Yes — most of London’s major museums are free to enter, including the British Museum, National Gallery, Natural History Museum, Science Museum, V&A and Tate Modern. This has been UK government policy since 2001: national museums receive public funding specifically so their permanent collections stay open to everyone, with no ticket required. But “free” comes with real caveats worth knowing before you plan a day around it — several well-known London museums charge full price, and even the free ones charge for special exhibitions. Here’s exactly which is which, verified as of 3 August 2026.

Quick Answer: Free vs Paid

Always Free (Permanent Collection)	Always Charges Admission
British Museum	Churchill War Rooms
National Gallery	HMS Belfast
Natural History Museum	IWM Duxford (Cambridgeshire)
Science Museum	The Courtauld Gallery
V&A (South Kensington and V&A East, Stratford)	Special/temporary exhibitions at any museum
Tate Modern & Tate Britain
National Portrait Gallery
Imperial War Museum London (Lambeth Road)
National Maritime Museum, Greenwich
Wallace Collection
Sir John Soane’s Museum

Checked against each institution’s own website, 3 August 2026. Museum policies do change, so if you’re planning around a specific visit, it’s worth a quick check of the museum’s own site beforehand.

Why Are London’s Museums Free?

Since 2001, the UK government has funded a set of national museums specifically so their core collections remain free to enter, on the principle that culture and history shouldn’t be limited by ability to pay. This is why London has one of the richest concentrations of free world-class museums anywhere — it’s a deliberate, long-standing funding policy, not a temporary promotion or a quiet marketing gimmick.

The Free Museums, in Detail

• British Museum — Two million years of human history, including the Rosetta Stone and the Parthenon sculptures. Free general admission every day; a timed-entry slot is recommended (not required) during peak season, April to August, when walk-up queues can run 45 minutes on summer weekends.
• National Gallery — Over 2,300 paintings from 1250 to 1900, in Trafalgar Square. No booking needed for the permanent collection.
• Natural History Museum — Dinosaur skeletons, the blue whale model, and the Earth and wildlife galleries, in South Kensington.
• Science Museum — Interactive exhibitions on space, medicine, technology and engineering, next door to the Natural History Museum.
• V&A (Victoria and Albert Museum) — The world’s largest museum of decorative arts, design and fashion, in South Kensington. A second free site, V&A East, opened in April 2026 at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in Stratford, with permanent galleries on craft and making.
• Tate Modern and Tate Britain — Modern and contemporary art at Bankside (Tate Modern), and British art from 1500 to today at Millbank (Tate Britain).
• National Portrait Gallery — Portraits of historically significant British figures, reopened in 2023 after a major renovation, next to the National Gallery.
• Imperial War Museum London — General admission is free at the Lambeth Road site (this is the important nuance covered below — not every IWM branch is free).
• National Maritime Museum, Greenwich — Britain’s naval history, a natural pairing with a visit to the Royal Observatory.
• Wallace Collection — An 18th- and 19th-century fine and decorative art collection housed in a former townhouse on Manchester Square.
• Sir John Soane’s Museum — The former home of architect Sir John Soane, densely packed with art and antiquities, near Lincoln’s Inn Fields.

The Catch: What You Still Pay For

“Free” applies to permanent collections only. Every museum on the list above charges separately for major temporary and special exhibitions — typically somewhere in the £12–£25 range per person, depending on the show. The V&A’s fashion blockbusters and Tate Modern’s large survey exhibitions are common examples. Donations are welcomed at all of these museums but are never required for general entry.

Separately, several well-known London museums and historic sites are not free at all, even though they’re easy to lump in with the list above:

• Churchill War Rooms and HMS Belfast — both charge full admission, and both are separate IWM branches from IWM London (see the mythbusting note below).
• IWM Duxford — the IWM’s aviation museum in Cambridgeshire, also charges admission.
• The Courtauld Gallery — a smaller but excellent Impressionist and Post-Impressionist collection at Somerset House, charging around £9 for adults, free for under-18s.

Currently Closed: London Museum

The Museum of London — now renamed London Museum — is currently closed while it relocates from its former London Wall site to a new, larger home in the historic market buildings at West Smithfield. It’s scheduled to reopen in November 2026. Once open, general admission is expected to remain free, in keeping with the museum’s previous policy, but this is worth double-checking closer to the reopening date if it’s a reason for your visit.

Do You Need to Book in Advance?

For most of the free museums, no booking is required — you simply walk in. The one notable exception is the British Museum during peak season (April to August), where a timed-entry slot is recommended to avoid a lengthy walk-up queue, even though entry itself is free. For a quieter visit generally, weekday mornings and Friday evenings (several museums, including the National Gallery, open late on Fridays) tend to be less crowded than weekend afternoons.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the British Museum free entry?

Yes, general admission to the British Museum is free every day, with no ticket required for the permanent collection. During peak season (April to August), booking a free timed-entry slot online is recommended to skip the walk-up queue, which can run around 45 minutes on summer weekends. Special exhibitions are ticketed separately.

Which museums are free in London?

The major free museums are the British Museum, National Gallery, Natural History Museum, Science Museum, V&A, Tate Modern, Tate Britain, National Portrait Gallery, Imperial War Museum London, the National Maritime Museum in Greenwich, the Wallace Collection, and Sir John Soane’s Museum. All offer free entry to their permanent collections, with charges only for special exhibitions.

Is the Imperial War Museum free?

It depends which site. Imperial War Museum London, on Lambeth Road, is free for general admission. However, three other IWM branches charge separately: Churchill War Rooms and HMS Belfast, both in London, and IWM Duxford in Cambridgeshire. These are commonly confused with IWM London because they share the same museum group, but they are separate, paid attractions.

Are all London museums free?

No. While London’s national museums are free, several well-known museums and historic sites charge full admission, including Churchill War Rooms, HMS Belfast, IWM Duxford, and the Courtauld Gallery. It’s a common misconception that every museum in London is free — always worth checking a specific attraction before assuming.

Do you need to book free museums in London in advance?

Generally no — most free museums allow walk-in entry with no booking. The main exception is the British Museum during April to August, where a free timed-entry slot is recommended to avoid queueing, though it isn’t strictly required.

Is the V&A free?

Yes. The V&A’s permanent collection is free at its main South Kensington site, and also at its newer V&A East site in Stratford, which opened in April 2026. Special and temporary exhibitions at either site are ticketed separately.

For more on planning a budget-friendly trip, see our Blog hub, or explore the history behind London’s landmarks in our Travel Guides.