Five peculiar museums in London

Looking for something extraordinary in London? Here our suggestions.

Estorick Collection of Modern Italian Art (underground Highbury & Islington) - Northampton Lodge
The American writer Eric Estorick was an art lover: his collection includes, among others, Boccioni, Carrà, Modigliani, de Chirico, Sironi. He donated his collection to the British state. The Italian state attempts to buy it has been unsuccessful and here we have one of the best museums of Italian art abroad.

Apsley House (Wellington Museum) - Underground Hyde park Corner - Piccadilly 149 - Hyde Park Corner W1
Once called 'Number one London' being the first house the traveller met entering London in the XVIII century, its visit can be combined with a stroll in Hyde Park.
It was originally the house of the first Duke of Wellington and we find here his collections of silvers, porcelain, paintings (Bruegel, Rubens, Velazquez and Goya being the most famous ones) beside a statue of naked Napoleon by Canova.

Royal Geographical Society - Underground South Kensington - 1 Kensington Gore
An institution more than a museum that has been exploring and photographing for almost 200 years the most remote places in the world. One million of geographical maps, images, manuscripts with reports of explorations between end 1800 and early 1900, aquarelles of David Livingstone (Victoria falls) and much much more. Many documents, maps and manuscripts can be consulted in the library having been computerized.

Museum of Garden History - Underground Waterloo - Lambeth Palace Rd SE1
The history of the royal gardeners Tradescant, who have been importing and cultivating plants from all over the world, is told in the church of St Mary-at-Lambeth, close to the residence of the Archbishop of Canterbury. There is a sort of botanical garden and a bookshop where it is possible to buy plants and books related to them. A surprise: here is the tomb of Captain Bligh. Do you remember the Bounty?

Kenwood House (The Iveagh Bequest) - Underground Golders Green - Hampstead Lane NW3
An extraordinary neoclassical building which houses the Iveagh Bequest, including masterpieces by Vermeer, Rembrandt, Turner and Reynolds set like in an inhabited mansion. Quite interesting the park with a small lake, century old oaks , free animals and sculptures by Moore. The film Notting Hill with Julia Robers and Hugh Grant was shot here. Before leaving just relax in the nice cafeteria.