The most unusual alternative museums in London. Join the owls at the London Zoo

Victoria and Albert Museum

Continuing the conversation about the museums of London, I would like to separately mention the most not regular museums. The capital of Great Britain is famous precisely for the fact that the choice of its museums is truly inimitable, whether it be a huge British museum in Bloomsbury or the South Kensington Museum Group (Science, Museum natural history and the most famous of them is the Victoria and Albert Museum).

But there are twenty small, but very eccentric museums in the capital, hiding along the streets. Each has its own story. We will talk about a few of them.

Museum in Covent Garden (LT Museum)

This cultural institution is rightfully included in the most unusual museums: after all, there are old subway cars, buses, trams. However, only a small part of it is located there, while the main one is concentrated in the Acton area in West London. Located in the depot, it is more of a collection than an amusement park. For example, there you can see the remains of a spiral escalator that exists in a single copy!

Blood Surgery Museum

Blood Surgery Museum (The Old Operation Theater & Herb Garred)

This is truly not only the most unusual museum, but also one of the creepiest. Here, near the London Bridge, an operating theater was founded in 1822, today offering immersion in the surgery of those times when anesthetics and antiseptics were not yet invented.

Canal Museum (London Canal Museum)

The colorful history of the canals is collected here - boats, horses, tunnels, art dedicated to the canal, people connected with them in some way. You can sail here by boat and feel yourself in the depths of the London canals.

Interestingly, this place used to be an ice cream warehouse by Carlo Gatti, one of the pioneers of this area. Before the invention of refrigeration chambers, ice was brought here from Norway and stored to be used later in the heat. Therefore, the Tunnel Museum is also part of the Ice Cream Museum.

cartoon museum

The Cartoon Museum

Although this is also the most unusual museum, it certainly does not need a description. Amazing drawings, hundreds and thousands of characters and caricatures, including the most amazing firstborns. Not to mention the acute political satire also expressed on paper.

Museum of eccentric collections (Cuming Museum, the Museum of Southwark History)

Here you can find truly unusual things: the scalp of an Indian, a fragment of the ceiling of the room where Napoleon died, a piece of the vest of Charles I, worn on the day of his execution, the sawn off leg of a mummy. You won't find anything like this anywhere else in the world!

Fan Museum

Fan Museum (London Fan Museum)

This museum has more than three thousand folding fans, and their collection is the largest in the world. There is also a special exhibition, opened in 1999, of special fans in the Art Nouveau style. And in the nearby tea shop, napkins are also folded in the appropriate shape.

Museums of great writers

The houses of such great writers as Dr. Johnson or Charles Dickens have long since become museums. There is also a separate museum dedicated not only to Arthur Conan Doyle, but to his hero Sherlock Holmes. So all admirers of great writers in London are in for some pleasant surprises.

Money Museum (Bank Of England Museum)

The Old Lady of Threadneedle Street Museum houses a variety of banknotes, from the earliest ones, which were still handwritten by bank clerks and signed by cashiers. Previously, the banks of the countries that surrounded Britain produced their own personal banknotes. These banknotes were valued as much as the bank itself. And the banknotes of England were considered as reliable as the Bank of England.

Today, only a few banks in Scotland issue their own banknotes. The museum also tells how the fight against counterfeiters has been improved.

Anyone who finds ordinary museums boring will surely be interested in the most unusual museums in London, or at least one of them. English learners via Skype, we are waiting for your story about which one seemed the most interesting to you!

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Photo: historicalgardensblog.com

If you are tired of walking around Westminster, the Thames and the royal parks, the British capital will offer interesting places where you will not meet crowds of tourists. Secluded gardens, original bridges and unusual sights - the ZagraNitsa portal has collected six places for those who have seen almost everything in London

Little Venice

If you enjoy boating but are bored with traditional walks, head north of Paddington Underground Station. The picturesque area of ​​Little Venice will definitely diversify your boat trips! From here you can ride along the beautiful streets of Maida Vale and Regent's Park, or go upstream and enjoy the tranquility away from. And then do not forget to look into local cafes.

Where: walking distance from Paddington tube station

The Naked Ladies

When all the royal parks have been explored up and down, look into the gardens of the York House mansion. The house, located on the banks of the Thames, was built in early XVII century for Andrew Pitcarne, the court king Charles I. Today, the mansion is used for solemn ceremonies, and Londoners often rest on the territory adjacent to it. One of the good reasons to visit York House is the sculptures of naked ladies. They are made of Carrara marble and were probably brought to London from Italy in late XIX or early twentieth century. The author of the sculptures is unknown, since their owner, the English swindler Whitaker Wright, who committed suicide, did not name the sculptor.

Where: York House, Twickenham

The seven noses of Soho

Walking along, you can diversify your leisure time perfectly if you go in search of seven noses. These original artifacts appeared in London at the end of the 20th century thanks to the artist Rick Buckley. His action was a protest against the installation of surveillance cameras in the city. They say that then the artist argued with friends that he could “leave the London surveillance system with his nose” and place 35 casts of his nose around the city. Without getting into the field of view of the cameras, Buckley even coveted such capital sights as the Admiralty Arch. It is not known for certain how many of them are left to this day, but it is believed that wealth awaits the one who finds seven noses in metropolitan Soho.

