably one of the best London museums you can ever visit!

Situated right at the throat of Greenwich, the Royal Observatory is an impressive building, to say the least. Guaranteeing you with a rare educational experience, the Greenwich Royal Observatory is a sight to behold. Being one of the world’s most significant astronomical sites, this place is all about how time was standardized, the manufacture and design of the first telescope, and showcasing the evolution of science through the years.

As if that weren’t enough, you can even take a tour through the brilliant history of British astronomy and truly appreciate the beauty of the Greenwich Mean Time, and the Prime Meridian of the world. Get ready for some fascinating views of the London skyline from here as well. Open from Sunday to Saturday, the place unlocks its gates at 10 am and closes at around 5 pm.

A massive building showcasing the military might and the history of Britain, the Imperial War Museum is a favorite among locals and tourists alike. From tanks, airplanes, to weapons, the museum showcases the rich personal stories and first-hand accounts of the country’s involvements in 20^th and 21^st-century conflicts.

Say hello to massive naval guns which greet you right at the entrance of the museum! These guns have a range of nearly 15 miles and were built for British naval ships during battle. Take a walk through the First World War gallery which stores first-hand accounts of survivors and their families. Try not to miss the lumbering tanks like the American Sherman and the Russian T34 which are on display as well. Situated on Lambeth road, it’s open from Sunday to Saturday.

Opening its doors to the public in 1852, the Victoria and Albert Museum was a project of Prince Albert. After the great success of the Universal Exhibition, this museum was built in order to house objects of art in one place for everyone to enjoy. The building itself is an architectural wonder and has multiple mazes and corridors. From the Dale Chihuly chandelier to The Three Graces painting by Antonio Canova, the Victoria and Albert Museum truly is a wonder to behold.

Open from 10 am till 5:45 pm, the museum is cleared 15 minutes before closing, so plan accordingly. On Fridays, it is extended until 10 pm.

The city of London boasts of robust transportation systems, and the tube is famous throughout the world. To pay homage to its transportation heritage, the London Transport Museum was opened at the Covent Garden Piazza in the 1920s. Originally located in an old bus garage in Clapham, the museum used to display two horse buses and a primitive motorbus for everyone to admire.

Take a walk through its galleries which are rich with information regarding the deep connection between London’s rapid growth and world-famous transportation system. Not just the past, but the museum also displays present-day and future automobile concepts. A few popular things to watch out for would be –

·A “Bogie Stock” train car made of wood, which was later customized to run on electricity

·The train which made the underground possible, a replica of the first underground steam-powered engine

·The first and original map of the underground tube, designed by the famous engineer Harry Beck

·An omnibus pulled by horses from 1805

Ensure that you download the London Transport Museum app which is free. With event calendars, maps, and other bits of useful information, the app will help you plan your visit in such a manner that you don't miss out on any shows.

These were the top 12 museums in London which you absolutely shouldn't miss. So go ahead and pack your bags if you want to visit all of them!