Culture
Sir John Soane’s Museum, Holborn
There’s nothing quite like the house and museum created by Sir John Soane on the edge of Lincoln’s Inn Fields, London’s largest public square. Throughout his life the great Georgian architect and collector worked on the buildings that he bought between 1792 and 1823, transforming them into a home and a repository for his extensive collection of art and antiquities. A kaleidoscope of light and dark, the museum marries disparate styles and traditions and is brimming with architectural models and an Egyptian sarcophagus.
V&A, South Kensington
Take a turn off Exhibition Road through the towering limestone entrance of the Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A) and you’ll find yourself surrounded by a spectacularly diverse collection that spans ceramics, furniture, fashion, fine art and more. Whether you’re a history buff or craving something more modern, this beloved treasure trove has you covered. Start with Raphael’s cartoons before taking a gander at Grayson Perry’s Brexit vases and finishing with the towering plaster cast of Trajan’s Column. Photographers will be pleased to hear that a new photo centre opened in 2023.
Tate Modern, Southwark
If you only have time to hit one museum, the Tate Modern is hard to beat. Since it opened in the former Bankside Power Station in 2000, it has become one of the world’s most famous modern and contemporary art galleries, with permanent residents including Pablo Picasso and Henri Matisse. Keep an eye on its spangled roll-call of temporary shows, as well as the blockbuster installations that take over its mighty Turbine Hall.
The British Museum, Bloomsbury
The world’s first national public museum traces its origins back to the 1750s but the striking glass dome added by Norman Foster in 2000 shows it’s moved with the times. Don’t miss the Parthenon sculptures and the Rosetta Stone, the artefact that helped unlock the meaning of ancient hieroglyphs. Luckily, the museum’s enduring appeal is easy to decode.
Koko, Camden
After a blaze struck north London’s landmark live-music venue in 2020, Archer Humphryes Architects was tasked with bringing it back to life. The imaginative restoration project turned a cavernous collection of adjoining buildings into an easily navigable, multi-functioning mecca for music fans. Its sleek and opulent interiors are designed by Pirajean Lees.
Hayward Gallery, Southwark
The Brutalist architecture of the Southbank Centre’s iconic institution is the perfect match for bold and ambitious art and installations. Since it opened its doors in 1968, the Hayward Gallery has constantly innovated and strived to put on shows that connect with what’s going on in the world. Its year-round programme includes solo displays from adventurous and innovative artists such as Gilbert & George, Mickalene Thomas & Lindner and Yoshitomo Nara.
V&A East Storehouse, Hackney Wick
This storage facility doubles as a museum in its own right – albeit it sits in a somewhat off-radar area in East London. Fortunately, it will be joined by the V&A East in spring 2026, which will add to the attractions. Expect a pleasing jumble of articles, from signage to statues, a full-sized 15th-century domed roof to an entire Frank Lloyd Wright-designed office.
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