We get it, the Natural History Museum's great and the V&A's always a winner, but have you ever seen a wholphin skull? Take a few steps off the beaten track, and you'll find a powder keg of curious venues, wacky collections and immersive exhibitions, all poised and ready to entertain you in the city.
We've searched around and uncovered some of the quirky London museums that you might not know about. Check them out below.
Find out more about how Katie created our guide in our Editorial Policy.
Cool And Quirky Museums In London: Our Local Guide
1. Freud Museum
- Hampstead: 20 Maresfield Gardens, London, NW3 5SX
Delve into the private life of the founder of psychoanalysis (Sigmund Freud) with a visit to the Freud Museum in Hampstead. See the now-infamous patient couch as you explore the notorious thinker's home office and take a look at some of his pioneering theories and trailblazing works, alongside a number of other guest exhibitions, including a recent look at the women who helped and influenced Freud. Admission for adults starts from just £14.50. Fair, if you think about it.
Enjoy your psychology-filled day.
2. Dennis Severs' House
- Spitalfields: 18 Folgate St, London E1 6BX
A museum truly unlike any other in the city (and tucked away amongst the buzzing bars and back streets of Spitalfields), Dennis Severs' House will take you on an immersive adventure into the fictional home of 18th century Huguenot silk weavers. Venture around ten stunningly decorated candlelit rooms as you attempt to discover what's happened to the fabled inhabitants. Hailed as a 'still life', this is a London museum that feels frozen in time, and is a must for those with a fancy for a decadent history.
A trip back in time.
3. Sir John Soane's Museum
- Holborn: 13 Lincoln's Inn Fields, London WC2A 3BP
One of the ultimate unique museums in London, Sir John Soane's Museum is a treasure trove of historical gems. Step through the unassuming Georgian townhouse doors, and you'll find walls covered with paintings, statues and antiquities, including a 3,000-year-old sarcophagus. As you weave between tight rooms and corridors, get familiar with impressive stonework over the ages. Trust us, given its proximity to Holborn, this feels like a whole other world.
Sir John Soane's Museum is only a hop, skip and a jump from Holborn underground.
4. Pollock's Toy Museum
- Currently looking for a permanent home.
Pollock's Toy Museum is bringing you a heavy dose of childhood nostalgia (perfect for leaving the hustle of being an adult in London behind). As quirky museums in London go, this destination that used to be in Fitzrovia never disappoints. Take a look at toys through the ages with everything from teddy bears to folk favourites and dolls houses to puppets. Currently, in 2026, two pop-ups in Croydon and Leadenhall are housing the collection until a new location is found.
Bizarre museums? This playground's a must for families and big kids alike.
5. The Viktor Wynd Museum of Curiosities
- Bethnal Green: 11 Mare St, Cambridge Heath Rd, London E8 4RP
Combining fact with fiction, The Viktor Wynd Museum of Curiosities is up there with the most entertaining and unusual museums in London. Expect an eccentric jumble of shrunken heads, wholphin bones (that's a killer whale-dolphin hybrid), cyclops skulls and fairies galore as Viktor Wynd's eccentricities are celebrated in a cosy basement space. One of our favourite parts? Head for absinthe cocktails in the bar upstairs to make a real trip of it.
For the strangest offerings, Bethnal Green's got you covered.
6. Fan Museum
- Greenwich: 12 Crooms Hill, London SE10 8ER
Whilst its name may leave you feeling uninspired, Greenwich's Fan Museum is an unexpected goldmine. Housing over 4,000 items, the venue will teach you the history of the fashionable accessory whilst showcasing some of the most exquisite pieces from around the world. Sounds fan-tastic.
Gaze at handheld artworks.
7. Hunterian Museum
- Holborn: 43 Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, WC2A 3PE
Not for the faint-hearted or easily squeamish (but perfect for a date), the Hunterian Museum is a haven of oddities. Filled with countless jars of animals, body parts and organs, this one-of-a-kind collection will have you gawping for hours. A celebration of the art and science of surgery, this truly unique specimen collection dates all the way back to the 18th century, with surgeon anatomist John Hunter at the heart of its work.
