MUSEUMS

As most museums offer free entry, there is no excuse not to enjoy some of the abundant culture around town.

There are museums for all tastes and interests... Anthropological, historical, decorative, artistic, scientific, for children or military museums – they are a good option for a long afternoon or in a rainy day.

As the prices of tickets and the temporary exhibitions change constantly, it is best for you to visit their websites to have the most up to date information.

Here are the most popular ones:

• ART
  National Gallery – situated in the heart of London, in Trafalgar Square, it offers a fantastic view of the Big Ben. Allow plenty of hours and comfortable shoes to enjoy this massive museum full of jewels of the classic painters of all times. It is a free museum for the permanent exhibition.
  
  National Portrait Gallery – with permanent and temporary exhibitions, is a lighter way to see art in the form of portraits. There are paintings, photographs and sculptures that will show you the pass of time in society. The temporary exhibitions aren’t free but some of them are worth paying for.
  
  Tate Britain – Another museum full of classics, in a beautiful location near the river, it is a bit hard to find from the tube station but if you do get there, is a fantastic place to visit.
  
  Tate Modern – A renovated factory the building itself is an amazing sight on the river banks. Just across from St. Paul’s cathedral just seeing what how they’ve used the space is worth the walk. Usually I like going to Embankment and walking all the way by the river to the Tate, where you can enjoy some of the Contemporary and Modern Art pieces and a lovely drink at their top floor café. They offer a membership combined with the rest of the Tate museums across UK, this allows you entering for free in all temporary exhibitions.
  
  Royal Academy of Arts - an exquisite building in one of the most exclusive streets in London, the RAA is steps from Piccadilly Circus and nearby the hotel Ritz and Fortnum & Mason, you can have an all day experience by having a traditional Tea time in one of these two places and then have a walk in the museum. It is not a free museum and sometimes the exhibitions can seem a bit expensive for how little they are but, usually they are worth the money as the quality outdoes the quantity.
  
  Barbican Art Gallery –In the north of the city, hidden amongst a network of aisles in a modern housing complex, the Barbican is a hub for artistic expressions such as art, photography, ballet, music or modern dance. It holds festivals, conferences and trade exhibitions. It is a bit out of the way from central London but in the area there are fantastic restaurants and one of the trendiest most creative areas in town. Farringdon, that is…
  
  
• HISTORICAL, ANTHROPOLOGICAL, SCIENTIFIC & OTHERS

  The British Museum – you are interested in the Egyptians, the Japanese, the Romans, the Greeks, the American Indians.. you want to see how the Partnenon looked or how is the Rosetta stone.. just head here!

  

  I remember clearly studying history and Art history and knowing most of the findings by the British Empire ended up in this amazing museum. Impossible to cover in one single visit, just seeing how they’ve built the library inside is enough to make you want to come back again and again. If you don’t have much time in town, and need to be choosey, this is one of the “unmissable” (?) museums. Near Tottenham Court Road, you will satisfy all member’s of the family here!

  Natural History Museum – Historical and wonderful building, it is a bit outdated on the inside however.. nobody goes unimpressed after seeing the dinosaur that welcomes you in the main hall! You will be able to see armadillos, the biology history represented with models of all possible animals and just have a great day out learning about the planet. It is also free but beware of queues on weekends and during special exhibitions.

  Science Museum – Great for all ages. You can learn about all possible inventions in British history, from the Steam machine to the first rocket going to the moon. It is huge and so much fun. Has a good canteen to have a break and re-energize the kids. It is free and usually very full of families with their trolleys on weekends.

  

  Victoria & Albert Museum – One of our favourites. The building stood straight during the bombings in the war times.. you can see the bullet whole still on the façade but the inside is calm and relaxing. Contains objects about all cultures in the world and replicas of some of the best classic art found. Is a free museum and nearby the Science and Natural History Museums, is a good visit for a couple of hours. Don’t intend to see everything in one day as it will wear you down! It holds temporary exhibitions that can be free by the main hall or paid ones, usually fashion related or artist related.

  Imperial War Museum – For the boys in the family, your grandad or your father visiting.. you can go into the Imperial War Museum whilst the girls do some shopping or visit the May Chelsea Flower Show. This museum really is for all public, all ages and requires many hours and again, comfy shoes to cover all areas. It is a free museum although some special exhibits may have some small cost.
  

  Museum of London – Near the Barbican, this museum shows the history of London and how it has become one of the centres of the world. This museum can seem a bit outdated but it still holds some quaint details that will give you plenty of entertainment for a couple of hours. Mostly a family museum, the kids will learn a lot and will enjoy seeing all the models and inventions showed there. You can learn about other cultures too!

  
  (detail of Natural History Museum)

  Fashion & Textile Museum - created by Zandra Rhodes is currently closed for refurbishment. But, once reopened, will be worth a visit if you are into fashion and want to check out its history and some of the work of the most famous designers around. Situated in a cool area where many students live, you can find numerous bars to discuss and exchange impressions within a walking distance.

  Design Museum – by the river bank is a reference for all creative people in town. Hosting various exhibits per year and even competitions, it is an easy and nice walk by the river, near the Tower Bridge. It is £7 per entrance.
  
  London Transport Museum – Renovated and reopening in November, this museum is located in the centre of the Touristy area, Covent Garden. It was created originally in the 1920s and it shows the progress of engineering efforts to make our commutes more accessible
  
  London Canal Museum – London has wonderful canal walks across the city and you can learn all about them here.
  
  Museums of Health & Medicine – You can even have a tour through the various museums in the matter. So many things have been discovered here that if you are a research doctor yourself, you may find this inspiring!