Its good news for those who live or visiting London, as many museums continue to reopen under fresh British government guidelines.
With the current social distancing measures in place, a visit to one of London’s 170 museums offers a completely different experience to pre-COVID times.
Most museums are operating at a capacity of just 20 per cent, meaning there’s a lot more space for guests to delve in and explore exhibits.
Visitors have never had as much time to browse Charles Darwin’s world-renowned journals or gaze at Vincent Van Gogh’s Sunflowers series at The National Gallery.
If you are a museum buff, now is a great time to leisurely take a trip to one of London’s museums. (You’ll never see the museums this quiet again!)
From art galleries, to historical collections and science exhibitions, there’s lots to see – but we have managed to cherry-pick the crème de la crème for you to visit. The best part is that they are all free!
Five of the best…5. Science Museum, South Kensington
Those with an interest in technology, space and the modern world will be left spellbound with exhibits at the Science Museum. The museum boasts 15,000 items, as well as various interactive displays which are user-friendly for all age groups.
Under new opening hours, the museum is open from 10am to 6pm, Wednesday to Sunday.
4. Museum of London, Barbican
A trip to the Big Smoke isn’t completed without a visit to the Museum of London itself. The Barbican museum takes visitors on a journey through London’s turbulent history, with exhibits dating back to the Roman, Tudor and Victorian period.
The museum is open 11:30am to 3:30pm Monday to Friday, and 10am to 6pm at the weekend.
3. Imperial War Museum (IWM), Lambeth
Spread over six floors, IWM welcomes visitors to delve into Britain’s warfare history, with many exhibits taken from the First and Second World War. Visitors discover the compelling stories of those caught up in conflict, as well as exploring the uniforms, weapons, photos, and vehicles which are amongst the exhibits on display.
IWM’s is open from 10am to 6pm daily.
2. The National Gallery, Charring Cross
Based in the beating heart of London Trafalgar Square, The National Gallery is a heaven for those interested in art and culture. The 200 year old museum boasts an extraordinary collection of 2300 paintings, which date from the 13th to 18th Century. Famous exhibits include van Eyck’s Arnolfini Portrait, Velázquez’s Rokeby Venus and Turner’s Fighting Temeraire.
The National Gallery welcomes guests from 10am to 6pm daily.
1. The Natural History Museum, South Kensington
With a collection of more than 80 million items which date back to as far as 4.5 billion years ago, the Natural History Museum is arguably the most captivating visitor attraction in the world. Guests will be welcomed by a 26-metre long T Rex, before exploring the fossils and skeletons of the world’s greatest extinct animals. The museum’s incredible exhibits are surrounded by breath-taking 18th Century architecture, leaving visitors not knowing where to put their eyes.
The Natural History Museum is currently open 10am to 6pm, Wednesday to Sunday.
Keep London’s museums thriving
Though all of the mentioned museums are free we do recommend leaving a small donation. As well as government funding, London museums rely on gift shop, café and guided-tour sales which left them with no income throughout the closing period.
Due to significantly capped visitor numbers, do book in advanced to avoid disappointment.
In other museum news, a drive-thru art exhibition is enjoying social distance success.
