Select Page

Art galleries and museums to visit in London

London is a magical city filled with great food, festivals and of course art and culture. London has some of the finest art galleries and museums in the world and these five are just scratching the surface of what you can find in England’s capital. Here are five of the best to visit when in London.

The British Museum

The British Museum has an unbelievable collection that spans over two million years of human history and culture. Gaze at the unique collection of world cultured treasures all under one roof. Iconic objects such as the Egyptian mummies are visited by more than six million visitors per year. The museum also has a range of exhibitions, displays and events, all divided by location and periods in history in order to understand the cultures they represent. So, if you’re a history fanatic, make sure to visit The British Museum in London.

Best YHA hostel for the British Museum: YHA London Central

Natural History Museum

Explore the great features such as Hope – a 25-metre blue whale plunging through Hintze Hall, a rock as old as the solar system and one of the world’s most impressive dinosaur exhibitions. The museum’s exclusive collection of more than 80 million specimens can be seen across its many everlasting galleries.

With family exhibitions, plenty of interactive activities and school holiday programmes, there’s something for everyone at the Natural History Museum.

Best YHA hostel for the Natural History Museum: YHA London Earl’s Court

Science Museum

The Science Museum located in the heart of South Kensington is the go-to science and technology museum in Europe with over 15,000 objects to gaze at. Explore world-famous objects such as the Apollo 10 command capsule and Stephenson’s Rocket. Experience what it’s like to fly with the Red Arrows or blast off into space on the Apollo space stimulator. A fun-filled day out for all the family at this museum in London.

Best YHA hostel for the British Museum: YHA London Oxford Street

Royal Academy of Arts

Ahhh, where do we begin? The Royal Academy of Arts, founded in 1768, is the oldest arts institution in Britain situated in the heart of London. The academy hosts fabulous exhibitions and events all year round, from antique sculptures to modern-day masterpieces. Make sure you pay a visit to their Summer Exhibition; the world’s largest open art show that brings prints, paintings, photography, sculptures and much more together.

Best YHA hostel for the Royal Academy of Arts: YHA London Earl’s Court

Serpentine Gallery

The Serpentine Galleries sit in the heart of Kensington Gardens and Hyde Park and showcase a superb programme of modern art and architecture that follows the seasons of the year. Their exhibitions, architecture, and education programmes attract around 1.2 million visitors a year. Did you know the galleries are linked by the bridge over the Serpentine Lake and that’s how they got their names?

Best YHA hostel for the Serpentine Gallery: YHA London Earl’s Court

 

Discover more about YHA.

Donate to YHA

We provide life-changing adventures for those who need them most. Give today and you could help transform a young person’s confidence and ambition forever.

Written by Ruby Higton

Here is Ruby and she is a digital marketer at YHA. She looks after social media, content writing and SEO. Her favourite hostel is YHA Perranporth.

You may also like

ActivitiesArt galleries and museums to visit in London