Navigating London's museum maze like a pro

London has so many museums you could spend decades trying to visit them all. Though I’ve actually been visiting London for decades (and even lived there for a summer), I still haven’t made it to every museum on my wish list. There are art museums, history museums, personal collections, and several that tell the story of London and how it came to be.

Best of all, many of London’s museums are free. There’s no need to feel guilty leaving after an hour because you’ve paid for an expensive ticket and haven’t seen everything. And there are few things I enjoy more than spending a rainy day museum-hopping, then using my admission savings for a nice dinner.

Here are my favorite spots, plus my exhaustion rating because museum fatigue is real.

This may be called The British Museum, but it actually chronicles two million years of global history. The museum has more than eight million items in its collection—the largest in the world. Of course, how they got here (and whether they should be here at all) is up for debate, but it’s a remarkable collection. I still remember seeing the Rosetta Stone and discovering its friezes on my first visit more than 20 years ago; for an art history buff, it was life changing.

This museum is huge, and there’s no way to see it all in one trip. My recommendation: Plan to spend at least half a day. Don’t miss the Rosetta Stone, the Parthenon sculptures, and the Edmund de Waal library of exile. I even love to just linger in the museum’s Great Court and admire the architecture: This two-acre space (yes, two acres) has a spectacular glass roof and is the largest covered public square in Europe.

Tip: Short on time? Book the museum’s Around the World in 90 Minutes tour, held on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. It hits the highlights and some lesser known (but equally worthy) pieces.

Exhaustion level: 8/10

This may be my favorite London museum of them all because it’s so easy to pop in for a quick visit and discover a masterpiece. Located just beyond the lions of Trafalgar Square, the National Gallery is home to more than 2,600 paintings dating from the mid-13th century to 1900. I prefer to wander and take in landmark pieces like Vincent Van Gogh’s Sunflowers and Leanardo da Vinci’s Virgin of the Rocks. But when I’m short on time, the museum has three Art Routes, each color coded and paced to take between 25 and 35 minutes.

There’s also a handy mobile app loaded up with various explorations and musings led by experts in various fields: a ballet dancer, a Broadway set designer. I love food, so it was a delight to hear celebrity chef Carla Hall examine the dinner spread in Willem Claesz Hed’s 1635 painting, Banquet Piece with Mince Pie.

Tip: Check out the free hour-long guided tours that are offered every day and themed, from breaking the rules in modern art to a walk through the sculpture garden.

Exhaustion level: 6/10

As a spontaneous traveler who loves being able to pop into a museum when the weather turns, the Tate Modern is my place, since it’s free and doesn’t require advance reservations. Located in a former power station in the Bankside area, this is one of four Tate galleries in London and one of the world’s most visited museums.

The Tate Modern is home to 100-plus years of modern art, but as an architecture nerd, I come here for the building itself (a brutalist industrial space overhauled by Herzog & de Meuron) and some of the best views of the London skyline. Don’t miss the open-air viewing platform on the 10th floor, which has a staggering panorama: On a clear day, you can see all the way to Wembley Stadium.

Tip: Take the Tate Boat, which runs every 40 minutes and will whisk you from the Tate Modern to sister museum, Tate Britain, along the River Thames. The trip is only a few minutes, but you get to see the Obelisk, Westminster Bridge, and the Houses of Parliament from the river. The (free) Tate Britain is a great stop if you want a dive deep into British art.

Exhaustion level: 6/10

Living in Washington, D.C., New York, and Chicago over a decade has made me something of a public transit nerd, so the London Transport Museum is right up my alley. You’ll have to pay to enter, but it’s 100% worth it. Come here to dive into 200 years of London transportation history. Check out an 1860s steam engine and learn how the iconic London tube—the world’s first underground train system—came to be. Learn how the city’s horse-drawn carriages gave way to trams, trolleys, and eventually the iconic London double-decker buses of today. Kids can get behind the wheel of a half London bus or try their hand at becoming a train engineer of the future.

Tip: Give yourself about two hours to explore this museum, longer if you’re traveling with children or insist on taking photos of every era of London’s iconic double-decker buses like I do.

