Sometimes a museum is not just a building that houses interesting pieces of history. Sometimes, the building itself is just as beautiful as the exhibits it houses. In this post we are going to guide you curious explorers to some of the very best and most beautiful museums certainly in London, however I would go as far to say that they would rank highly on the global rankings. I was lucky enough to study architecture in the City of London before working as an architect for many years in the Capital and feel privileged to have had these wonders to explore ... so now its your turn.
I will drop them on a map for you and highlight the best ways to get there (3 are in South Kensington!), so if you are popping into London for a long weekend, on a week stay or heck even if you live in the London and have stumbled across our backpacking/ travel/ architecture/ history blogging haven then welcome to you and hopefully we will convince you to explore a couple if not all of them. Lets get into this explorers.
London, a city brimming with history and culture, offers a museum scene that is perhaps only rivalled by Mexico City. Among its many treasures, five stand out, not only for their extensive collections but also for their architectural prowess. Here, we delve into the stories behind these iconic institutions, exploring their architectural heritage, the timelines of their inception, and the fascinating exhibits they house.
The 5 Best Museums In London
No. 1. The British Museum
Nearest Tube Stop - Tottenham Court Road - Northern Line
Nearest Bus Stops - British Museum (Stop OA)
Montague Street
British Museum (Stop W)
Time - You can spend a week here and still have things to see!
Website - https://www.britishmuseum.org/
Lets start with the oldest public museum in the world ... The British Museum. The section we are going to talk about was a purpose built later addition. Designed by Sir Robert Smirke, it was opened to the public in 1859. The architecture is of Greek revival genius. The colonnaded portico serves as a powerful statement, inviting visitors into a space dedicated to the exploration of human history and culture. The symmetry and proportion of the façade embody the classical ideals of harmony and balance, which were highly revered during the period.
The main entrance features a grand portico of striking yellow Portland stone with 43 Ionic columns, each standing 45 feet tall. These columns support a pediment decorated with sculptures by Sir Richard Westmacott. Called 'The Progress of Civilisation' The pediment reads from the left most side as an angel pushes the human form into existence.
This depiction takes us next to humans as hunters and gatherers. Beyond the hunters and gatherers, the arts seemingly take over, Here the human sculptures do not carry the weight of the pediment in the same way the hunters and gathers do, perhaps a nod to agriculture paving the way to an abundance of food allowing humans more time for expression, the development of the arts and leisure as many of our podcast series on the history of Central America have alluded to. In the centre we find a fully upright figure holding a sphere in hand representing astrology/ knowledge and the way the world is built at large. Immediately to the right of astrology we have the representation of math following next we find humans of drama, poetry and music before finally a man sits amongst animals from all continents of earth, this is representing the reach of the British across planet earth. This story of human development is also a nod to the artefacts and treasures you will find within the museum. The very best of human endeavours through the course of linear time.
These elements are not carved in relief but carved in the round making the pediment much more of a 3 dimensional element that looms over you before you enter this building, it is as though the figures are reaching out from their triangular shelter into the world beyond and pulling you into a place beyond where enlightenment awaits. A truly stunning piece of art in the highest form that I implore you to cast your eyes to when visiting. Below you can find an image taken from the British Museum, of the original drawing and the final installation.
Interesting on the original designs by Sir Robert Smirke, the pediment would not contain any sculpture works at all. Robers Smirke would retire passing the project on to his brother, Sydney Smirke. Sydney would commission Sir Richard Westmacott to undertake what is perhaps one of the finest pieces of sculpture in London. What is also remarkable is the timescale of this project, the designs were conceived in 1848 and installed just four years later in 1852 .
The Great Court
The later addition of the Great Court, designed by Lord Norman Foster in 2000, introduced a stunning modern element with its spectacular glass roof, creating the largest covered public square in Europe. Foster, who you may know of already is perhaps Londons most prominent architect famous for a number of buildings across the city scape, make sure you check out our blog on the high tech architecture of London to see some more of the designs that bear his name.
