1. British Museum.
When the British Museum first opened its doors to the public in 1759, it was the world's first national museum. It was (and still is) free to visit so that any 'studious and interested folks' might pass through its doors and examine the bizarre things collected from all over the world.
This was an opportunity for anybody, centuries before television, to stand in front of specimens and artefacts and engage with different civilizations, ancient and modern. The first exhibits were from the collection of physician and naturalist Sir Hans Sloane – ancient coins and medals, books, and natural remains – and it has since become home to the most significant finds made by British explorers at home and abroad, such as the Rosetta Stone from Ancient Egypt and the Parthenon sculpture from the Acropolis in Athens.
2. Natural History Museum.
The Natural History Museum, both a research organisation and a fantastic museum, opened in 1881 in Alfred Waterhouse's purpose-built Romanesque cathedral of nature on the Cromwell Road. The old structure, which was joined by the stunning Darwin Centre expansion in 2009, still looks very magnificent. The pastel blue and terracotta façade almost prepare you for the natural treasures that await you within.
Dippy the Diplodocus, London's most popular dinosaur, has reigned at the Hintze Hall since 1905. The 26-metre-long plaster-cast reproduction of a Diplodocus skeleton began a countrywide journey in 2017, commencing on Dorset's Jurassic Coast (where it is now) and ending in Norwich in late 2020. While Dippy is on vacation, a diving Blue Whale skeleton has taken his place.
3. Imperial War Museum.
A remarkable museum that sheds light on people's experiences with combat from the First World War to the present day. IWM, located just a few minutes walk from Waterloo, is made a mix of permanent galleries, such as the excellent Curiosities of War show, and temporary exhibits that explore current conflicts and terrorist acts.
This location should be visited for broad and outstanding collections, including the deeply emotional and unsettling permanent Holocaust gallery
4. National Maritime Museum.
The museum is part of the Royal Museums, Greenwich, which also includes the Queen's House gallery, the clipper ship Cutty Sark, and the Royal Observatory.
To be dazzled by about 2.5 million historical artefacts, including Admiral Nelson's uniform from the Battle of Trafalgar.
Greenwich has been in the centre of maritime Britain for hundreds of years, serving as a hub for trade, transport, and naval activities. As a result, the National Maritime Museum's collection is an unparalleled treasure trove of artefacts, models, maps, art, and memorabilia, and thanks to extensive refurbishment, its galleries offer something for everyone – from maritime history students to toddlers who want to pretend they're at the beach.
5. Science Museum.
The Science Museum has seven levels of displays that are both informative and entertaining, including the Apollo 10 command module and a flight simulator. The Wellcome Wing displays advances in modern science, medicine, and technology. The Medical History Gallery, located in the museum's attic, houses a large collection of medical history artefacts. Pattern Pod educates children as young as eight years old to the significance of patterns in modern science, and LaunchPad is a popular hands-on gallery where children may study basic scientific ideas. The three-metre-high, 600kg Spacelab 2 X-ray telescope launched on British space missions, as well as full-scale versions of the Huygens Titan probe and Beagle 2 Mars Lander, are on display in the Exploring Space galleries.
