London Museums

Madame Tussauds & The Planetarium

One of London’s most famous landmarks of fun has to be this unusual voyeuristic pleasure dome. It is not just waxworks either, the attractions are constantly updated to keep children excited. Almost always housing a horror section, currently the Chamber of Horrors, with serial killers section, and areas devoted to pop stars, and sport. Other exhibits include, having your dna checked, trying out as a pop idol, and exploring the galaxy in the planetarium.

Natural History Museum

Museum

Nothing could be more fun for kids that the history of our planet. London’s Natural History Museum is arguably the worlds greatest museum dedicated to just that. From the dinosaurs to modern day, every creature imaginable is pulled to pieces in these exhibitions. Where else in the world can you travel through time and see everything from T. Rex to a life size blue whale. As well as all aspects of human biology and mammals, the museum covers minerals and creepy crawlies. Currently most popular with children though, has to be dinosaurs. You wont get a better view of them than this. There are experiences of life amongst these fearsome creatures, and you can examine fossilised bones, teeth, and eggs. There is now also an animatronic display of Velociraptors and Oviraptors.

For adults not fascinated by all of the above, the building, of Romanesque style, is also a classic piece of architecture and there is a beautiful wildlife garden – a living exhibition.

Somerset House

Somerset House is a great day out in central London. There is always a packed programme of exhibitions, theatre, concerts, and family events.

The Summer programme begins with two site-specific theatre events which explore the subterranean and secret spaces of Somerset House: Don’t Look Back: dreamthinkspeak 4th – 7th June from 19.30 11th – 14th June from 19.30 ‘A fantastic piece of work’ (The Guardian) inspired by the myth of Orpheus and Eurydice. A site-specific theatre performance conceived and created by Tristan Sharps in collaboration with designer Naomi Wilkinson and composer Max Richter. Tickets: £12 / £10 concessions.

Tate Modern Museum

If you are in the South Bank, you must not miss the Tate Modern Museum. Built in the old bankside power station, this is London’s most exciting art extravaganza. Modern and contemporary art including works by Bacon, Dali, Picasso, Rothko, and Warhol, make this a visual feast. Seven floors of art space house a continually changing wealth of colour and shapes. On the seventh floor there is a cafe with wonderful views of London, and especially directly over the river to St Pauls Cathedral, which can be accessed via the millennium bridge.

The Canal Museum

The largest of London's man made waterways, The Regents Canal stretches from Paddington to the Thames at Limehouse (Canary Wharf). It opened in 1801, and one leg also flows to camden. We recommend hiring bicycles and getting and A to Z and cycling the whole ruote in a day. There are also tours from Camden Lock and Little Venice. You can see many people still living on the canal on longboats. The museum is located on New Wharf Road behind Kings Cross Station.

The National Gallery

Arguably London’s most famous attraction would have to be Trafalgar square, and its monument Nelson’s Column. Recently made more tourist friendly, by the removal of one road crossing it, the area is now an ideal place to stop and relax during a heavy sightseeing schedule. The enormous national gallery overlooks the fountains, in a Roman style building dominated by its columns. The gallery entrance is free, though donations are welcomed, and it houses one of Europe’s finest collections of Paintings. Spanning the period from 1250 to 1900, the permanent collection contains works from Leonardo Da Vinci, Michelangelo, Titian, Holbein, Velazquez, Rembrandt, William Hogarth, Francisco de Goya, Turner, Monet, and Van Gogh to name but a few. The paintings reflect not only the history of art, but also give a feeling of the cultural history of the region, and all of its religions and mythical ghosts. The Gallery is open almost every day of the year, except January 1st and December 24-26.

The Science Museum

Another free museum, is there no end. This has to be the favourite for those young inquisitive minds. All manner of things scientific are exhibited in this enormous mecca to mechanism. Children of all ages will enjoy the interactive elements of this museum, where everything they touch comes to life. If 7 floors of entertainment does not fill a whole day, then there is also an imax cinema inside which plays short movies every half an hour.

Galleries include; the secret life of the home and garden, materials, agriculture, weather, time, technology, computing, marine engineering, docks and diving, mathematics, ships, heat and temperature, geophysics, health matters, photography, future, and medicine.

The Victoria and Albert Museum

The V & A is notably the world’s greatest museum of applied & decorative arts. Its collections span 2000 years of art in almost every medium. Established in 1852, after London’s great exhibition, it was founded to make art available to all. It is also one of the finest collections of Victorian Buildings in England, the foundation stone for the main entrance having been laid by Queen Victoria herself, later in 1899, when it first became known as the Victoria and Albert. There are not only British Galleries, but also those dedicated to contemporary design, ceramics, fashion, furniture, glass, painting, photography, metal work, historical periods & styles, sculpture, and a very interesting Asian Collection. One particular artist featured of note would be Auguste Rodin, the gallery houses many of his major works in bronze and marble.

Also worth checking out is the Royal Albert hall behind the museum, and the Science Museum Next door, and next door to that the Natural history museum.