Museums

With over 300 to choose from, and most of the main London museums being free, you have both the choice and the impetus to get visiting!

Because of Britain’s imperial history we have managed to amass an awful lot of treasure from all around the world. The flagship ‘chest’ containing such treasure is undoubtedly the British Museum. In fact, after just undergoing extensive renovations, there’s never been a better time to take in the many wonders of the world which the venue has to offer; ancient Pharaohs rub shoulders with over 200,000 African artefacts, around 600 of which are on display to the visiting public at any one time. The Natural History Museum is also very much considered London royalty. Its extensive array of preserved wildlife from all over the world is simply breathtaking; but the one which always gets visitors most excited is the Dinosaur and Fossils section; the T-Rex especially always being a crowd pleaser, or perhaps that should be crowd-scarer, with younger visitors. The Victoria and Albert Museum is probably the one which needs to be mentioned to complete this trio of the most revered exhibition spaces in London. Celebrating British culture, past and present, the museum has housed everything from a history of corsetry to, very recently, the retrospective of controversial fashion designer Vivienne Westwood’s career. A high-level of interactivity and an overall more fun atmosphere makes this a great place for the kids.

If you’re looking for a more specialist museum experience then London can also cater: The Imperial War Museum looks at the human, military and nationalistic impact of war in all its guises across many different points in history, whilst the National Maritime Museum ponders what it’s like to live on an island where you’re never more than 60 miles away from the sea. The Transport Museum provides a fascinating look at the worlds transport history, especially interesting for children but also for those transport anoraks out there (you know who you are!)

London also provides interest to those with less-mainstream interests. The Museum of Brands, in Notting Hill, has an array of packaging and products from by-gone era’s to peruse, whilst the Bank of England Museum is definitely worth a look, especially in current economic climes, as it charts the history of the institution and its role in today’s current economy. However, don’t expect to get any freebies on your way through the exhibits!