Famous London People Museums and Houses

Following a £1.4million redevelopment, the Florence Nightingale Museum reopened on 12 May 2010, the birthday of this iconic Briton know as the 'Lady With the Lamp'. The transformed Museum tells the real story of the woman behind the legend as well as how modern nursing began.

Don't Miss: The stethoscope audio guides!

Benjamin Franklin House in London was his home between 1757 and 1775 and is the only surviving former home of Benjamin Franklin, one of the Founding Fathers of the United States.

The rooms have been restored but are mostly empty, so how can this be brought to life for visitors to imagine what is was like when Benjamin Franklin lived there? There is a unique Historical Experience tour idea with an actress interacting with audio and video projections.

Don't Miss: The Historical Experience Tour.

Leighton House was the home and studio of leading Victorian artist Frederic, Lord Leighton and has undergone a £1.6 million refurbishment to bring it closer than ever to its original appearance when Lord Leighton died in 1896.

The whole building is wonderful but the room most have heard of is the Arab Hall; one of the many extensions the building received over 30 years of make it into a 'Palace of Art'.

Don't Miss: The Arab Hall.

This is the only surviving London home of Charles Dickens. He lived there between 1837 and 1839 while writing The Pickwick Papers, Oliver Twist, Nicholas Nickleby, and Barnaby Rudge. He moved in with his wife Catherine, his eldest son Charley, his brother Fred and his sister-in-law Mary Hogarth. While staying at 48 Doughty Street, his two daughters Mary and Katey were born, and his sister-in-law died at only seventeen years old.

Don't Miss: Charles Dickens' Study.

Fitzroy House, in the 1950s, was the London home and office of L. Ron Hubbard, the founder of Dianetics and Scientology. The 1791 restored building has four floors of exhibits of his life and works, and although tours are only available via appointment, they are completely free.

Don't Miss: The first floor was home to George Bernard Shaw and his mother in 1881-82.

Handel House Museum in central London celebrates Handel's life and works, displaying portraits of Handel and his contemporaries in finely restored Georgian interiors and bringing live music back to his house.

The Handel House Museum was home to the baroque composer George Frideric Handel from 1723 until his death in 1759. This landmark address is where Handel composed some of the greatest music in history including Messiah, Zadok the Priest and Music for the Royal Fireworks, and died on 14 April 1759.

Don't Miss: No.23 was Jimi Hendrix's home too.

Dr Johnson's House was built in 1700 and has retained many original features. It was the home and workplace for Samuel Johnson from 1748-1759, and was where he compiled the first comprehensive English dictionary.

Don't Miss: The garret workroom where Johnson compiled the first English dictionary.

The building is now protected so has be preserved which makes it a fascinating temple to Victoriana as well as detective story fans.