London is home to some of the world’s great museums – The British Museum, The National Gallery, and the Victoria and Albert.
But what if you’re craving something a little stranger? We have you covered.
If you want to get off the beaten track and explore some of the weirdest museums in the world, London should be the next city on your list. Check out these wild and wonderful museums, and let us know what you think!
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1. The Vagina Museum
The world’s only museum dedicated solely to the vulva and vagina, this informative and cheeky museum will teach you everything you ever wanted to know about ‘down there.’
Expect to learn a lot, even if you’re lucky enough to have your own.
Website: https://www.vaginamuseum.co.uk
Location: 18 Victoria Park Square, Bethnal Green, London E2 9PF
Admission: Free
Hours: Wednesday 10 am - 8 pm
Thursday – Sunday 10 am - 6 pm
2. The Fan Museum
Surprisingly, this is not the only fan museum in Europe!
There is an abundance of strange and unusual fans found in the historical record – after all, every gentlewoman used to carry a hand fan to keep herself nice and cool!
This museum also does a lovely afternoon tea!
Website: https://www.thefanmuseum.org.uk/
Location: 12 Crooms Hill, London SE10 8ER
Admission: £5 per adult/£3 per child
Hours: Wednesday to Saturday 11 am – 5 pm
3. The London Sewing Machine Museum
Do you want a niche museum? We have one!
If you’re an avid sewer or just interested in the history of technology, you’ll enjoy the London Sewing Machine Museum, located in Balham.
It’s home to a collection of more than 600 antique sewing machines, dating from 1850 to 1950.
Website: https://www.craftysewer.com/acatalog/London_Sewing_Machine_Museum.html
Location: Balham High Rd, Tooting Bec, London SW17 7AA
Admission: Free
Hours: The first Saturday of every month, 2 pm – 5 pm
4. God’s Own Junkyard
This psychedelic neon paradise is housed in a warehouse in Walthamstow, Northeast London.
Founded by late owner Chris Bracey, he got his start selling his neon creations to Hollywood directors such as Stanley Kubrick and Tim Burton.
Today, this warehouse shows off both neon salvage and art pieces.
Website: godsownjunkyard.co.uk
Location: Unit 12, Ravenswood Industrial Estate, Shernhall St, London E17 9HQ
Admission: Free
Hours: Friday and Saturday 11 am–10 pm
Sunday 11 am – 6 pm
5. Anaesthesia Heritage Centre
Following a recent refurbishment, the Anaesthesia Heritage Centre is very visitor friendly and is frequented by travelling anaesthesiologists and medical students.
The displays, which can get quite grisly, include the history of chloroform, pain relief in childbirth, including Queen Victoria’s own births.
Website: https://anaesthetists.org/Home/Heritage-centre
Location: 21 Portland Pl, London W1B 1PY
Admission: Free
Hours: Monday – Friday 9 am – 5 pm
6. Kirkaldy’s Testing Works
This purpose-built building was designed to house 'The Kirkaldy Machine,’ the original hydraulic testing machine designed by David Kirkaldy in 1874.
It was used to test new industrial materials during the 19th century to keep people safe.
Depending on the day, you can see the machines in action, and maybe even try your own hand at testing the strength of a parachute cord.
Website: www.testingworks.org.uk
Location: 99 Southwark St, London SE1 0JF
Admission: £8 - £15 depending on the length of the tour
Hours: Hours vary; check the website for upcoming open days.
7. Bethlem Museum of the Mind
Bethlem hospital was originally founded in 1247, where Liverpool Street Station is today.
It moved to a few other places in the City before settling in at this site in 1930.
Known as the origin of the word “bedlam,” this was a grim and exploitative place.
The museum chronicles this dark history and showcases artwork and writing by former patients.
Website: https://museumofthemind.org.uk/
Location: Bethlem Royal Hospital, Monks Orchard Rd, Beckenham BR3 3BX
Admission: Free
Hours: Wednesday – Saturday 9 am – 5 pm
8. Grant Museum of Zoology
Home to more than 67,000 specimens, this is London’s last university zoological museum.
Here, you can see remarkable examples of extinct animals, such as the bones of a Dodo and the bones and skins of a Quagga and Tasmanian Tiger.
Also, don’t miss the Micrarium (a museum within the museum) and the beloved jar of moles.
Website: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/culture/grant-museum-zoology
Location: Rockefeller Building, 21 University St, London WC1E 6DE
Admission: Free
Hours: Tuesday – Saturday 1 pm – 5 pm
9. Museum of Freemasonry
For an ancient secret society shrouded in mystery and conspiracy theories, the Freemason’s Hall in London is remarkably open about their rituals, artifacts, and memorabilia – or at least, they want us to think they are!
