Arcadia England

One of the great things about studying in the UK is that a lot of the major museums are free to visit! 

British Museum (London)

A short walk from our London Center, this vast, free museum - which claims to be the oldest public museum in the world - is a great place to visit during Orientation. Its stunning domed roof is worth a visit all by itself, but the museum is famed for its collections from all over the world, and especially for items such as the Rosetta Stone.

Natural History Museum (London)

Housed in a stunning Victorian building right next to South Kensington tube station, and famous for its dinosaurs, this vast museum is packed with interactive and immersive exhibits, including its earthquake room.I’d recommend avoiding it during the school holidays as it will be full of small children getting over-excited about the dinosaurs (which are actually only models…) If you’re feeling adventurous, there’s a bizarre offshoot in Tring, just half an hour from London by train, which features hundreds of stuffed animals. No, I’m not sure why, either.  

National Media Museum (Bradford)

I had to put this in because it’s in my home city and I’m biased! But this is a brilliant museum! An offshoot of the Science Museum, it includes (amongst other things) a permanent exhibition on the history of photography, a huge film and television archive, and a room packed with classic arcade games you can actually play!

National Railway Museum (York)

I mean, if you don’t like trains, this one is probably not for you. But if you do, then it’s one of the best museums in the world, a place where you can learn things you never even realised you wanted to know about the history of rail travel. You can also clamber about on a handful of its exhibits, including a series 0 Shinkansen. Sadly none of them actually move.

Museum of Science and Industry (Manchester)

Manchester and its neighbouring rival Liverpool are packed full of fantastic museums and this is probably one of the best. Part of the Science Museum, the museum focuses not just on the innovations we have seen over the last few centuries, but the impact of industrialisation on society - something especially relevant to Manchester, a city sometimes referred to as the “first industrialised city” and known for its warehouses, cotton mills, railway viaducts, and canals.

Royal Airforce Museum (London...just about!)

This vast museum - a series of airport hangars in a nondescript part of north London - is often devoid of visitors (probably because of its location in a nondescript part of north London - you have to go all the way to Colindale on the wrong bit of the Northern Line to get to it.) But it’s a hugely impressive collection of aircraft and RAF memorabilia, charting the history of the RAF and its role over the last century. The World War One In The Air exhibition is especially good.

Ashmolean (Oxford)

In many ways like a smaller version of the British Museum, the Ashmolean in Oxford is often voted one of the best museums to visit in the UK, housing an impressive collection from around the world spanning millennia, from ancient Chinese pots to 21st century art. 

Victoria and Albert Museum (London)

Often overshadowed by the neighbouring Science and Natural History museums, the V&A is actually one of the quieter museums in London, but includes (amongst many other things) a wonderful fashion collection and furniture spanning many centuries. There is also an interesting exhibition on the history of theatre, tucked so far inside the depths of this vast Victorian building that few tourists make it that far.

Imperial War Museum and Imperial War Museum North (London and Manchester)

These huge, free museums in London and Manchester feature impressive yet sobering exhibitions and artefacts, creating an immersive experience looking at the history of warfare. The Imperial War Museum North focuses especially on the human cost and experience, and is (in my opinion!) one of the best museums in the UK. 

Tate Galleries (London, Liverpool and St Ives)

With four galleries in London, Liverpool and St Ives featuring historic and modern art from around the world, Tate has something to suit every taste, and you could spend days of your life exploring the collections. At the Tate Modern, on London’s Southbank, make sure you go up to the Blavatnik Viewing Platform for stunning views of the city.