London's Top Museums, London, England (D)

The image of medieval Tower of London that once chilled the stoutest of hearts is one of many symbols of London and Britain. Step inside to embark on a journey of almost thousand years and discover the horror stories and the legends behind nation’s leading attraction. Among the exhibits of the Museum is the Imperial State Crown worn by the queen on royal ceremonies, the largest cut diamond in the world set in the Sovereign's Scepter, the medieval weapons and armor, instruments of torture and other historic artifacts. Nearest Underground Station: Tower Hill.

This large, modern museum exhibits the artifacts from all over the world, particularly from the former British Empire. The large halls of the museum exhibit the 5000 years old Egyptian mummies, ancient Roman stone carving, the finest pieces of Greek pottery and arms, with the top floor dedicated to Asian cultures. The changing exhibitions include interactive displays and hi-tech presentations. There are numerous cafes and shops settled inside the museum offering books, gifts and souvenirs. Audio guides are also available in different languages. The entry is free and it is open daily from 10am to 5:30pm. Nearest Underground Station: Tottenham Court Road.

Islington Museum opened its doors to the public for the first time in 2008. It’s thematically arranged collections explore the history of the borough and its development throughout the years from Roman times to modern days. It is a modern museum offering exciting audio and video displays along with historic objects, maps, documents and photography. Nearest Underground Station: Highbury & Islington.

Situated by the River Thames in central London, Design Museum is a relatively small museum, two floors of which display an array of unique deigns in the fields of fashion, architecture, graphic and industrial product. Open for the first time in 1989, Design Museum claims to be the first museum of modern design in the world. It is home to various touring exhibitions, seminars and workshops. The museum also offers hands-on activities for children. Open daily 10am-5.45pm. Nearest Underground Station: Tower Hill, London Bridge.

The Imperial War Museum’s biggest exhibit HMS Belfast is a Royal Navy Cruiser permanently docked on River Thames. Once the pride of the British Naval Forces, HMS Belfast saw action during World War II and Korean War and today is open as a museum. The museum’s guidebook divides the ship into three sections: ‘Life on board the ship’, ‘The inner workings’ and ‘Action Stations’ presenting the vessel’s operational rooms, engine compartments and battle stations. Opening hours: March - October 10am-6pm; November - February 10am-5pm. Nearest Underground Station: London Bridge.

The Imperial War museum is Britain’s largest military museum. Its extensive collections include aircraft, tanks and other military vehicles, photography and art displays, documents and radio recordings, video materials and much more. The modern museum has several rooms with interactive displays such as World War I Experience and Holocaust exhibition which will catch your eye and touch your senses. The photography is allowed and admission is free. Nearest Underground Station: Lambeth North.

London Dungeon is a popular museum of horror recreating history’s most macabre events. Over forty exhibitions of the museum present such experiences as the Labyrinth of the Lost, Judgement, Jack the Ripper, Great Fire of London, Great Plague and many others featuring state of the art visual displays, actor performances and unique decorations. The touch of extreme and the unusual nature of the venue ensured its huge popularity. Not recommended for and people with nervous disposition and unaccompanied children. Open Daily 10am to 7pm. Nearest Underground Station: London Bridge.

Settled inside a former flower market, London Transport Museum displays examples of capital’s public transportation of 19th and 20th century and explores the impact the development of the transport network has had on the population of the city. Among the artifacts and exhibits of the museum there are numerous Iconic London buses, tube carriages, railway locomotives decorated with the posters, maps, documents and mannequins depicting particular historic time frame. Nearest Underground Station: Convent Garden.

Crowning the Trafalgar Square in the heart of the city is The National Gallery, London, one of the most visited attractions in Britain, not just because of its location. The gallery’s numerous large halls display the fascinating paintings of the most prominent European artists, some dating back from 13th century. The art presented here belongs to the public and the entrance to see it is free. Open daily 10am-6pm, Fridays 10am - 9pm. Nearest Underground Station: Charing Cross

National Portrait Gallery was founded in the middle of the 19th century to preserve the art depicting the most prominent British characters. The collections of the gallery include paintings, caricatures, photography, drawings and sculpture. In addition to the portrait gallery collection, the National Portrait Gallery houses changing exhibition of contemporary art. The admission is free. Nearest Underground Station: Charing Cross.

Settled inside a beautiful Romanesque building, Natural History Museum is home to over 70 million exhibits and artifacts arranged and categorized in five main collections: Entomology, Mineralogy, Paleontology, Botany, and Zoology. A must visit attraction features fascinating exhibits and media displays such as full scale moving dinosaurs, exciting earthquake simulator chamber, Darwin Room, real looking animals, geology specimen and much more. Admission is free. Open daily: 10am-6pm. Nearest Underground Station: South Kensington.

