London museums given culture funding

Two London museums are to receive government funding as part of a culture department funding award.

The London Museum of Water and Steam in Brentford, west London, has been given £2.6m while the Foundling Museum in Camden, north-west London, will get £320,000.

Natasha Irons, a Labour MP who sits on the culture committee, said the money will allow the museums to carry out crucial repairs and "continue their excellent work".

The money announced on Thursday includes a pot worth £120m, which will be available to venues including the British Museum and National Gallery, which both get their regular annual funding from the Department of Culture Media and Sport.

Both will also receive a 5% increase in their annual grants.

Ms Irons, MP for Croydon East, added: "In London and across the country, Labour is investing in arts and culture for all."

Hannah Harte, director of the London Museum of Water and Steam, said she was "absolutely thrilled" with the funding.

"It is the culmination of loads of really hard work by our team and by all our members," she told BBC Radio London.

"We're a very small museum really, in the grand scheme of things, so we're absolutely thrilled to have got such a large grant."

Listen to the best of BBC Radio London on Sounds and follow BBC London on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to [email protected]