London Museums: Book Tickets Now

Some of the world's best museums, in one city.

Brooklands Museum: Explore a World War II bomber plane!

From £27.24

Cutty Sark Afternoon Tea in London

From £43.00

Cutty Sark: Entry Ticket

From £23.32

London Transport Museum

From £28.62

From the early days of the Tube to the Prime Meridian in Greenwich, London's museums tell the city's story in some unexpected ways. Whether you're after trains, tea clippers, royal art or a World War II bomber, there's a museum to match.

Browse the museums here and book your tickets online to save your date and time.

Which London Museums Should I Visit?

Museums to Visit in London

London's museums range from the grand to the quirky. You can trace the city's story at the London Transport Museum in Covent Garden, ride the old underground mail railway at The Postal Museum, or see works from the Royal Collection at The King's Gallery at Buckingham Palace.

Further out, Brooklands Museum in Surrey covers motor racing and early flight, and Greenwich has a cluster of maritime and science museums of its own.

Museums in Greenwich

Greenwich packs a lot into one riverside corner of south-east London. The Royal Observatory has the Prime Meridian line and the story of Greenwich Mean Time, and Cutty Sark, the last surviving tea clipper, sits in a dry dock a short walk away.

Royal Museums Greenwich, the group behind these sites, also runs the National Maritime Museum and the Queen's House nearby, so it's easy to build a full day around the area.

Transport, Speed and Flight

The London Transport Museum shows how buses, trams and the Tube shaped the city, with real vehicles you can step inside. The Postal Museum covers five centuries of mail, including a trip through the tunnels of Mail Rail.

Brooklands Museum, on the site of the world's first purpose-built motor racing circuit, adds fast cars and aircraft, including a WWII bomber, for anyone who'd rather see engines than paintings.

Booking Museum Tickets in London

Booking museum tickets online ahead of time lets you pick a date and time that fits your day. It matters most for Greenwich in summer and school holidays, and for the London Transport Museum at weekends.

Several of these sites sit close together, like the Greenwich museums, so booking ahead also makes it easy to line up more than one visit.

Good to Know Before Visiting Museums in London

Book your date and time online in advance, as popular museums can sell out on busy days.

The Royal Observatory, Cutty Sark and the other Greenwich museums are close together, so combining two or more in a day is easy.

Allow two to three hours for most museums, and longer for the Greenwich sites or Brooklands.

Brooklands Museum is in Weybridge, Surrey, so allow extra travel time from central London.

The London Transport Museum sits beside Covent Garden, which makes it easy to pair with a stroll around the Piazza.

The Prime Meridian line at the Royal Observatory is a favourite photo spot, so arrive early on busy days.

The King's Gallery shows changing exhibitions, so what you see depends on when you visit.

Expect a bag check at some venues, so travel light and leave large bags behind.

London Museums - Gallery

London's Top 5 Picks

Kensington Palace

A royal residence in Kensington Gardens, once home to Queen Victoria and Princess Diana, with State Apartments and changing exhibitions on royal life.

Stonehenge

A prehistoric stone circle on Salisbury Plain in Wiltshire, built over 4,500 years ago and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The View from The Shard

Observation floors near the top of Western Europe's tallest building, with panoramic views of London from 244 metres up.

Tower of London

A 900-year-old riverside fortress that has served as a royal palace, prison and armoury, and today houses the Crown Jewels.

London Transport Museum

A Covent Garden museum tracing the history of London's buses, trams, Tube and railways, with historic vehicles and interactive displays.

FAQs about London Museums

What is the best way to travel to the museums in Greenwich from central London?

Taking the Docklands Light Railway (DLR) to Cutty Sark station provides direct access to the maritime attractions and the Royal Observatory. Alternatively, traveling by river bus via the Uber Boat by Thames Clippers offers a scenic journey directly to Greenwich Pier.

Are the Greenwich attractions located close to one another?

The Cutty Sark, National Maritime Museum, and Queen’s House are all positioned within easy walking distance of one another in the town center. The Royal Observatory is also nearby, located at the top of the hill within Greenwich Park.

How do I reach the Brooklands Museum from central London?

Direct train services run from London Waterloo to Weybridge station, taking approximately 30 to 40 minutes. From Weybridge station, the museum is either a 20-minute walk or a short ride on the local 436 bus.

What can visitors see inside the Brooklands Museum?

The museum preserves the heritage of British motorsport and aviation, featuring historic race cars, vintage aircraft, and a Wellington bomber from World War II. Visitors can also see surviving sections of the historic 1907 banked racing track.

What is the main highlight of the Postal Museum experience?

The museum features interactive galleries detailing five centuries of communication history, but the signature attraction is a 15-minute subterranean ride through the historic Mail Rail tunnels. This underground network was originally used to transport mail beneath the city streets.

Are these museums entirely indoors or do they include outdoor areas?

The London Transport Museum and the Postal Museum are primarily indoor attractions, making them suitable for rainy days. Conversely, Brooklands Museum and the Greenwich sites include a mix of indoor galleries and expansive outdoor historic grounds.

Is the Royal Observatory accessible for visitors with limited mobility?

The observatory is located at the top of a steep hill in Greenwich Park, which can be challenging to ascend on foot. While the main buildings and the Meridian Line courtyard are accessible, certain historic structures like the camera obscura can only be reached via stairs.

Can you go inside the Cutty Sark ship?

Visitors can fully explore the historic nineteenth-century merchant vessel, including walking along the open top deck and exploring the lower cargo holds. The museum design also allows you to walk directly underneath the ship's gleaming copper hull.

Where is the London Transport Museum located?

The museum is situated in the heart of Covent Garden, occupying the historic Victorian flower market building on the eastern side of the piazza. It is easily accessible via the Covent Garden or Leicester Square Underground stations.

What type of exhibits are on display at the London Transport Museum?

The collection includes a vast array of historic vehicles, including early horse-drawn omnibuses, vintage double-decker buses, and the world's first steam-powered underground trains. It also displays classic transport design posters and interactive transit simulators.

Are there places to eat at these museum sites?

Each of these attractions features an on-site cafe or coffee shop serving refreshments, snacks, and light meals during opening hours. Picnic areas are also available at the larger outdoor venues, such as Brooklands Museum and Greenwich Park.

How much time should I allocate to visit the museums in Greenwich?

To fully explore the Cutty Sark, the National Maritime Museum, and the Royal Observatory, you should plan to spend at least half a day to a full day in the area. A combined day pass is highly recommended if you intend to visit multiple venues in a single trip.