Exhaustion level: 4/10

As you might expect, London’s Design Museum itself is a work of art. This 1960s-era building was revamped by British architect John Pawson, and its copper-covered roof is a striking masterpiece of curved metal and glass. This is one of the city’s most manageable museums, and enough of it can be seen for free to make even a short visit worth it.

The museum’s free collection includes road signs, an old Sony Walkman, and a Vespa. Don’t miss the free exhibit that gives an inside look at design through the lenses of designers, makers, and users. The paid exhibits are fascinating and often eclectic: One of the most memorable was a look at saris as a metaphor for the layers and complexity of modern art.

Tip: If you’re looking to visit the museum’s paid sections, be sure to book your visit in advance (they sell out). This is also a museum shop you won’t want to skip, especially if your looking for prints to jazz up your naked walls.

Exhaustion level: 3/10

One of the world's leading museums of art and design, the Victoria & Albert has a permanent collection of nearly three million items spanning more than 5,000 years, where you can dig into architecture, fashion, photography, sculpture, and more. Since it opened in 1852, the V&A has made a huge effort to engage people from all backgrounds with art that is relatable and hours that make it easy to visit: The museum stays open until 10 p.m. on Fridays. And for kids, there are free activity backpacks loaded up with puzzles and games, plus hands-on activities throughout the museum, like dress-up costumes.

I personally love all the fashion here, including the collection of thousands of theater costumes, the exhibition of how hats have evolved since the 17th century, and—best of all—the pair of Adidas sneakers made from salvaged illegal fishing nets.

Tip: Lunch at the Victoria and Albert Museum is not to be missed: There are three ornately decorated dining rooms and a delightful outdoor courtyard with a wading pond.

Exhaustion level: 6/10

The Natural History Museum chronicles more than four billion years of Earth’s history. This massive institution is split across two locations—there’s another branch in Hertfordshire, but Kensington is where you’ll find its most popular exhibits. Check out dinosaur skeletons and a model giant blue whale that hangs from the ceiling. Learn about wildlife, human evolution, oceans, and space.

The museum regularly hosts free events like detective days, women in science tours, an annual Halloween event, and dino-themed sleepovers for kids and adults. Or for a fee you can do Tai Chi or yoga at the museum. I’m not a Tai Chi practitioner, but yoga in museums is always well worth the cost.

Tip: To avoid the crowds, skip weekends, holidays, and school breaks; a visit in the morning on weekday is your best bet.

Exhaustion level: 7/10

The Imperial War Museum is a collection of five places that tell the story of Britain’s role in the world wars. Three are located in London within a tube ride of one another. There’s the HMS Belfast (a former Royal Navy cruiser now permanently moored on the River Thames and a must-visit for naval history buffs), a Lambeth location (which chronicles World Wars I and II), and the Churchill War Rooms (the biggest draw).

It costs almost £30 to enter the Churchill War Rooms, but this glimpse into history is well worth the price. Walk top-secret corridors and check out the Cabinet Room, Churchill’s base for directing the Second World War. If you’re on a budget, skip the Churchill War Rooms and head to Lambeth Road, which is free and has some fascinating exhibits.

Tip: After visiting the Lambeth location, take a leisurely stroll up the River Thames and take a ride on the London Eye for a bird’s eye view of the city.

Exhaustion level: 8/10

If you’re a fan of the detective and his Dear Watson like I am, you won’t want to miss the Sherlock Holmes Museum, a small spot at 221b Baker Street—you got it, the London address of the fictional character. The four-story Georgian townhouse from 1815 became the Sherlock Holmes Museum in 1990. I love to step inside the blue door to see how Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s legendary detective lived and let my imagination run wild.

Tip: Combine a visit to this museum with a stop at the Sherlock Holmes Statue, a 15-minute walk away at 4 Marylebone Road. Then take a 15-minute London Underground ride to the Sherlock Holmes Pub on Northumberland Street; legend has it this was the hotel in the 1901 novel, The Hound of the Baskervilles, and there’s an impressive collection of Sherlock Holmes memorabilia, like Dr. Watson’s old revolver.

Exhaustion level: 2/10