Museums in London?

[jessus]

I've just been digging through my guidebooks and making my list of top sites here and there... and I am just stumped with the museums of London - there's just seems to be so many great ones, and so many are free!

- Tate Modern is pretty much a definite (I love modern art, and this is one of the biggies!)
- the British Library.. though not quite a museum... is also pretty much definite.

And that's where my plans get a bit hazy. Other options:
- Victoria & Albert (I really like the Victorian era, and also love the "furnishings" idea and such...)
- National Portrait Gallery (most interested in the old portraits, of royalty from hundreds of years back and famous figures)
- British Museum (I've heard it's one of the best museums in the world, and I'd like to see... the Rosetta Stone?)
- National Gallery (I've also heard good things about this one...)
- Dali Universe (Dali is my favourite painter! Though this museum isn't free! In fact, its pricey. And I AM already planning to go to the Dali Teatro-Museo in Spain)
- Imperial War Museum (I read the description in the Rick Steves book and was hooked... plus, a big bonus is that its in Bedlam Asylum!)

Um.. right. Any suggestions on what YOU liked/didn't like?

(Also, I'm in London for 4 nights!)

[herrbert]

I can only tell you about the British Museum (Metro: Tottenham Court Road, as I didn't visited other ones (so far). I booked a hostel that was really near to the British, so I went there in the morning. I also had the Rosetta Stone as a must see on my list, and I think it could be a good thing to go and see it know, as the Egyptians are trying to get the stone back to Egypt (were it after all belongs)

The British is free (except the special exhibitions), so you can walk in at anytime. If you enter the courtyard, you need to choose the passage on the leftside, and the first thing you will see is the Rosetta Stone.

If you plan to spend more time at the British buy a guide for a couple of pounds.

I would have loved to visit the Tate Modern, but I was running out of time, last time I was in London. And with 4 nights I think the same will happen to you, as there is too much to see in London.

If you like Dali, then take a good look at some of the sculptures on the Southbank (near the Eye).

One other tip: The Reina Sofia in Madrid also has one or two rooms of art by Dali, and can also be visited for free, but only on Sundays till 14.30hrs. (in case you would go to Madrid one day).

[pointofnoreturn]

I love the museums and galleries of London. I don't think I don't have a "loathed" museum or gallery. I thoroughly enjoyed them all. My favourites are probably the V&A, British and Tate Modern. I'm a fan of the National Gallery.

I haven't been to the Portrait Gallery but I assure you, it's on the top of my list for my next visit.

The guidebooks list all the 'standard' museums, libraries and galleries but here's a website link that contains a list of quirky London museums:

www.timeout.com/london/aroundtown/features/1496.html

[jessus]

Ooh. Thanks for the tips on the British Museum. If all else fails, I could always just pop in to get a peek at the Rosetta Stone! (Though maybe I'll do a bit of research to see if there are any other "must-see" things in there from my POV).

And Dali sculptures on the Southbank! Excellent. Maybe that will satisfy my Dali craving while in London...

It's good to hear all positive things about the museums. Although I think it's goign to be tricky to pick just a few to see in my few days there! And oh no... more museums! (Just kidding, thanks for the link!) - I forgot about the Freud musem... I work in mental health & plan to apply for clinical psychology grad school shortly !

[pointofnoreturn]

Keep in mind that you don't necessarily need to visit all the museums - there's always another trip for the future!

[herrbert]

I believe you also are bound for Vienna, so why don't you check the Sigmund Freund museum in Vienna, which is located in the house where he lived and worked?

www.freud-museum.at/e/index.html

[jessus]

Hm. Yes, Vienna is also on the list. I wonder which of the two is the better Freud museum. . .

Thanks! I'll investigate further.