A part of National Museum of Science and Industry, Science Museum is another major attraction in London exhibiting over 300 thousand priceless items such as the first typewriter, steam engines, various clocks and their mechanisms, medical instruments and tools some of which are dating back to ancient times. There are also numerous interactive media displays that give a glimpse into the invention routes of the development process of the machines we can not image living without today. The admission to the museum is free; however a touring exhibition here may incur a charge. Open daily from 10am-6pm. Nearest Underground Station: South Kensington.

Shakespeare’s Globe Exhibition is settled inside the famous Globe Theatre and is dedicated to Shakespeare and his contribution to literature and theatrical world. The genuine clothing and furniture items, original plays scripts and other historical artifacts are presented her for public viewing. Opening Times: 1 October to 5 May- Open daily: 10am to 5pm; 6 May to 2 October Open daily: 9am to 12 midday & 12.30pm to 5pm. Nearest Underground Station: London Bridge or Bankside Pier.

Sherlock Holmes Museum is privately-run museum dedicated to Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s popular fictional character. The museum is settled inside a beautiful Georgian house on 221b Baker Street where Sherlock Holmes and Doctor Watson were reported to have resided at the end of the 19th century as Mrs Hudson’s tenants. Open daily 9.30am - 6pm. Nearest Underground Station: Baker Street.

Tate Britain is a national art gallery founded at the end of 19th century. It exhibits historical and contemporary collections of paintings and sculptures by British artists. The gallery’s facilities include Library, Archive and Reading rooms, as well as a café and a restaurant. Admission is free. Open daily 10.00 - 17.50. Nearest Underground Station: Pimlico.

One of London’s greatest symbols, Tower Bridge is a fine architectural piece that houses a museum which provides information about the history of the bridge, its steam engine mechanisms and structural features. Named after the Tower of London located in the vicinity, the popular sight also offers incredible views from its high-level Walkways. Opening times: 1 April - 30 September 10.00am - 5.30pm; 1 October - 31 March 9.30am - 5.00pm. Nearest Underground Station: Tower Hill.

The Westminster Abbey Museum is nestled inside an 11th century crypt, the oldest part of the Westminster Abbey. Its exhibits include the funeral sculptures of the Royal family and Britain’s most famous rulers, as well as medieval arms, glass, fragments of sculptures. A recent addition to the display includes England’s oldest altarpiece. Opened from Monday to Saturday - 9.30am-4.30pm. Nearest Underground Station: Westminster.

Buckingham Palace is the official residence of Her Majesty the Queen situated in the heart of London. The Royal Mews, Queen's Gallery and State Rooms are open for public viewing. The twenty lavishly furnished State Rooms include paintings of Rubens and Rembrandt and some of the most exquisite examples of porcelain, sculpture and furniture in the world. The Royal Mews has a permanent display of State vehicles and Queen's Gallery is a permanent space in the palace offering exciting changing exhibitions from the Royal Collection. Nearest Underground Station: Victoria or Green Park.

Royal Academy of Art is an institution created to create, promote, preserve and appreciate visual arts. Settled in a historic Burlington House on Piccadilly, the academy is privately led by famous artists, authors and architects, it displays fascinating collections of paintings and sculptures among which is Michelangelo's Taddei Tondo. Opening hours: 10am-6pm Sunday to Thursday. Nearest Underground Station: Piccadilly or Green Park.

Grant Museum of Zoology and Comparative Anatomy is university zoological museum founded in 1828 and exhibiting over 60 thousand specimen of skeletons, well-preserved in fluid animals, some of which are now endangered or extinct. The museum also contains many of Henry Huxley and Robert Grant's original specimens. Open every weekday 13.00-17.00. Admission is free. Nearest Underground Station: Euston Square.

Tate Modern is a national art gallery and a part of the Tate group. With more than four million visitors per year, Tate modern is the most visited art gallery in the world. The extensive collections of international contemporary art from 1900 onwards are displayed in chronological order and arranged thematically into four groups: Material Gestures, Poetry and Dream, Energy and Process, States of Flux. Entry is free except for touring exhibitions. Open Sunday – Thursday, 10.00–18.00. Nearest Underground Station: Southwark.

The Victoria and Albert Museum, popularly known as V&A claims to be the largest museum of decorative arts and design displaying over 4 million exhibits and artifacts: textiles, ceramics, glass, jewelry, furniture, sculpture, paintings, photography, contemporary art, ancient relics, religious art and many more. It is settled in a magnificent both inside and outside building which has the finest architectural features of Edwardian and Victorian periods. Open 9.00-17.00 Monday to Friday. Nearest Underground Station: South Kensington.