The Curie Museum in Paris is one of my favorite places in the French capital because it is interactive, interesting and free of charge.

You will find some amazing information in this museum – not only will you learn that the radioactive elements discovered by the Curie family were used to make face creams, but you will also have the chance to see their original advertisements and packages. And you will not be left simply reading the Curie story, you will be invited before the interactive touch-screen where you can find the information that you are most interested in.

Curie Museum in Paris | © Maria Angelova/www.203challenges.com

The story is focused mostly on the life and work of two of the most famous couples in science – Pierre and Marie Curie, and Irène (their daughter) and Frédéric Joliot-Curie.

Once you enter the museum, you find yourself into one of the oldest buildings where the Curie family worked. At the former laboratories you will see the old-style instruments they used for their experiments with the newly-discovered radioactive elements. Their original works and developments on radiation are preserved at the museum, which also organizes training courses, lectures and discussions.

Curie Museum in Paris | © Maria Angelova/www.203challenges.com

Apart from the scientific part of the tour you will also see examples of some of the most dangerous uses of the radioactive elements from the times when their benefits in terms of cancer treatment were already discovered but the side effects and risks were still unknown.

Curie Museum in Paris | © Maria Angelova/www.203challenges.com

Radium was used in the face cream production, as well as for the cigarettes – you may see their original packages at the museum. The luminous radium paint, on the other hand, was used for the manufacturing of watches and clocks until the beginning of the 1950’s. In the past, there was also production of radioactive water, used in the bathtubs and to produce soft drinks. When the harm caused by the chemical element was discovered, it was declared a poison and in 1937 its use in cosmetic products was prohibited.

Curie Museum in Paris | © Maria Angelova/www.203challenges.com

Useful information: The Curie Museum is situated on 1, Rue Pierre et Marie Curie, Paris. The entrance is free but donations are welcomed. Working hours: Wednesday to Saturday from 1 p.m. until 5 p.m. (except on bank holidays). It’s also closed in August. More information here.

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Here’s a map of all the mentioned museums and galleries:

FREE MUSEUMS in London

#1 British Museum

Some of the greatest artifacts of human history are kept here – the Rosetta Stone, sculptures from the Parthenon in Athens, ancient Egyptian mummies and many more. Although the British Museum is free, a donation of £5 is recommended.

Opening hours: daily 10 am -5.30 pm (Fridays until 8.30 pm)

#2 Natural History Museum

The Natural History Museum is where you and your kids will find answers to almost every evolution or animal question. The huge whale skeleton and the dinosaurs exhibits are the superstars of this venue.

Opening hours: daily 10 am – 5.50 pm

#3 Victoria and Albert Museum

Victoria and Albert Museum is a treasury of art, design, fashion, and furniture design from different periods and styles.

Opening hours: daily 10 am – 5.50 pm (Fridays until 10 pm)

#4 Museum of London

The Museum of London is where you can delve into the history of London since prehistoric times by strolling among recreated city areas from different epochs.

Opening hours: daily 10 am – 6 pm

#5 Museum of London Docklands

Make it a little bit more specific and explore the history of London as an important port and a trade hub. The Museum of London Docklands is located in a warehouse that is two centuries old.

Opening hours: daily 10 am – 6 pm

#6 Science Museum

Science becomes alive in the 3D and 4D simulators of the Science Museum where you can experience an Apollo space mission. This is the most visited science museum in Europe and you will quickly see why.

Opening hours: daily 10 am – 6 pm

#7 V&A Museum of Childhood

This museum houses an impressive collection of toys and games from the last five centuries.

Opening hours: daily 10 am – 5.45 pm

#8 Horniman Museum and Gardens

Horniman Museum and Garden is a real treasure that contains an aquarium, anthropology and natural history collections, musical instruments and manicured gardens.

Opening hours: daily 10 am – 5.30 pm

#9 Grant Museum of Zoology

This Victorian-style museum is full of skeletons, specimen in jars, and stuffed animals covering the whole animal kingdom.

Opening hours: Monday – Friday 1 pm – 5 pm

#10 Bank of England Museum

Head to the Bank of England to delve into its history since its foundation in 1694 and learn about its famous customers through the centuries.

Opening hours: Monday – Friday 10 am – 5 pm

#11 Royal Air Force Museum

Spend a day among more than a hundred aircraft exhibited at the Royal Air Force Museum in London – entertaining for both kids and adults.

Opening hours: daily 10 am – 6 pm

#12 Anaesthesia Museum

This quirky museum contains a collection of objects related to the history of pain relief and medicine.

Opening hours: Monday – Friday 10 am – 4 pm

#13 London Sewing Machine Museum

The London Sewing Machine Museum keeps a collection of 600 sewing machines, including the first Singer machine and machines owned by royalties. The museum only accepts visitors over 16 years.

Opening hours: Every first Saturday of the month 2 pm – 5 pm

#14 Queen’s House Greenwich

You have 22 rooms to visit and art from the last 400 years to explore at the Queen’s House in Greenwich.

Opening hours: daily 10 am – 5 pm

#15 Kenwood House

Find a serene hidden gem in London at the Kenwood House. Kick back and unwind in the vast gardens or marvel at the Rembrandt’s self-portrait and other pieces of art hanging on the walls inside.

Opening hours: daily 10 am – 4 pm

#16 Imperial War Museum

The Imperial War Museum in London focuses on both the conflicts causing wars and how people are affected by wars.

Opening hours: daily 10 am – 6 pm

#17 Hogarth House

You can see many pieces of art from the artist William Hogarth in his restored country home.

Opening hours: Tuesday – Sunday 12 am – 5 pm

FREE GALLERIES in London

#18 National Gallery

The National Gallery contains a huge collection of Western European art from Van Gogh, Leonardo da Vinci, Renoir, Rembrandt, and many more.

Opening hours: daily 10 am – 6 pm (Fridays until 9 pm)

#19 National Portrait Gallery

If you want to browse through British history in faces, this is the best place to do it. The National Portrait Gallery will meet you face to face with queens, kings, and contemporary movie stars.

Opening hours: daily 10 am – 6 pm (Thursdays and Fridays until 9 pm)

#20 Tate Modern

Immerse in the best modern art collection in Britain at the Tate Modern. You will see works of art by Salvador Dalí, Pablo Picasso, Jackson Pollock, and Andy Warhol among the others.

Opening hours: daily 10 am – 6 pm (Fridays and Saturdays until 10 pm)

#21 Tate Britain

Tate Britain contains the biggest collection of British art since the 1500’s until nowadays.

Opening hours: Saturday – Thursday 10 am – 6 pm (Fridays until 10 pm) 

#22 Newport Street Gallery

Newport Street Gallery is where the artists Damien Hirst has open his personal art collection to the public. The collection includes works of art by Banksy, Francis Bacon, Pablo Picasso, Tracey Emin and many more.

Opening hours: Tuesday – Sunday 10 am – 6 pm but check because the gallery is often closed for installations. 

Pinning this post is also free and it is also useful for your next London trip planning:

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