The largest museum in London. Photos and descriptions of London museums Museums in London in English
London is a large and outstanding city in the world, the capital of Great Britain. It attracts millions of tourists every year. London's best museums introduce visitors to world history and culture. The pride of the country and Europe is the historical and archaeological British Museum. Art lovers will enjoy masterpieces of world painting in numerous art galleries. Children will enjoy visiting the Museum of Childhood and the Harry Potter Museum.
British museum
The museum opened in 1753 and is the main historical and archaeological museum in Great Britain. The exhibition consists of several sections. Each part is devoted to specific geographical areas: Ancient Egypt and Nubia, the Ancient East, East and South Asia, Ancient Rome and Ancient Greece, Great Britain and European countries. Each section contains archaeological gems (eg Rosetta Stone, Warren Cup, Ringlemere Cup). The museum contains an extensive collection of graphics and engravings, including works by Michelangelo, Raphael, Leonardo da Vinci, and Rembrandt.
Natural History Museum
The largest museum in the city, founded in 1881. Includes a collection of collections on botany, mineralogy, paleontology, zoology. The funds store about 150 million exhibits. The museum is best known for its collection of dinosaur skeletons, including a 26-meter diplodocus, a mechanical tyrannosaurus and other models. They have been recreated and stand in the main hall. The Natural History Museum houses an interesting collection of meteorites and minerals.
Science Museum
The museum was founded in 1857 and is one of three major museums opened during the Victorian era. Each room is dedicated to a specific topic, contains technical devices, and tells in detail the history of the development of the scientific field. The eastern hall displays various engines and steam engines, while the aviation hall displays aircraft from paragliders to full-size airplanes. In the information age hall there are communication equipment: telephones, radios, video cameras.
National Gallery
Large art museum in London. It houses two thousand canvases of Western European painting, written from the 12th to the beginning of the 20th century. The museum opened in 1824 and is the third most visited gallery in the world. 6 million people visit it annually. The works of art are displayed in chronological order. Works by Diego Velazquez, Titian, Sandro Botticelli, Hieronymus Bosch, Leonardo da Vinci, Raphael, Rembrandt, Van Gogh are kept.
Tate Modern Gallery
The gallery opened in 2000 and is one of the ten most visited art museums in the world. Occupies the building of a former power plant. Artworks created since the 1900s are on display here. The museum's collection is unique. Collected paintings by Malevich, Picasso, Matisse, Claude Monet. Sculptures, posters, and installations are exhibited. The exhibits were created in different genres: cubism, impressionism, sur-realism, pop art.
Saatchi Gallery
This is a museum of modern art. It was founded in 1985 by Charles Saatchi. The exhibition occupies former military barracks. There are outrageous and shocking collections on display here that cause controversy among critics. The most famous works are art objects by Damian Hirst and Marc Quinn. Among them were animal corpses treated with formaldehyde and heads cast from frozen blood.
Victoria and Albert Museum
It is the largest museum in the world dedicated to design and decorative arts. It was opened in 1852. It features exhibits spanning the last 3,000 years. The museum's collection is considered unsurpassed in its diversity. The museum exhibits paintings (the most famous is “View of Salisbury Cathedral from the Bishop’s Garden” by Constable), sculptures, objects of decorative and applied art from different times and peoples, textiles, and ceramics. Home to the largest collection of early British photography.
National Portrait Gallery
It was founded in 1856 and is the world's first portrait gallery. The museum occupies a neo-Renaissance building in the historical center of London. It contains oil portraits, miniatures, busts, drawings of prominent London and British figures, politicians, artists, and writers. The collection of portraits begins with the Tudor era, a royal dynasty that ruled from the 15th to early 17th centuries.
Design Museum
This is a unique museum that has no analogues in the world. The exhibition is dedicated to different areas of design of clothes and shoes, furniture, cars, equipment, even office technical devices and product packaging. The museum also has a section telling about the history of the development of design art; thematic lectures and seminars are held.
Geoffrey Museum
It is also called the “house museum.” It is dedicated to the interiors of houses. The museum has restored the interior of rooms from different eras, belonging to people of all classes. The room of a 16th century merchant is adjacent to the bedroom of a poor nobleman from the 17th century. Victorian rooms and hippie studios have been recreated. In each room, the interior of a certain period has been completely restored: wallpaper, ceiling, furniture, decoration.
Wallace Collection
The art collection was amassed by Richard Wallace and his father. Then the exhibition along with the house was donated to London. The museum has 25 galleries. They contain paintings, sculpture, weapons, porcelain, furniture, and works of decorative and applied art. Most of the paintings date from the 18th century. The furniture collection dates back to the 17th – 18th centuries. The exhibition of porcelain and weapons dates back to the Middle Ages.
Wellington Museum
The museum occupies one of the finest mansions in London. It exhibits a collection of artistic paintings: paintings by Goya, Rubens, Velazquez. There is an exhibition of porcelain, silver, jewelry, and furniture. Fans of military history will be impressed by the collection of trophies, banners and weapons from different eras.
Museum of London
The museum was founded in 1976. It is dedicated to the history and main milestones of London's development. There is a collection of sights related to the history of the city from antiquity to the present day. The pride of the museum is the carriage of the Lord Mayor of the city. The exhibition is organized in chronological order. Each hall substantively demonstrates a certain era of development, both of the city itself and its inhabitants.
English Bank Museum
The first and central bank of Great Britain houses a museum dedicated to banking. The exhibition is arranged in chronological order. The museum displays bars of precious metals (gold and silver), jewelry and valuables from different countries and peoples, safes and other exhibits for storage. The history of the bank itself and modern technologies of its work are told.
Madame Tussauds London
The wax museum was created in 1835 and has gained worldwide fame. It was founded by the sculptor Marie Tussaud. Today, 19 branches of the museum are open around the world. There are about 1,000 wax figures on display in the London Museum. There are statues of prominent world political figures, actors and actresses, musicians, writers, athletes and other famous public figures.
Cutty Sark Museum Ship
This is a tea clipper built in 1869. It was intended to transport tea to Britain from China. This is the only clipper ship that has survived to this day. In the mid-twentieth century, the Cutty Sark was turned into a museum; it sits in dry dock in the Greenwich area. It recreates the interior of a 19th century tea clipper; the ship has been restored and restored to its original appearance.
Klink Prison Museum
Clink Prison was considered one of the most terrifying prisons in London. The first cells appeared in the 12th century, at first heretics were imprisoned in them, then it expanded and accepted different prisoners. The prison itself burned down in a fire in the 18th century. The cells in the museum have been restored and contain instruments of torture. In place of the prisoners are wax figures. The surroundings are supported by musical accompaniment, and quiet groans are heard in the museum.
Sherlock Holmes Museum
The exhibition is dedicated to Sherlock Holmes, the legendary detective and literary hero of Arthur Conan Doyle. It was opened in 1990 on Baker Street. The interior of the apartment is completely recreated based on the writer’s works. There is the famous detective's violin, a hat, a Turkish slipper with tobacco and other household items. On one of the floors there are wax figures of Sherlock Holmes, Dr. Watson and famous heroes of the work.
