The free national museums
The permanent collections of London's national museums have been free to enter since 2001. You only pay for some special exhibitions. The best known include:
- British Museum
- National Gallery and National Portrait Gallery
- Tate Modern and Tate Britain
- Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A)
- Natural History Museum and Science Museum
- Imperial War Museum London
- Wallace Collection and Sir John Soane's Museum
Plan by area
South Kensington: the Natural History Museum, Science Museum and V&A sit side by side on Exhibition Road. This is a full day, ideal with children.
Trafalgar Square: the National Gallery and National Portrait Gallery are next door to each other, a short walk from Covent Garden.
Bloomsbury: the British Museum is the anchor, and you can easily spend half a day there.
Bankside and Millbank: Tate Modern is on the South Bank. Tate Britain is upriver at Millbank.
Book a free timed ticket
Entry is free, but the busiest museums recommend booking a free timed slot online, especially at weekends and in school holidays. Visit London advises this for the Natural History Museum and British Museum to avoid long queues. Popular paid exhibitions sell out, so book those ahead too.
Late openings
Several museums open late on certain evenings. For example, the British Museum stays open until 8.30pm on Fridays, which is often quieter. Check each museum's website for current hours.
Making a day of it
Museum days involve a lot of walking. With an hourly hire car, you can see South Kensington in the morning and Trafalgar Square in the afternoon, with the car waiting between stops. Buy as many gift-shop books as you like: they don't need carrying.
Frequently asked questions
Are London museums really free?
Yes. The permanent collections of the national museums, including the British Museum, National Gallery, Tate Modern, V&A and Natural History Museum, are free. Some special exhibitions charge.
Do I need to book a ticket for free museums?
Not always, but the busiest museums recommend booking a free timed slot online to avoid queues, especially at weekends and in school holidays.
Which free museums are best for children?
The Natural History Museum and Science Museum in South Kensington are especially popular with families.
Which museums are close together?
The Natural History Museum, Science Museum and V&A are side by side in South Kensington. The National Gallery and National Portrait Gallery are next door to each other on Trafalgar Square.
Sources
Checked on 30 October 2026. Rules and dates can change, so please confirm with the official source before you travel.