London – an art or history fanatic’s dream.

One of the great things about our city is the vast number of fascinating things to do to occupy your day, and this includes all manner of museums and art galleries to suit every taste. So, whatever your interests, you can easily enjoy a rainy London afternoon in the company of fantastic artefacts from across the globe – if you know where to look.

1. Museum of London Docklands

Nearest Station: West India Quay (DLR) / Canary Wharf (Underground)
Entry Price: FREE

This one is particularly close to our hearts, with a history well worth discovering. Focusing heavily on the trade industry through the ages, their selection of permanent, immersive galleries ranges from details about slavery to the port’s prime spot in the British empire. In addition, until 8th May 2022, you can learn more about the ongoing impact of the Port of London in their special, limited exhibition, ‘London: Port City’.

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2. Jack the Ripper Museum

Nearest Station: Tower Hill (Underground)
Entry Price: Adults £10, Children £8

For those fascinated by London’s grizzly Victorian past, the Jack the Ripper Museum is ready and waiting. Situated in a historic Victorian house that really helps to immerse you in your surroundings, the museum tells the full story of Jack the Ripper’s murders and victims as you step back in time to 1888.

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3. V&A Museum

Nearest Station: South Kensington (Underground)
Entry Price: FREE

The Victoria and Albert Museum always has an exhibition worth seeing. From ancient Chinese ceramics to Alexander McQueen evening dresses, you can whittle away the hours exploring the museum’s 1.2 million+ objects across a number of wonderful collections. Please bear in mind that entry to some limited exhibitions will cost extra.

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4. Natural History Museum

Nearest Station: South Kensington (Underground)
Entry Price: FREE (Donations Appreciated)

A firm favourite amongst visitors to London, there’s a good reason the Natural History Museum is so iconic. With its detailed exhibits on everything from dinosaurs to the ocean to the wildlife we share our home with every day, there’s something for children and adults alike. Limited exhibitions include ‘Wildlife Photographer of the Year’, celebrating powerful nature photography, and ‘Our Broken Planet’, which explores the ways in which humans have transformed the natural world.

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5. National Maritime Museum

Nearest Station: Greenwich (Train Station) / Cutty Sark (DLR)
Entry Price: FREE

The National Maritime Museum holds a trove of maritime treasures, and is just one of the offerings in the Royal Museums Greenwich group – alongside Cutty Sark, Queen’s House and Royal Observatory. For its variety of amazing articles, this is another attraction that just had to make the list. As if being the home of JMW Turner’s largest painting, ‘The Battle of Trafalgar’, wasn’t enough, there are also interactive exhibits and historical wonders, such as Admiral Nelson’s jacket and a pocket watch worn by a passenger aboard the Titanic.

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6. Whitechapel Gallery

Nearest Station: Aldgate East (Underground)
Entry Price: FREE (Donations Appreciated)

The Whitechapel Gallery is situated in a beautiful historic building, and describes itself as a house of adventure, full of great art and ideas from around the corner and around the world. Follow in the footsteps of modern masters like Pablo Picasso and Frida Kahlo, as well as some more local figures who premiered in this very space. And, with a bookshop and restaurant on-site, you truly can make a full day of it. Being a registered charity, we recommend giving a small donation as you leave.

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Of course, this is by no means an extensive list, but each and every entry is definitely worth checking out. And when you’re finished exploring, your brain soaked in new knowledge and wonderment, a bed at the Lansbury is the perfect way to round of your day.

To book a room, call 0203 489 5050, or email us at info@lansburyhotel.com