Charles Dickens House Museum
Charles Dickens lived in this house with his wife Catherine from 1837 to 1839. This is the only surviving home of the great writer who created Oliver Twist and The Pickwick Papers. The house has recreated the authentic atmosphere of the 19th century. The second floor is occupied by the writer’s creative studio with Dickens’s desk and chair; his personal belongings, writings, letters, and paintings are stored.
Freud Museum
Sigmund Freud and his daughter Anna left Vienna for London in 1938 due to Nazi persecution. He settled in a small house where he lived for the last year of his life. Freud suffered from terminal cancer of the jaw and suffered from severe pain. Here he was injected with a lethal dose of morphine. All the furniture and other household items have been preserved in the house (they were transported by Freud from Vienna). The psychoanalyst's office has been recreated, and a library is in operation.
Westminster Abbey Museum
Westminster Abbey is the main cathedral of the country, it is also called St. Peter's Church. There is an interesting museum, small in size, located underground. It tells the story of Westminster Abbey. Here are thrones on which kings were crowned, funerary statues of members of the royal family, remains of sculptures and frescoes that once adorned the main church of the country.
Churchill Museum
The museum is located in an underground bunker under the Ministry of Finance. Its creation combined a strict scientific approach and new digital technologies. The basis of the museum is an interactive table 15 meters long. It contains 5 folders telling in detail about Churchill’s 90-year life. The folders are collected in chronological order, and you can study any stage of the politician's life.
Scotland Yard Crime Museum
This museum dedicated to police work was opened in 1877. It is sometimes called the "Black Museum". It talks about the activities of the police service and major criminal cases. There is scant material about Jack the Ripper (he was never caught). There are death masks of executed criminals and personal belongings of prisoners.
Imperial War Museum
The museum was founded in 1917. Dedicated to the military actions of the twentieth century: the First and Second World Wars. It aims to show the horrors of war. Weapons and artillery from different years are exhibited here: guns, tanks, submarines, aircraft, machine guns, pistols and other types of cold steel and firearms. There is an archive of military photographs and documents, and personal belongings of soldiers and officers are stored. There is a public library at the museum.
National Maritime Museum
The museum was founded in 1934. Stores over two million exhibits related to navigation. The collection consists of paintings related to navigation and portraits of famous “sea” Englishmen, including images of Cook and Nelson. Moreover, there are more portraits than in the national portrait gallery. The museum contains models of ships, even cut-away models, explaining the structure of the ship, uniforms and weapons (daggers, axes) of naval officers and sailors, and preserved tickets of Titanic passengers.
Royal Air Force Museum
The museum was founded in 1972. It tells the history of aviation and is located at the former Hendon airfield. The exhibition is shown in five exhibition halls. Among them: milestones in the history of flight, a hall dedicated to bombers, and a hall for the Battle of Britain. There is also a hall with historical hangars and the Graham-White Exhibition Plant. Famous exhibits: bombers from the Second World War.
Public Transport Museum
The museum was founded in 1980 and tells the story of the history of public transport in London. It displays different types of transport. The first floor is organizational, there is a cash desk, shops, and cafes. The second floor of the museum is dedicated to the history of the metro, it tells how the subway began to be built, and the first metro diagrams are presented. The third floor deals with ground transportation from horse-drawn carriages to world-famous double-decker buses.
Cupids of London Museum
This museum is dedicated to love, romantic and sexual relationships, and erotica. It was opened in 2007. Occupies nine halls in which technical innovations of sexual culture are exhibited, films and videos about love and erotica are played on touch screens. The museum houses paintings, posters, canvases and interactive exhibits that you can touch with your hands.
Museum of Horror
Despite the name, the museum is of an entertaining nature. It features exciting rides to ride, long, dark corridors full of surprises. Real actors play the roles of vampires, maniacs, and villains. Visitors are invited to meet Jack the Ripper and experience the horrors of medieval torture.
Tea and Coffee Museum
The museum was founded in 1992 by Edward Brahm. It is dedicated to the history of coffee and tea. The exhibition includes 1000 attributes of the tea and coffee ceremony. Various teapots, tea labels and advertisements, coffee processing machines and coffee sets are on display. The Russian tea tradition is represented by the samovar, sushki and bagels. Chinese - with porcelain dishes, Japanese - with bowls and whisks, whisking tea leaves.
Harry Potter Museum
A museum dedicated to Harry Potter opened in 2012. Since then, fans of the character from all over the world have come here. The Hogwarts dining room, Dumbledore's office, the Three Kingdoms confectionery, and the Weasley family's hut have been recreated. There is a model of the Hogwarts Express train, a collection of magic wands and brooms. There are wax figures of students, professors and other characters from the book everywhere.
Museum of Childhood
This is a branch of the Victoria and Albert Museum. The exhibition is based on toys from different times and peoples, dolls, children's board games, doll clothes, furniture and other exhibits related to childhood and toys. There is a gallery of mobile toys and construction sets, a creativity gallery, and art projects of young artists and inventors. The museum hosts temporary thematic exhibitions.
Pollock Toy Museum
The museum is named after the famous 19th century puppeteer. Opened in 1956, the establishment houses a rich collection of dolls made in different countries of the world. There are large and small toys, dolls made of cloth and porcelain, wood and other materials. The museum also displays toys for boys - a variety of soldiers and horses. One of the floors is occupied by a large collection of Teddy bears.
(have free admission), although in such places voluntary donations are encouraged and some exhibitions may still have an admission charge. Museums are everywhere here, and they will tell you a lot of interesting things about the culture and history of England, but you need to be prepared for the fact that in order to fully get acquainted with a particular museum, you will need to look there more than once and spend a couple of hours on each excursion.
Some museums are even open at night and all have restaurants, workshops and lectures. Here is a list of the most popular museums in and around London.
Popular London Museums
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Victoria & Albert Museum
This museum, named after Queen Victoria and her husband, is dedicated to the fine and applied arts, and is considered the largest museum in the world, containing exhibits from all countries and eras - sculptures, miniatures, watercolors, a collection of paintings by J. Constable, Raphael, a huge a collection of Indian, Chinese and Japanese art. The national art library is also located here.
Natural History Museum
The Natural History Museum is where collections of all living and fossil plants, animals and minerals are kept, some of which are visually reproducible. The most interesting is the dinosaur exhibition (dinosaur exhibits. The huge model of a whale is also impressive. From the outside, the museum looks more like a palace, the architecture of which leaves no one indifferent.
Science Museum
The Science Museum will tell you about the development of science and industry and their impact on our lives. Every visitor will enjoy it here, especially children, for whom entire workshops are dedicated. Over 300,000 exhibits tell the history of science, technology and medicine.
British Museum
This is one of the world's greatest museums of human history and culture. Its collections, numbering over 13 million objects, are among the most extensive in the world, and they are collected from all continents, clearly showing the history of human culture from its origins to the present.
Imperial War Museum
The museum will tell the story of the two world wars and all the military actions in which Britain or the Commonwealth countries have been involved since August 1914. The museum does not glorify war, but simply covers all aspects of warfare.
Museum of London
The largest museum dedicated to London, from its founding to the present day, as well as the world's largest museum of urban history, including over two million objects in its collection.
