Museums & Libraries
London museums and libraries exist in abundance because London is such a historical city, going back to the time of the Roman occupation. It therefore stands to reason that it would have to house its enormous wealth of artefacts and collections that are of great interest to people from all walks of life. Hence London has one of the largest numbers of museums and specialist libraries in the civilised world. Visitors to London should in particular go to the British Museum, the National Maritime Museum at Greenwich, the London Transport Museum and the Natural History Museum.
Bank of England Museum
Threadneedle Street EC2
Tel: 0207 601 5545
Housed within the Bank of England a unique collection of ancient gold bars to modern coins
www.museum@bankofengland.co.uk
Bethnal Green Museum of Childhood
Cambridge Heath Rd E2
Tel: 0208 980 2415
World’s largest toy and nursery collection, including thousands of childhood items from the 17th century to the present
www.museumofchildhood.org.uk
British Library
96 Euston Road NW1
Tel: 0207 636 1544
This is the National Copyright Library which holds one copy of every published book in Britain. It is also a huge reference library with an incomparable collection of books, newspapers, manuscripts, maps and documents
www.bl.uk
British Museum
Great Russell Street WC1
Tel: 0207 323 8000
Houses national collections of archaeology and art
www.thebritishmuseum.ac.uk
Cabinet War Rooms
Clive Steps, King Charles Street, SW1
Tel: 0207 930 6961
The most prominent, surviving part of the underground emergency accommodation, which was built to protect Churchill and the War Cabinet against air attacks
www.iwm.org.uk
Design Museum
28 Shad Thames SE1
Tel: 0207 940 8790
Worthwhile visit for any budding inventors
www.designmuseum.org
Dickens House Museum
48 Doughty Street WC1
Tel: 0207 405 2127
A one time home of Charles Dickens with an impressive collection of his letters, manuscripts, books and personal effects
www.dickensmuseum.com
Fan Museum
12 Crooms Hill SE10
Tel: 0208 305 1441
Home to collection of over 2,000 fans dating from the 17th century
www.fan-museum.org
Florence Nightingale Museum
2 Lambeth Palace Road, SE1
Tel: 0207 620 0374
Personal memorabilia and life-size reconstruction of Crimean ward scene
www.florence-nightingale.co.uk
Guards Museum
Wellington Barracks SW1
Tel: 0207 414 3271
Collection of uniforms and artefacts etc spanning over 300 years of history
www.armymuseum.org.uk
Imperial War Museum
Lambeth Road SE1
Tel: 0207 416 5000
Exhibits include uniforms, documents, photographs and medals
www.iwm.org.uk
Jewish Museum
Albert Street NW1
Tel: 0207 284 1997
An illustration of Jewish life, history and religion in Britain
www.jewmusm.ort.org
London Transport Museum
The Piazza, Covent Garden WC2
Tel: 0207 379 6344
Formerly a flower market building, this important museum’s collection includes horse buses, trams and trolleybuses. Photos, videos, uniforms and working models
www.ltmuseum.co.uk
Museum of Artillery
Repository Rd, Woolwich SE18
Tel: 0208 316 5402
A wide collection of weapons dating from the 14th century
Museum of Garden History
Lambeth Palace Road SE1
Tel: 0207 401 8865
A unique museum that relates to famous plant-hunters and old ways
www.museumgardenhistory.org.uk
Museum of London
London Wall EC2
Tel: 0207 600 3699
An innovative concept that illustrates the history of London
Museum of Mankind
Burlington Gardens W1
Tel: 0207 437 2224.
Vast collection from all over the world. Exciting reconstructions
www.museumoflondon.org.uk
The National Archives (previously the Public Record Office Library)
Ruskin Avenue, Kew
Tel: 0208 876 3444
Documents from the Doomsday Book to 1800.
www.pro.gov.uk
National Army Museum
Royal Hospital Road, Chelsea SW3
Tel: 0207 730 0717
Reconstruction of soldiers lives from Tudor times to modern day
www.national-army-museum.ac.uk
National Maritime Museum
Greenwich SE10
Tel: 0208 858 4422
A good illustration of the role of the sea in Britain’s history. Hundreds of detailed models. Maritime paintings and collections
www.nmm.ac.uk
Natural History Museum
Cromwell Rd, South Kensington SW7
Tel: 0207 942 5000
A vast Victorian building that houses one of the largest collections in the world of natural history, specimens, including human biology
www.nhm.ac.uk
National Monuments Record
55 Blandford Street, W1
Tel: 0207 208 8221
A photographic library that covers everything from cathedrals to barns
www.english-heritage.org.uk
Pollock’s Toy Museum
1 Scala Street W1
Tel: 0207 636 3452
Lovely museum for young at heart parents – and also their children
www.pollocksweb.co.uk
Royal Air Force Museum
Graham Park Way, Hendon NW9
Tel: 0208 205 2266
Houses one of the world’s finest collections of historic aircrafts
www.rafmuseum.com
Royal Mews
Buckingham Palace SW1
Tel: 0207 930 4832
Stables and coach houses containing important ceremonial coaches including the Gold State Coach and the Coronation Coach. The magnificent state carriage horses are also stabled here
www.royal.gov.uk
Science Museum
Exhibition Road, South Kensington SW7
Tel: 0207 942 4000
A wide collection that covers subjects from pure sciences to engineering and space technology. Exhibits include working models
www.nmsi.ac.uk
Sherlock Holmes Museum
239 Baker Street, NW1
Tel: 0207 935 8866
Enjoy the sensation of being in Sherlock Holmes “actual home”
www.sherlock-holmes.co.uk
Sir John Soane’s Museum
13 Lincoln’s Inn Fields W2
Tel: 0207 405 2107
Vast collection of architectural drawings, antiques and works by Hogarth Turner, Canaletto and Piranesi
www.soane.org
Tetrie Museum of Egyptian Archaeology
Malett Place WC1
Tel: 0207 679 2884
Major collection of European archaeology with over 80,000 artefacts including the development of Egyptian culture and daily life from prehistoric to Roman times
www.tetrie.ucl.ac.uk
Theatre Museum: Russell Street, Covent Garden, WC2
Tel: 0207 943 4700
This innovative museum celebrates 400 years of live performance plus events
www.theatremuseum.org
Twinings
216 The Strand WC2
Tel: 0207 353 3511
Once a teashop now home to a small museum showing the history of this famous company
www.twinings.co.uk
Victoria & Albert Fine Art Library
Cromwell Road, South Kensington SW7
Tel: 0207 942 2400
The National Art Library, over half a million works, on the history of art from all periods and countries
www.nal.vam.ac.uk
Victoria & Albert Museum
Cromwell Rd, South Kensington SW7
Tel: 0207 942 2000
One of the best museums in Britain. It contains the world’s largest greatest collection of decorative arts
www.vam.ac.uk
Wallace Collection
Hertford House, Manchester Square W1
Tel: 0207 935 0687
Twenty-five galleries containing the Hertford family art collection. Many beautiful paintings, furniture pieces and objets d’art
www.wallace-collection.org.uk
Related Sections:
Art Galleries
Cultural Tours
London Attractions
London Theatres
London Ticket Agents
Music & Dance
Sport in London
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