In addition to the fantastic free museum, they also offer regular free guided tours throughout the stunning art deco building.
Website: https://museumfreemasonry.org.uk/
Location: 60 Great Queen St, London WC2B 5AZ
Admission: Free
Hours: Monday – Saturday 10 am – 5 pm
10. The Magic Circle Museum
From one secretive society to another!
This museum isn’t open to the public – you must visit for a scheduled event that includes at least one magic show.
In addition to the basement museum filled with magical pop culture memorabilia, there are also a lot of incredible artifacts displayed throughout the entire building.
Website: https://themagiccircle.co.uk/
Location: Centre for the Magic Arts, 12 Stephenson Way, London NW1 2HD
Admission: Free
Hours: Hours vary; check the website for upcoming events.
11. House of Dreams
This East Dulwich museum/art project was started back in 1998 by Stephen Wright, who continues the magic today – this is part home, art gallery, and personal record.
Every inch of the space is decorated with dolls, false teeth, used wigs, old toys, and old wills, letters, and photographs collected from European junk markets.
Website: http://www.stephenwrightartist.com/houseofdreams.php
Location: 45 Melbourne Grove, London SE22 8RG
Admission: £12 per adult
Hours: Hours vary; check the website for upcoming open days.
12. Novelty Automation
Pushing the limits on the definition of museum, Novelty Automation is part art gallery, part museum, part arcade - and 100% fun and bizarre.
It’s filled with satirical game machines, all constructed by hand by cartoonist and engineer Tim Hunkin.
Check out the interactive divorce machine, the “My Nuke Personal Nuclear Reactor," and the Housing Ladder slot machine.
Website: https://www.novelty-automation.com/
Location: 1a Princeton St, London, WC1R 4AX
Admission: Free, but each machine costs £1 - £3 to play. You can play all games for £26.
Hours: Tuesday - Wednesday 11 am - 6 pm
Thursday 12 - 8 pm
Friday – Saturday 11 am – 6 pm
Sundays – 12 pm - 6 pm
13. Old Operating Theatre
This little museum is housed in the attic of the early eighteenth-century church of the old St Thomas’ Hospital.
This set-up predates the use of anaesthetics and antiseptics - it is the oldest surviving surgical theatre in Europe.
Make sure to poke around the herb garret, where herbs would be stored for making medicines.
Website: https://oldoperatingtheatre.com/
Location: 9a St Thomas St, London SE1 9RY
Admission: £7.50 per adult
Hours: Thursday - Sunday 10.30 am – 5.00 pm
*Note – The museum is regrettably not accessible and is undergoing refurbishment. It will reopen 1st April 2023
14. Dennis Severs House
This museum was started by Dennis Severs in 1979 – he was an American who bought a derelict house saved by the Spitalfields Trust.
In each room, you encounter crackling fires, lit candles, half-eaten meals, and echoing laughter just out of earshot.
There are mysteries to be solved, and strange instances to witness. Trust me – you need to look, listen, and pay attention.
Website: https://dennissevershouse.co.uk/
Location: 18 Folgate St, London E1 6BX
Admission: £15 (£20 on Friday evenings)
Hours: Friday 5 pm – 9 pm
Saturday and Sunday 12 pm – 4 pm
15. Viktor Wynd Museum of Curiosities, Fine Art, & UnNatural History
In almost any city in the world, Dennis Severs would undoubtedly win the moniker of the strangest museum.
However, we’re in London, and we must visit the wild and wonderful Viktor Wynd.
This museum isn’t for the faint of heart – it’s loaded with occult objects, taxidermy, and bizarre celebrity memorabilia, including Russel Brand’s pubic hair, The Rolling Stones used condoms and even Kylie Minogue’s poo.
Tucked amongst shrunken heads, old Happy Meal toys, pulp erotica, Feejee Mermaids, and two-headed kittens, you’ll find objects to horrify and delight you.
Even better, you can swig a strong cocktail before and after at The Absinthe Parlour & Cocktail Bar upstairs on the ground level.
Website: 11 Mare St, London E8 4RP
Location: https://www.thelasttuesdaysociety.org/museum/
Admission: £10 per adult/ £6 for concessions
Hours: Tuesday – Friday 3 pm – 11 pm
Saturday 12 pm – 11 pm
Sunday 12 pm – 10 pm
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