British Library
Discover the world's most interesting and important books, from the Magna Carta and the Gutenberg Bible, to Handel and the Beatles. Find early versions of some of the great works of English literature, including Alice's Adventures Through the Looking-Glass and Shakespeare's First Folio.
Bank Of England Museum
The Bank of England Museum tells the story of the English bank from its founding in 1694 to its present day as the central bank of the United Kingdom. Historical displays include material drawn from the bank's own collection of books, documents, as well as drawings, banknotes, coins and photographs, and gold, including Roman and modern gold bars.
London Transport Museum
The museum will tell you everything about London public transport. Its collection includes over 80 road and railway modes of transport, representing public transport over the last two centuries.
National Maritime Museum
The world's largest maritime museum is located in Greenwich and anyone interested in maritime culture and history should visit it.
Royal Observatory Greenwich
Another interesting place in Greenwich, famous for the fact that it is here that the border separating the Western Hemisphere from the Eastern Hemisphere passes. The observatory is located in an interesting location overlooking the Thames and offers a lot to visitors. By the way, in 2013 a monument to Gagarin was opened in the museum.
The most famous museum of design, fashion and decorative arts. The museum's galleries present collections of painting and sculpture, architecture and styles, exhibitions dedicated to art in all its manifestations - from textiles and fashion to masterpieces of the Renaissance and works of jewelry. There are more than 4,000,000 exhibits on display in huge areas, a full inspection of which will take more than one day.
Address: Cromwell Road, SW7 2RL, South Kensington tube station
Open from 10-00 to 17-45
Friday - from 10-00 to 22-00
Free admission
Website: www.vam.ac.uk
The museum for children, about childhood and children, is under the auspices of the Victoria and Albert Museum. This museum is a real giant playground with enough space for everyone. Playgrounds, toys and games, many exhibits are made by children. There are exhibitions related to children's clothing, and children's art exhibitions. The museum houses theater and art studios for children.
Address: Cambridge Heath Road, tube station: Bethnal Green
Free admission
Website: www.vam.ac.uk
A stunning example of how a literary hero, who exists in the imagination of the author who created him and on the pages of novels, finds his embodiment in the real world. On the famous Baker Street, at number 221b, the Sherlock Holmes Museum was opened in 1990.
The entire layout and furnishings of the house were created in accordance with the descriptions of the famous detective’s apartment; the famous violin, pipe, armchair, fireplace create the impression that the door is about to open and Sherlock or Dr. Watson will enter the room. The house itself, built in the Victorian style, is an architectural monument, and in front of the entrance hangs a London plaque stating that the great detective lived at this address.
Address: 221b, Baker Street, London, NW1 6XE, UK, Baker Street tube station.
Open daily from 9-30 to 18-00
Cost of visiting: children under 16 - £4, adults - £6.
Website: www.sherlock-holmes.co.uk
Alternative, unconventional, exciting and amazing. These are the words visitors use to describe this original museum in Piccadilly Circus. Rather, it can be called an encyclopedia of the art of love - historians, artists, sexologists and researchers worked on its creation, managing to create not just an exhibition, but a unique tool for emancipation and knowledge of the art of eroticism.
Nine exhibition halls are designed in pink and red tones, equipped in accordance with the latest technology. In the museum premises, all exhibits are aimed at presenting to viewers all aspects of sexuality and flirtation. In addition to unique exhibits, qualified consultations by sexologists are also provided here.
Address: 13 Coventry Street, Piccadilly Circus tube station.
The cost of tickets depends on the time of visit and is from 11:00 to 17:00 - 12 £, from 17:00 to 00:00 - 15 £.
"Sea Gate" of London, Greenwich. Well, where else if not in this area would the National Maritime Museum look so appropriate and harmonious? The exposition of this museum contains more than 2 million exhibits. These are items related to the sea, navigation and seafaring, works of marine painters, maps, drawings, gear, ship models, naval weapons.
Marine themes are closely related to astronomy, and Greenwich itself is the starting point of time zones, so the Royal Observatory, the National Maritime Museum and the Royal Villa are combined into a single complex - the “Royal Museums in Greenwich”.
Address: National Maritime Museum, Park Row, Greenwich, London SE10 9NF
Open daily from 10-00 to 17-00
Thursday - until 20-00
Entrance fee: when visiting the National Maritime Museum, the Royal Villa and the Astronomical Center - admission is FREE;
to visit the Prime Meridian Courtyard, Flamsteed House and other exhibitions, the ticket price is £2.5 - £17.
Website: www.rmg.co.uk
The collection of the National Gallery presents works by masters of painting from the 13th to 20th centuries. The collection contains about 2,500 paintings, and although this is not the largest exhibition in terms of the number of paintings, the gallery is not inferior to museums such as the Hermitage or the Louvre in terms of the number of masterpieces of world culture. You can touch the greatness of world culture and see with your own eyes the magnificent paintings of brilliant masters completely free of charge.
Address: Trafalgar Square, London WC2N 5DN,
Open daily from 10-00 to 18-00,
Friday - until 21-00
Free admission
Website: www.nationalgallery.org.uk
The National Portrait Gallery is located near the National Gallery, on St. Martina. The gallery features portraits, photographs, engravings, busts depicting great and famous men and women of Great Britain. The value of a work does not always lie in the artistry of the image; sometimes the uniqueness of the work is given by its historical origin or the depicted character, but it is impossible to overestimate the importance of the portrait gallery’s collection.
Address: St Martin's Pl, London WC2H 0HE
Thursday from 10-00 to 21-00
Free admission
Website: www.npg.org.uk
About 3,000 items illustrating all the milestones in the development of science and technology - from the first technical discoveries, the first steam engines to innovative and advanced technologies, the “space” exhibition and medical - a fascinating journey into the world of scientific research and technical discoveries. The medical exhibition is one of the most complete collections of this type, and the Welkom Wing has become the world's main information center about discoveries in the field of bioscience.
Address: Exhibition Road, South Kensington tube station
Open daily from 10-00 to 18-00
Cost of visit: 8 £
Website: www.sciencemuseum.org.uk
A gigantic collection of exhibits - more than 70 million specimens, the richest collections of plants, minerals, insects and animals, paleontological finds and an exclusive exhibition of meteorites. The central, and most valuable, exhibition of the museum is the exhibition of dinosaur skeletons. Exhibits often use mechanical models to clearly demonstrate processes.
Address: Cromwell Rd, London SW7 5BD
Open daily from 10-00 to 17-45
Admission is FREE, excluding some exhibitions
Website: www.nhm.ac.uk
Tate Modern and Tate Britain galleries
The Tate Group of Galleries has the most extensive collection of British and European paintings. Graphics and sculptures. Tate Britain exhibits classical masterpieces from the 16th to 19th centuries.
The exhibition of contemporary art (XX century) received its permanent residence in the Tate Modern gallery, the building itself has become a magnificent frame for masterpieces of modern art. An interesting organization of exhibits - not by style, author or chronology, but in accordance with the plot - allows you to re-evaluate the versatility of the works.
Address: Tate Modern, Bankside, London, SE1 9TG, Southwark tube station, Blackfriars.
Tate Britain, Millbank, SW1P 4RG, Pimlico Tube Station
Opening hours: Sun - Thu from 10-00 to 18-00
Friday, Saturday from 10-00 to 22-00
Admission is FREE, with the exception of special exhibitions.
