It’s no secret that London has some of the biggest and best museums in the world. From the Natural History Museum to the Science Museum, the capital has repositories of learning and history that you could spend days exploring and never go anywhere else.
But London also has a large number of smaller museums, often hidden off the beaten track but offering a fantastic insight into an array of famous people, subjects and anything else you can imagine. With this in mind, we’ve put together a short list of three you can find from The Montcalm London Marble Arch.
Charles Dickens Museum
Whether you like his tomes on British – and specifically, London – life or not, there’s no denying that Charles Dickens is one of the most popular and famous authors of all time.
And the Charles Dickens Museum gives you unmatched insight into the living and working environment of the great man himself. The Museum – at 48 Doughty Street – is where Dickens wrote Oliver Twist, Nicholas Nickleby and The Pickwick Papers and the interior remains the same today as when Dickens call the address home.
The museum aims to give you a real insight into Victorian life and, more specifically, the surprisingly sparse working environment of Dickens himself. The house isn’t a mansion by any means, and it’s a fascinating experience to walk around the living and working space of perhaps the most successful British author of all time. And if you’re a little peckish or thirsty after your visit, you’re only a short journey away from the best afternoon tea in London at The Montcalm London Afternoon Tea.
Pollock’s Toy Museum
Only a ten-minute journey from The Montcalm London Marble Arch, Pollock’s Toy Museum is a two-storey, cloistered museum that runs through the history of favourite toys from the Victorian era to today.
In terms of small, off-track museums it doesn’t get more quirky or unique than Pollock’s Toy Museum. It’s ideal for older children – younger children might find it hard not to pick up the beautiful toys on display – or anyone who wants to experience one of London’s most unique small-scale museums. And keep an eye out for the museum’s oldest piece – an Egyptian clay mouse dating back to 2000BC.
Grant Museum of Zoology
The Grant Museum of Zoology is part of the University College London and, as such, it has access to an astonishing array of exhibits and specimens. And it’s easy to get to from Montcalm’s many 5 star London hotels. It’s a thoroughly modern venue, but it also carries with it a very Victorian feel thanks to its revelry in the beauty and diversity of the natural world.
You’ll find everything from giant python skeletons to dodo bones on-site, as well as prehistoric giant deer and much more. The Grant Museum of Zoology is an endlessly fascinating place and one of the best small museums you can reach with ease from Montcalm London Marble Arch.
