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Unknown London Museums
Its time to be an intrepid London explorer - take a ramble off the beaten
track and boldly go where tourists seldom tread! So don your safari hats and get
ready to discover some of London's hidden treasures, little-known or out-of-the-way
museums that even London natives might not recognize. Bethnal Green
Museum of Childhood
Cambridge Heath Road, E2
Come here to see
dolls and doll houses, toys and costumes of childhood.
Bank, open Mon.-Thurs. and Sat., 10-5:50, Sun. 2:30-5:50, admission free, Tel.
020 7980 2415 Cuming Museum
155-157 Walworth Road, SE17
Traces the history of Southwark, but also includes a fascinating look at London
legends and superstitions.
Epping Forest Museum
Queen Elizabeth
Hunting Lodge, Rangers Road, Chingford, E4
This museum, housed in an authentic
Elizabethan hinting lodge, tells the story of Epping Forest and the people who
lived there. Geffrye Museum
Kingsland Road, E2,
Furniture
and art carefully arranged in a series of period rooms. Housed in lovely Georgian
almshouses formerly owned by the Ironmongers Guild.
Liverpool Street, then bus 22A, 22B, or 149, open Tues.-Sat. 10-5, Sun. 2-5, Tel.
020 7739 9893 Maritime Trusts Museum, Historic Ships Collection
St. Katherine's Dock, E1
This Dockland museum features a collection
of British steam and sailing vessels from the 19th and early 20th centuries. Museum
of Garden History
Lambeth Palace Road, SE1
The museum is housed
in an old church, now restored. In the churchyard stand the tombs of the Tradescants,
father and son, plant hunters and royal gardeners. Incongruously, nearby is the
tomb of Captain Bligh of Mutiny on the Bounty fame, whose reputation puts him
about as far from the genteel pastime of gardening as it is possible to get. Permanent
exhibits of gardening history and antique tools.
Waterloo or Victoria, then bus 507, open March-early December, Mon.-Fri. 10:30-4,
Sun. 10:30-5, Tel. 020 7261 1891 Royal College of Music Museum of
Instruments
Prince Consort Road, SW7
Rare and beautiful musical
instruments from as far back as the 15th century grace this small museum.
William Morris Gallery
Lloyd Park, Forest Road, Walthamstow,
E17,
Devoted to the life and works of this remarkable artist, social
activist, and founder of the Arts and Crafts movement.
Walthamstow Central, open Tues.-Sat. and first Sun. in month, 10-1, 2-5, Tel.
020 8527 3782 These are just a few of the many fascinating London museums.
For a list of museums and galleries online see below. Remember that opening times
may change. The best way to ensure you aren't disappointed is to phone the museum
directly, but if you are in London a good alternative are the great Time Out guides,
or the BTA's London Planner, available at most newstands in London, and from tourist
kiosks. Enjoy your travels, intrepid explorer. London
Museums and Galleries OnlineBritish
Museum
Dickens House Museum
Freud Museum
Hayward
Gallery
Imperial War Museum
Institute of Contemporary Arts
Kew Bridge Steam Museum
London Canal Museum
London Transport
Museum
Millennium
Experience
Museum of
Garden History
Museum of London
Museum of Moving Images
Museums
Association of Great Britain
National
Army Museum
National Gallery
London, The
National Maritime Museum
National Museum of Science & Industry
Natural History Museum
Ragged
School Museum, The
Royal Air Force
Museum
Sherlock Holmes Museum
Sir John Soane's Museum, The
State Rooms,
The
Tate Gallery
Victoria
and Albert Museum
Wallace
Collection, The | 