Website: www.tate.org.uk
www.tate.org.uk/britain
The Wax Museum does not need long introductions - since its opening in 1884, it has become a unique symbol of London. The museum's exhibition includes figures of famous personalities, celebrities, and characters from literary works.
In the museum, the spirit of its era hovers over each figure; the outfits, fabrics, hairstyles and decorations exactly match the original. And with the advent of the opportunity to use the latest technologies and new materials, models are practically indistinguishable from real people.
In terms of its significance, the wax museum has long ceased to be just an exhibition. Today it is an indicator of everything happening in the world - from political events to rising stars of show business.
Address: Marylebone Rd, London NW1 5LR
Working hours: Mon - Fri from 9-30 to 17-30
Sat - Sun the museum is open until 18-00
Admission: adult ticket £28.80; children's - £24.60; family - £99.00. You can purchase discounted tickets on the museum's website.
Website: www.madametussauds.com
London Transport Museum
An interesting and educational museum operates in the Covent Garden area. This is a transport museum, in which the exhibits are trams and trolleybuses, buses, carriages and metro train locomotives, which have already served their purpose on urban transport lines, but have received a second life within the walls of the museum. There are even the first omnibuses here! By studying the museum's exhibition, you can trace the history of the development of transport in the capital since the 19th century. The exhibits of this museum do not gather dust behind fences - you can touch them and sit in them. And even feel like a train driver or conductor - on a special simulator.
Address: Covent Garden Piazza, London WC2E 7BB
Open daily from 10-00 to 18-00
Friday from 11-00 to 18-00
Free admission
Website: www.ltmuseum.co.uk
Address: 1 Scala Street, London W1T 2HL
Opening hours: Mon - Sat from 10-00 to 17-00
Admission: Adults: £6, Children: £3
Website: www.pollockstoymuseum.com
Among the delightful, vibrant and majestic museums, the London Dungeon occupies a special place - the dark, frightening atmosphere of the Dungeon does the best job of creating the spirit of a horror museum.
This museum is precisely a horror attraction, a kind of “panic room”. Its interactive exhibition, masterful acting, and eerie sound and light effects reveal to the visitor the most nightmarish moments of British history. An ideal place to celebrate Halloween.
Address: Bankside, London SE1
Opening hours: Mon, Tue, Wed, Fri from 10-00 to 17-00
Thu from 11-00 to 17-00
Sat, Sun from 10-00 to 18-00
Entry: £19.20 to £24.60. depending on the category of visitors
Website: www.thedungeons.com/london/en
The capital of Great Britain offers its guests an exciting and meaningful cultural travel program. Walking through numerous museums and galleries leaves an indelible impression of your stay in London. Here every tourist will find interesting educational institutions of different thematic areas. London's museums amaze visitors with a magnificent wealth of exhibitions. They are a reflection of the cultural heritage of all humanity. During the heyday of the British Empire, valuable works of art and ancient artifacts were brought to London from all over the world. Most museums will delight tourists with free accessibility.
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The British Museum has numerous historical and archaeological exhibitions reflecting the colonial past of England from the times of Ancient Egypt to the present day. Many of the exhibits presented in the museum today were donated by famous people or purchased by the administration at auctions. However, among them there are also those who appeared “from the back door”. The Greeks and Egyptians are still trying to return architectural masterpieces and archaeological finds that they believe do not belong to Great Britain. Tourists associate the British Museum not only with a rich collection of various exhibits, but also with a building in the classicist style - with columns and a modern glass dome in the courtyard, which has become one of the symbols of London in the 21st century.
As for the museum galleries, they display a huge number of artifacts. All exhibitions are divided into thematic zones. The most interesting collections are the ancient Egyptian and Greco-Roman ones, but others are also of interest. For example, numismatic, which is a collection of coins from different times from all over the world. Separately, it is worth mentioning the art department. It is not too big, but boasts works by Michelangelo, Raphael, Rembrandt and many other famous artists.
It is interesting that the staff includes not only traditional workers, but also six cats, whose duties include catching mice. You have a chance to meet unusual employees during a tour. Located at Great Russell Street, London. Its doors are open daily from 10-00 to 17-00. There is no need to pay for entry - you can get acquainted with the history of Britain and beyond completely free of charge.
Sherlock Holmes Museum
When Arthur Conan Doyle created his legendary work about the detective Sherlock Holmes, he could hardly have thought that in a couple of hundred years house number 221 would appear on Baker Street; in the distant 19th century there were just over a hundred of them, and even more so - that this address would be one of the most famous in London. Today, the Sherlock Holmes Museum, opened in 1900, attracts thousands of tourists. It is located in a Victorian mansion, carefully designed by modern architects according to book descriptions. All interiors have been restored in the same way.
The space of the four-story cottage is organized slightly differently from how it was described by Arthur Conan Doyle in his book; the arrangement of the rooms was affected by the tourist popularity of this place. On the ground floor, in addition to the ticket office, there is a fairly large souvenir shop. The second floor is the chambers of the famous detective.
The third floor is occupied by the rooms in which Doctor Watson and the maid Mrs. Hudson lived, Sherlock’s irreplaceable assistant in everyday matters. By the way, it is she who greets guests and introduces them to the owner’s property. The fourth floor of the mansion has nothing to do with the detective; busts and sculptures of heroes from other works by Arthur Conan Doyle are collected here. Address - Baker Street, 221 b. However, attentive guests will probably notice the discrepancy; it is located in house 239. The exhibition is open daily from 9:30 to 18:00, and closes only on Christmas Day.
Saatchi Gallery
The Saatchi Gallery is one of the most unusual British museums. Everything here is amazing - from the exhibitions to the building in which they are located. After all, former barracks can hardly be called the best place to get acquainted with art. The gallery got its name in honor of its founder, art dealer Charles Saatchi. It was he who decided to make his personal collection of modern paintings public. Today, Saatchi boasts not only permanent, but also temporary exhibitions, some of which create a real sensation among both visitors and critics. Moreover, not always in the positive sense of the word.
When going to the gallery, you should prepare to experience a variety of emotions - from delight and admiration to bewilderment and disgust. After all, how else can you feel about the works of Marc Quinn - heads cast from frozen blood? Or a cut up animal placed in formaldehyde by Demian Hirst? Unfortunately or fortunately, these exhibitions are already a thing of the past and it will not be possible to visit them today. But there are others - no less shocking and shocking.
Causing controversy among critics and interest among ordinary people, even those not related to art. It’s a mystery what you’ll be lucky enough to see on the day of your visit. The gallery is located at Duke of York's HQ, King's Road. Its doors are open daily from 10-00 to 18-00. The ticket office, where you can get a ticket completely free of charge, closes half an hour earlier, at 17-30.
Tate Gallery
The Tate Gallery is the best place to discover British art. The works of a variety of authors are presented here, from the 16th century to modern ones. It was started by industrialist Henry Tate, who decided to make his personal collection public. All works are systematized in chronological and thematic order for ease of perception. After all, the variety of dates, styles and names can make even seasoned connoisseurs’ heads spin. Portraits, landscapes, everyday sketches, mysticism... everyone will surely be able to find a canvas to their liking.