A strong contender in the list of London's most quirky museums.
8. Paradox Museum
- Knightsbridge: 90 Brompton Road, London, SW3 1JJ
Found opposite Harrods, Paradox Museum is a pop-up exhibition that's all about exiting real life; getting a taste of reality-defying spaces while playing with the boundaries of space and physics. From zero gravity experiences to camouflage rooms, vortex tunnels and more, this den of illusions is a step away from your usual museum experience.
Appear to defy the laws of physics at Paradox Museum.
9. Museum Of Brands
- 111 – 117 Lancaster Road, Notting Hill, W11 1QT
Located in Notting Hill, the Museum of Brands showcases consumer society and how it has evolved over the last 200 years. Step into the Time Tunnel to see how brands have changed since the Victorian period, across two world wars, multiple royal coronations and the digital age.
They also host regular displays and workshops with a more specific focus, suitable for people of all ages.
Explore the history of brands at this unique spot.
10. God's Own Junkyard
- Unit 12, Ravenswood Industrial Estate, Walthamstow, E17 9HQ
Completely free to visit, God's Own Junkyard is a quirky Walthamstow destination that makes for some great photo opportunities. It was created by the late local artist Chris Bracey, who had been collecting the pieces for over 35 years.
The museum is full of neon signs, colourful objects and artwork, as well as music collectibles. There's even a themed cafe and bar too.
This Walthamstow destination is full of colour.
11. Handel Hendrix House
- 25 Brook Street, Mayfair, W1K 4HB
Preserving the homes of two of the greatest musicians to have ever lived in London, Handel Hendrix House is split across two flats next door to each other. One was occupied by George Frideric Handel in the early 1700s, and over 200 years later, the other was lived in by Jimi Hendrix.
Here, you'll learn about the lives of these two very different musicians, and how they spent their time in London. The rooms have been lovingly restored, taking you across past eras as you explore.
Explore the lives of two different musicians at this unique museum.
12. Horniman Museum
- 100 London Road, Forest Hill, SE23 3PQ
South London's Horniman Museum explores global culture and natural wonders from all over the world. It's got gorgeous gardens and extensive indoor displays, both totally free to enter.
Find everything from taxidermied animals to musical instruments and antique chess pieces, to name just a few items in their collection of thousands.
Horniman Museum is home to thousands of items.
13. Basilica
- The City: 85 Gracechurch Street
A groundbreaking discovery is unfolding at 85 Gracechurch Street, where the remains of the first Roman Basilica - the heart of ancient London - are being uncovered. During recent excavations, archaeologists revealed massive walls and foundations that have survived for over 2,000 years, some over ten metres long.
This extraordinary find is set to transform the area into a Basilica Museum and public exhibition space, where visitors can immerse themselves in the rich history of Roman London. At the centre of this discovery is the Tribunal, where political and judicial leaders once made decisions that shaped the fate of the City. With a projected opening in 2029-2030, the museum will offer a truly unique, immersive experience, allowing you to stand where Roman leaders once stood and witness the foundations of London’s past come to life.
An architect's impression of what the Roman Basilica Museum could look like.
FAQs
Are there any free quirky museums in London?
Yes. The Hunterian Museum is free to enter and is one of the most fascinatingly unusual collections in the city, housing over 3,500 preserved anatomical specimens including the skeleton of the 'Irish Giant' Charles Byrne.
What is the most unusual museum in London?
It's a tough call, but The Viktor Wynd Museum of Curiosities in Bethnal Green is a strong contender. Combining fact with fiction, it houses an eccentric jumble of shrunken heads, wholphin bones (a killer whale-dolphin hybrid), cyclops skulls, and fairies - all in a cosy basement space.
Do you need to book London's quirky museums in advance?
It depends on the venue. Dennis Severs' House is the most booking-critical - it has very limited capacity and evening candlelit tours sell out well in advance, sometimes months ahead.
