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Museum of London

150 London Wall, Barbican, England

Description

The Museum of London includes exhibits and items documenting London's history from prehistoric to modern times. It is located on the Wall of London (a remnant of which can be seen), in the City of London, near the Barbican Centre and straight north from St Paul's. The collection is pretty extensive (6m objects), and the layout consists of chronological galleries.

Access & Transport

*** The new museum location will be in the heart of the Smithfield area *** The current location is midway between Barbican and St Paul's tube stations (5mins walk) with Moorgate a little further away to the east. There are several bus services stopping next to the museum (4, 56, 76, 100 at the time of this review) along Little Britain st, Aldersgate st or London Wall. If you drive there, take not the congestion charge is applicable on weekdays and there are several parkings nearby. The museum is fully accessible with lift from the ground floor to the entrance and within the museum.

Instructions & Recommendations

*** The museum is now closed and will reopen in 2026 *** We would suggest combining this activity with a visit to St Paul's Cathedral and/or the Barbican Centre - one can easily walk from one to the other.

Meta review

Not the best known of the city's many museums, reviews are overall very positive with visitors stating that they found it surprisingly interesting, in particular the early years of the city. The main negative comments are that it doesn't measure up to the larger museums in London.

Environmental & Social

The museum has a comprehensive sustainability policy but with very few figures. We do not see this activity as having a high environmental impact in any case. Slightly positive from a social perspective as it helps spread culture

Conclusion

The Museum of London is a niche offering that provides a wealth of information and exhibits about the city. Always interesting to see how seemingly random a village turns into a large town and then can either disappear or thrive. Non-british visitors would unlikely be familiar with so many details about the impact of the plague, the Great Fire and the Blitz. Given that entrance is free, we think it is an excellent option for those who have already seen the highlights of the city, especially on a rainy or cold day (or both...).

Key positive

A wealth of information on a seemingly narrow topic

Free entrance

Different from the standard art or science museums

Key negative

No masterpiece to see

Location slightly off the main tourist areas

Suitability

Suitable for all ages but kids under 10-12 may find it boring. Accessible to visitors with reduced mobility and induction loops are available.

About this Rating

TYPE

Onsite

RESEARCHED IN

May 2024

PROVIDER

Koreval

Included Items
None
Timing
Duration of visit
closed 24-26 Dec

av. transport time:0h 30m

est. visit time:1h 30m

Regulated hours

Monday -

Tuesday -

Wednesday -

Thursday -

Friday -

Saturday -

Sunday -

Pricing
Free

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