The year 2000 was a year of change for the Tate Gallery. Her collection has grown so much that the old building in Trafalgar Square is no longer sufficient. This is how the Tate Modern branch appeared on the opposite bank of the Thames. The room chosen for it was extraordinary and original, and the museum housed a power plant in it. Gradually, this place became a cult among lovers of contemporary art around the world. But even if you are indifferent to paintings, a visit to the Tate Gallery is still worth it.
At least to take a ride on the boat that runs between branches along the Thames, and drink a cup of coffee in the panoramic cafe under the roof of Tate Modern. Located at London, Millbank, Tate Britain, its modern branch is opposite St. Paul's Cathedral. They both work from 10-00 to 17-50. The first Friday of every month is a “long” day, doors are open until 20-00. December 24-26 are days off. There is no need to pay for entry. But for a boat trip, if it’s part of your plans, you’ll have to.
Charles Dickens House Museum
Charles Dickens is one of the most famous English writers. He is the author of such works as the adventures of Oliver Twist, David Copperfield and many others. Guests of the museum dedicated to the literary genius can get acquainted not only with his work, but also with the life of a traditional family of the Victorian era. So what can you see? First of all, the dining room, where the whole family gathered. Victorian porcelain plates depict the writer and his friends. Also on the ground floor there is a bedroom with a large canopy bed, a kitchen and a living room.
The second floor is Dickens's real kingdom, his study with a dressing room. Here, as if two hundred years ago, there is a table and a chair, where works were created, which the whole world soon learned about, the first editions of books and even manuscripts lie. The walls of the office and other rooms of the museum are decorated with paintings depicting old London. The Dickens House Museum is located at 48 Doughty Street. Its doors are open from 10:00 to 17:00; tickets at the box office stop selling an hour earlier. They cost £9. But on holidays the exhibition is not open.
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In order to feel happy, a person must not only discover new things, receive vivid emotions and impressions, but also be able to relax and unwind. The best place in the British capital for this is the Cupids Museum in London. The exhibition, inaugurated in 2007, attracted the attention of tourists, local residents, and the press. After all, Paris is traditionally considered the city of love, free and a little depraved. London is much more modest in this regard. But, nevertheless, a museum dedicated to erotica, sex and love still appeared here.
Its exhibition includes paintings, things, as well as interactive exhibits created using modern computer technology: touch screens, multimedia equipment. The museum organizers also took care of the lighting - red tones add mystery and even a touch of passion. After getting acquainted with the exhibitions, you can continue to relax in the cafe, where they offer cocktails made from aphrodisiacs. They, according to bartenders, add sexuality to anyone, stimulate desire and even increase sexual activity.
Those interested can not only visit the exhibition, but also get a consultation with a sex therapist for an additional fee. One of the most controversial museums in London is located near Piccadilly Circus, at 13 Coventry Street. It is open from 11-00 to 00-00. During the daytime, until 17-00.
Westminster Abbey Museum
Westminster Abbey is not only the main cathedral of the country, but also one of the symbols of London. The building in the Gothic style recalls the affairs of bygone days and the traditions of old England. By the way, don’t get lost if suddenly somewhere it is designated as the Cathedral Church of St. Peter - this is the second name of the abbey. In the underground room, considered one of the oldest in the entire complex, there is a small but very interesting museum dedicated to the history of the shrine.
Fragments of sculptures and frescoes, funerary statues of members of the royal family and even thrones on which monarchs were crowned. All this can be seen here; the exhibits reflect not only the history of the church, but of all of England. The museum has a small souvenir shop where you can take pictures and buy something as a souvenir. By the way, you can enter it from the street without buying entrance tickets.
There is quite a lot of Westminster in London - a chapel, a palace, a cathedral. All these objects do not need to be confused, much less united, they exist autonomously from each other, both historically and territorially. The Abbey is located at Deans Yd, 20. You can visit it from 10-30 to 16-00 on any day except Sunday, when entry is limited to parishioners. However, it is better to check the opening hours before your visit, since the church is active and services may be held there.
Victoria and Albert Museum
The Victoria and Albert Museum is dedicated to the decorative and applied arts not only of England, but of the whole world. It was founded in 1851 on the initiative of Queen Victoria, and her husband, Prince Albert, did a lot to develop and replenish the collection, purchasing exhibits at his own expense. It was in honor of this couple that the museum received its name in the future.
Today it is one of the twenty most popular on the planet. To say that the collection is rich and extensive is to say nothing. 51,000 square meters, 140 halls with more than 4 million exhibits. As a rule, tourists limit themselves to a cursory inspection, which begins with a collection dedicated to European art from different eras. Having been impressed by the works of Raphael and other famous people, you should not relax. After all, there are still quite a few interesting collections - architectural, Asian, book, dedicated to fashion. Many of them are called departments in a modern manner.
Tours of the museum are completely free. A brief overview accompanied by a specialist will take about an hour. Special programs are offered for young guests and their parents. The cradle of arts and crafts is located in central London, on Cromwell Road. You can visit from 10-00 to 17-45 (on Fridays - until 20-00). Entrance, as well as excursions, are free.
Design Museum
Lovers of creativity and everything unusual should definitely visit the London Design Museum. Founded relatively recently, it has already become a mecca for creative people around the world. Professionalism is combined here with progressive ideas, and innovation with tradition and classics. The museum is located in a three-story building. On the ground floor there are ticket offices, office premises, an art cafe and a souvenir shop. All this, even the toilets, are decorated by famous designers in a very unusual style. The second and third floors are occupied by permanent and temporary exhibitions.
They are dedicated to different areas, but the “core” consists of exhibits dedicated to clothing and interior design. Moreover, both sketches and graphic sketches are presented, as well as the final results of the work. The room itself is also decorated in an original way and deserves attention. Under the roof there is an exhibition dedicated to the history of design - from its very beginnings to the present. In addition, celebrations, conferences, seminars and classes for children are held here.
Located at Shad Thames, 28. Visitors are welcome daily, from 10-00 to 17-45.
Natural History Museum
The London Natural History Museum is dedicated to nature - its past, present and even a little of its future. It consists of two parts - a research part, where scientists work and scientific research is conducted (many years ago Charles Darwin himself worked here), and the exhibition itself, which is open to visitors. It resembles the scenery from the films Harry Potter and Night at the Museum. Although, of course, they were not filmed here.
The exhibitions are divided into several “color zones”. The most crowded one, the blue one, displays skeletons of dinosaurs and other long-extinct animals. It is interesting here for both children and adults. The green zone is not so large; its exhibitions include birds, insects and plants. Earthquakes and volcanic eruptions occur every day in Red. Not real ones, of course, but mock-ups. In addition, here you can get acquainted with the “mineral diversity” of our planet. The orange zone is dedicated to the works of Charles Darwin.
There are laboratories where everyone can take part in real scientific experiments. Of course, this entertainment is aimed at children. Little visitors here are given priority in every sense. Located at Cromwell Road, Natural History Museum. You can visit it any day (except Christmas holidays) from 10-00 to 17-50. On the last Friday of the month - until 22-30. Entry to the main exhibition is free.
