Whoever first said “the best things in life are free” could have easily included several of London’s museums in the list. It does come as a surprise to many expats who arrive in the British capital that these buildings filled with cultural treasures and history can be explored at no cost.
After the busiest and perhaps loudest time of the year, the summer school holidays, the traditional Autumn rain grants Londoners a new reason to enjoy the museums. It’s time to grab your brollies – then leave them in a designated stand or inside a bag – and discover these wonders.
London’s museum quarter in South Kensington
If you’re trying to avoid any drop of rain, the safest bet are the museums in South Kensington. You can take the subway – not the one North Americans are used to, but a pedestrian subway tunnel that connects the South Kensington underground station to three major museums. The Circle, District and Piccadilly lines all stop at the South Kensington station, so it’s fairly easy to get there.
Image source Wikimedia Commons.
Victoria and Albert Museum
The V&A museum is a top choice for those who love art, design and history. Named after Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, its foundations date back to the late 1800s and offers visitors a chance to see a collection of more than 2.8 million objects including sculpture, fashion, photography, furniture, jewellery, textiles and historic rooms.
The V&A is open daily and admission is free for all, with the exception of a few paid exhibitions. A trip to the café is also highly recommended as it’s beautiful on its own or with the company of a slice of cake.
Natural History Museum
Dating back to the late 1800s, the Natural History Museum is an invitation to explore nearly five billion years of our planet and beyond. The museum also supports current scientific research. More than five million people visit this collection of 80 million objects every year, including dinosaur fossils, mammals, insects, plants, and minerals.
Image source: Wikimedia Commons.
This stunning Romanesque building is open daily and admission is free of charge. There are also paid exhibitions and experiences worth visiting. Although walk-ins are accepted, booking a slot helps visitors save time in the queue.
Science Museum
Human innovation is celebrated in the London Science Museum, featuring exhibitions, iconic objects, and stories of remarkable scientific achievements. These include Crick and Watson’s DNA model and the Boulton and Watt engine, as well as iconic artefacts like the Apollo 10 capsule module and the first MRI machine.
Visitors can walk in although it’s recommended to book a free slot in advance. Other paid attractions include the immersive IMAX and flight simulators.
Image source Heather Cowper via Flickr.
Other free London museums and attractions for rainy days
Outside the museum quarter in South Kensington, other London museums will keep you warm, dry and inspired, without costing you a penny – unless you feel like making a voluntary donation of any amount. Other entry-free museums in London include:
- National Gallery (3-minute walk from Charing Cross station).
- National Portrait Gallery (5-minute walk from Charing Cross station).
- British Museum (5-7-minute walk from Tottenham Court Road, Holborn and Russell Square stations).
- Imperial War Museum (7-10-minute walk from Lambeth North and Elephant and Castle stations).
- Tate Modern (7-10-minute walk from Southwark and Blackfriars stations).
- Tate Britain (7-minute walk from Pimlico Station or 25-minutes from Victoria Station).
Besides museums, Londoners can take shelter from the rain in venues that are filled with a lively cultural scene, and many of them offer free attractions and exhibitions:
- Southbank Centre (3-minute walk from Waterloo station, and 7-minute walk from Embankment station).
- Barbican, especially its Conservatory: a huge indoor garden (4-minute walk from the Barbican station, and a 7-8 minute walk from Moorgate and Farringdon stations).
- Royal Opera House (2-minute walk from Covent Garden station, and 5-6-minute walk from Leicester Square and Charing Cross stations).
- Wellcome Collection, especially the beautiful reading room (3-minute walk from Euston Square station, and 7-minute walk from Warren Street and Euston stations).
- Sky Garden to see London from above for free (3-minute walk from Monument station).
Covered markets for rainy days in London
As the cold season is just beginning, residents will have more than enough time to enjoy the city’s free museums and attractions. If life indoors seems too limiting, there are other rain-safe things to do in Autumn and Winter.
While London markets are wonderful to visit all year round, some are perfect even on rainy days because they are covered – or at least partially covered. These are some of the spots for delicious food, as well as great options for crafts and gifts:
- Borough Market, the oldest food market in town (1-minute walk from London Bridge station).
- Old Spitalfields Market, for a variety of food, outfits, and handcrafted goods (5-7-minute walk from Liverpool Street and Shoreditch High St. stations).
- Covent Garden Market, although some Londoners may consider it a “tourist trap,” is still worth visiting for its artisan gifts and live performances by opera singers (5-minute walk from Covent Garden station).
- Leadenhall Market, for its beautiful Victorian architecture, shops, pubs and cafés (4-6-minute walk from Monument and Bank stations).
Enjoy the rain while it lasts
As migrants learn from locals that complaining about the rain – or the weather in general – is practically a national sport, it is a myth that the city’s climate is the most “miserable” in Europe. While London’s annual rainfall average is 23.8 inches, Paris gets fairly close with an average of 23.6, and Amsterdam champions it with an average of 27.5 inches of rain per year, according to the Met Office.
So, embrace the rainy days in London and take advantage of all the free museums and covered attractions the city has to offer.
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Andrea Juste is a writer and editor covering health, psychology, travel, productivity, thought leadership, and more. Andrea was born and raised in Brazil, where she worked for a decade as a journalist before moving to Italy in search of her roots, then the UK, to connect with different cultures. Based in London, she manages content marketing projects for clients worldwide.
