10 best museum exhibitions in London

As well as vast permanent collections, museums in London have new and exciting exhibitions to enjoy across the city. From contemporary works by era-defining artists to high-tech immersive experiences with visual effects, London museum exhibitions help the capital’s creative scene flourish.

Get your culture fix at ancient history exhibits, interactive exhibitions, photography collections and immersive experiences. With collections housed in buildings that are often masterpieces in their own right, the capital’s museums are a treasure trove of glorious art and ideas.

Many museum exhibitions in London are completely free to visit making a great day out for families and art lovers alike. Why not head to the capital’s best museums and marvel at these must-see museum exhibitions in London.

1. Christmas at The Postal Museum

Green Mail Rail ride travelling past interactive festive screens. — Christmas at The Postal Museum. Festive Mail Rail ride © The Postal Museum

Get the chance to discover a magical collection of festive letters at Christmas at The Postal Museum. Included with entry, this special exhibition showcases inclusive greeting cards by Black British makers. Take part in interactive lino printing sessions hosted by the museum and ride the Mail Rail with a festive twist. Until 2 Jan

Book your tickets now for Christmas at The Postal Museum.

2. Christmas at the Museum at The London Transport Museum

A man dressed in a Santa outfit holding a sack, in a London Tube. — Santa at the London Transport Museum. Image courtesy of the London Transport Museum.

Hop aboard a Routemaster-inspired sleigh and explore a wonderful collection of wintery posters at The London Transport Museum’s exhibition, included with entry. Weave your way through galleries of iconic heritage buses and trains on an immersive digital story trail, or track Santa down around the museum! Until 5 Jan

Book your tickets now for Christmas at the Museum.

3. Drawing the Italian Renaissance at the King’s Gallery

Drawing of three women by Raphael, The Three Graces. — Drawing the Italian Renaissance, Raphael, The Three Graces, c.1517–18. © Royal Collection Enterprises Limited 2024 | Royal Collection Trust. Image courtesy of the King's Gallery.

Discover drawings by renowned Italian artists including Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Raphael and Titian at the King’s Gallery. The exhibition included with entry, Drawing the Italian Renaissance showcases transformative works by more than 80 artists during this revolutionary artistic period – selected from the Royal Collection which holds one of the world’s greatest collections of Italian Renaissance drawings. Until 9 Mar

Book your tickets now for Drawing the Italian Renaissance.

4. A Silk Road Oasis: Life in Ancient Dunhuang at the British Library

Woman reading an information sheet below a scroll at the British Library exhibition. — A Silk Road Oasis: Life in Ancient Dunhuang at the British Library. Image courtesy of the British Library.

Uncover the stories of those who lived, worked in and travelled through Dunhuang more than 1,000 years ago with A Silk Road Oasis: Life in Ancient Dunhuang at the British Library. Featuring over 50 manuscripts, printed documents and pictorial works, discover a fascinating time capsule that delves into the intimate lives of artists, fortune-tellers, diplomats, Buddhists and nuns who lived in this remarkable community. Until 23 Feb

Book your tickets now for A Silk Road Oasis: Life in Ancient Dunhuang.

5. Medieval Women: In Their Own Words at the British Library

Meet the women of medieval Europe through their own words, visions and experiences at the British Library. Bringing together more than 140 extraordinary items across the centuries, Medieval Women: In Their Own Words delves into the rich and complex lives of women in the Middle Ages, uncovering their stories through manuscripts, documents, artefacts and more. Until 2 Mar

Book your tickets now for Medieval Women: In Their Own Words.

6. Healing Frequency at Moco Museum

Explore Marina Abramovic's solo exhibition Healing Frequency at Moco Museum and discover Abramovic's 55-year journey through the realms of art, spirituality and human consciousness. Included with entry to the museum, engage in performative dialogue that blends the boundaries between the spiritual and the physical – where observers have the chance to become participants. Until 10 Mar

Book your tickets now for Healing Frequency at Moco Museum.

7. Fragile Beauty: Photographs from the Sir Elton John and David Furnish Collection at V&A South Kensington

Photograph of woman in trailer of car with hair blowing in the wind. — Dakota Hair, 2004, by Ryan McGinley. © Ryan McGinley Studios. Image courtesy of the Victoria and Albert Museum.

Admire Elton John and David Furnish’s impressive photography collection of celebrities, performers and important moments in history at the V&A South Kensington. The thought-provoking exhibition, Fragile Beauty: Photographs from the Sir Elton John and David Furnish Collection, showcases over 300 rare prints from prominent photographers, telling the story of modern and contemporary photography through iconic images, many of which have never been seen before by the public. Until 5 Jan

8. Hew Locke: what have we here? at the British Museum

Kew Locke sitting on steps of exhibition at the British Museum. — Hew Locke, The Watchers at the British Museum 2024. Photograph © Richard Cannon. Image courtesy of the British Museum.

