The Best Museums To Visit In West London

London is home to an abundance of incredible educational institutions that are guaranteed to provide an informative family day out. Nowhere is this more true than in West London, particularly in South Kensington, where three of the UK’s finest and largest museums are clustered together as neighbours. In fact, the area is nicknamed Albertopolis, after Queen Victoria’s husband, Prince Albert, who was a driving force behind the development of the area as a cultural and educational centre.

Victoria and Albert Museum

The first major museum in the Albertopolis area, the Victoria and Albert Museum and its stunning entrance arch are barely a two-minute walk from South Kensington station. Established in 1852, the V&A, as its commonly known, was named in honour of the Empress of India and her husband, and is home to a permanent collection of 4.5 million items, making it the world’s largest decorative arts and design museum.

Design Museum

Science Museum

Explore the history of the masterminds of mankind and their groundbreaking discoveries at the Science Museum, the second of the Albertopolis museums. The entrance can be found on Exhibition Road, behind the Natural History Museum and just a short walk from South Kensington station. Founded in 1957, the museum and its many interactive exhibits attract 3.3 million visitors every year.

The Clockmakers’ Museum

It’s time to stop dawdling and get down to the London Clockmakers’ Museum. Again, strictly speaking this is part of another museum – the Science Museum – although it was previously located in Guildhall in the City of London. The museum houses over 1,000 watches, 80 clocks, 25 marine chronometers and a range of sundials which together create a tapestry of horological chronology from 1600 to the modern day.

National Army Museum

Fittingly situated in Chelsea, residing next to the Royal Hospital Chelsea, home of the iconic ‘Chelsea Pensioners’ veteran community, the National Army Museum is the principal museum of the British Army. Trace the history of the army from 1066, through chronologically exhibited uniforms and exhibits, right up to the present day.

Natural History Museum

One of the most stunning architectural contributions gifted to London by the Victorians, the Natural History Museum epitomises the splendor and sophistication, as well as the fascination with knowledge of nineteenth century Britain. Investigate the vast range of specimens that hint towards the complex history of nature in the third museum of the Albertopolis cultural district next to South Kensington station.

Hintze Hall

Okay, so technically this is the entrance hall of the Natural History Museum, but that doesn’t really matter because Hintze Hall harbours more in the way of wonder than most other museums could only ever dream of. Representing 4.5 billion years of natural history, the hall contains a 25-metre blue wale skeleton, a rock as old as our solar system itself and a 2.5-tonne banded iron formation that recorded the birth of life on Earth.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.