Where: soho area

The Rolling Bridge

Fans of unusual structures will definitely like Rolling Bridge: the British were able to turn even a small drawbridge into an original piece of art. When ships pass through the Grand Union Canal, this bridge not only rises, but twists into an octagonal shape on one of the banks. The structure was designed by British designer Thomas Hatherwick, for which he received the British Structural Steel Design Award in 2005.

Where: An 8-minute walk from Paddington tube station.

The Thin House

At first glance it seems that the width of the house number 5 on the corner of South Terrace and Thurloe Square is only a couple of meters. However, if you look closely, optical illusion creates an original layout - the house is still expanding at the back. The design for the building was not chosen by chance: a railway line runs right behind it.

Where: Knightsbridge area

traffic light tree

When you walk around Canary Wharf, pay attention to the original traffic light tree. It appeared in the British capital in memory of the plane tree that died in its place. The structure, 8 meters high, consisting of 75 lights, was designed by the French sculptures Pierre Vivant at the end of the last century. Since then, it has lifted the spirits of passing drivers and attracted the attention of many tourists.

Where: Trafalgar Way

Seeing famous sights London such as Big Ben or Westminster, as a rule, travelers who have recently arrived in the country believe that there is nothing more interesting in the capital, but this is not at all the case. Moreover, sometimes Londoners themselves do not know about the existence of many memorable places, which can be located just a few tens of meters from their home. However, such places exist special interest in this sense represent museums. We bring to your attention a list of museums of the northern London, which you did not even know about, but which you should definitely visit.

The museum is located in the heart of the magnificent Markfield Park. It is dedicated to the treatment facilities of the city. At one time, thanks to these mechanisms, an epidemic of plague and other infectious diseases was overcome in Tottenham. The main steam engine of the system was installed in 1886 year and is still in working order. Sometimes, it is turned on so that visitors can see the mechanism in action.

Crowland Road, N15 4RB . It is open every second Tuesday of the month from 11 am to 5 pm. Free admission.

London- a city with a developed transport infrastructure, so it is not surprising that there are plenty of museums dedicated to transport in it. One of them is located in the northern part of the city. Here you can see rare models of motorbikes, buses and cars, get acquainted with the history of their creation and use.

The museum can be visited at: Whitewebbs Road, Enfield, EN2 9HP . It operates on Wednesdays from 10 am to 4 pm, as well as on the first Sunday of every month. Entrance fee - £4.

1. willow road

This museum house unique monument architecture. It was designed by ourselves Erne Goldfinger for your family in 1939 , but became a museum only after the death of his wife in 1991. The uniqueness of the house is in its atypicality. Externally, the building resembles a garage house with columns. Inside the house is built in the best traditions of avant-garde. On the walls of work Max Ernst, there are sculptures on the tables Henry Moore, furniture by the owner of the house, as well as a host of other art objects.

You can visit this unique place at: 2 Willow Road, East Heath Road, NW3 1TH. Opening hours: Wednesday to Sunday from 11 am to 2 pm. Entrance fee - £7.20.

The house-museum once belonged to a famous literary figure - to John Keats. It offers its visitors a great way to learn about the beginning 18 century in London, about the life of the middle class then, and about the life of the Romantic poet Keats himself. The exhibits on display include wedding ring that Keats gave Fanny Bron(to his bride), and a lock of her hair. The museum holds regular poetry and literary events and also offers a range of educational programs.

You can visit the museum at: 10 Keats Grove, NW3 2RR. Hours of Operation: Wednesday to Sunday from 11:00 am to 5:00 pm. Entrance fee - £6.50.

1. Bruce Castle

This castle was previously known as Milord's House. The building was built in the 16th century. This is where Sir once lived William Compton, Richard Sackville, barons Coleraine and Sir Rowland Hill. Then the estate was located medical school, and later - a museum that kept the archive of the area Haringey. Now on the estate there is one of the oldest parks in Tottenham. By visiting the museum, you will learn a lot about the history of this part of the city.

You can visit the castle at: Lordship Lane, N17 8NU from Wednesday to Sunday from 1 to 5 p.m. Free admission.

This museum is dedicated to the water channels of the city. It is housed in a 19th century building once owned by an ice cream entrepreneur named Carlo Gatti. The cellars of the house were designed in such a way that they could store Norwegian ice imported for production needs. Until now, some ice has been preserved in excellent condition and is used by physicists for experiments. You can also get on one of the museum's water excursions through the tunnel Islington. Ticket price - £ 8.40 includes both the trip and the visit to the museum. Regular entrance to the museum costs less - £4.

The museum is located at: 2-13 New Wharf Road, N1 9RT and is open Tuesday to Sunday from 10 am to 4.30 pm (£4).

This museum is dedicated to the world famous psychotherapist Sigmund Freud. The internal arrangement of the museum fully reproduces the decoration of the doctor's office, including the couch, figurines collected by Freud, and many other little things. The museum regularly holds various seminars and cultural and educational classes.

