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A museum lover’s Christmas guide to Fitzrovia and Central London (2026)

museums in central london
Madame Tussauds museum

Christmas in Central London is not just about festive lights, shopping and markets. Museums offer a cosy escape from the winter streets, with everything from contemporary art and literary history to immersive experiences and curious collections.

Opening hours can change over Christmas, so check the festive schedule before planning your visit. Here are some museums to visit in Central London over the Christmas period.

Art & immersive museums

For a more visual day out, head towards Marble Arch for contemporary art and immersive experiences. You can also discover more museums in Central London nearby.

Moco museum London

  • Location: 1-4 Marble Arch, London W1H 7EJ
    Regular opening hours: 10am – 5pm, open throughout the Christmas period
    Admission:
    General admission: from £16.90
    Flex: from £23.90
    VIP: from £28.90
    Children under 4: Free
    Distance from Fitzrovia Quarter: 0.8 mile, around a 20-min on foot

Moco brings together some of modern and contemporary art’s most recognisable names, including Banksy, Andy Warhol, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Keith Haring and Yayoi Kusama. Street art, digital works and immersive installations give the collection a playful, modern edge.

 

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FRAMELESS London

  • Location: 6 Marble Arch, London W1H 7AP
    Regular opening hours:
    Monday-Thursday: 11am – 6pm
    Friday: 10:30am – 10pm
    Saturday: 10am – 10pm
    Sunday: 10am – 6pm
    Christmas opening hours:
    Christmas Eve: 10am – 4:30pm
    Christmas Day: Closed
    Boxing Day: 12pm – 7pm
    Admission:
    Adult: from £29.50
    Child: from £20
    Family: from £86
    Senior: from £21
    Distance from Fitzrovia Quarter: 0.8 mile, around a 20-min walk

FRAMELESS transforms more than 40 masterpieces into floor-to-ceiling worlds of light, colour, animation and sound across four galleries. It is an atmospheric indoor experience before heading outside to enjoy the walkable neighbourhoods in Central London.

History & literary museums

From Victorian literature to famous faces, these museums bring different chapters of British history and popular culture to life.

Charles Dickens museum

  • Location: 48-49 Doughty Street, London WC1N 2LX
    Regular opening hours: Wednesday-Sunday 10am – 5pm
    Christmas opening hours 2026:
    Tuesdays 1, 8, 15 & 22 December: 10am – 6pm
    Wednesday-Sunday, 2-23 December: until 6pm
    Christmas Eve: Open for a special event
    Christmas Day & Boxing Day: Closed
    Admission:
    Adult (17+): £14
    Child (6-16): £8
    Under 6: Free
    Concession: £12
    Carers: Free
    Distance from Fitzrovia Quarter: 1 mile, around a 28-min walk

Dickens lived in this Georgian townhouse from 1837 to 1839. Today, its Victorian rooms, manuscripts, furniture and personal possessions offer a glimpse into his life and writing, with his connection to A Christmas Carol making it especially atmospheric at this time of year.

Madame Tussauds London

  • Location: Marylebone Road, London NW1 5LR
    Regular opening hours: 10am – 6pm
    Christmas opening hours 2026:
    Christmas Eve: 9am – 4pm
    Christmas Day: Closed
    Boxing Day: 10am – 7pm
    27-31 December: 9am – 7pm
    Admission:
    Standard online: from £27-£29
    Walk-up: from £39
    Flexi Fast Track: from £37
    Groups of 10+: from £30 per person
    Distance from Fitzrovia Quarter: 0.8 mile, around a 20-min walk

More than 150 lifelike figures bring together film stars, musicians, sporting legends, royalty and cultural icons. Beyond the famous faces, immersive sets and the Spirit of London ride turn the visit into a journey through London’s history and popular culture.

Science & curious collections

For something more unusual, explore museums that challenge how we understand the mind and the world around us.

Twist museum

  • Location: 248 Oxford Street, London W1C 1DH
    Regular opening hours:
    Monday-Thursday: 10am – 7:30pm
    Friday-Saturday: 10am – 9pm
    Sunday: 10am -7pm
    Christmas opening hours:
    Christmas Eve: 10am – 4pm
    Christmas Day: Closed
    Boxing Day: 12am – 8pm
    Admission:
    Adult (15+): from £24.50 + booking fee
    Child (3-14): from £20 + booking fee
    Under 3: Free
    Distance from Fitzrovia Quarter: 0.4 mile, around a 10-min on foot

Twist turns the science of perception into more than 80 interactive exhibits. Optical illusions and experiments with light, colour, sound and perspective reveal just how easily our senses can be fooled, making it a fun hands-on stop for both adults and families.

Freud museum London

  • Location: 20 Maresfield Gardens, London NW3 5SX
    Regular opening hours:
    Wednesday-Sunday: 10:30am – 5pm
    Monday-Tuesday: Closed
    Christmas opening hours 2026:
    Open: 23, 27 & 31 December
    Closed: 24-26 December & 1 January 2027
    Admission:
    Adult: £16.90 with donation / £14.90 without
    Concession: £14.90 / £12.90
    Young Person (12-16): £11 / £9
    Under 12: Free
    Members & Patrons: Free
    Distance from Fitzrovia Quarter: 2.7 miles, around a 55-min on foot

Freud’s final home offers an intimate look into the world of psychoanalysis. The centrepiece is his famous couch, surrounded by his study, books and collection of antiquities. The 40 Objects, 40 Years exhibition, running until 14 February 2027, adds another reason to visit this Christmas.