LONDONFAMILIES

Museums

The great thing about the museums is that they are all free now. So even the smaller ones where you might only want to spend an hour are worth a visit.

Central London; East London; South London; West London; North London;

Out of London: North; South; East, West;

Central London		Click for weblink
Bank of England Museum	A small museum where you can learn how bank notes are made, lift a gold bar and deal in the foreign exchange market.	Bank of England
The British Museum	As well as the mummies which are always fascinating, they run good workshops at weekends and school holidays	The British Museum
Britain at War Experience	By London Bridge, the Britain at War Experience recreates the London Blitz in all its fury with special effects highlighting the sites & sounds, the artifacts, & even the dust & smoke of an air raid at its height. Designed to tie in with National Curriculum especially KS2-3.	Britain at War
Cabinet War Rooms	Explore the secret underground headquarters used by Winston Churchill & his staff during the 2nd World War. See these once hidden rooms, unchanged since the most important figures of the British Government worked and slept here, protected from the bombing raids above.	Cabinet War Rooms
London Canal Museum	At the London Canal Museum you can see inside a narrowboat cabin, learn about the history of London's canals, the cargoes carried, the people who lived & worked on the waterways, & the horses that pulled their boats. Peer down into the unique heritage of a huge Victorian ice well used to store ice imported from Norway and brought by ship and canal boat to be stored.	London Canal Museum
Cutty Sark	Visit the only remaining Tea Clipper in the world. Experience life on board a tall ship, a perfect time capsule from the 1870s.	Cutty Sark
The Design Museum	By Tower Bridge, the Design Museum is everything related to design - past, present and future. Every child visiting the Museum is given a free Pack with activities to do around the museum. There are often workshops for children aged 6-12	The Design Museum
The Golden Hinde	The Golden Hinde is a reproduction of the boat used by Sir Francis Drake. Although open to the public 7 days a week, our recommendation is to make a special trip only when their is a special event on eg storytelling	The Golden Hinde
HMS Belfast	London's only war ship, the HMS Belfast was saved for the nation as a unique reminder of British heritage. On your way around the ship you will be able to take a tour of the Quarterdeck, the Bridge, and all the way down through the nine decks to her massive Boiler and Engine Room (which is well below the water line).	HMS Belfast
Museum of London	A Museum with everything in it about the history of London.	Museum of London
London Transport Museum	In Covent Garden. Kids love this one displays of transport from early days to modern era, puzzle trail and art workshop as well.	London Transport Museum
The National Maritime Museum	In Greenwich. This museum has some good hands on galleries. Workshops are run during the school holidays. They are happy for you to eat your own food in their cafe area. If you have a tube ticket, you can get a discount on the boat from Greenwich to Westminster Pier, it is well worth doing.	The National Maritime Museum
The Natural History Museum	In South Kensington, a good museum for learning about animals - past and present, including us humans. There is a place set aside to eat your own picnic indoors.	The Natural History Museum
The Imperial War Museum	The Imperial War Museum is unique in its coverage of conflicts, especially those involving Britain and the Commonwealth, from the 1st World War to the present day. The Museum provides a full range of activities; special events, family events, film seasons, seminars, talks and hands-on sessions are programmed throughout the year.	The IWM
The National Army Museum	In Chelsea, the National Army Museum is the British Army's own museum. It is the only museum to tell the story of the Army as a whole from Agincourt in the Fifteenth Century to peace-keeping in the Twenty-first Century	The National Army Museum
The Science Museum	In South Kensington, this one is absolutely brilliant. There is always great things to do here. In school holidays they also run extra workshops. There is a place set aside to eat your own picnic indoors.	The Science Museum
Theatre Museum	In Covent Garden, this is quite a small museum but it does have some demonstrations and workshops. CLOSED UNTIL AT LEAST AUG '07	Theatre Museum
Tower Bridge Exhibition	At the Tower Bridge Exhibition you can enjoy breath-taking views from the high-level Walkways and learn about the history of the Bridge and how it was built. You can then visit the Victorian Engine Rooms, home to the original steam engines that used to power the Bridge	Tower Bridge Exhibition
The Victoria & Albert Museum	In South Kensington, although not as hands on as many of the other museums, they run many activities for the kids.	The Victoria & Albert Museum
Wellcome Collection	Although aimed at ageds 14+, the gallery welcomes younger children and will have a guide pack availabble for younger visitors from Autumn 2007. The Galleies bring together art, science, medicine and history.	Wellcome Collection

