Mordern, Free, Best Art Museums in Waltham Abbey

"The country's largest museum and one of the oldest and finest in the world, this famous museum opened in 1759 and boasts vast Egyptian, Etruscan, Greek, Roman, European and Middle Eastern galleries, among others. It's London’s most visited attraction, drawing 5.9 million people annually. Don't miss the Rosetta Stone, the key to deciphering Egyptian hieroglyphics; the controversial Parthenon sculptures, taken from Athens' Acropolis by Lord Elgin (British ambassador to the Ottoman Empire at the time); and the large collection of Egyptian mummies."

"When the British Museum was opened in 1759 it was the first free to enter national museum to be open to the public anywhere in the world. The first exhibits consisted of the collection of physician and naturalist Sir Hans Sloane – ancient coins and medals, books and natural remains. Over the centuries it has become home to the most significant finds made by British explorers, like the Rosetta Stone from Ancient Egypt and the Parthenon sculpture from the Acropolis in Athens."

"The British Museum has an amazing collection of human history from the past two million years. Here you can find artefacts from ancient Egypt, ceramics from China and the Rosetta Stone. Entry to the permanent exhibitions is completely free."

"For those who prefer more contemporary art to classical works, head to the Tate Modern on the south bank of the River Thames. Located inside of the former Bankside Power Station, the Tate Modern is Britain’s national gallery of international modern art, housing a huge collection of contemporary and modern artwork from 1900 to the present day, with artists including Picasso, DalÍ­, Pollock and Warhol. The Tate Modern is the most visited art museum in Britain and the second most visited museum in the UK after the British Museum."

"As entwined with the art world as paint, no list of London galleries would be complete without one incarnation of the Tate. Without a doubt the art giant of London, the Tate Modern is home to all things contemporary and unique and always worth a visit. “When my daughter Coco was born, we visited Tate Modern 11 times in her first 6 months!"

"The Tate Modern displays modern and contemporary art from 1900 to the present. It’s an absolute must-see in London, even if you're not an art lover. The newly opened Tanks and Switch House tower opens up the gallery for further exhibits and is well worth a visit on its architectural merit alone."

"Nearly 6 million people visited the National Gallery in 2015 – and small wonder. Right in the heart of London, overlooking Trafalgar Square, room upon room contain masterworks by the likes of Cézanne, Monet, Gainsborough, Rubens, Van Gogh, Rembrandt, and Constable. It’s a quite extraordinary collection, and there’s so much to see, you might want to follow this guide to 30 must see paintings to guide you through."

"Located in an adjoining building to the National Gallery, the National Portrait Gallery houses a collection of historic portraits of important and famous British people. Nearest tube station: Charing Cross."

"The National Portrait Gallery was founded in 1856 with a single aim: to gather together portraits of famous (and infamous) Britons throughout…"

"Set in a beautiful mansion where the wealthy Seymour family once lived, the Wallace Collection is lovely to walk around and the artworks on display are simply divine. The ensemble of lavish rooms, rich paintings, and stately statues are breathtaking, and you really do feel like you have stepped back in time. Also including fantastic pieces of china, furniture, armor, and ivory, the Wallace Collection is wonderfully presented and conveniently located in the center of London."

"The Wallace Collection is a national museum which exhibits art collections that were compiled by the first four Marquesses of Hertford and the illegitimate son of the fourth Marquess, Sir Richard Wallace. In 1897, Lady Wallace, the widow of the late Sir Richard Wallace, handed the museum to the British Nation. The museum is housed in the historic Hertford House located in Manchester Square, Westminster."

"With its Great Gallery stunningly refurbished, there's even more reason to visit this exquisite gem of an art gallery—although housing…"

"The Hackney Museum is a local London history museum located in Hackney. Its collection of more than 8,000 different objects is dedicated to exploring the history of Hackney with a special emphasis on immigration, ranging from Anglo-Saxon settlers to early Victorian times and more recent refugees and migrants."

"However, today visitors can still see one remaining section of the palace complex, the Banqueting Hall (fee*) designed by famous architect Inigo Jones with a ceiling painted by Peter Paul Reubens. Today Whitehall is the center of the Government of the United Kingdom and you’ll pass a number of buildings home to various departments and ministries, including the Ministry of Defense and the Cabinet Office. Along this street you’ll also find The Household Calvary Museum (fee*), located in the 18th century stables of the Horse Guards, which gives information on the history of the Household Cavalry and displays a small collection of uniforms and weapons."

