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Original poster

London visit - which museum please?

72 replies

Warmdrop · 13/01/2023 19:50

We’ve recently done the natural history museum and we aren’t really interested in art.

Can anyone recommend a nice museum to wander around for a few hours please?

What is in the British Museum?

Science museum may be an option, I’ve also seen the Museum of the home advertised.

any other ideas please?

OP posts:
Pinkflipflop85 · 13/01/2023 20:47

You can't visit the museum of London. It has closed!

stringbean · 13/01/2023 20:49

Pinkflipflop85 · 13/01/2023 20:47

You can't visit the museum of London. It has closed!

Closed?!! What a shame - we went in March, had the place practically to ourselves (hence closure, I guess), but I found myself wondering why I'd never been there before!

Melaniais · 13/01/2023 20:50

Design Museum next to Holland Park. Not too big but interesting

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Barleysugar86 · 13/01/2023 20:50

If you like your history maybe try the Churchill War rooms? www.iwm.org.uk/visits/churchill-war-rooms I really enjoyed looking around them one afternoon.

OhamIreally · 13/01/2023 20:50

I love the British Museum. Also the cast room at the V&A is great.

Greatcheeser · 13/01/2023 20:50

OK you don't like art, but the National Portrait Gallery just off Trafalgar Square is interesting and engaging, plenty of 20th and 21st century photographic portraits.

The Jewellery gallery in the V&A is breathtaking!

Bananalanacake · 13/01/2023 20:51

The Museum of London at the Barbican is closed while it is moving to a new building in Smithfields, but the Museum of London Docklands is open and interesting, it's near Canary Wharf at West India Quay on the DLR.

Doveyouknow · 13/01/2023 20:51

The museum of London is moving to Smithfields so is closed for a couple of years. It is a shame as it's one of my favourites.

Needmorelego · 13/01/2023 20:52

Museum of Brands is brilliant. If you go there you also aren't far from The Design Musuem (on Kensington High Street). I've only been there once but I remember it as fairly interesting.
Imperial War is good too - though a bit depressing as it's about war.
The Science Museum is quite dark inside and always seems to be loud and hot.
I don't really like it in there.
I love the Transport Museum (I am a transport nerd) but it does have a lot of social history to it.

OhamIreally · 13/01/2023 20:53

Pinkflipflop85 · 13/01/2023 20:47

You can't visit the museum of London. It has closed!

Didn't realise that! It's relocating I see.

OhamIreally · 13/01/2023 20:55

Greatcheeser · 13/01/2023 20:50

OK you don't like art, but the National Portrait Gallery just off Trafalgar Square is interesting and engaging, plenty of 20th and 21st century photographic portraits.

The Jewellery gallery in the V&A is breathtaking!

Been closed for ages to be refurbished. Not due to open until the summer.

I used to like the restaurant there. Very fond of an art gallery/museum restaurant!

Davros · 13/01/2023 20:57

I hated the Design Museum! I love Museum of London, Imperial War Museum, V&A, London Transport Museum, Hendon RAF Museum...

MrsDanversGlidesAgain · 13/01/2023 21:03

Greatcheeser · 13/01/2023 20:50

OK you don't like art, but the National Portrait Gallery just off Trafalgar Square is interesting and engaging, plenty of 20th and 21st century photographic portraits.

The Jewellery gallery in the V&A is breathtaking!

NPG is closed until sometime this year (no date on the website)

MrsMariaReynolds · 13/01/2023 21:14

Ordinarily, I'd have recommended the main Museum of London, but that's out for the foreseeable. Loved that place.

The smaller Museum of London Docklands at Canary Wharf is well worth a visit though.

I went to the Museum of the Home just before Christmas and really liked it. It doesn't have hours of things to see, but definitely interesting.

Honestly, if you haven't been to the British Museum though...c'mon... 😁

LlynTegid · 13/01/2023 21:23

Horniman Museum or Geffrye Museum

reluctantbrit · 13/01/2023 21:25

Museum of London is closed now but the Museum of Docklands is also good.

V&A is more than just art, I took DD when she was 5 more as a last minute decision and I was surprised how much we like it.

Imperial War Museum is great.

Mexicocalling · 13/01/2023 21:28

The royal mint is another to consider… I went with very low expectations and was very pleasantly surprised!
Lots of interactive things for children - mine especially liked attempting to lift the gold bars and inspecting the money to try and spot the fakes. It’s not too big and easy to do in between other things that side of the city (pudding lane / the monument / the golden hinde were all on our plan for that day, but the Tower of London is also across that way and easy to combine with it.

Mexicocalling · 13/01/2023 21:28

And as others have said - the IWM is really fantastic

LetsDoThis2023 · 13/01/2023 21:29

Why don't you want to see art?

LetsDoThis2023 · 13/01/2023 21:32

The Horniman museum in Greenwich is interesting

Also, The National Maritime Museum, it has a planetarium. You can get there on a clipper boat from London Bridge using your oyster card. Beautiful park too.

MySerenity · 13/01/2023 21:32

Greenwich! Royal Observatory, Maritime museum, Queens House etc

piedbeauty · 13/01/2023 21:33

Museum of the Home is interesting. And close to some great cocktail bars for afterwards!

YourUserNameMustBeAtLeast3Characters · 13/01/2023 21:33

The Museum of London I think is the best.

piedbeauty · 13/01/2023 21:34

Bananalanacake · 13/01/2023 20:51

The Museum of London at the Barbican is closed while it is moving to a new building in Smithfields, but the Museum of London Docklands is open and interesting, it's near Canary Wharf at West India Quay on the DLR.

Yes, it's fabulous and really interesting. Good riverside walks for afterwards too.

YourUserNameMustBeAtLeast3Characters · 13/01/2023 21:34

YourUserNameMustBeAtLeast3Characters · 13/01/2023 21:33

The Museum of London I think is the best.

Oh sorry I see from others it’s closed.