East London
The Geffrye Museum	The Geffrye Museum is one of London’s best-loved museums. It shows the changing style of the English domestic interior in a series of period rooms from 1600 to the present day. There are often special exhibitions on and workshops for children in the school holidays.	The Geffrye Museum
The Museum of Childhood	In Bethnal Green, a good nostalgia trip for parents as well as being interesting for children. They run art activities each weekend and school holidays.	The Museum of Childhood
Museum in Docklands	In London's docklands, the Museum explores the story of London's River, Port & People, from Roman settlement of the port, through to the recent regeneration of London's former Docklands - a 2000 year storyline. There is a children's gallery there.	Museum in Docklands
Ragged School Museum	The Museum is based in buildings previously used by Dr Barnardo to house the largest ragged school in London. In a re-created classroom of the period, visitors can experience how Victorian children were taught. There are also displays on local history, industry & life in the East End & a varied programme of temporary exhibitions. The museum runs a variety of different activities for all ages, including workshops, history talks, treasure hunts & canal walks.	Ragged School Museum

West London
Kew Bridge Steam Museum	The Kew Bridge Steam Museum is housed in a magnificent 19th Century Pumping Station and centres around the station's five world famous Cornish Beam Engines, two of which can be seen, in steam, every weekend. In the surrounding buildings four more large engines, also at work at weekends, demonstrate more modern steam pumping machinery. There are also examples of diesel, water and animal powered pumping systems, as would typically be found in rural settings.	Kew Bridge Steam Museum
South London
The Horniman Museum	In Forest Hill, the Horniman, through its collections and related exhibitions and events, seeks to encourage a wider appreciation of the World, its peoples and their cultures, and its environments. It also has 16 acres of gardens to explore.	The Horniman Museum
Livesey Museum for children	On the Old Kent Rod, London SE15. This is a great local museum, aimed at Primary school age children. Its probably not worth a trip across London to go there.	Livesey museum

North London
The Royal Airforce Museum	In Hendon, NW London, here you will find displays of old fighter planes and a good hands on children's gallery	The Royal Airforce Museum

Out of London: North
Bletchley Park, Milton Keynes	Historic site of secret British codebreaking activities during WWII and birthplace of the modern computer. There are more than enough different activities and exhibitions to occupy most families for a whole day, from wartime toys to working computers.	Bletchley Park.
Chiltern Open Air Museum	At the Museum, historic buildings have been re-erected in a beautiful landscape setting. The buildings reflect the building heritage of the region & illustrate the lives & work of local people. More than 25 buildings including cottages, stables, a chapel, toll house & blacksmith's forge have been rebuilt & furnished. The museum occupies 45 acres of parkland & woodland, with a woodland trail, tea room, gift shop & children's playground.	Chiltern Open Air Museum
The Roald Dahl Museum, Great Missenden	This museum is dedicated to Roald Dahl and story telling in general. Children are encouraged to get involved in activities as they make their way round the museum.	The Roald Dahl Museum
The Shuttleworth Collection	In a quiet countryside setting, in Biggleswade, this is an old fashioned all grass aerodrome with eight hangars. The Collection of Historic vehicles and aeroplanes is unique in that everything is kept in working condition. Check their website before planning a visit as they sometimes have flying displays, entry charges on these days is more expensive. Also on the site is an excellent play area.	The Shuttleworth Collection
Verulamium Museum	A great museum for kids when they are learning about the Romans at school. It helps bring it all to life.	Verulamium Museum
Walter Rothschild Zoological Museum	In Tring, Herts, the museum is one of the finest collections of stuffed mammals, birds, reptiles and insects in the UK. It includes examples of several animals now extinct, and a model of a dodo! The collection was given to the nation by Walter Rothschild on his death in 1937. It is now part of the Natural History Museum	Walter Rothschild Zoological Museum
Out of London: South
Brooklands Museum	Brooklands museum, in Weybridge Surrey, is based on the 1907 motor-racing circuit. It has both aircraft and motor exhibits. There is also an interactive educational facility for children of all ages.	Brooklands Museum
Historic Dockyard Chatham	Be amazed by the working Ropery, gripped by stories of life aboard our three Historic Warships and absorbed by the sights, sounds and smells of the dockyard of 1758, recreated in Wooden Walls. Journey through 400 years of British maritime endeavour in the inspiring Museum of the Royal Dockyard and relive heroic rescues in Lifeboat!!	Chatham, Kent
The Hop Farm	Situated in the heart of the Kent countryside lies the worlds largest collection of oast houses. Once a working Hop Farm, it now provides a diverse range of entertainment from children's play areas and go-karts to interactive museums, animal encounters and the magnificent Shire horses.	The Hop Farm
Out of London: West
The LookOut Discovery Centre	In Bracknell, this is a hands on science centre with over 70 exhibits designed to both educate & entertain. It is in the middle of a forest with trails, where bikes can be hired.	Lookout Discovery Centre
Out of London: East
Mount Fitchett Castle	Mountfitchet Castle & Norman Village of 1066 is the only motte & bailey castle in the world that has been faithfully reconstructed on its original site. A unique time capsule that is steeped in history, enabling the visitor to travel back to Norman England and experience life as it was in 1066. Wander around the village, behind the castle walls, and enter into the many houses, then smell the fires and experience the ambience of an ancient bygone lifestyle, whilst mingling with the many animals that roam freely within the village and listen out for the echoes of long-forgotten voices..............	Bishops Stortford, Essex

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