Join renowned Guyanese-British artist Hew Locke as he turns his lens on the British Museum collection. The groundbreaking new exhibition, Hew Locke: what have we here? explores the complex, and often shocking stories of imperialism and colonialism – told through objects from the museum’s collection offering a fresh perspective on the British Museum's history. Until 9 Feb

9. Barbie at the Design Museum

Model of the Barbie Dream House with pink and yellow furnishings. — 1962 Barbie Dream House. Photo: Mattel, Inc. Image courtesy of the Design Museum.

Journey through the history of Barbie with this major new exhibition at the Design Museum. Opening to coincide with the 65th anniversary of the Barbie brand, this thrilling showcase tells the story of the iconic doll’s design evolution. With special access to the extensive Barbie archives, rare and unique items are on display to explore the history of the era-defining brand. Until 23 Feb

10. Silk Roads at the British Museum

Blue and yellow map of the world drawing on paper. — Silk Roads at the British Museum. Map of the world from al-Idrisi’s Nuzhat al-mushtaq fi ikhoraq al-afaq (Pleasure of He who Longs to Cross the Horizons), 1533 manuscript of a 1154 original. © The Bodleian Libraries, University of Oxford. Image courtesy of the British Museum.

Travel back in time and discover treasures from Uzbekistan in Silk Roads at the British Museum. Explore the extensive trade networks that existed between AD 500 and 1000, connecting Asia, Africa and Europe, and see more than 300 objects from 29 institutions on display. Highlighting the diverse cultural exchanges along these historical trade routes, uncover monumental artifacts – from a seventh-century wall painting to eighth-century ivory chess pieces. Until 23 Feb

Museum exhibitions to book ahead

NAOMI: In Fashion at the V&A Museum

Naomi Campbell standing next to clothes and accessories featured in NAOMI: In Fashion exhibition. — NAOMI: In Fashion at the V&A Museum. Image Credit: Marco Bahler. Image courtesy of the Victoria and Albert Museum.

Explore the extraordinary 40-year career of fashion model Naomi Campbell at the V&A South Kensington. Developed with Naomi’s creative input and oversight, NAOMI: In Fashion showcases stand-out looks, accessories and fashion photography from key moments in her career. More than 100 outfits are on display, including a Thierry Mugler car-inspired corset, a pink Valentino Met Gala outfit and Vivienne Westwood platforms. Until 6 Apr

The World Of Tim Burton at the Design Museum

Tim Burton's Untitled (Dogs in space) featuring illustrations of colourful space characters. — The World of Tim Burton. Untitled (Dogs in space). 1998. © Tim Burton. Image courtesy of the Design Museum.

Delve into the fantastical World of Tim Burton in this major exhibition exploring the design of his unique aesthetic. See an endearingly misfit collection of drawings, paintings, photographs and set design – displayed at the Design Museum as the final stop in a decade-long world tour. Don’t miss out on works from signature films and projects including The Nightmare Before Christmas and The Melancholy Death of Oyster Boy and Other Stories. Until 21 Apr

Picasso: Printmaker at The British Museum

Picasso's Leaping bulls on white sketchbook. — Leaping bulls, 1950 © Succession Picasso/DACS, London 2024. Image courtesy of the British Museum.

Discover Picasso’s phenomenal experiments in printmaking in Picasso: Printmaker at The British Museum. Creating more than 2,400 prints during his career, the exhibition will feature more than 100 fascinating works exploring Picasso's life through his art – including his complex relationships with women as well as partnerships with printers, publishers and other artists. Until 30 Mar

Versailles: Science and Splendour at the Science Museum

Louis XVI Giving his Instructions to La Pérouse featuring four people gathered looking at map. — Louis XVI Giving his Instructions to La Pérouse, 26 June 1785 © Château de Versailles, Dist. RMN © Christophe Fouin. Image courtesy of the Science Museum.

Be transported to the world of the French royal court with the Science Museum’s new exhibition, Versailles: Science and Splendour. Exploring how the Palace of Versailles used science as a tool of power, this illuminating exhibition reveals the important role science played at the Palace. Discover spectacular objects including a detailed map of the moon and a sculptural clock evoking the creation of the world. 12 Dec-21 Apr

Cartier at the V&A South Kensington

Dive into the glamorous world of Cartier with a collection of precious jewels, historic gemstones and iconic watches at the V&A South Kensington. Charting the evolution of Cartier's legacy since the turn of the 20th century, discover how the French luxury jewellery house became one of the most valuable brands in the world with this dazzling exhibition. 12 Apr-16 Nov 2025

What free exhibitions are on in London?

London is jam-packed with fantastic free exhibitions at some of the world’s best museums. Admire fashion, jewellery and furniture from around the world at the Victoria and Albert Museum, discover ancient relics at the British Museum or delve into Britain’s naval history at the National Maritime Museum.

Discover more cultural highlights with the capital's top art exhibitions. And don't forget to download the Visit London app for more exhibitions and things to do in London on the go.

Events

Search Events

10 best museum exhibitions in London in January 2025