The Royal Borough is home to some of the world's most famous museums established following the Great Exhibition of 1851. But did you realise that just off High Street Kensington there are two absolute gems, Leighton House and Linley Sambourne House, which are well worth visiting? They are just a short walk from Kensington High Street underground station (see map).
Museums in the Royal Borough
This A - Z Directory is maintained by the Royal Borough's Libraries. More information.
18 Stafford Terrace
18 Stafford Terrace LONDON W8 7BH
Tel: Monday to Friday: 020 7602 3316
Description: The home of Edward Linley Sambourne, the Punch cartoonist and his family. Now a unique museum offeri..
Association of Jewish Ex-Servicemen & Women
Shield House
Harmony Way London NW4 2BZ
Tel: 020 8201 5656 (Jewish Military Museum)
020 8202 2323 (Head Office)
Description: Charitable organisation working to ensure the welfare of Jewish ex-servicemen & women. ..
Baden Powell House
65-67
Queen's Gate LONDON SW7 5JS
Tel: 020 7590 6909
Description: Exhibition of Robert Baden-Powell founder of Scout and Guide movements. Also contains a hostel...
British Postal Museum & Archive
Freeling House
Phoenix Place London WC1X 0DL
Tel: 020 7239 2572 (minicom)
020 7239 2570
Description: The BPMA is the leading resource for all aspects of British postal history, preserving and celebrati..
Carlyle's House
24 Cheyne Row LONDON SW3 5HL
Tel: 020 7352 7087
Description: The Chelsea home of Victorian writer Thomas Carlyle who was known as "The Sage of Chelsea"...
Chelsea Physic Garden
66 Royal Hospital Road LONDON SW3 4HS
Tel: 020 7349 6458
Description: Chelsea Physic Garden is London's oldest botanical garden that is set behind walls on the bank of th..
Florence Nightingale Museum
St Thomas' Hospital
2 Lambeth Palace Road London SE1 7EW
Tel: 020 7620 0374
Description: Museum celebrating the life of Florence Nightingale the founder of modern nursing. Discover the woma..
Friends of Leighton House Museum and 18 Stafford Terrace
Leighton House Museum
12 Holland Park Road LONDON W14 8LZ
Tel: 020 7602 3316
Description: The Friends act as ambassadors for the two houses. They organise and promote a programme of events a..
Handel House Museum
25 Brook Street LONDON W1K 4HB
Tel: 020 7495 1685
Description: Museum celebrating the life and work of George Frideric Handel. This was Handel's home from 1723 un..
Kensington Palace State Apartments
The Broad Walk
Kensington Gardens London W8 4PX
Tel: 0844 482 7788 (Membership)
0844 482 7777
Description: Historic royal palace within Kensington Gardens..
Leighton House Museum
12 Holland Park Road
LONDON W14 8LZ
Tel: 020 7602 3316
Description: Museum..
Museum and Library of the Order of St John
St John's Gate
St John's Lane London EC1M 4DA
Tel: 020 7324 4005
Description: Museum and library of the Order of St John. Discover the medical, religious and military roles of th..
Museum of Brands, Packaging and Advertising
2 Colville Mews
Lonsdale Road London W11 2AR
Tel: 020 7908 0880
Description: Museum..
Museum of Fulham Palace
Bishops Avenue LONDON SW6 6EA
Tel: 020 7736 3233
Description: Museum that tells the story of Fulham Palace, its history, gardens, architecture, archeology and the..
National Army Museum
Royal Hospital Road
LONDON SW3 4HT
Tel: 020 7730 0717
Description: Discover the impact the British Army has had on the story of Britain,Europe and the world, and see h..
Natural History Museum
Cromwell Road LONDON SW7 5BD
Tel: 020 7942 5000
Description: Museum of the natural world; there are a huge range of exhibits from animated dinosaurs to an earthq..
Royal Hospital Chelsea
Royal Hospital Road LONDON SW3 4SR
Tel: 020 7881 5257 (Infirmary)
020 7881 5200 (Switchboard)
Description: The world famous home of the Chelsea Pensioners - also housing a museum,lanscaped gardens,post offi..
Royal Hospital Chelsea Museum
Royal Hospital Road LONDON SW3 4SR
Tel: 020 7881 5487
Description: Museum of the famous Royal Hospital, Chelsea and its Chelsea Pensioners...
Science Museum
Exhibition Road LONDON SW7 2DD
Tel: 0870 870 4868 (bookings and enquiries)
020 7942 4777 (education bookings)
020 7942 4461(group guided tours - non education only)
Description: National museum of man's greatest inventions and achievements..
The British Library Sound Archive
96 Euston Road LONDON NW1 2DB
Tel: 020 7412 7676
01937 546434 (minicom)
Description: One of the largest sound archives in the world with over 1 million discs of music, oral history, dr..
The Royal College of Music Museum of Instruments
Prince Consort Road LONDON SW7 2BS
Tel: 020 7591 4842
Description: Internationally renowned collection of musical instruments..
Victoria and Albert Museum
Cromwell Road LONDON SW7 2RL
Tel: 020 7942 2000
Description: National museum of art and design...
William Morris Society
Kelmscott House
26 Upper Mall
Hammersmith LONDON W6 9TA
Tel: 020 8741 3735
Description: Aims to promote interest in the life and work of Willaim Morris through lectures and visits and the ..