Museums

  You are spoiled for choice regarding museums, and most are free. The Science Museum and nearby Natural History Museum are favourites with families, although all the major museums and galleries cater well for children. The Geological Museum has a great collection of insect, fossil and mineral specimens including thousands of meteorite samples. The largest in the group is the Victoria and Albert Museum with a vast collection of applied arts and sculpture. All are located within walking distance of South Kensington underground station.

The most famous museum is the British Museum, located in Bloomsbury (Russell Square underground). This was established in 1753 and contains art and antiquities from ancient and living cultures. These include the ‘Elgin Marbles’ (Parthenon Frieze), Rosetta Stone and there’s an impressive Ancient Egyptian department.

One of my favourites is the Museum of London dedicated to the history of London from its Roman beginnings to the present day. Located close to St Paul’s Cathedral. Of course there are many other smaller museums to explore here also.

Galleries

London is privileged to have many fabulous art galleries throughout the city and again mostly free. At Trafalgar Square is The National Gallery with a fine collection of paintings by all major European artists from the 15th to the 19th centuries. Often missed but well worth a visit is the National Portrait Gallery which is just around the corner at St Martin’s Place. There are two Tate Galleries in London. Tate Britain located near Pimlico underground has a wonderful collection of British art and some international modern works. In contrast, the Tate Modern has a grand collection of international modern and contemporary art. It is housed in a former power station and the conversion was a feat by itself. If you go to St Paul’s Cathedral you can walk across the nearby Millennium Bridge to the gallery. These are just the mainstream galleries—there are lots more to look out for!

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