"This Antipodean cafe group serves up indulgent yet reasonably healthy brunches, with a menu spanning corn fritters with avocado, streaky bacon and fresh spinach to a duck hash made with sweet potato, edamame beans, kale and a plum ketchup. Vegetarians are also well served with wild mushrooms and poached egg on toast, served with sun-blushed tomato, white bean hummus and a shallot crumb. Add on bottomless prosecco or mimosas to any brunch option for an extra £30."

"Lantana Cafe is serving up Australian breakfast fare to hungry diners seven days a week. Hit up the Old Street restaurant where you'll find a beautiful mural, an outdoor terrace and a menu of tasty dishes, including courgette bread and corn fritters topped with bacon."

"It’s international status as a pillar of British cooking may be slightly overblown, but fish and chips is still a longstanding Friday night favourite. Poppies’s founder Pops has been honouring it for quite some time: he’s been working in the chippie business since 1952. The rockabilly-themed restaurants get their chunky fish fillets daily from a third-generation Billingsgate fishmonger, fry them until the batter is crunchy but yielding, and serve them with fabulously fluffy proper chips."

"This legendary family-run fish and chip shop might have multiple venues now, but at each outlet the ethos remains the same: top-class fish and chips served with a smile. With a dedicated fishmonger in the team, you can expect the freshest fare and expert handling resulting in combinations like a classic cod and chips or something more adventurous such as calamari, scampi or even a seafood platter. With starters, puds and kids’ meals, too there’s truly something for everyone here."

"Recognised as one of the best independent fish and chips shops in the UK, Poppies Covent Garden offers a large selection of outdoor terraces across its three locations. Enjoy locally sourced fish wrapped up in recyclable newspaper al fresco in the sunshine."

"Head to Little Venice for an authentic taste of the Mediterranean. The Summerhouse is a bright, unfussy restaurant with a tantalising seafood-heavy menu. It affords canal-side seating, perfect for whiling away summer weekends watching the boats float by."

"No trip to London is complete without indulging in the British classic, fish and chips. Every Londoner will lay claim to his or her favorite neighborhood “chippy,” so the options for enjoying this greasy goodness are endless. For a more upscale experience, try The Chipping Forecast in charming Notting Hill."

"In fact, it was always a very good restaurant, home to a winning burger and some Isle Of Mull cheese puffs that might as well have been called Fuck Me, These Are Fantastic. But when this class act reopened after the first lockdown they set up a terrace under one of the big arches in Borough Market and an al fresco star was born. Never has feeling like you’re on holiday also felt so quintessentially London."

"Elliot’s is continuing the great tradition of mashing up two sweet items into one super hybrid treat with this creme brulee croissant, adding the creme inside the pastry and the brulee on top of it. It’s only available at weekends so you have all week to build up the anticipation."

"Founded in 1666, Truman's is one of London's most prolific breweries. After a brief hiatus. the brand is back and it's got grand plans, including this incredible outdoor space in Walthamstow."

"Why: Nightly live music, a menu full to the brim with American classics and a bumper crop of bourbon come together to make The Blues Kitchen a lively New Orleans-style night out, whichever location you visit. Close your calorie-tracking app and dig into hearty southern mains such as stacked burgers, seafood jambalaya and smoky barbecue ribs, and decadent desserts like Oreo doughnuts and thick milkshakes.Where:Camden, Shoreditch + Brixton"

"What: Even if you’re not a fan of Texan BBQ we’d go so far to say that a trip to Blues Kitchen is probably worth it if for no other reason than to try these devilish deep-fried doughballs. The dessert menu is concise and it’s no wonder – what else would you possibly choose when Oreo cookie donuts with a salted caramel dip are on offer?. Find them at:Brixton, Camden, Shoreditch"

"Not only is The Blues Kitchen renowned for its blues and rock’n’roll music, diner style food and boozy cocktails, it’s also hugely popular thanks to its Oreo stuffed deep fried doughnuts. Served alongside salted caramel dipping sauce you won’t be able to resist a bite (or ten) of these little dough balls. They’re as dirty and indulgent as they sound but oh, so good."