Waterloo is a small district in London located on the River Thames’ banks in the city’s central part. The station is close to the London Eye and other attractions along the South Bank, so there are plenty of museums and galleries that you can visit that are within walking distance. Here are some of the best galleries and museums near Waterloo.
Florence Nightingale Museum
2 Lambeth Palace Rd, London SE1 7EW
The Florence Nightingale Museum celebrates the life and work of the best-known nurse, Florence Nightingale. At the museum, you can discover her childhood, how she fought against her parents’ wishes to become a nurse, her work during the Crimean War and how she campaigned for better healthcare for ordinary people. See the lamp she carried, which earned her the nickname The Lady With The Lamp, meet her pet owl and see her medicine chest.
Somerset House
https://www.somersethouse.org.uk/
Strand, London WC2R 1LA
Somerset House is fully open to the public. Admission to Somerset House is free, but you’ll need to buy a ticket for some exhibitions and events. Somerset House is a place to escape the comfort zone, intensify creativity, multiply opportunity and drive artistic and social innovation. There are various events throughout the year, including an ice rink in the winter.
Imperial War Museum
https://www.iwm.org.uk/visits/iwm-london
Lambeth Rd, London SE1 6HZ
Imperial War Museums is the world’s leading museum of war and conflict. Founded while the First World War was still raging, it gives voice to the experiences of ordinary people forced to live in a world torn apart by war. From the moment you step into the atrium to the discoveries awaiting you in the award-winning galleries, IWM London examines war’s continuing influence on our world.
London Transport Museum
London WC2E 7BB
Discover over 200 years of London, its transport history, and the stories of the people who have travelled and worked in the city with a visit to the London Tourism Awards Visitor Attraction of the Year. Go behind the scenes at some of London’s busiest stations as expert guides reveal the extraordinary infrastructure below your feet. Venture into ‘forgotten’ historical Underground stations such as Aldwych or Down Street, usually closed to the public.
Churchill War Rooms
https://www.iwm.org.uk/visits/churchill-war-rooms/about
King Charles St, London SW1A 2AQ
The Churchill War Rooms is a museum in London and one of the five branches of the Imperial War Museum. The Cabinet War Rooms provided the secret underground headquarters for the core of the British government throughout the Second World War. The award-winning Churchill Museum, Churchill War Rooms, is one of London’s must-see attractions.
National Portrait Gallery
St. Martin’s Pl, London WC2H 0HE
The National Portrait Gallery is an art gallery in London that houses a collection of portraits of historically important and famous British people. When it opened in 1856, it was the first national public gallery in the world that was dedicated to portraits. The Gallery is home to the most extensive collection of portraits worldwide. Search over 220,000 works, from the 8th century to the present day.
Shrek’s Adventure London
https://www.shreksadventure.com/
County Hall, Westminster Bridge Rd, London SE1 7PB
It is not a museum but an interactive and immersive walkthrough experience where the whole family can journey through Far Far Away. See, hear, touch and smell the adventure by exploring 10 fairytale-themed live shows, from a magical 4D flying bus experience, interacting with various characters, including Princess Fiona and Donkey, to collecting the special ingredients that you will need to find Shrek.
If you’re looking for more fun things to do in London with the family, then we have just what you’re looking for.