Its time to be an intrepid London explorer - take a ramble off the beaten track and boldly go where tourists seldom tread! So don your safari hats and get ready to discover some of London's hidden treasures, little-known or out-of-the-way museums that even London natives might not recognize.
Bethnal Green Museum of Childhood
Cambridge Heath Road, E2
Come here to see dolls and doll houses, toys and costumes of childhood.
Bank
Clink Prison Museum
The historic Southwark gaol that gave its name to prisons everywhere
1 Clink Street, London, Greater London, England, SE1 9DG London Bridge
Epping Forest Museum
Queen Elizabeth Hunting Lodge, Rangers Road, Chingford, E4
This museum, housed in an authentic Elizabethan hinting lodge, tells the story of Epping Forest and the people who lived there.
Garden Museum
Lambeth Palace Road, SE1
The museum is housed in an old church, now restored. In the churchyard stand the tombs of the Tradescants, father and son, plant hunters and royal gardeners. Incongruously, nearby is the tomb of Captain Bligh of Mutiny on the Bounty fame, whose reputation puts him about as far from the genteel pastime of gardening as it is possible to get. Permanent exhibits of gardening history and antique tools.
Waterloo or Victoria, then bus 507
Geffrye Museum
Kingsland Road, E2,
Furniture and art carefully arranged in a series of period rooms. Housed in lovely Georgian almshouses formerly owned by the Ironmongers Guild.
Liverpool Street, then bus 22A, 22B, or 149
Royal College of Music Museum of Instruments
Prince Consort Road, SW7
Rare and beautiful musical instruments from as far back as the 15th-century grace this small museum.
William Morris Gallery
Lloyd Park, Forest Road, Walthamstow, E17,
Devoted to the life and works of this remarkable artist, social activist, and founder of the Arts and Crafts movement.
Walthamstow Central
These are just a few of the many fascinating London museums. For a list of museums and galleries online see below. Remember that opening times may change. The best way to ensure you aren't disappointed is to phone the museum directly, but if you are in London a good alternative is the great Time Out guide, or the BTA's London Planner, available at most newsstands in London, and from tourist kiosks. Enjoy your travels, intrepid explorer.
More London Museums and Galleries Online
British Museum
Dickens House Museum
Freud Museum
Hayward Gallery
Institute of Contemporary Arts
Kew Bridge Steam Museum
London Canal Museum
London Transport Museum
London Film Museum
Museums Association of Great Britain
National Army Museum
Ragged School Museum, The
Royal Air Force Museum
Sherlock Holmes Museum
Sir John Soane's Museum
The State Rooms, Buckingham Palace
The Wallace Collection
