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British Museum
This is Britain’s largest museum, filled with treasures and antiquities from all over the world. Too large to cover in a day, it is best to choose three rooms and thoroughly enjoy them. It includes Oriental antiquities, the HSBC Money Gallery, Rosetta Stone, Islamic Art, the Elgin Marbles, Egyptian rooms and the Roman Britain Gallery.
Greenwich Maritime Museum
This is the site of the Royal Naval College, originally built by Sir Christopher Wren in 1694 as the Greenwich Hospital. The Baroque Painted Hall, depicting the English monarchs from William and Mary to George I, is a must-see. On the hill the Royal Observatory has a golden ball on the roof. It rises up the pole at 5 minutes to one and drops at one o’clock exactly so mariners could set their clocks. The metal strip in the courtyard marks zero degrees longitude, the basis of Greenwich Mean Time on which world time is based.
Handel House Museum
The 18th century home of composer George Frederic Handel is now the fitting location for a museum with a collection of his memorabilia upstairs and a music shop on the ground floor. Look for the blue plaque by the door of this famous house in Brook Street. The house next door also has a blue plaque as it was the home of rock guitarist, Jimi Hendrix.
Madame Tussauds Waxworks
This splendid collection of life-size waxwork models is one of the most famous attractions of London. Founded in 1802 by Marie Tussaud, today’s effigies are of pop stars, sports heroes and famous faces such as the Queen and the Pope. The collection is constantly updated to reflect the who’s who of the moment.
Royal Mews and Guards Museum
This is the working stables of the Household cavalry. See the magnificent Golden Stage Coach used for coronations and jubilee celebrations with panels painted by Cipriani.
The National Gallery
Works by Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Rubens and Renoir are all on display here, along with Van Gogh’s ‘Sunflowers’. Admission to this magnificent collection in its historic domed building is free.
Science Museum
Close to the Victoria and Albert Museum on Exhibition Road is the extensive Science Museum. With 10,000 exhibits, an IMAX theatre and an interactive play area for children, this free museum can take days to explore. Stephenson’s Rocket, a Ford Model T car and a space telescope from the Space Shuttle are all here, bringing science to life for children of all ages.
The Tate Gallery
Housing both the British Collection of art from the 16th to the 19th century and the Modern International Collection which ranges from the impressionists to modern day works, this is one of the most popular art galleries in London.
Victoria and Albert Museum
This is the largest museum of decorative arts and design in the world, With 4½ million objects, only 5% are on display at any one time. The architecture is magnificent with a tiered central tower above a huge arched doorway. The marble interior and bronze doors are breathtaking and the rambling collection of rooms are full of magnificent objects. Admission and guided tours are free but there is usually a charge for special exhibitions.
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