21 free museums in

LondonAPeaceofLondon.com

(without the crowds)

21 free museums in London (without the crowds)You don’t have to head to South Kensington for the best free museums in London; the capital is replete with quieter, unique places to explore that won’t cost you a penny to enter. Here are 15 of my favourites, in handy SlideShare form.

Note: while these museums are officially ‘free’, some do ask for a small donation on the way out to help them continue their work. So if you enjoyed it, pop them whatever you can afford to say thanks :)

1.The Farad

ay Museu

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1.The Faraday Museum

When Michael Faraday took over this lab in the basement of the Royal Institution in the 1820s, he probably didn't realise that it would be turned into a museum dedicated to his legacy almost 200 years later. But so it was, and the collection now includes many exhibits that were used by Faraday himself, including the electromagnet above, which was used in an experiment to show that light and glass are affected by magnetism.

Image credit: takomabibelot on Flickr

Bonus infoNearest Tube: Green Park or Piccadilly CircusMore information: rigb.org/visit-us/faraday-museum

2. Bethle

m Museum of the

Mind

2. Bethlem Museum of the MindThe 13th-century Bethlem Royal Hospital was the first UK institution to specialise in the care of the mentally ill continues to provide care today. This unique museum in its buildings charts the lives and accomplishments of those with mental health problems.

Image credit: surprise truck on Flickr

Bonus infoNearest station: West WickhamMore information: medicalmuseums.org/Bethlem-Royal-Hospital-Archives-and-Museum

3. The Museu

m of the Orderof St John

3. The Museum of the Order of St JohnThis small museum in Clerkenwell charts the story of the Order of St John, from its 11th century Jerusalem roots through to its modern-day work with St John Ambulance.

Image credits: Powwow on Flickr

Bonus infoNearest Tube: Farringdon or Barbican

More information: museumstjohn.org.uk

4. GrantMuseum of

Zoology

4. Grant Museum of ZoologyThis small but perfectly formed (and free) museum in UCL's buildings houses everything from a penguin skeleton to half a cat and a corner of insects; all from London Zoo, The Hunterian Museum, and Imperial College London. Get more pictures and read my review here.

Image credits: apeaceoflondon.com

Bonus infoNearest Tube: Euston Square

More information: www.ucl.ac.uk/museums/zoology

5. Guildha

ll

5. GuildhallNot strictly a museum, but one of the finest (and oldest) historical buildings in London. The Guildhall was the setting for Lady Jane Grey's trial as well as many other medieval defendants, and sits on top of a Roman amphitheatre.

Nowadays it's used for state and civic banquets, as well as being the home of the City of London Corporation, and its great hall, art gallery and the amphitheatre can all be visited for free.

Image credit: apeaceoflondon.com

Bonus infoNearest Tube: Bank

More information: City of London website

6. St Bart's

Hospital

Museum

6. St Bart's Hospital MuseumSt Bartholomew’s Hospital has been treating the sick for almost 900 years and is now one of the world's most prestigious museums. This museum of the same name is hidden beneath Henry VIII’s statue in the Hospital's North Wing and includes hundreds of medical artefacts, surgical equipment, 12th-century documents, art and uniforms charting nine centuries of medical history.

Image credit: apeaceoflondon.com

Bonus infoNearest Tube: St Paul’s or FarringdonMore information: bartshealth.nhs.uk/bartsmuseum

7. The Geffrye Museu

m of the Home

7. The Geffrye Museum of the HomeIf you love peering into pretty living rooms on Pinterest, then take a trip to Hoxton and The Geffrye Museum of the Home where you can indulge your passion for interiors (and see another, more down-to-earth side of Hoxton).

Image credit: B on Flickr

Bonus infoNearest station: Hoxton

More information: geffrye-museum.org.uk

8. Hornim

an Museum and Garden

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8. Horniman Museum and GardensEast London's version of the Natural History Museum is a bit out of the way, but you don't have to go into central London to visit it. Get your fill of natural history in a quieter setting at this Forest Hill gem.

Image credit: Arun Joseph on FlickrNearest Tube: Forest Hill

More information: horniman.ac.uk

Bonus info

9. London Sewing Machin

e Museu

m

9. London Sewing Machine MuseumThis unusual museum in Upper Tooting celebrates the humble sewing machine with a collection of 600 machines, including one that was given to Queen Victoria’s eldest daughter as a wedding present.

Image credit: Caroline on Flickr

Bonus infoNearest Tube: Tooting BecMore information: craftysewer.com/acatalog/London_Sewing_Machine_Museum.html

10. V&A

Museum of

Childhood

10. V&A Museum of ChildhoodIts big sister may be packed come weekends, but the V&A Museum of Childhood should be far enough away from central London to put off rowdy tourists. As its name suggests, this collection in Bethnal Green charts the evolution of everything from intricate Victorian dolls houses and paintings to Lego and He-Man – and even the trusty space hopper.

Image credit: Charlotte Powell on Flickr

Bonus infoNearest Tube:Bethnal Green

More information: vam.ac.uk/moc

11. The

Hunterian

Museum

11. The Hunterian MuseumThe third natural history museum on the list and probably the lesser-known. This small but full-to-the-brim museum contains thousands of jarred specimens and skeletons: everything from the 7ft 7ins ‘Irish Giant’, human brains and a plaster cast of Isaac Newton’s death mask.

Image credit: apeaceoflondon.com

Nearest Tube: HolbornMore information:rcseng.ac.uk/museums/hunterian

Bonus info

12. The

Ragged School Museu

m

12. The Ragged School MuseumTest your slate board handwriting and avoid the dunce’s hat during a 45-minute lesson at what was once London’s biggest free school. Known as a ragged school and set up to give the area’s poorest children a basic free education, it was the work of Thomas Barnardo – also the founder of Barnardo’s children’s charity. The museum and Victorian lessons are free, but you’ll be hard-pressed to deny them a £2 donation for their trouble.

Image credit: Karen Bryan on FlickrNearest Tube: Mile End

More information: raggedschoolmuseum.org.uk

Bonus info

13. Bank of Englan

dMuseu

m

13. Bank of England MuseumBank's resident fortress looks pretty impenetrable (and rightly so) whatever time you visit, but head to the museum on a weekday for a glimpse of 300 years of financial history.

Image credit: www.bankofengland.co.uk on Flickr

Bonus infoNearest Tube: Bank

More information: bankofengland.co.uk

14. Petrie Museu

m

14. Petrie MuseumThe Petrie Museum’s website promises that it’s the ‘one of the greatest collections of Egyptian and Sudanese archaeology in the world’ and the 80,000 ancient artefacts in University College London would certainly take some beating. It’s hard to believe that this packed series of rooms is free to visit, but free it is.

Bonus infoNearest Tube:Euston Square orRussell Square

More information: ucl.ac.uk/museums/petrie

Image credits: apeaceoflondon.com

15. Sir John

Soane'sMuseu

m

15. Sir John Soane's MuseumMaybe it's the fact that its huge collection has been left untouched, exactly as Sir John Soane left it, for over 180 years. Maybe it's Londoners' love of eccentric obsession. Either way, this time capsule charting one man's love of art continues to gain in popularity.

If you can get in, you'll be treated to an extraordinary collection of artwork from world-famous artists such as Hogarth, Turner and Canaletto.

Image credit: stu smith on Flickr

Bonus infoNearest Tube: Holborn

More information: soane.org

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