Must-See exhibits at the British Museum
Rosetta Stone - A cornerstone in deciphering Egyptian hieroglyphs.
Elgin Marbles -Sculptures from the Parthenon in Athens, sparking ongoing debates about cultural repatriation.
Mummy of Katebet - Offering insights into ancient Egyptian burial practices.
Sutton Hoo Treasure - An Anglo-Saxon ship burial with a wealth of artefacts.
Lewis Chessmen - Iconic medieval chess pieces found in Scotland.
No. 2. The Natural History Museum
Nearest Tube Stop - South Kensington - Circle or District Line
Nearest Bus Stops - Natural History Museum / Cromwell Road (Stop H)
South Kensington Museums (Stop L)
Time - You need a day here but if you are short on time then you can triple this with no.3 & no.4 giving half a day to the natural history and a quarter of a day to the V&A and the science museum! But that would be a flying visit to all!
Website - https://www.nhm.ac.uk/
This gem is one of the best spots in London, the beautiful building houses everything you ever need to know about the natural planet. The museum was originally part of the British Museum but became a separate entity to house the extensive natural history collections. It represents the Victorian era’s fascination with the natural world and scientific discovery.
The Natural History Museum is a Victorian Romanesque wonder. It was designed by Alfred Waterhouse and opened its doors in 1881. Waterhouse’s design, inspired by German Romanesque architecture, features intricate terracotta tiles, each adorned with detailed reliefs of flora and fauna, creating a visually captivating façade. The building is as impressive as any cathedral with the a stunning attention to detail. We will do a complete blog on this building alone as frankly, it deserves it!
Not only is it historically interesting the Natural History Museum had a new addition added in 2002, a glass box that would eventually house the 'cocoon' or Darwin centre inside. The contemporary uniform glass box stands in stark contract to the rest of the architecture, This was design by HOK International, with the cocoon being design by C.F. Møller Architects.
The glass box allow you too see in and through, whilst the the Cocoon is designed to symbolise a protective shell, reflecting its purpose of housing and safeguarding the museum’s vast collection of specimens.
Must-See exhibits at the Natural History Museum
Hintze Hall - Dominated by the awe-inspiring blue whale skeleton suspended from the ceiling.
Dinosaurs Gallery - Home to the iconic Tyrannosaurus rex skeleton.
Earth Hall - Featuring a massive, revolving globe and the famous earthquake simulator.
Minerals Gallery - Showcasing dazzling gems and meteorites.
Cocoon - An interactive experience in the Darwin Centre, highlighting contemporary scientific research.
No. 3. The Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A)
Nearest Tube Stop - South Kensington - Circle or District Line
Nearest Bus Stops - Natural History Museum / Cromwell Road (Stop H)
South Kensington Museums (Stop L)
Time - Half a day to a full day.
Website - https://www.vam.ac.uk/
Just down the road from the natural history museum, the V&A is an exquisite example of Victorian architecture. It was designed by Captain Francis Fowke and Major General Henry Scott and opened in 1852. Its eclectic façade combines Gothic, Renaissance, and classical elements, reflecting the diverse range of collections within. The recent addition of the Exhibition Road Quarter, designed by Amanda Levete and opened in 2017, seamlessly blends modern architecture with the historic fabric.
The V&A was established to inspire and educate designers and the public, showcasing the finest decorative arts and design from around the world. It represents the Victorian ambition to promote art and industry.
Must-See Exhibits at the Victoria and Albert Museum
Cast Courts - Featuring plaster casts of famous sculptures, including Michelangelo’s David.
Jewellery Gallery - Displaying exquisite pieces from ancient times to the present.
Fashion Collection - Chronicling the evolution of fashion over five centuries.
The Raphael Cartoons - Large-scale designs by Raphael for tapestries in the Sistine Chapel.
British Galleries - Highlighting British art and design from the Tudor period to the present.
No. 4. The Science Museum
Nearest Tube Stop - South Kensington - Circle or District Line
Nearest Bus Stops - Natural History Museum / Cromwell Road (Stop H)
South Kensington Museums (Stop L)
Time - Half a day to a full day.
