Most major London museums and galleries offer free guided tours of their collections.
The tours are ideal if you don’t have much time and want to get the most out of your visit. Even with time to spare, most of them are worth doing anyway.
There’s no need to book in advance — just turn up and wait at the meeting point. Please be advised that the tours are usually run by volunteers and can be cancelled at short notice.
British Museum
Tate Modern
National Gallery
Tate Britain
V&A
National Portrait Gallery
Science Museum
Wallace Collection
British Museum
Eye-opener tours
The museum’s volunteer-led eye-opener tours show you the highlights of some of the most important rooms in the museum.
When: Daily
Duration: 30-40 minutes
Meeting point: Meet at the room
Friday night spotlight tours
20-minute tours on Fridays when the museum is open until 8.30pm.
When: Friday
Duration: 20 minutes
Meeting point: Meet at the room
Round Reading Room tours
The British Museum also offers free tours of the famous round reading room. Booking is essential.
When: Four times a month
Duration: 20 minutes
Meeting point: Information Desk (Great Court)
Tate Modern
Free 45-minute introductory tours of the collection’s highlights.
When:12pm,1pm & 2pm Daily
Duration: 45 minutes
Meeting point: Level 2, Natalie Bell Building
Top Tip: Don’t miss the viewing gallery on level 10 of the Blavatnik building for one of the best free views of London.
National Gallery
Their 60-minute taster tour focuses on 5-6 paintings in the collection. The paintings selected change every day. Highly recommended.
When: Tuesdays-Thursdays
Times: 3pm
Duration: 1 hour
Meeting point: Central Hall
Tate Britain
Three tours a day. See Tate Britain Tours.
When: Daily 12pm, 1pm and 2pm
Duration: Approximately 45 minutes
Meeting point: Top of Manton Foyer stairs
V&A
Highlights tour
The Victoria & Albert’s one-hour highlight tour in the morning or afternoon focuses on the highlights of the collection and the history of the museum.
When: Daily 10.30am & 2pm
Duration: 1 hour
Meeting point: Meeting Point, Grand Entrance
Daily V&A tours
The V&A has several one-hour tours that focus on particular galleries and collections. Check the website for further details. Please note that these are volunteer-led tours and are subect to cancellation.
11:30 Designing the V&A
12:30 Fashion
13:30 Treasure of Europe
14:30 Theatre & Performance
15:00 Britain
When: Daily
Duration: 1 hour
Meeting point: Meeting point, Grand Entrance
National Portrait Gallery
There is a free highlights tours at the National Portrait Gallery
When: Daily
Times: Either 11am or 3pm (check the events calendar)
Duration: 45-60 minutes
Meeting point: Floor 3, Room 18
There is a 30-minute ‘Portrait of the Day’ talk every day.
When: Daily
Times: 12.30pm
Duration: 30 minutes
Meeting point: Check the events calendar.
Science Museum
The Science Museum has a free 40-minutute highlights tour and tours of specific galleries. Dates and times vary. Click the links below for the next available tours.
Volunteer Highlights tour
Exploring Space gallery tour
Flight gallery tour
Making the Modern World gallery tour
Meeting point: Information Desk, Level 0
Wallace Collection
The Wallace Collection’s Great gallery highlights tour covers the best pieces in the collection. Reserve place at the entrance desk.
When: Daily
Times: 2.30pm
Duration: 30 minutes
Meeting point: Great gallery (First Floor)
Last updated: 19 September 2023