London museums and galleries off the beaten track

Step into a painter's paradise at Leighton House in Kensington, the former studio-home of Victorian artist Fredric Leighton, showcasing an exception collection of 19th-century art. Inspired by his travels across the globe, the unique interior design alone will make you stop in your tracks, including the iconic Arab Hall, adorned with intricately decorated tiles sourced from a trip to Damascus in 1873. Once you're done, unwind in the café with a tasty snack while taking in views of the peaceful garden.

Inside a beautiful deconsecrated church, you'll find the only museum in Britain dedicated entirely to the art, history and design of gardens. From historical artefacts to botanical illustrations, you'll develop a deeper understanding of the evolutions of gardens over time. Don't miss their stunning courtyard – an oasis away from the hustle and bustle of the city, this tranquil space is a living example of design principles and horticultural expertise and showcases a diversity of plant life.

Perhaps South London's best kept secret, Dulwich Picture Gallery cares for a stunning collection of masterpieces bequeathed to the nation by artist Francis Bourgeois. Designed by architect John Soane in 1811, Dulwich Picture Gallery was the first purpose-built gallery in England and today boasts an exciting exhibition programme alongside its fine collection of Old Masters, which includes work by Rembrandt, Rubens and Gainsborough. Refuel at the café with a locally sourced menu that takes inspiration from the exhibition programme.

From 17th-century portraits to Pre-Raphaelite masterpieces, discover unique works in Guildhall Art Gallery's impressive collection of 4,000 paintings. Almost destroyed by fire during the Blitz, the gallery reopened in 1999, revealing a little-known art collection that documents London's dramatic history over 400 years. It is a fascinating and unusual mix of works, with paintings by well-known artists such as John Constable and the Pre-Raphaelite brotherhood shown alongside more obscure painters. Pop down to the basement to explore the extensive remains of a Roman amphitheatre discovered during the building's redevelopment.

Tucked away in leafy Walthamstow is this grand house-turned-gallery that celebrates the cultural legacy of artist, designer and socialist activist William Morris, where he spent his teenage years. A fascinating study of one of the most prominent figures of the 19th century, the spaces bring history to life through a recreation of Morris's shop on Oxford Street and rooms dedicated to his ideals. Don't miss their temporary exhibitions to discover how this Victorian thinker's visions continue to inspire artists today, from Grayson Perry to Jeremy Deller.

Wander around the Georgian maze that is Sir John Soane’s Museum, which tells the story of art and architecture through the ages from ancient Greece to 18th-century England. Creator of monumental public buildings, most notably the bank of England, John Soane was also an avid collector. In 1792, at the height of his fame, Soane bought a house in Lincoln’s Inn Fields and transformed it into a labyrinth of art, architecture and history. Explore his collection of historic artefacts throughout the house, including classical Greek busts, ancient Roman artefacts and, deep down in a shadowy crypt, an Egyptian sarcophagus. It is a one-of-a-kind.

Walk through history at the Museum of the Home. Set in Grade I listed 18th-century almshouses in Hoxton, this hidden gem explores aspects of domestic life from the 1600s to the present day. Their updated Rooms Through Time display, supported by Art Fund, showcases domestic spaces from 1630 through to 2049, including a futuristic imagining of a flat from the future, plus displays that represent east London's diverse communities. Get some fresh air in the grounds, featuring a series of period gardens charting different ways urban outside spaces were utilised.

Lover of poetry? Don't miss the house where John Keats wrote some of his best-loved poems, which is a pilgrimage site for visitors from all over the world. This low, pale villa in North Hampstead was Keats's home from 1818 to 1820 and where he fell in love with Fanny Brawne, the girl next door. The museum charts his tragic life and early death at the age of 25 in Rome from tuberculosis. Mementoes of the ardent young man include drawings, paintings and original letters, together with keepsakes of Fanny’s, including her engagement ring.

One of London’s most popular small museums, the Foundling Museum combines a collection of British paintings and contemporary art with the social history of this once industrial city. When the shipbuilder Thomas Coram decided to tackle child poverty in 18th-century London and establish the Foundling Hospital, he was supported in his endeavours by the city’s leading artists and musicians. William Hogarth, Joshua Reynolds and Thomas Gainsborough all donated works to the hospital and the composer George Frideric Handel was a major benefactor. Today the hospital is a museum showcasing this fine collection of work together with items of historic interest from its past, including poignant mementoes and documents detailing the lives of the abandoned children who lived there.

Explore this Georgian Grade II listed property in Islington, home to Eric Estorick's fascinating collection of paintings and drawings by the modern Italian Futurist movement. A writer and sociologist, Estorick became a passionate collector of Italian modernism after discovering Umberto Boccioni's book Futurist Painting and Sculpture while on his honeymoon in Switzerland in 1947. Over the next 40 years, he devoted his life to buying Italian works by visionary artists including Giacomo Balla and Amedeo Modigliani.