Cutty Sark Museum Ship
The British treat everything connected with their history with reverence and care. It is not surprising that the ship with the mystical name Cutty Sark, named after the Scottish witch, the heroine of Robert Burns’s work, is perfectly preserved and delights visitors not only with its appearance, but also, so to speak, with its interiors.
Sailors traditionally believe in omens. From the very beginning, they believed that the ship with a mystical and terrifying name was not destined to have a long life. However, it plowed the seas and oceans for decades, transporting tea from China to Europe, and has been perfectly preserved to this day. However, in 2007 there was a serious fire, after which restoration work lasted until 2012. Cutty Sark welcomes visitors again today. Here you can walk along the decks, look into the holds and even visit the underwater part. It is she who makes the greatest impression on visitors.
The perfect end to the excursion will be lunch, or an afternoon snack, at the “sea” cafe. And in the souvenir shop you can buy something as a souvenir. Located on the Thames embankment, at Greenwich, King William Walk. You can go up on deck any day from 11-00 to 17-00.
Transport Museum
Double-decker tourist buses are one of the symbols of London, its calling card in the tourist world. They and more can be seen in the transport museum. Its exhibition is quite extensive and occupies a large three-story building. Each floor is dedicated to one or another topic. The first is the so-called organizational one. There are ticket offices, office premises, a cafe and a souvenir shop where you can buy something as a souvenir. In addition, little visitors will certainly be interested in the room with models, where everything can not only be touched, but also experienced in action. However, no matter how interesting it is below, everything interesting is ahead.
The second floor of the museum is dedicated to the history of the world's first subway. It is not difficult to guess that he appeared in London. Here you can see how they began to build the subway by hand, how new stations appeared, and how the layout of lines and train traffic changed over the years. The third floor is dedicated to ground transportation. Literally everything related to street traffic is presented here - from horse-drawn carriages to those legendary double-decker buses.
You can clearly see how the streets of the British capital have changed over the years. Address: pl. Covent Garden. Open daily from 10-00 to 18-00 (on Fridays it opens an hour later, from 11-00). Children under 16 years of age can visit the exhibition completely free of charge.
Madame Tussauds museum
One of the world famous and popular cultural places in London is the wax museum named after the famous sculptor Madame Marie Tussauds. It was founded in 1835, and since then has served as the most visited attraction in the British capital. The modern building of the famous museum, located near the Baker Street subway station, has a characteristic high dome of a green hue. The exposition of the complex is divided into thematic halls, in which the greatest collection of wax figures of famous artists, musicians, politicians, athletes and various historical figures is exhibited.
The skillful detailing of the images, the naturalness of the sculptures, the painstaking work of the artists and the similarity to the original delight the audience. Tourists are given the opportunity to take memorable photographs with their idols and even touch them with their hands. Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie, Usain Bolt, Michael Jackson, Marilyn Monroe, Johnny Depp, John Travolta, Charlie Chaplin, David Beckham, Bruce Willis, Queen Elizabeth, Margaret Thatcher, Winston Churchill, Princess Diana - this is not a complete list of celebrities, which can be seen in the museum.
Regardless of the type of activity of prominent people, the exhibition of the London institution is regularly updated with new sculptures. Receives guests from 9:00 to 19:00. The ticket price will cost each visitor £29.
National Gallery
A magnificent collection of works of art is located in the National Art Gallery in London. An imposing gray building with a massive portico, powerful columns and a huge dome rises on Trafalgar Square. More than 2,000 paintings by famous masters of painting from all over the world are exhibited in the elegantly decorated interiors of the premises. The collection consists of masterpieces created since the 13th century. Visitors to the gallery can clearly see how the trends and technical features of writing immortal works of genius by great artists have changed over the course of many centuries.
Among the examples of painting art, paintings by Leonardo da Vinci, Raphael, Caspar Friedrich, Titian, Rembrandt, Bartolomeo Murillo, Carlo Crivelli and other masters of their era deserve special attention. The National Gallery in London displays an impressive collection of Orthodox icons from the Byzantine, Greek and Russian schools of scripture. Opening hours: daily from 10:00 to 18:00 and until 21:00 (on Fridays). Entry is completely free.
Tate Modern Gallery
The colorful five-storey former power station building on the banks of the River Thames houses the Tate Modern gallery of contemporary art. This iconic place is of interest to lovers of abstract, avant-garde and innovative creativity. The industrial building is topped with a hundred-meter chimney and a glass roof. In the halls with high ceilings against a dark brick background, interesting paintings, photographs, exhibits, installations and sculptures are exhibited. Here, many objects of art make an ambiguous impression, bewilderment, and sometimes even cause irritation. However, the collection engages visitors in understanding current societal issues.
The gallery contains more than 70 thousand works by various artists, including Picasso, Malevich, Monet, Warhol and other masters of abstract art. Basically, the institution's fund consists of world masterpieces of surrealism created throughout the 20th century. Open every day from 10:00 to 18:00 (Sunday-Thursday) and until 21:00 (Friday-Saturday). Visiting the exhibition is free.
Institute of Contemporary Arts
The Institute of Contemporary Arts is located in the business district of the British capital. This is a prestigious exhibition site where exhibits of new trends in the fine arts are presented for public viewing. The institution was founded in 1946 by collectors, writers and critics. The creative intelligentsia wanted to open a place here for holding workshops for artists who could express their creative ideas beyond the existing limits of classical art standards.
The Institute of Contemporary Art has a gallery, cinema, bookstore and café. Visitors are shown an exhibition promoting avant-garde, provocative and marginal trends in creativity. These are paintings, sculptures, performances, video installations. Concerts are often held here. The entrance is free. The gallery is open from 12:00 to 23:00.
Wallace Collection
The curiosity of tourists will be satisfied by the contemplation of a unique collection of masterpieces of art by one of the revered English marquises - Sir Richard Wallace. The museum is based on a rich private collection of paintings, medieval weapons, elegant sculptures, antique furniture and many decorative and applied items. The exhibits amaze viewers with their execution and splendor. Valuable artifacts were bequeathed by the Marquess to the British nation for public viewing.
The exhibits are kept in the Wallace family mansion, built in the 18th century. An impressive collection of works of art is displayed in 25 rooms among luxurious interiors that epitomize aristocratic housing of the Victorian era. The preserved cozy atmosphere makes visiting the museum akin to visiting Sir Wallace in person.
Tourists can get aesthetic pleasure from admiring a large variety of paintings painted by the greatest masters of their time. These are the creations of Rembrandt, Rubens, Titian, van Dyck, Canaletto, Boucher and many other artists. Samples of carved furniture dating back to the 17th century, as well as gold boxes, beautiful sculptures and porcelain items, attract attention. Receives guests daily from 10:00 to 17:00. Free admission.
Harry Potter Museum
True fans of the legendary story about the young wizard Harry Potter will be very interested in visiting the museum of the same name, located near London. This is a whole complex consisting of huge pavilions with stunning decorations, various buildings and props. Hundreds of detailed locations, costumes of heroes, recognizable artifacts immerse tourists in the wonderful world of fairy tales and adventures.
The cinematic town concentrates the achievements of modern production of the cult films about Harry Potter. Museum guests will discover the secrets of creating spectacular scenes with special effects. Tourists will find the Hogwarts training halls, Dumbledore's office, the famous Platform 9 ¾, Diagon Alley and many other familiar places from the franchise.
