When the autumn weather turns, London has one of the best answers in the world: big museums and galleries that are free to walk into. This guide covers six of them, what is free, what needs a ticket, and the late openings that make a wet evening worth planning.
Everything below comes from each museum’s own visitor page. Opening hours, closures and exhibitions change, so check the official page for your date before you go. If the sky clears, our guide to autumn in London has four parks worth a walk instead.
Free museums in London at a glance
| Best for | Wet days, families, art and science fans, evenings out |
| Free to enter | Natural History Museum, British Museum, V&A, Science Museum, National Gallery and Tate Modern (collection) |
| Late opening | British Museum, V&A and National Gallery on Fridays; Tate Modern on Fridays and Saturdays |
| Often extra | Special exhibitions, and at the Science Museum, Wonderlab and Power Up |
| Book ahead | The Science Museum asks for a free ticket; the British Museum and National Gallery recommend one |
Natural History Museum
The Natural History Museum says its galleries are free to explore. It lists daily opening from 10:00 to 17:50, with last entry at 17:30. Some exhibitions and events are ticketed, and the museum warns of queues at busy times such as weekends and school holidays. It also lists closures, including 9 October 2026 at the time of writing, so check the page for your date.
British Museum
The British Museum has free entry to its permanent collection and is open daily from 10:00 to 17:00, with late opening until 20:30 on Fridays. It advises booking a free ticket in advance for key information and priority entry in busy periods, though walk-in visits are accepted subject to capacity. Special exhibitions need a separate ticket, and the museum lists Korea (1 October 2026 to 31 January 2027) as one of them.
V&A South Kensington
The V&A says admission is free, with a separate charge for some exhibitions and events. It lists opening from 10:00 to 17:45, and until 22:00 on Fridays, although some galleries close after 17:45 on Fridays. General admission does not need advance booking, and the galleries start clearing 30 minutes before closing.
Science Museum
The Science Museum lists free entry, but asks you to pre-book a free general admission ticket. It is open daily from 10:00 to 18:00, with last entry at 17:15. Wonderlab and Power Up are separate paid experiences that need booking, and the IMAX theatre is listed as a separate booking. If you are not planning to pay for any of those, the free galleries are still a full day out.
National Gallery
The National Gallery says it is free to visit, with a charge for some exhibitions. It is open daily from 10:00 to 18:00, and until 21:00 on Fridays. You can book a free ticket for fast-track entry, but walk-up entry is also available. Exhibition tickets include general admission.
Tate Modern
Entry to the collection at Tate Modern is free, including the Turbine Hall. Exhibitions need paid tickets. The museum lists opening from 10:00 to 18:00 Sunday to Thursday and until 21:00 on Fridays and Saturdays, with last entry 30 minutes before closing. The Blavatnik Building also has views across the Thames, particularly from the restaurant on Level 6.
How to plan a rainy day without wasting it
- Pick one museum and one extra stop, not three museums. They are large and queues can build at busy times.
- Use Friday evenings for the late openings: the British Museum, V&A and National Gallery all stay open later, and Tate Modern stays open later on Fridays and Saturdays.
- Decide in advance whether you want a paid exhibition, because tickets are separate from free entry.
- Book the free tickets that the Science Museum asks for, and consider them for the British Museum and National Gallery.
- Check closing dates, especially around Christmas, when several of these museums list closures from 24 to 26 December.
Frequently asked questions
Are London museums really free?
The six in this guide are free to enter for their main collections, according to their own websites. Special exhibitions and some attractions inside them cost extra.
Which free museum is best for a rainy day?
The Natural History Museum and Science Museum are the easiest picks for families, while the National Gallery, British Museum and Tate Modern suit art and history fans. Choose by what you want to see, not by how many you can fit in.
Do I need to book a free museum ticket?
The Science Museum asks you to pre-book a free ticket. The British Museum and National Gallery recommend it but accept walk-ups, and the V&A does not require booking for general admission.
More from London
Want to leave the city instead? See our guide to day trips from London by train, or try Oxford for more museums that are free to enter.
