Best Small Museums in London

Today I want to bring you A Lady in London’s guide to the best small museums in London. While the UK capital is known for behemoths like the V&A, there are a lot of pint-size museums to explore as well.

One of the most exciting things about London’s small museums is that they go in-depth into niche topics. Whether you get excited about cartoons or history, gardening or banking, there’s a place for you.

Benjamin Franklin House

I had never heard of the Benjamin Franklin House museum before I moved to the UK capital, but when I learned of a museum in London dedicated to one of the most famous Americans in history, I had to go.

And I’m glad I did. It’s one of the best small museums in London for American history lovers.

Benjamin Franklin House is located in the heart of central London right around the corner from Charing Cross station. It’s tucked away down a narrow street lined on both sides by beautiful Georgian buildings.

I went for one of the museum’s Historical Experience tours, a theatrical guided visit with multimedia effects.

It brought the Grade I listed house—where Benjamin Franklin lived for nearly 16 years—to life, and taught me things I never knew about him.

Cartoon Museum

Another of the best small museums in London is the Cartoon Museum. Located in Fitzrovia, it’s dedicated to British cartoon history.

Every famous character is represented, from Dennis the Menace to Judge Dredd. There are interactive exhibits, too.

There are also great temporary exhibitions on throughout the year. I particularly enjoyed one about cartoons during World War I when I visited.

Leighton House Museum

Over in Holland Park, the Leighton House Museum is the former home of Victorian painter Frederic, Lord Leighton.

I fell in love with the stunning Middle Eastern interiors as soon as I walked in, and couldn’t take my eyes off the Syrian tiles and Egyptian screens.

The works of art upstairs—many of them by Leighton himself, but others by famous artists such as John Everett Millais—are also great to see.

Museum of Brands

Located in Notting Hill, the Museum of Brands is another of the best small museums in London.

This museum showcases the history of British consumer culture from the Victorian era to the present.

A narrow walkway lined with display cases packed full of products from each decade offers insights into the country’s history through everyday goods and commemorative objects.

Despite having grown up in the US, I recognized a lot of the contemporary brands. It was also fun to see which older brands had strong presences in both countries.

Museum of the Home

Set in a beautiful historic building in Shoreditch, the Museum of the Home (formerly the Geffyre Museum) is dedicated to the history of the British middle-class home.

With displays of furniture and interiors spanning the centuries, it gives an idea of what household life was like in various periods of history.

On a recent visit, I explored the museum and went for a walk in the garden behind it. I loved the furniture inside, and the garden is worth a visit for its pretty flowers and seasonal plants.

Bank of England Museum

Given my former identity as a banker, I can’t help including the Bank of England museum on my list of the best small museums in London.

Appropriately located right by Bank tube station in the City of London, the museum showcases the history of both the building and the British banking system.

The Bank of England Museum has interactive exhibits and special exhibitions that feature themes like the Bank of England during World War I.

Florence Nightingale Museum

My inner feminist couldn’t resist the Florence Nightingale Museum, another of the best small museums in London.

The museum is hiding in plain sight. It’s tucked away inside St Thomas’ Hospital right across the Thames from the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben.

The museum is refreshingly modern, and takes visitors through several circuits detailing Florence Nightingale’s childhood, nursing career—including the Crimean War, when she rose to international fame—and later life.

Garden Museum

A visit to London’s Garden Museum in Lambeth is a must for anyone who loves English gardens.

Housed in a stunning deconsecrated church, the museum has exhibits on gardening through the centuries, as well as a cafe serving all kinds of food.

The highlight for many people is the peaceful garden in the back. It certainty was for me when I went. The Garden Museum gift shop has a lot to tempt visitors, too.