Tickets can only be purchased on the official website of the museum. Their cost for adults is 43 pounds sterling, for children from 5 to 15 years old - 35 pounds. The Harry Potter Museum welcomes its guests every day from 8:30 (Saturday, Sunday) and from 9:30 (Monday-Friday) to 22:00.
Geoffrey Museum
The old two-story building of a former almshouse from the 18th century houses the Geoffrey Museum, where guests of the British capital can get acquainted with the history of the development of English domestic life. The exhibition reflects changes in the housing arrangement of London's middle class. The collection clearly demonstrates how people's taste preferences for comfort, style and design of their apartments were formed. In eleven small rooms, residential apartments from different time periods are recreated, from 1600 to modern days.
Particular attention is paid to furniture and decorative arts. The walls and ceilings are decorated with original patterned ornaments, drawings, oak panels or wallpaper. Visitors will see carved chairs, tables and cabinets, as well as fireplaces, textile samples, dishes, vases, candlesticks, boxes and other interior accessories.
Doors are open from Tuesday to Sunday. Opening hours: 10:00 – 17:00. Free admission. Touching the exhibits is strictly prohibited. There is a picturesque garden around, where tourists can stroll along the green lawn under the treetops.
Imperial War Museum
The majestic building with a massive dome and an Ionic portico-entrance houses numerous military exhibits. It is noteworthy that until 1936 the historical building belonged to the Royal Mental Hospital. The collection is dedicated to the military conflicts of the 20th century in which the army of the British Empire took part. There is a well-kept park around the complex. On its territory there is a gigantic model of a double-barreled artillery gun. Here you can also see a monument to Soviet soldiers who died in World War II.
The exhibition pavilions are filled with tanks, aircraft, ballistic missiles, lightly armored vehicles and various types of weapons. Among the specimens are English, Russian and German weapons. Skillfully created trenches with trenches, dugouts with barbed wire and command posts involuntarily transport visitors to the complex into the harsh reality of wartime. Exhibits of MI6 intelligence, personal belongings of soldiers, unique archival documents and photographs deserve special attention.
Receives its guests daily from 10:00 to 18:00. Free admission.
It's impossible to miss the educational, interactive and free London Local History Museum. The institution invites its guests to follow the rich history of one of the largest European capitals in chronological order. The exhibition covers time periods ranging from the Stone Age to the present day. Tourists can visit the institution every day from 10:00 to 18:00.
The fund amazes with its diversity. Numerous artifacts of archaeological excavations are presented here, including stone axes, axes, spears, swords, arrows, jewelry, personal belongings of Roman legionnaires, skulls of primitive people and much more. The collection of classic dresses, suits, photographs, paintings, dishes, toys, and household items is of interest. The pearl of the collection is a gilded carriage of one of the honorable lords of Britain, made in 1757.
The halls recreate the quarters of ancient London with shops, workshops, bank branches, bakeries, taverns, hairdressers and tailor shops. Visitors will learn how the townspeople once baked bread, processed metal, sewed clothes and used ancient tools. Impressively sized LED screens show videos from the history of the city.
Science Museum
It is an entertaining and exciting place that attracts the attention of a huge number of tourists. The galleries of the five-story building house more than 300 thousand exhibits. All of them belong to the highest achievements of the human mind. An impressive collection is dedicated to scientific activities in the fields of space, technology, medicine, chemistry and industry. Unique steam engines, engines, aircraft, computers, vintage cars, space equipment, rockets, various mechanisms, household appliances and other inventions arouse genuine interest among viewers.
The models are made in full size. The museum features interactive exhibits that clearly demonstrate what a device looks like from the inside. A separate room is filled with medical instruments used by doctors of past centuries. Here you can also get acquainted with modern methods of diagnosis and treatment of various diseases.
Tourists will be curious to study some physical phenomena using simple experiments, as well as explore the capabilities of the human body and sense organs. Innovative virtual reality technologies offer visitors the opportunity to feel like an astronaut, travel across the vastness of the Universe and visit a space station.
Open daily from 10:00 to 18:00. Entrance to the complex is free. Voluntary donations are welcome.
Museum of Horrors
The London Dungeon, which translates to “London Dungeon”, is an original combination of a museum, an quest and a theatrical production. The popular attraction is designed to immerse tourists who are not faint of heart in the gloomy atmosphere of medieval torture, bloody crimes and criminal events from the history of the British capital. The impressions of what is happening are enhanced by special effects, sound, fetid odors, excellent scenery and actors dressed in historical costumes.
Visitors will become unwitting participants in a comic and sometimes creepy performance. In the labyrinths of the dungeon, in dim light, you can meet executioners with axes, leper victims of the plague, wandering dead, serial killers and maniacs. Each of them will be able to greatly tickle the nerves of tourists. The audience will see corpses with their throats cut and their intestines released. Numerous devices for committing torture inspire fear.
Guests will have the opportunity to wander through fire-torn neighborhoods and tunnels, visit Sweeney Todd's barbershop, hide from Jack the Ripper, and travel on a decrepit boat in complete darkness to the scaffold. Tourists will be sentenced to death by hanging, which will end with a sharp fall into a special shaft. No one will get hurt, but everyone will be greatly impressed.
The London Dungeon welcomes its guests every day from 10:00 to 16:00 (on weekdays) and until 18:00 (Saturday, Sunday). The online ticket price through the museum's official website is £21.
Wellington Museum
Near London's famous Hyde Park stands a classic mansion, decorated with a Corinthian portico and clad in limestone. The triumphant Duke of Waterloo and the great commander, Arthur Wellington, lived in this building. He became famous not only for his military courage, but also for collecting masterpieces of art.
Today, the luxurious halls of the mansion house a museum. Valuable trophy paintings captured by Wellington during his military campaigns against the French are exhibited here. The pristine aristocratic interior of the premises gives a special ambiance for enjoying works of art. The exhibition is filled with works by such masters as Rubens, Velazquez, van Dyck, Caravaggio, Goya, Murillo and many other artists. In addition to the art gallery, museum visitors will see exquisite furniture, as well as a collection of porcelain, silver, weapons and orders.
At the entrance, tourists are greeted by a three-meter statue of Napoleon, made by the famous sculptor Antonio Canova. The Emperor is represented in the guise of Mars the Peacemaker. The statue symbolizes the defeated enemy Arthur Wellington and reminds everyone of the merits of the British commander. Open from Wednesday to Sunday in the summer season (11:00-17:00) and from Saturday to Sunday in the winter season (10:00-16:00). The price for an adult ticket is 10 British pounds.
Klink Prison Museum
For thrill-seekers, the former Clink prison, located near the Thames coast, opens its gloomy doors. The preserved basement houses a thematic museum. This terrifying place brought fear to the inhabitants of London from the 12th century to 1780. Today, tourists flock here every day, wanting to tickle their nerves.
The founder of the prison was the Bishop of Winchester, who was distinguished by his cruelty towards prisoners. Debtors, brawlers, drunkards, heretics, thieves, harlots, as well as innocent people were sent to jail. The jailers extorted money from the arrested for food, candles and bedding.
