We get it, the Natural History Museum's great and the V&A's always a winner, but have you ever seen a wholphin skull? Take a few steps off the beaten track and you'll find a powder keg of curious venues, wacky collections and immersive exhibitions, all poised and ready to entertain you in the city. We've searched around and uncovered some of the quirky London museums that you might not know about. Check them out below.
Freud Museum
Hampstead: 20 Maresfield Gardens, London NW3 5SX
Delve into the private life of the founder of psychoanalysis (Sigmund Freud) with a visit to the Freud Museum in Hampstead. See the now-infamous patient couch as you explore the notorious thinker's home office and take a look at some of his pioneering theories and trailblazing works, alongside a number of other guest exhibitions, including a recent look at Sigmund's impact on South America. Admission for adults starts from just £14. Fair, if you think about it.
Enjoy your psychology-filled day.
Dennis Severs' House
Spitalfields: 18 Folgate St, London E1 6BX
A museum truly unlike any other in the city (and tucked away amongst the buzzing bars and back streets of Spitalfields), Dennis Severs' House will take you on an immersive adventure into the fictional home of 18th century Huguenot silk weavers. Venture around ten stunningly decorated candlelit rooms as you attempt to discover what's happened to the fabled inhabitants. Hailed as a 'still life', this is a London museum that feels frozen in time, and is a must for those with a fancy for a decadent history.
A trip back in time.
Sir John Soane's Museum
Holborn: 13 Lincoln's Inn Fields, London WC2A 3BP
One of the ultimate unique museums in London, Sir John Soane's Museum is a treasure trove of historical gems. Step through the unassuming Georgian townhouse doors and you'll find walls covered with paintings, statues and antiquities, including a 3,000-year-old sarcophagus. As you weave between tight rooms and corridors, get familiar with impressive stone-work over the ages. Trust us, given its proximity to Holborn, this feels like a whole other world.
Sir John Soane's Museum is only a hop, skip and a jump from Holborn underground.
Pollock's Toy Museum
Fitzrovia: 1 Scala St, London W1T 2HL
Pollock's Toy Museum is bringing you a heavy dose of childhood nostalgia (perfect for leaving the hustle of being an adult in London behind). As quirky museums in London go, this Fitzrovia destination doesn't disappoint. Take a look at toys through the ages with everything from teddy bears to folk favourites and dolls houses to puppets over six intimate rooms. Currently in 2024, two pop-ups in London and Leadenhall are housing the collection until a new location is found.
Bizarre museums? This playground's a must for families and big kids alike.
The Viktor Wynd Museum of Curiosities
Bethnal Green: 11 Mare St, Cambridge Heath Rd, London E8 4RP
Combining fact with fiction, The Viktor Wynd Museum of Curiosities is up there with the most entertaining and unusual museums in London. Expect an eccentric jumble of shrunken heads, wholphin bones (that's a killer whale-dolphin hybrid), cyclops skulls and fairies galore as Viktor Wynd's eccentricities are celebrated in a cosy basement space. One of our favourite parts? Head for absinthe cocktails in the bar upstairs to make a real trip of it.
For the strangest offerings, Bethnal Green's got you covered.
Fan Museum
Greenwich: 12 Crooms Hill, London SE10 8ER
Whilst its name may leave you feeling uninspired, Greenwich's Fan Museum is an unexpected goldmine. Housing over 4,000 items, the venue will teach you the history of the fashionable accessory whilst showcasing some of the most exquisite pieces from around the world. Sounds fan-tastic.
Gaze at handheld artworks.
Hunterian Museum
Holborn: 43 Lincoln's Inn Fields, London WC2A 3PE
Not for the faint-hearted or easily squeamish (but perfect for a date), the Hunterian Museum is a haven of oddities. Filled with countless jars of animals, body parts and organs, this one-of-a-kind collection will have you gawping for hours. A celebration of the art and science of surgery, this truly unique specimen collection dates all the way back to the 18th century, with surgeon anatomist John Hunter at the heart of its work.
A strong contender in the list of London's most quirky museums.
Paradox Museum
Knightsbridge: 90 Brompton Road, London SW3 1JJ
Found opposite Harrods, Paradox Museum is a brand new opening that's all about exiting real life; getting a taste of reality-defying spaces while playing with the boundaries of space and physics. From zero gravity experiences to camouflage rooms, vortex tunnels and more, this den of illusions is a step away from your usual museum experience.
Appear to defy the laws of physics at Paradox Museum.
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