London’s Best Small and Unusual Museums
Good things come in small packages...
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Step off the museum tourist trail and discover some of London’s most unique, lesser known and sometimes, by chance, smallest museums. You know what they say: good things come in small packages…
The Best Small & Unusual Museums in London
The Fan Museum, Greenwich
Thought fans were just an accessory, a way to keep cool in the heat? There’s much more to it that that. The history of fans in fact spans 3,000 years. Learn how they are considered an art form and prevailed through the Dark Ages at The Fan Museum in Greenwich. They also host regular fan-making workshops. 12 Crooms Hill, Greenwich SE10 8ER
Leighton House Museum, Kensington
The former home of Victorian artist Frederic, Lord Leighton. It’s a ‘private palace of art’, a jaw-droppingly vibrant mini museum adorned with Islamic tiles and bewitching mosaics. 12 Holland Park Road, Kensington W14 8LZ
Best Art Exhibitions in London
Horniman Museum and Gardens, Forest Hill
Opened by Frederick John Horniman in Victorian times, the Horniman Museum and Gardens continues to be a source of inspiration in South London. Hosting an aquarium, anthropology collections, vintage musical instruments, a dedicated Butterfly House and so much more, this museum is by no means small – see their 16-acres of garden – but makes for a really unique experience. 100 London Road, Forest Hill SE23 3PQ
Garden Museum, Lambeth
Perched at the end of the Waterloo bridge, the Garden Museum is a kitsch hidden gem in the centre of town. Spread over two floors and with a cafe that changes its delectable dishes weekly, it’s a must-visit for garden (and food) lovers. Lambeth Palace Road, Lambeth SE1 7LB
Museum of Brands, Notting Hill
We find consumer culture absolutely fascinating. If you do too, explore the Museum of Brands to delve into some of the most well-known brands and how they’ve shaped the world as we know it. 111 – 117 Lancaster Road, Notting Hill W11 1QT
The Cinema Museum, Kennington
Love cinema? The Cinema Museum, housed inside the former Lambeth Workhouse for 20 years, is a hub of history all about cinema. Whilst their fundraising campaign to secure its future in the Lambeth Workhouse ensues, they’ve got a rich events schedule featuring screenings, talks, book launches, film clubs and more. The Master’s House, 2 Dugard Way (off Renfrew Road), Kennington SE11 4TH
