Free Museums in Hayes Town

"If you prefer contemporary art to classical works, head to the Tate Modern on the south bank of the River Thames instead, another of London’s top free galleries. The Tate Modern is Britain’s national gallery of international modern art, housing a huge collection of contemporary artworks from 1900 to the present day, with artists including Picasso, DalÍ­ and Warhol. You can also pop into the public restaurant and bar on floors 9 and 10 of Tate which has some of the most fantastic free views over the Londonskyline."

"Art soothes the soul and London has the luxury of accommodating some exceptional exhibitions. However, aside from ever-changing exhibitions from the likes of Louise Bourgeois, Sarah Lucas and Ai Weiwei, Tate Modern harbours another breathtaking element – the viewing level. The 360ᵒ views across central London coupled with stunning exhibitions makes the Tate Modern one of my favourite romantic places in London."

"Modern art finds its spiritual home at Tate Modern – the most popular art gallery in the world and the UK’s most-visited attraction. Unlike Tate Britain, which houses a permanent collection of historic British art, Tate Modern is all about the here and now. Everything you’ll find within the gallery is modern art, dating only as far back as 1900."

"With more than 2300 European masterpieces in its collection, this is one of the world's great galleries, with seminal works from the 13th to the mid-20th century, including masterpieces by Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Titian, Vincent van Gogh and Auguste Renoir. Many visitors flock to the eastern rooms on the main floor (1700–1930), where works by British artists such as Thomas Gainsborough, John Constable and JMW Turner, and Impressionist and post-Impressionist masterpieces by Van Gogh, Renoir and Claude Monet await."

"The National Gallery is the first place to go if you want to see work by some of the most famous artists from history. Nearly seven hundred years of work from the world’s greatest artists can be found here, including Leonardo, Van Gogh, Monet, Rembrandt, Michelangelo, Vermeer, Rubens – seriously we could go on for a while. A wander from the The Wilton Diptych in the 14th century galleries to Pablo Picasso’s early works is both an intensely pleasant afternoon and a pretty consummate art history lesson."

"The crowning glory of Trafalgar Square, London's National Gallery is a vast space filled with western European paintings from the 13th to the 19th centuries. Find works by masters such as Van Gogh, da Vinci, Botticelli, Constable, Renoir, Titian and Stubbs. Some exhibitions require tickets."

"Sister gallery to the Tate Modern is the Tate Britain, a bastion of British art. Sporting old-world marble floors, spiral staircases, and Grecian columns, the Tate Britain is a veritable temple of British art from 1500 to today. Get swept away by the world’s largest collection of stormy and atmospheric Turner oil paintings and a considerable assemblage of the most ethereal and romantic Pre-Raphaelite portraits of mythical and literary characters."

"Located in Millbank, The Tate Britain is another of the best free museums in London. The Tate Modern might be the cool new kid on the block, but personally I prefer its more austere sister museum further downriver, the Tate Britain. The museum opened in 1897 and has been welcoming visitors to admire a huge collection of British art from the Tudor times onwards since."

"From Pre-Raphaelite paintings to landscapes by Turner and Francis Bacon's distorted nudes, there's lots to look at in Tate Britain. The gallery is home to the largest collection of British art in the world. Eat at the gallery's restaurant and study the famous Rex Whistler mural between mouthfuls!"

"The National Portrait Gallery presents a who’s who of British history. Located just behind the National Gallery, it houses a remarkable collection of paintings, sculptures, photographs, miniatures and works on paper, and takes visitors on a unique journey through British history featuring Tudor kings and queens all the way up to contemporary artists and actors. Some of the masters of portraiture on display include Hans Holbein, Sir Joshua Reynolds and Paula Rego."

"Not to be confused with the preceding listing, this gallery does what it says on the tin: housing a huge collection of portraits that depict important and famous British people from throughout history. It was the first portrait gallery in the whole world when it opened in 1856, so this place really is the OG. The gallery is set to close for three years, so if you want to see it before 2023, you better get there sharp-ish."

"A post shared by National Portrait Gallery (@nationalportraitgallery). In art, there’s nothing more intimate than a portrait, and at this landmark London art gallery, you can get intimate with some very famous faces. From Queen Elizabeth I to Queen Elizabeth II, The National Portrait Gallery displays portraits of the United Kingdom’s most important monarchs."

"In the East end of London is the V&A satellite, the Museum of Childhood. The museum has been collecting childhood related objects since 1872 and is home to one of the world’s finest collections of children’s toys, doll’s houses, games and costumes dating back to the 1600s. There’s plenty to keep kids busy with free daily activities including arts and crafts, tours, storytelling and treasure hunts."

"Located in a beautiful redbrick building in Bethnal Green, this museum is the largest of its kind in the world. It’s not just for kids, though – it provides a delightful, nostalgic trip back to more innocent times, with a fascinating collection of toys and games from yesteryear. The current temporary exhibition is dedicated to board games and it’s an absolute treat."

"The V&A Museum of Childhood, part of the Victoria & Albert Museum, is a London museum dedicated to housing collections by and for children. The museum's collection includes costumes, toys, and objects dedicated to celebrating childhood. In addition to its permanent collection, the V&A Museum of Childhood regularly hosts temporary exhibits."