Offers its visitors a journey into the world of the extraordinary. Along with good cafes and bars, guests can visit extraordinary museums in the UK. It - mysterious places visits not normally found in standard London travel guides but uh well worth a look.

This one is the only one in the world in which the main object of interest is various varieties of tea and coffee. The exhibits take us back to the days of the British Empire and colonialism, showing the commercial interest in the society of that time in these two products.

The museum was founded by Edward Brahma in 1992. Its exhibits trace the history of tea and coffee over the past four centuries: from the moment they were imported to Europe from Africa and the Far East.

The museum has over 3,000 books of cartoons and drawings of every kind and with an emphasis on political caricature. It was founded in 2006 and consists of over 1200 exhibitions. The exhibits trace the history of British cartoons, comics, drawings and animation all the way back to the 18th century. The museum offers visitors the opportunity to see contemporary designs as well as unique, very rare examples of drawing art.

3. Museum of Surgery

To many, this museum will look like a scene from a horror movie, but that's what the operations rooms looked like in the early 19th century.

The hall is equipped with benches for those wishing to be present at the operation, which in those days took place without anesthesia and antiseptics.

In addition to a large operating room, furnished according to the original of that time, the museum offers visitors an exhibition of the development of surgery in early medical practice and tools.

Another museum dedicated to medicine is located in an old English church. It contains exhibits of medieval medical instruments, as well as numerous documents from which one can learn about strange medical cases, such as the case of the Elephant Man. Here you can also see exhibits of celebrities: artificial teeth and kidney stones.

6. Museum of the British Association of Optics

Visiting museums in the UK is a mandatory part of the tourist program. But if the traditional places have already been explored, then it's time to please yourself with a trip to the extraordinary institutions of London.

Say no to conservatism!

Historical, local history and other similar museums have been studied by tourists up and down, so we offer you a list of ten alternative places that will definitely interest you.

1. Museum of Childhood. Perhaps, almost everyone would like to get here. After all, it is here that a huge number of toys and games are collected, the history of which begins several centuries ago and reaches the present day. old railways, real tin soldiers, dolls Victorian era, looking at visitors with their empty eyes, as well as modern computer games and fancy toys. In such a place, it will be interesting not only for children, but also for parents who are not averse to returning to childhood even for a minute.
2. Museum of brands, packaging and advertising. This exposition deservedly enters the top of the most interesting places capitals of Britain. Modern man often does not even pay attention to what the products are packaged in, what is written on the leaflets that are handed out on the streets, and what in question in an advertisement that suddenly interrupts the film. But, having got to this exhibition, you will have a unique opportunity to trace the entire history of the development of the era of consumption. You will be able to see very interesting exhibits: the first vacuum cleaner, more like a large accordion with a hose, the first packs of cigarettes, cans from drinks, various household chemicals and much more.
3. Grant Zoological Museum. This list will not do without an exciting collection of the rarest animals. But one of Grant's most bizarre exhibits is a collection of moles immersed in formaldehyde. But this is not the most surprising thing that can be seen in zoological museum- the heads and brains of various animals that have been intoxicated and divided in half - that's a real adrenaline rush.
4. Barth Pathology Museum. The exposition was founded in London in 1879 and has not lost its relevance since that time. But you should be prepared - the exhibits here are definitely not for the faint of heart and impressionable. By the way, you can see with your own eyes the parts of the body of John Bellingham, the murderer of the British Prime Minister.
5. Horniman Gardens and Museum. This is real fascinating world, where you can look at natural beauties, representatives of the fauna, and also try to learn the basics of various crafts and arts with your children.
6. Pollock Toy Museum. Tourists who want to plunge into childhood again do not come here. The atmosphere reigning in this place is more suitable for horror films: long dark corridors, creaking floors and quite strange toys. You will be met by dolls with glass eyes, Teddy bears and various puppets.
7. Klink Prison Museum. hunt for thrills? Then you are at the right place. Here you will learn about the everyday life of prisoners, you will be able to see and even try various instruments of torture. And for a fee, you will be happy to be placed in a cell for the night.
8. Ripley's Incredible Museum. Truly unusual place, where literally everything surprises: dinosaur eggs, wax copies unusual people, animals with different mutations. In addition, there you will always find where to have fun, because there are laser shows and labyrinths.
9. Harry Potter Museum. It is unlikely that even one fan will be able to deny himself a visit to this exhibition, because it is organized directly on the filming site. You will be surrounded by real scenery, as well as fascinating stories about the work of the team, thanks to which the film adaptation of the book became possible.
10. Museum of the Royal London Hospital. First of all, it is famous for the fact that in the 19th century Joseph Merrick lived here, who gained popularity due to the deformities of his body, for which he was nicknamed the “elephant man”. Also, by providing all possible assistance in the investigation of the case of the famous killer Jack the Ripper, the exhibition acquired some very valuable exhibits.

These places may not be found in London guidebooks, but they are worth a visit if you want to get to know the history of the city and its mysteries more closely.

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