The furnishings of the cells of a medieval prison have been recreated as accurately as possible. Visitors can see numerous instruments of torture, the principle of which makes the blood run cold. Wax figures of the condemned and audio recordings of heartbreaking moans add additional eerie impressions. The Klink prison welcomes its guests every day. From July to September it is open from 10:00 to 21:00. During the period October-June, viewing of the exhibition is limited to 18:00. Ticket price - 7.5 £.
Bank of England Museum
The classic 18th-century building, whose facade is decorated with columns, a portico and sculptures, houses the Bank of England Museum. The institution's exhibitions reflect the history of the formation of the state's financial system. Unique banknotes, royal coins, gold bars, original engravings, sculptures, promissory notes and various documents are on display.
The museum collection contains rare muskets and pikes, used in ancient times by guards to protect the bank. Among the exhibits you can see various pieces of furniture. The large iron chest that served as a safe deserves attention. Of interest is the reconstruction of an ancient office building with wax figures dressed in historical robes. Available for visits on weekdays from 10:00 to 17:00. Free admission.
Churchill Museum
Near St. James's Park, under the Treasury building, there is a unique place - Winston Churchill's underground bunker. Here, at a depth of about five meters, during the German bombing, the outstanding British statesman held a cabinet meeting and gave orders to the army. Since 1984, the bunker has been a museum where Churchill’s personal belongings and a considerable number of interesting exhibits are on public display.
The interiors of the Prime Minister's headquarters have a rather ascetic and practical appearance, consistent with wartime conditions. Massive steel blocks under the ceiling protected the shelter from shells. Tourists will see not only Churchill’s office and apartments, but also work rooms for government members, signalmen, typists and various personnel. The premises are filled with desks, chairs, beds and other attributes. In some rooms, wax mannequins imitate activity quite convincingly.
The collection showcases original documents, maps, telephones and items of clothing used by Winston Churchill. Of interest are the famous attributes: a box of smoking cigars, a cane, a top hat and a polka dot bowtie. A notable exhibit of the complex is an interactive fifteen-meter table. Its touch surface reflects information about all the details of the life of the great Briton. Open every day from 9:30 to 18:00.
Tea and Coffee Museum
The capital of Great Britain invites its guests to visit the Tea and Coffee Museum. Tourists are given the opportunity to thoroughly familiarize themselves with the history and culture of consumption of these aromatic and favorite drinks of millions of people. The exhibition consists of an impressive collection of priceless attributes associated with the tea and coffee ceremony. In the halls you can see Chinese porcelain dishes, Japanese bowls, miniature cups, whisks for whisking tea leaves, sets painted with colorful patterns, Russian meter-long samovars and much more.
The walls are decorated with picturesque engravings and paintings depicting scenes from the tea drinking ritual. Teapots of various shapes, sizes and models are of particular delight. They are presented in the form of dragons, lions, cars, mailboxes, police officers, steam locomotives and pieces of furniture. Open every day from 10:00 to 18:00. Tickets cost £4.
Pollock's Toy Museum
Offers tourists to plunge into the magical and carefree world of good childhood. This place has prepared a lot of wonderful impressions and pleasant surprises for its viewers. Small rooms, connected by spiral staircases, are filled with charming dolls, construction sets, soldiers, puppets, cars, airplanes and all kinds of mechanical trinkets.
The museum is named after the famous master of toys and theatrical decorations of the Victorian era - Benjamin Pollock. Most of the exhibits are unique historical specimens. The exhibition includes wax, porcelain, plastic, wood, fabric and even paper toys. Some dolls “live” in their amazing houses. Their miniature apartments are furnished with furniture and utensils. A separate showcase is dedicated to teddy bears, nesting dolls, as well as Dymkovo and carved Bogorodsk toys.
The toy exhibition can be visited on any day except Sunday. Open from 10:00 to 17:00. Entrance ticket costs £5 for adults and £2 for children.
Museum of Childhood
The exhibits will certainly bring a lot of joyful emotions to adults and young travelers. The huge galleries of the two-story pavilion house a collection of various toys from all over the world. These are dolls, puppets, toy soldiers, figurines of famous characters, robots, all kinds of board games, teddy bears, wooden horses, construction sets, wind-up trains, cars and many other funny items. The Museum of Childhood is open daily from 10:00 to 17:45. Free admission.
The asset of the foundation is the exhibition of dollhouses displayed behind glass display shelves. Many models have an open view, allowing viewers to view miniature furniture, tiny dishes and appreciate the detailed interiors of miniature apartments. It is impossible to pass by the exquisite toy porcelain sets. The diameter of the cups and plates does not exceed five centimeters. The dollware is covered with floral designs and colorful designs.
Children's clothing items for boys and girls deserve attention. Dresses and costumes from the 18th – 19th centuries are presented. Rare wooden, ceramic and wax cute dolls amaze visitors with luxurious outfits, hand-embroidered a century ago. Mechanical toys evoke delight - running trains, dancing ballerinas, walking robots and moving figurines.
Sir John Soane Museum
Attracts tourists with an abundance of unique works of art. The apartments of the studio house where J. Soun lived and worked are literally cluttered with antique items. Here you can see fragments of architectural landmarks, antique marble and plaster frescoes, archaeological artifacts, sculptures, minerals, vases, pictorial engravings and much more.
The art collection contains rare paintings by Piranesi, Hogarth and Canaletto. The walls of the art room are screens that rise upward using hinges, revealing new images. Thus, hundreds of paintings were placed in a small room. The main part of the manic collector's exhibition was brought from Italy, Egypt and Greece. The exhibits are displayed randomly in relation to the chronological sequence and cultures of civilizations of different eras.
Convex mirrors and colored window glass create an incredible atmosphere. Accepts guests from Wednesday to Sunday. Opening hours: 10:00-17:00. Visiting the exhibition is free.
Whitechapel Gallery
In the mysterious Whitechapel area of London, where Jack the Ripper committed his murders hundreds of years ago, lies an art gallery of avant-garde art and abstract expressionism. The museum was founded in 1901 and was one of the first publicly funded institutions. The gallery has gained wide popularity thanks to the exhibition of paintings by Pablo Picasso, Mark Rothko, Frida Kahlo, Jackson Pollock, Robert Crumb and other contemporary masters.
Today, the gallery's exhibition halls display shocking and surreal sculptures, paintings and photographs. Of interest are unexpected and provocative performances that reflect pressing social problems in society. The Whitechapel Gallery is open from 11:00 to 16:00 every day except Monday. Free admission.
Jack the Ripper Museum
Among the ancient architectural ensemble of the Victorian era of the Whitechapel area is the Jack the Ripper Museum. In 1888, a mysterious serial killer terrified local residents of a not-so-prosperous area of London. Jack's victims were women of easy virtue, whom he mercilessly cut, leaving no living space on their bodies.
The exhibits enable tourists to learn information about the details of crime investigations, the victims of the maniac and the main suspects in the murders. Paintings, photographs and newspaper clippings hang on the walls, detailing the circumstances of the brutal atrocities. Museum visitors will walk into the supposed room where Jack the Ripper lived. Here they will see numerous surgical instruments, medical vials, clothing and other artifacts. Open every day from 9:30 to 18:30. Entry costs £12.50.
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