"This neo-Gothic house built in the late 1890s for William Waldorf Astor, of hotel fame and once the richest man in America, showcases art from UK museum collections outside the capital. Visit as much to see the opulent house (it's astonishing) as the collections on display, but note it's only open for a few months each year for the Winter Exhibition Programme (see the website). Check out the bronze putti (cherubs) chatting on old telephones on the steps!"

"Katharina Grosse, 'This Drove my Mother up the Wall', 2017|© Andy Keate. Known for its cutting-edge exhibitions, installations and live art and film events, SLG, which dates back to the 19th century, showcases established British and international figures, as well as emerging artists. In 2016, Gabriel Orozco redesigned the gallery’s rear garden, and in September 2018, SLG expanded across the road into the Fire Station, a converted Grade II-listed Victorian building that provided additional galleries, education rooms, a community kitchen and an archive space."

"This area of South London is its very own artistic hub, home to colleges, galleries and numerous artists and studios. The South London Gallery, in a superb Victorian building between Peckham and Camberwell, opened in 1891, and its mission was to bring art to the people, as it still does to this day. As well as changing exhibitions of contemporary art, there is a great cafe that serves Peckham’s best coffee, and an beautiful garden designed by Mexican artist Gabriel Orozco, with support from horticulturists at the Royal Botanic Gardens in Kew."

"With a reputation for its programme of contemporary art exhibitions, film and performance events, the South London Gallery is an internationally acclaimed contemporary art space. Over the past decade the South London Gallery has featured solo exhibitions by established international figures, as well as those by younger and mid-career artists."

"Can you truly understand a culture without knowing what makes its people laugh?. The Museum of Comedy is on a mission to acquaint us all with the ingredients that, when combined, make up the British sense of humour, one Ronnie at a time. More reference library then proper museum, it's a repository of seemingly every book, DVD, VHS and LP that could possibly make you laugh - literally hours and hours of non-stop silliness."

"The Museum of Comedy in London is housed in the crypt of St George's Church. The space was initially converted to be an art gallery before the Museum of Comedy moved in. The museum's collection highlights British comedic history with posters, props, outfits, costumes, films, scripts, and photographs."

"With all there is to see at Kew Gardens, you might easily miss the attractive red brick building housing the Marianne North Gallery. But don’t hesitate to take a look inside — the exquisite interior, which incorporates different kinds of wood and stenciled floor tile, is home to more than 800 works of botanical art. Marianne North was a wealthy, single Victorian woman who traveled the world solo in pursuit of interesting plants to paint."

"Another attraction in Kew Gardens, this gallery is dedicated to the work of Marianne North, a Victorian artist who specialised in botanical paintings. The walls of the gallery are covered in her stunning and colourful designs, which show off her incredible natural talent."

"Far more than just a bread shop, the world-famous bakery, Bread Ahead, will ruin all other bakeries for you. Their baked-in-store range of sweet treats are far too good to say no, with delicious twists on home-favourites. For a denser cake try their Ginger Bread slice or indulge on one of their cult-classic filled doughnuts."

"Bread Ahead, one of London’s most beloved independent bakeries, got their start in the foodie haven of Borough Market. Great news - they’re now selling their flaky pastries, gorgeous sourdough bread, and world-famous filled doughnuts at their Wembley Park location. Did we mention that they serve up a great cup of coffee?"

"Coffee in the sun or lunch looking over the arch, Bread Ahead Wembley Park is back in action. Whether you just want a quick bite or to tuck into one of their delicious pizzas, their outdoor dining offers amazing food and even better views. Don't forget to try one of their famous filled doughnuts whilst you are there."

"Located just a stone’s throw away in Archway, 500 is a popular Italian restaurant that’s received rave reviews from critics. Enjoy great food and drinks, including an a la carte menu with dishes like Carpaccio tiepido di Manzo con nocciole (warm beef carpaccio, served with hazelnuts, grana Padano cheese and celery). Moreover, there’s plenty of Italian passion at 500, and it’s easy to see why local residents have taken such a liking to this little gem close to Islington."

"In a nutshell: A US chef and a Parisian restaurateur are hoping to make London their new home Where is it?. 13-15 West St, Covent Garden, London WC2H 9NE Why should you care?. New Orleans chef Slade Rushing has moved to London to open Louie in the old L'atelier de Joel Robuchon site in Covent Garden, joining forces with Parisian powerhouse restaurant group Paris Society."

"Situated in North London, Highgate Wood is one of the four ancient woods of the London Borough of Haringey (together with Queen’s Wood, Coldfall Wood and Bluebell Wood). Containing an impressive variety of trees and shrub species, the Highgate Wood is the home for many foxes, grey squirrels, as well as multiple species of birds, bats, butterflies and spiders. Besides the fact that it was included among the eight Green Heritage Sites in London, Highgate Wood also attracts visitors with its recreational facilities like children playgrounds, cafés, walking trails and sporting fields."

"Get back to nature in Hampstead Heath: an ancient woodland and wild green space in the north of London. Climb Parliament Hill, which offers a breathtaking view of the London cityscape, and explore the heath’s various nature trails and playgrounds."

"From wonderful walking trails to taking a dip in the bathing ponds, there is plenty to do and enjoy at Hampstead Heath. Branded ‘an island of beautiful countryside’, you’ll never get tired of visiting this thriving inner city escape."