Location: Islington
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The 5 Best History Museums in Islington, England
The crown jewels, Buckingham Palace, Camden Market…in London, history collides with art, fashion, food, and good British ale. A perfect day is different for everyone: culture aficionados shouldn't miss the Tate Modern and the Royal Opera House. If you love fashion, Oxford Street has shopping galore. For foodies, cream tea at Harrod’s or crispy fish from a proper chippy offers classic London flavor. Music and book buffs will love seeing Abbey Road and the Sherlock Holmes Museum (at 221B Baker Street, of course).
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1. The Charterhouse
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 258 reviews
The Charterhouse has been living the nation’s history since 1348. Founded as a medieval monastery of the Carthusian order, the site became a Tudor mansion, a boys’ school, and an almshouse, which it remains to this day. We provide accommodation for over 40 individuals known as ‘Brothers’ who form part of the community alongside staff, private and commercial tenants, and residents of the Infirmary. Our historic and peaceful 7 acre site is an inspiring location for filming and private events. In late January 2017 we opened our doors to the public for the first time in our 660 year history as part of the Revealing the Charterhouse project. Come and discover our fascinating story revealed through our new museum and learning programme; explore the site during a paid tour; and relax with tea and homemade cake in the café next door. We look forward to welcoming you.
Reviewed By lemonadepocket
Took a garden tour with the new head gardener and one of the Brothers (residents) of The Charterhouse. How I could have lived in London all my life and not known about this site, I don't know. We booked the garden tour in January and the whole season is sold out, so unless you can catch one of their unguided open garden evenings, you have to plan ahead. The small gardens are beautifully planted with lush borders and trees and plants of special interest. The additional historical notes pointed out by Brother Tim were an added bonus. After the tour, there is a small gift shop selling attractive souvenirs, including 'Behind Walls' containing glorious photographs of the development of the gardens. They also sell sweet pea seeds, a great way to take a memory home with you! This tour, together with the trip to the free museum has whetted our appetite to find out more. We will be booking to take a tour of the inside of the buildings with one of the Brothers. Book this! You will be amazed at what has been hiding in plain sight!
2. The Museum of the Order of St John
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 164 reviews
The Museum tells the unique and fascinating story of an ancient religious military Order, from its origins caring for sick pilgrims in eleventh century Jerusalem, through to its modern-day role with St John Ambulance, the international first aid charity.
Reviewed By 285rachaelc - London, United Kingdom
What a fabulous free museum. Nice and informative displays covering the full range of history from the Knights on Jerusalem through to their time in Rhodes and Malta, not forgetting London itself, and how the the Order moved into providing first aid training when the industrial revolution saw an increase in injuries. The museum also houses a Caravaggio painting (due his connections with the Order during his time in Malta). We took the Saturday afternoon tour (80 minutes) which was excellent - very informative and enabled us to views upstairs rooms that are usually closed and the Priory Church and its Norman crypt just across the road - well worth the suggested donation of £5. Clean toilets and a small shop too. A really enjoyable afternoon visit. Can't believe it took 20 years of living in London to get round to visiting!
3. Society of Genealogists
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 5 reviews
We are partially opening from May 18, 2021. On Tuesdays from 11am to 4pm, from Tuesday 18 May. On one Saturday each month from 11 am to 4 pm, starting with 22 May and 19 June. You must book in advance. We will be keeping to a maximum of 20 people each day. However, a large number of our records are online to help you build your family tree. As the National Family History Centre, we store and index family stories and documents from all over the UK, aiming to keep them safe and make them as available as possible to everyone. You will find links on our website home page to take you to all our online records and to our Library. There's also help pages to get you started, if you need them. If you are already a Member of the Society, our website also has lots of tutorials and advice plus numbers for you to call for extra help.
4. London Canal Museum
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 291 reviews
A waterside museum of London's canals and the Victorian ice trade, set in a former ice warehouse of the 1860s. It tells the colourful story of the canals, their people, horses and trade. Peer down into a huge ice well, uniquely preserved, and learn about the ice trade. Go inside a narrowboat cabin, meet the horse, and watch archive film. Free MP3 audio tour for download from the museum website for your own player.
Reviewed By jsma9066 - Sydney, Australia
We visited the London Canal Museum and did the canal boat ride for 50mins also. The museum has a lot of interesting information about the history of the canal boats and the Regent Canal. The boat ride was great too. Only 12 passengers at a time and it is a short trip along the canal through the tunnel and then turns around just before the lock. For those interested in the history it is well worth a visit. Highly recommended..
5. Islington Museum
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 13 reviews
Reviewed By Jannerbloke - Devon, United Kingdom
Exceedingly well kept and important local history collections. Drawn originally by the artworks based on vandalised images from library books, the Halliwell and Orion stuff was alone worth the visit but the Walter Sickert Family Collection and more so the the Holloway Prison relics and documents provided very real and depressing images of Victorian and subsequent incarceration.
