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Things to do in South Kensington > Experience > Museums > The Clockmakers’ Museum
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The Clockmakers’ Museum
Hidden inside the Science Museum, the Clockmakers’ Museum is one of London’s more discreet treasures — the world’s oldest collection of clocks, watches, and horological instruments. It is a quiet reminder that the city’s history is not only told in palaces and galleries, but in the precision of time itself.
The Clockmakers Museum displays in the London Science Museum
A collection with pedigree
Founded in 1814 by the Worshipful Company of Clockmakers, the collection spans over 600 watches, 30 clocks, and tools of the trade. What began as a guild archive is now an extraordinary survey of craftsmanship, tracing the evolution of horology from the 15th century onwards.
Have you ever paused to admire the engineering inside a pocket watch? Here, it is elevated to art — gears, enamel, and engraving arranged with astonishing delicacy.
Highlights worth noting
Among the treasures are John Harrison’s marine timekeepers — the inventions that solved the problem of measuring longitude at sea. There are also exquisite 17th-century Dutch watches, ornate French mantel clocks, and English masterpieces by Tompion and Graham.
Though small in scale, the display is dense with stories: of empire, trade, navigation, and the very idea of time as measurable and reliable.
Why it matters now
In an age where most of us check the time on a phone, the Clockmakers’ Museum is both an education and a meditation. It connects us to a period when precision timekeeping changed the world — from seafaring to city life. Admission is free, and because it sits quietly within the Science Museum, it often feels like a private discovery.
Address
2nd floor, The Science Museum, Exhibition Rd, London SW7 2DD, United Kingdom
Opening hours
Mon–Tue Closed; Wed–Sun 11am–5pm
Call
+44 20 7998 8120
Why We Love It
The intimacy — a pocket-sized museum inside a giant institution.
Harrison’s marine chronometers, objects that literally changed history.
The quiet satisfaction of finding a hidden gem in plain sight.
Plan Your Visit
Location
The Clockmakers’ Museum, Science Museum, Exhibition Road, London SW7 2DD
Located on Level 2 within the Science Museum in South Kensington.
Opening Hours
Daily: 10:00 – 18:00 (closed 24–26 December)
Admission
Free general admission
No additional charge beyond admission to the Science Museum
Getting There
Tube: South Kensington (District, Circle, Piccadilly lines), a short walk through the museum’s entrance
Bus: Multiple routes along Exhibition Road
Cycle: Bike racks available nearby
Car: No on-site parking; public transport recommended
Facilities
Exhibits housed in the Science Museum’s facilities, including cloakrooms, toilets, café and shops within the main museum
Tours
Free volunteer-led gallery tours (about 40 minutes), availability varies—check at the Information and Ticketing desk on Level 0 on the day
Tips for Your Visit
Entry is free, so drop-ins are possible; booking in advance not required
Start early to enjoy the exhibit in a quieter environment
Don’t miss standout pieces such as John Harrison’s H5 marine chronometer, intricate automata, and watches by George Daniels—displays are arranged chronologically from 1600 to modern day
Tours are a great way to deepen your experience—ask at Level 0 on arrival
Can easily be combined with the other Science Museum galleries, such as Mathematics or Making the Modern World
While you're here
The Science Museum itself awaits outside the gallery doors, while the Natural History Museum and V&A are only a few minutes’ walk along Exhibition Road.
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