Website - https://www.sciencemuseum.org.uk/home
The Science Museum, part of the South Kensington museum complex, was designed by Sir Richard Allison and opened in stages between 1919 and 1928. The building’s neoclassical design, with its grand entrance and elegant proportions, reflects the early 20th-century architectural style aimed at inspiring awe and curiosity.
The museum was founded to house the science collections of the South Kensington Museum, reflecting the growing public interest in scientific progress and education during the Industrial Revolution and beyond.
Must-See Exhibits at the Science Museum
Apollo 10 Command Module - An actual spacecraft that orbited the moon.
Stephenson’s Rocket - A pioneering steam locomotive.
The Information Age Gallery - Chronicling the evolution of communication technologies.
The Winton Gallery - Designed by Zaha Hadid, showcasing the role of mathematics in shaping the modern world.
Exploring Space Gallery - Featuring the history of space exploration and iconic artefacts like the Apollo 10 command module.
No. 5. Tate Modern
Nearest Tube Stop - Black Fryers - Circle or District Line
Nearest Bus Stops - Blackfriars Station South Entrance (Stop D)
Southwark Bridge (Stop BC)
Lavington (Stop SW)
Nearest Water Stop - Bankside (a beautiful way to get around London but less frequent (use the Uber app)
Time - Half a day to a full day (St Pauls just over the Millennium bridge for your second stop of the day)
Tate Modern, housed in the former Bankside Power Station, is a striking example of adaptive reuse. The building was, designed by Sir Giles Gilbert Scott, the architect behind the iconic red telephone box and Battersea Power Station. Constructed between 1947 and 1963, the power station is a vast brick structure with a central chimney, standing 99 meters tall, making it a prominent feature of the London skyline.
The power station was transformed by Swiss architects Herzog & de Meuron and opened as the Tate Modern in 2000. The conversion preserved the industrial character while creating expansive gallery spaces, crowned by the iconic Turbine Hall.
Tate Modern’s transformation from a power station to a leading contemporary art museum symbolises the shift in industrial heritage towards cultural regeneration. It has become a symbol of London’s modern cultural landscape.
The final element to be added to the Tate would come in 2016 and would also be designed by Herzog & de Meuron Architects called The Blavatnik Building or switch tower. This has a distinctive twisted, pyramidal shape that stands out against the London skyline. This unique form is both modern and dynamic, reflecting the contemporary nature of the artworks housed within.
The exterior is clad in perforated brick, echoing the industrial character of the original power station. The brick lattice allows natural light to permeate the interior spaces, creating a play of light and shadow that enhances the visitor experience. The use of brick in such a playful way shows advancements in materiality that ensure the switch tower is clearly a modern additional. A playful way to use similar materials but not simply 'mimic' the past. Love it or hate it, it is an interesting piece of design that is topped with a coffee bar for you to take in a bit of Londons skyline from.
Top Tip - One of the best spots in the Tate is actually the second floor cafe, why, because it has a balcony with a front on view of St Pauls cathedral.
Must-See Exhibits in the Tate Modern
Turbine Hall - Hosting large scale installations by contemporary artists such as 'The Crack' and one of the best exhibits I have ever seen 'The Weather Project' by Olafur Eliasson.
Andy Warhol’s Marilyn Diptych - An iconic work of pop art.
The Tanks - Underground spaces dedicated to performance and video art.
A final word on Londons Museums
London’s museums are not just repositories of artefacts but architectural masterpieces that tell stories of human creativity, scientific advancement, and cultural evolution. From the Greek revival grandeur of the British Museum to the adaptive reuse of Tate Modern, each institution offers a unique glimpse into the past and the present. Visiting our top 5 museums provides not only a rich cultural experience but also an appreciation of the architectural ingenuity that makes London a city where history and modernity coexist harmoniously. Whether you’re a history buff, art enthusiast, or science geek, these museums offer something for everyone, making them must-visit destinations in the heart of London for any curious explorer.
Until the next one, take care explorers
Jack
For the curious explorer
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