For as long as we can remember, England has been one of Europe's top cultural, historical, and artsy places. And what better way to confirm that than visiting its stunning museums? Since there are plenty of them, we are here to help you gain a better footing. So, here is our list of the top 5 famous museums in England!
Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery
At number one, we have one of the most important art galleries in England, as well as the UK. Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery display important international works in areas of fine art, ceramics, metalwork, jewelry, natural history, archeology, ethnography, and local and industrial history.
Discover collections of Dante Gabriel Rossetti, Frederick Sandys, Edwards Burne-Jones, and others.
You can also enjoy a meal here if you become fatigued after a history lesson! Finally, keep in mind that Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery is a free thrill; however, if you wish to see some more intricate objects of greater importance in the Gas Hall, it will cost you an entrance fee.
British Museum
Two million years of history and culture, all in one place! Hop on Birmingham to London train to see the best of what England has to offer.
By far the most popular and most affluent museum in the UK, the British Museum displays eight million works of the most significant historical artifacts. It documents events of humans from the very beginning and has the most impressive collections of monumental items in existence. It was also the very first public national museum in the world!
See such artifacts as Rosetta Stone, Sophilos Vase, the Parthenon Sculptures, and many, many more! However, remember that the British Museum is one of the most visited museums in the world, so the queue is typically extremely long. You must purchase the tickets ahead of time to get in. We even suggest acquiring them as soon as you confirm the dates for your trip to England. Better safe than sorry!
Natural History Museum
Do not wander far away! Stay for an additional day in London to see yet another iconic museum of the most highly-reviewed exhibitions in the world.
Natural History Museum is quite self-explanatory with its name and focuses solely on natural history and development. Here, you can learn about the most important events and evolution of earth and science. The collections cover botany, entomology, mineralogy, paleontology, and zoology. And if you think the eight million items in the British Museum were a lot, try eighty million in Natural History Museum!
See artifacts of the highest scientific and historical value: a royal lion’s skull, Charles Darwin’s pigeons, and, of course, the famous Dippy - nation’s favorite dinosaur!
International Slavery Museum
Probably one with the most emotion, the International Slavery Museum is located in Liverpool, England. Its primary focus is the transatlantic slave trade, showing the history and legacy of one of the darkest times in the narrative.
The gallery is divided into three parts: the lives of people in West Africa, their eventual enslavement, and the continued fight for freedom. Prepare to be highly affected, not only by the harsh undertones of the theme but also by real-life experiences displayed and appointed by the enslaved. It also includes over 400 annotated songs about the servitude and horrors that Africans have experienced.
Naturally, the museum also addresses human rights nowadays, heavily focusing on racism and discrimination.
Tate Modern
Last but not least, let’s visit Tate Modern in London. The unit presents collections of British and international modern and contemporary art. So, while you will not find traces of the past here, you will certainly learn more about the nowadays artists.
Initially, at the very end of the 19th century, Tate Modern was founded as the National Gallery of British Art, yet it expanded quite quickly. After adding international works, it was eventually named after Henry Tate of Tate&Lyle, who had laid the very foundation for the art collections.
Depicted as cool and quirky, Tate Modern is one of the most refreshing museums in London, showing off exciting and fun installments, some of which date back to the 20th century. Hey, it is still considered modern art!
Stop by such unmissable exhibits as Marilyn Diptych by Andy Warhol, Nude Woman With Necklace by Pablo Picasso, and Mountain Lake by Salvador Dali.
There you go! Five is not a lot, so go ahead and try to visit all of them on your trip here. Check availability and tickets, and get ready to be blown away by some of the most impressive selections in the world!
I visited the Birmingham Museum Sunday. Really not showing the permanent collection now, but some really brilliant exhibits highlighting women artists, social justice, and Birmingham architectural and cultural history.
Well worth a visit!