The lesser-known museums in London: Our guide to the capital's hidden treasures

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Lizzie Thomson18 March 2019

Everyone knows the star players of the London museum scene, from the Natural History Museum to the V&A, so it’s easy to lose sight of the hidden gems.

The capital is bursting with lesser-known venues that hold a whole host of vibrant artefacts, from spaces dedicated to gardening to London’s "other" transport museum.

So when deciding your next day out in the capital, be sure to keep in mind these often-forgotten spots which have so much for offer.

These are the London museums that probably are not on your radar, but definitely should be.

Garden Museum

Shakespearesmonkey/Flickr

The Garden Museum lies in an abandoned church that is the the oldest structure in the London Borough of Lambeth. Formerly known as the Museum of Garden History, it’s Britain's only museum dedicated to the art, history and design of gardens. But it’s not just green-fingered folk that this venue appeals to thanks to its eclectic line-up of exhibitions and events. A show on artist Emma Tennant is currently running and the annual Garden Museum Literary Festival is set to launch in June.

5 Lambeth Palace Rd, SE1 7LB, gardenmuseum.org.uk

Whitewebbs Museum of Transport

PA Archive/PA Images

Obviously you've heard of the London Museum of Transport, but have you heard of its lesser-known little sister? Whitewebbs Museum of Transport is located in a red-brick Victorian pumping station in Enfield, and much like its sibling, it features a plethora of automobile treasures. Visitors can feast their eyes on charming old vehicles, including fire engines, classic cars, vintage delivery vans and motorbikes. Those looking for a souvenir to take home can check out the museum shop which sells a brilliant collection of model cars.

Whitewebbs Rd, EN2 9HW

Pollock's Toy Museum

Upupa4me/Flickr

Throwback to your childhood at this teeny toy museum in Fitzrovia, made up of six small rooms and two winding staircases. A number of dolls, teddy bears, puppets and toy soldiers line the walls of this nostalgic venue, alongside toy theatres and dolls houses. The museum started out as an attic room above Benjamin Pollock’s Toy Shop near Covent Garden in 1956, but by 1969 the collection had outgrown the premises so moved to Scala Street in Fitzrovia. Now it’s run by the grandson of founder Marguerite Fawdry.

1 Scala St, W1T 2HL, pollockstoys.com

Old Operating Theatre

Oli Scarff/Getty Images

This museum of surgical history is fittingly located in Europe’s oldest surviving operating theatre, in the garret of St Thomas’s Church in Southwark. It’s made up of various artefacts referring to medicine before the age of science, including some rather horrifying instruments relating to cupping, bleeding and childbirth. It's thought that the garret was used by hospital back in the day to store and cure herbs for healing.

9a St Thomas St, SE1 9RY, oldoperatingtheatre.com

Freud Museum

DAVID/Flickr

As the name suggests this museum is dedicated to the work of Sigmund Freud, the founding father of psychoanalysis, and it's located in the Hampstead house where he lived with his family during the last years of his life. The collection features Freud’s collection of Greek, Roman, Egyptian and Oriental antiques as well as his personal library, so there’s a lot to take in. The standout piece in the museum is Freud’s psychoanalytic couch, which was given to him by one of his patients — the portrait of Freud by Salvador Dali is also well-worth a look. The London venue is one of only three Freud museums worldwide, with the other two in Vienna and the Czech Republic.

20 Maresfield Gardens, NW3 5SX, freud.org.uk

Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Museum

AELTC/Ben Queenborough

Those who prefer to observe sports rather than play them will find great joy at this south-west London spot, which is the largest tennis museum in the world. It combines the old with the new too, with artefacts that date back to 1555 alongside a VR experience which takes guests on a journey through the tournament's history.The fashion collection showcases different kinds of attire worn during the history of lawn tennis and The Championships, from outfits worn in 1880s to Rafael Nadal’s shorts worn during his title win in 2010.

Church Rd, SW19 5AE, wimbledon.com

The Royal London College Hospital Museum

Over in east London, the Royal London College Hospital museum can be found in the former crypt of a 19th-century church. Notable displays include the forensic medicine showcase, which features original material on Jack the Ripper, as well as a replica skeleton of Joseph Merrick, also known as the "Elephant Man". The permanent collection has all kinds of interesting artefacts relating to the history of hospital as well as East End healthcare in general, from instruments and nursing equipment to uniforms and books — so there’s plenty to soak up.

Newark St, Whitechapel, E1 2AA, bartshealth.nhs.uk

12 weird and wonderful museums in London - In pictures

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