London - museums not to miss by Mark Sukhija

London has some of the worlds most celebrated museums and justifiably so. Not only is there a great variety of museums but some of the most important historical artefacts, such as the Rosetta Stone, or the most controversial, like the Elgin Marbles, are in London. Covering all the museums that London has to offer is a task for another time - but these are the must sees for museums buffs in London. Many of the museums have regular temporary exhibitions to compliment their permanant exhibitions - so be sure to check schedules to find out whats on.

  1. British Museum (Great Russell Street) - The British Museum is one of the most impressive museums I've ever been to. The central courtyard, controversially remodelled, is home to the Rosetta Stone, which helped decipher hieroglyphics, and the controversial Elgin or Parthenon Marbles from the which Greece would like returned.

  2. National Portrait Gallery (St Martin's Place) - The National Portrait Gallery, along with the nearby National Gallery, are must visits any paiting buff. With a primary collection of over 4,000 paintings, sculptures and minatures, of which 60% are regularly exhibited, there's no shortage of works. Works by Caravaggio, Rubens and van Dyck are displayed. One of the finest, if not the finest, portrait gallery you could visit.

  3. National Gallery (Trafalgar Square) - One of the most impressive collections of paintings in the world, The National Gallery plays host to paintings by English greats such as Constable and Turner as well as internationally acclaimed greats such as Botticelli, Van Gogh and Rubens.

  4. Victoria and Albert Museum (Cromwell Road, Kensington) - The V&A has one of the most diverse collections in London covering Asia, ceramics, fashion, photography, theatre and textiles as well as contempory items from todays modern art.

  5. Natural History Museum (Cromwell Road, South Kensington) and Science Museum (Exhibition Road, South Kensington) - The Natural History Museum, best combined with the adjacent Science Museum, is one of the most impressive buildings in London. With dinosaur skeletons in Natural History museum and reproduction flying devices from bygone ages in the Science Museum, both museums boast an excellent array of interactive displays which make both museums ideal for all ages.

  6. Greenwich National Maritime Museum (Romney Road, Greenwich) - In the east of London, the National Maritime Museum charts not only the nautical history of a great sea-faring nation but also takes you on a journey through astronomy and telescopes - which played such an important part in early naval navigation.

  7. Imperial War Museum (Lambeth Road) and Churchill Rooms (King Charles) - The Imperial War Museum and Churchill War Rooms are mandatory for history buffs. The two museums compliment each other perfectly as they take you through the British experience during the Second World War. The Churchill War Rooms are a fine exhibit where the actual war rooms where war-leader Winston Churchill and his chiefs-of-staff worked during the war.

  8. Tate Britain (Millbank) - The most impressive collection of British art you're likely to encounter. Covering Constable to comics, sculpture and constructions - Tate Britain has a broad variety of works on display with regularly changing exhibitions.

  9. Tate Modern (53 Bankside) - On the south side of the Thames, in sight of St Pauls Cathedral on the other side of the river, the Tate Modern occupies a disused power station. Entering the cavernous interior through the former turbine hall is an experience in itself although the uber-modern exhibitions are almost certainly not to everyones taste.

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Diamond Jubilee - Royal Salute Royal salute for the Household Cavalry at the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II
London - Queen Elizabeth II at the Diamond Jubilee carriage procession Queen Elizabeth II in an open top carriage in Whitehall, London to commerate the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II
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London - Christmas lights on Oxford Street Christmas lights on Oxford Street in central London
London - Fountains at Trafalgar Square Fountains lit at night at Trafalgar Square in central London

Map

Further reading

London - 15 things not to miss - Fifteen things no visitor to London should miss

London markets - 15 of the best markets - 15 food, antiques and clothing markets in London worth visiting

Diamond Jubilee - Mustering the troops - Troops being mustered for the open carriage procession for the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II

Diamond Jubilee - Royal Salute - Royal salute for the Household Cavalry at the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II

London - Queen Elizabeth II at the Diamond Jubilee carriage procession - Queen Elizabeth II in an open top carriage in Whitehall, London to commerate the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II

London - Queen Elizabeth II in an open carriage - Queen Elizabeth II in an open carriage procession to Buckingham Palace to commerate the Diamond Jubilee

London - Christmas lights on Oxford Street - Christmas lights on Oxford Street in central London

London - Fountains at Trafalgar Square - Fountains lit at night at Trafalgar Square in central London

London - Queensway Underground station - Reflections of a Central line tube at Queensway Underground station

London - Regent Street Christmas lights - Christmas lights the central London street of Regent Street

Camden - Official website of the London Borough of Camden

City of Westminster - Official website of the City of Westminster

Key facts

Name: British Museum
Address:
Great Russell Street, London WC1B 3DG
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Name: Imperial War Museum
Address:
Lambeth Road, London SE1 6HZ
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Name: Natural History Museum
Address:
Cromwell Road, Kensington, London SW7 5BD
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Name: Science Museum
Address:
Exhibition Road, South Kensington, London SW7 2DD
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Name: Tate Britain
Address:
Millbank, London SW1P 4RG
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Name: Tate Modern
Address:
53 Bankside, Southwark, London SE1 9TG
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Name: The National Gallery
Address:
Trafalgar Square, London WC2N 5DN
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Name: The National Portrait Gallery
Address:
St Martin's Place, London WC2H 0HE
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Name: Victoria and Albert Museum
Address:
Cromwell Road, Kensington, London SW7 2RL
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About Mark Sukhija

Mark Sukhija is a travel and wine blogger, photographer, tourism researcher, hat-touting, white-shirt-wearing, New Zealand fantatic and eclipse chaser. Aside from at least annual visits to New Zealand, Mark has seen eclipses in South Australia (2002), Libya (2006), China (2009) and Queensland (2012). After twelve years in Switzerland, Mark moved back to London in 2012. You can follow Mark on Twitter or Facebook