London has many famous museums, from the Victoria and Albert Museum to the Natural History Museum. These institutions rightfully hold places of esteem and fame, and many consider them some of the best museums in the world.
However, the capital is also home to a great many smaller museums that don’t receive as much attention, but they are just as fascinating as their bigger counterparts. Staying at the Montcalm Royal London House, you’re in the perfect spot to find and explore these hidden gems. So, with that said, let’s take a look at some of the best, smaller museums in London.
Museum of Freemasonry
The Freemasons have long held an important and influential place in the history of London – perhaps less so today than in their Victorian and Edwardian heyday.
The Museum of Freemasonry in Covent Garden is a study in beautiful architecture, and its looks are enough to keep any visitor entranced. The marble and stucco rendering of the place speaks to the wealth and power the freemasons once held, and a visit is like stepping back in time to when London was the centre of a vast empire.
Alongside this, you can see artefacts and pieces from freemason history and learn how the masons have now segued into charity work and other endeavours. It’s a fascinating place and more than worth a visit, plus it’s only a short hop you’re your Montcalm hotel London.
The Horniman
An eclectic and captivating place, The Horniman has a sizeable collection of pieces from the areas of music, natural history and anthropology. It’s easy to reach from Montcalm Royal London House, and that’s all the more reason to visit.
Collected from all around the world by Frederick Horniman during the Victorian era, the artefacts on display show Horniman’s keen eye for the unusual and the beautiful. Opened as a museum following Horniman’s death, the collection has grown over time to make up one of the best small museum collections in the capital.
There’s also a butterfly house and an aquarium on-site, reflecting Frederick Horniman’s fascination with the natural world. The Horniman is a beautiful place and offers big museum artefacts and pieces in a small, intimate setting.
Sir John Soane’s Museum
This is an odd museum in that it’s benefactor and inspiration – famed architect John Soane – began preparing his house to become a museum before he died. Just a short hop from your Montcalm hotel London, this is one small museum you won’t want to miss.
Upon his death, Sir John Soane’s Museum stayed just as he left it – down to the items on his desk and every other little detail. What this adds up to is an astonishing time capsule that shows the living and working environment of one of the most famous architects of his age. The museum is full of paintings, sculptures and artefacts that Sir John collected over his lifetime, as well as his workbooks and writings. It’s a unique experience and, stepping over the threshold, it really does feel like you’ve travelled back in time.
