London, as one of the most visited cities in the world, is highly captivating and offers travellers many chances to explore its past. However, if popular attractions aren't your bag, then the Wise Traveller can offer a more unusual path to tread with ten alternative museum suggestions:
Jack The Ripper Museum
Heard of London's most famous killer from Victorian times? Whether you have or not, then this six-storied museum will immerse you in the legend that abounds the capital's notorious killer. Along with details of the victims of these terrible crimes, displays reveal realistic recreations of scenes connected to the murders, as well as never-before-seen artefacts. The museum also highlights the suspects for the late 19th century crimes that no one has ever been convicted of.
Location: 12 Cable St, Aldgate, London, E1 8JG.
Clink Prison Museum
Take in another world when you visit the Clink Prison Museum, where you'll experience one of England's oldest and most notorious medieval prisons. Built on the original building, the museum opens its doors to visitors who want to explore themed rooms and discover replica artefacts, including gory torture devices used on inmates.
Location: 1 Clink Street, Bankside, London, SE1 9DG.
Sherlock Holmes Museum
In a Grade II-listed lodging house on one of the world's most famous streets, the Sherlock Holmes Museum has been converted into author Conan Doyle's apartment. It offers an intriguing look into the legendary fictional detective and his friend Doctor Wilson. The museum is packed with Victorian ephemera and waxworks to recapture the period.
Location: 221B Baker Street, London, NW1 6XE.
Dennis Severs' House
While one of the most unusual museums, it is also one of the few to get under the skin of 18th-century living in east London. Muse ten rooms which recreate ten pictures created by artist Dennis Severs, packed with sights, sounds, and smells of a family home.
Location: 18 Folgate Street, London, E1 6BX.
Anaesthesia Heritage Centre
For those with a medical bent on history, the Anaesthesia Heritage Centre offers a fascinating walk through the evolution of medicine and pain relief management. It houses over 2,000 objects dating from the 18th century to today.
Location: 21 Portland Place, Marylebone, London, W1B 1PY.
The Brunel Museum
Ever wondered how some of the greatest engineering marvels have stood the test of time, then the Brunel Museum is a good starting point. Built on the site of the Thames Tunnel, the museum highlights the work of famous engineers Marc Isambard Brunel and his son Isambard Kingdom Brunel through drawings, watercolours, engravings of the tunnelling project, and artefacts.
Location: Railway Avenue, Rotherhithe, London, SE16 4LF.
The Cinema Museum
Although entry is by appointment only, the world beyond offers a creative world that is all about the big screen. It includes a fascinating collection of posters, projects, and memorabilia and over five million metres of film, cinema designs, seats, and carpet samples for intrepid fans.
Location: The Master's House, 2 Dugard Way, (off Renfrew Road), SE11 4TH.
Magic Circle Museum at the Centre for Magic Arts
If magic is your bag, then expect to have a spell cast over you when you pop into the Magic Circle Museum. Be left dumbfounded by some of the most important memorabilia, including handcuffs used by Harry Houdini and props used by the Prince of Wales during his induction into the Magic Circle. Guests wanting to visit must book one of the public shows.
Location: 12 Stephenson Way, London, NW1 2HD.
The Old Operating Theatre Museum
For a walk through the history of surgery, where better than a restored 19th-century operating theatre housed on top of a church? The Old Operating Theatre Museum provides a snapshot of surgery and herbal medicine across six centuries, notably from the 1200s to the 1800s.
Location: 9A St Thomas' Street, London, SE1 9RY.
The Household Cavalry Museum
This offers a unique behind-the-scenes look at what goes into guarding the King and the Royals. The museum shows the history of The Household Cavalry since its foundation in 1661 under King Charles II. Visitors can get firsthand accounts from troopers and see working horses in the original 18th-century stables.
Location: Horse Guards, Whitehall, London, SW1A 2AX.
Conclusion:
Wherever you are in London, there is bound to be an attraction that catches your eye. If you want more inspiration for a visit, then click here for more inspiration.
Andy Probert is an independent PR writer and journalist who writes about travel experiences, airlines, airports, new tech and business. His work has appeared on the BBC, in The Daily Mail, the Daily Telegraph, The Sun, Daily Mirror, as well as many newspapers/magazines globally.
