A Guide to Museums in East London
From medicine to maritime, the home to Huguenots, East London museums have it covered.
Some of the capital’s best-kept secrets can be found in East London. We've compiled a list of our favourites.
Sat unassumingly on the Kingsland Road, the Geffyre Museum is a time capsule. It explores London home life through the centuries, from furniture to family, society to style. The museum is surrounded by beautiful gardens, providing a sanctuary of calm and natural beauty within the city.
Address: 136 Kingsland Road, London, E2 8EA
Telephone: 020 7739 9893
Tickets: Admission free
A juxaposition of architecture, Sutton House is a beautifully preserved Tudor house, sat beside the urban sprawl. This National Trust house was owned by Ralph Sadler, of Wolf Hall fame, and is filled with beautiful oak paneled rooms and carved fireplaces. Our tip: take a look at their brilliantly curated events programme.
Address: Homerton High Street, E8 6JQ
Telephone: 020 8986 2264
Tickets: Adults, £5; children, £2.75.
Housed in Canary Wharf, this museum is an unsung historical hero. It tells the stories of the many workers, slaves and servants who kept the British Empire alive. It’s a family friendly museum with plenty of interactive displays and a strong programme of events.
Address: 020 7001 9844
Telephone: No. 1 Warehouse, West India Dock Road, E14 4AL
Tickets: Admission free
The National Maritime Museum sits at the heart of the Royal Museums Greenwich. It houses an unprecedented collection of artifacts, maps and art, from the nation’s maritime rich history. It’s the perfect venue for families and maritime historians alike.
Address: Park Row, Greenwich, SE10 9NF
Telephone: 020 8858 4422
Tickets: Admission free
This East London branch of South Kensington’s world famous V&A, focuses on the history of childhood. The museum houses one of the world’s finest collections of children’s toys, doll’s houses and games. It continues to collect fascinating artifacts relating to childhood. There are frequent exhibitions and child-friendly activities, so check out their what’s on page.
Address: Cambridge Heath Road, E2 9PA
Telephone: 020 8983 5200
Tickets: Admission free
Venture back in time and see what school was like in the Victorian era. This East London institution lets visitors experience life as a pupil at this time. Thomas Barnardo established the school in 1867 after seeing the deprivation in the area. Visit them for an authentic experience of East End Victorian life.
Address: 46-50 Copperfield Road, E3 4RR
Telephone: 0208 980 6405
Tickets: Admission free
Venture to this well kept secret, which is housed in the square mile, to see how a family of French Huguenot weavers would have lived in the 18th Century. Each room shows a different aspect of life for the artisans and is fantastically well preserved. A particular highlight is to visit the museum in winter and experience the candlelit tour.
Address: 18 Folgate Street, E1 6BX
Telephone: 020 7247 4013
Tickets: Prices start from £15
If you’re a fan of curiosities, then this is the museum for you. The museum is located in a beautiful crypt of a 19th Century church. It houses such artifacts as the Elephant Man’s skeleton, as well as a permanent exhibition of artifacts and archives relating to the hospital and the history of healthcare in the East End.
Address: Newark Street, Whitechapel, E1 1BB
Telephone: 020 7377 7608
Tickets: Admission free
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