Booking and hours compared
| Natural History Museum | V&A South Kensington | Science Museum | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry | Free | Free | Free |
| Booking | Optional free ticket guarantees entry | Not needed | Pre-book a free ticket; walk-ups daily, longer wait when busy |
| Hours | 10:00–17:50 daily | 10:00–17:45; Fri to 22:00 | 10:00–18:00 daily |
| Last entry | 17:30 | Galleries start clearing 30 min before closing | 17:15 |
| Closed | 24–26 Dec | 24–26 Dec | 24–26 Dec; all day 11 Nov 2026 |
The Natural History Museum visit page says its galleries are free to explore but that at weekends and in school holidays you may have to queue. Members and ticket holders skip the queue, and the free entry ticket counts, so book it for any Saturday, Sunday or school-holiday visit.
The V&A visit page is the most relaxed: open seven days a week, free, and "you don't need to book". On Fridays it stays open until 22:00, although some galleries close after 17:45.
The Science Museum visit page asks visitors to pre-book a free ticket. Its visit FAQs add that walk-up entry is available each day, but visitors without tickets may wait longer when numbers are very high. The page also lists one-off changes: closed all day on Wednesday 11 November 2026 and closing at 17:00 on Thursday 26 November 2026, with some galleries closed on other dates.
What costs money inside
The permanent galleries are free; temporary exhibitions and a few attractions are not. Prices below were listed on each museum's site on 12 October 2026.
Natural History Museum
The Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition runs from 16 October 2026 to 11 July 2027, with three price bands:
| Band | When | Adult (18+) | Child (4–17) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Peak | Weekends in school holidays | £21 | £10.50 |
| Standard | Weekdays in school holidays; Friday–Monday in term time | £19 | £9.50 |
| Off-peak | Tuesday–Thursday in term time | £17 | £8.50 |
Children aged 0–3 are free, and students, jobseekers and disabled adults have a concession rate. Two adults and two children on a Saturday in term time pay £57 at the standard rate; on a Tuesday in term time, £51.
Jurassic Oceans runs until 3 January 2027, with entry 10:00–16:30. Adults pay £17.50 at the standard rate (weekends, school and bank holidays) or £15 off-peak; children aged 4–17 pay £8.75 or £7.50.
V&A
The V&A South Kensington listings show:
- Schiaparelli: Fashion Becomes Art, until 15 November 2026: £28 on weekdays, £30 at weekends, marked "last few tickets"
- Rising Voices: Contemporary Art from Asia, Australia and the Pacific, until 10 January 2027: £17
- Constantinople to Istanbul: One City, Two Empires, from 7 November 2026: £25 on weekdays, £27 at weekends
Disabled visitors get discounted exhibition tickets and can add a free companion ticket.
Science Museum
Wonderlab, the interactive gallery, needs a paid day pass, with prices that vary and start from £13.50; children aged 3 and under go free. The museum says booking ahead is cheaper and that tickets on the day are not guaranteed. Power Up is also ticketed, again with cheaper prices for booking ahead. Wonderlab closes early, at 16:00, on 14 October and 8 December 2026.
Bags, luggage and cloakrooms
All three museums may search bags. Their luggage rules differ, and this decides where to go if you are carrying a case between hotels.
| Natural History Museum | V&A | Science Museum | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Storage | Cloakrooms, subject to space | Cloakrooms at Cromwell Road and Exhibition Road entrances | Self-service lockers, level −1 |
| Cost | Coat £4; bag under 4 kg £5; over 4 kg £6 | £3 coats and small bags; £5 cabin bags; £7 larger bags | £3 standard, £5 large, £7 jumbo; card only |
| Suitcases | Must go in the cloakroom if you cannot carry them | Wheeled luggage and bags over 56 × 45 × 21 cm not allowed in galleries | Jumbo lockers fit carry-on cases; larger items best left behind |
The NHM facilities page says its Central Entrance cloakroom takes large bags and suitcases only, while the East Entrance cloakroom takes everything, including coats. Its security page warns that cloakroom space is limited and asks visitors to avoid bringing luggage. The V&A cloakrooms are open 10:00–17:30 (to 21:30 on Fridays) and do not accept e-bikes, e-scooters or drones.
Getting there and choosing an entrance
All three are a short walk from South Kensington Tube station. The NHM's getting here page says the Central Entrance is about a five-minute walk from the station, and the subway tunnel gives step-free access to it; the East Entrance on Exhibition Road may close at busy times, and the West Entrance on Queen's Gate is open until 17:00.
The V&A notes that planned Piccadilly line upgrades in 2026 and 2027 may disrupt journeys. It lists South Kensington (5 minutes' walk) and Gloucester Road (10 minutes) as the nearest stations, and Knightsbridge (14 minutes' walk) as the nearest step-free one. Its Cromwell Road and Exhibition Road entrances are both step-free.
How to plan the day
If you are also planning central London's other big free museum, our guide to British Museum free entry and booking covers its hours and bag rules. For a day outdoors further west, see Kew Gardens tickets and getting there, reached by the District line.