The Wellcome Collection on Euston Road is a fascinating venue where visitors can take a look at an ancient mummy; Napoleon's toothbrush, Darwin's walking stick, a DNA-sequencing robot and a Marc Quinn sculpture all under one roof.

The Wellcome Collection is part of the Wellcome Trust that was founded by Sir Henry Wellcome, a Pharmacist, entrepreneur, philanthropist and collector. Wellcome lived from 1853 to 1936; he was one of the first to market medicine in tablet form and formed a multinational pharmaceutical company that changed the way we lived. Wellcome spent his life exploring the realms of science and medicine and throughout his lifetime he amassed a huge collection of artefacts relating to medicine and health.

Sir Henry first showcased his collection of medical paraphernalia at the Historical Medical Museum in Wigmore Street from 1913. With the museum Sir Henry aimed to trace the history of medicine from ancient times to the present day. It featured a Hall of Primitive Medicine, a Hall of Statuary, a Portrait Gallery and a series of period rooms and reconstructions.

In 1932 the collection was moved into the Wellcome Building, a building built to Sir Henry's specifications. The building on Euston Road houses three exhibition rooms, a conference centre, members club, library, bookshop and café.

Today visitors to the Wellcome Collection can view over 1500 exhibits that span six centuries, all of which help portray the development of our understanding of what it means to be human.

The Wellcome Collection regularly holds temporary exhibitions, talks and events. You find out more about these in our Exhibitions and Literary sections.

The venue is open Monday to Sunday from 10am until 6pm, the galleries are not open on Mondays and on Thursday galleries are open until 10pm. Find out more about the Wellcome Collection including Library opening hours.

How to get there

The nearest tube stops to the Wellcome Collection are Euston Station, Euston Square Station, Warren Street Station and Kings Cross. If travelling by bus you can jump on the 10, 18, 24, 27, 29, 30, 59, 68, 73, 88, 91, 134, 168, 205, 253 and 390

Located in Epping Forest this timber-framed hunting grandstand was built for Henry VII in 1543. It still stands overlooking the hunting field for which it was designed and attracts visitors from all over the world.

Henry VII commissioned the grandstand to be built so he could watch and participate in deer hunting, however, it is unclear as to whether the King ever ventured into the forest. It is thought that his daughter Elizabeth I used the building, and legend has it that she once rode her horse up to the top of the grandstand.

Today the hunting grandstand hosts family events and activities. Visitors to Queen Elizabeth's Hunting Lodge can step back in time as they visit the Tudor kitchen and the King's shooting gallery while surveying the breathtaking ancient woodlands that surround the building.

The lodge is open On Saturdays and Sundays 1pm till 4pm from October 1st to April 30th. From May 1st to September 30 the lodge is open from 1pm to 5pm Wednesday to Friday and 11am to 5pm on Saturdays and Sundays.

Find out more about Epping Forest or call 020 8529 6681.

How to get there

The closest tube station is a short walk away at Buckhurst Hill, the closest main line railway station is at Chingford, train from Liverpool Street station take around 25 minutes to reach Chingford.

If travelling by bus the 179, 212, 397 and 444 serve Chingford main line station.

The Petrie Museum of Egyptian Archaeology is attached to the Institute of Archaeology at the University College London. Students at UCL use the use the museum and its collections for help with their coursework and studies.

The museum was set-up alongside the Department of Egyptian Archaeology and Philology at UCL in 1892 with the financial backing of writing Amelia Edwards. Edwards donated her collection of hundreds of Egyptian artefacts; the collection grew substantially after William Flinders Petrie sold many items collected throughout his excavating career to UCL.

During the Second World War the collection was packed up and evacuated out of London. It was brought back in the 1950s and was housed in a former stable building where it remains to this day. Work on a new home for the collection is currently ongoing and a new museum building is expected to open in 2008 when the entire collection can be on display for the first time.

Currently the collection is made up of 80,000 objects all of which tell the story of Egypt and Sudan from prehistory to the Islamic period. Highlights of the collection include a piece of linen dated from 5000BC, a fragment of the first calendar, an early example of glazing, a bead net dress of a dancer from 2400BC, artwork from Amarna and Roman portraits of mummies.

The Petrie Museum of Egyptian Archaeology is open Tuesday to Friday from 10m to 5pm and on Saturdays from 10am to 1pm. The museum also closes during the Christmas and Easter holidays.

Find out more about the Petrie Museum of Egyptian Archaeology.

How to get there

The closest tube stations are at Euston Square and Warren Street. If travelling by bus the number 10, 14, 18, 24, 27, 29, 30, 73, 88, 134, 205 and 390 all serve the area.

The National Maritime Museum is part of a larger Greenwich based complex that also includes The Queens House and the Royal Observatory, we will deal with these three venues separately as they are all steeped in history and deserve their own page!

King George VI formally opened the National maritime Museum in 1934 but it had been a place of public interest long before then. In the early 18th century visitors began flocking to Greenwich to view James Thornhill's Painted Hall in what was then the Royal Hospital for Seamen (now the Old Royal Naval College). Then when a National Gallery of Naval Art was created in the Hall a separate Naval museum was established in the hospital buildings.

In 1934 the Royal Hospital School at Greenwich was relocated to Suffolk freeing up the Queen's House and its surrounding buildings. Since the official opening of the museum all the buildings have been redeveloped and were reopened by Queen Elizabeth II in 1999.

Today the Maritime Greenwich is recognised as a World Heritage Site and welcomes thousands of visitors to its parklands and beautiful buildings every year. It has the most important holdings in the world on the history of Britain at sea. The collection comprises of 2.48 million items, although many are on loan to other museums around the UK.

This huge collection of artefacts is made up of charts and maps, coins and medals, flags, ship models, naval portraits, weapons and uniforms. The museum also holds the largest collection of Nelson artefacts including rare documents and personal items. The museum also houses the world's largest maritime historical reference library that features thousands and thousands of texts including ancient 15th century books.

There are also a number of special and temporary exhibitions some of which are free but some do charge an admission fee. There are also family events taking place throughout the year, you can find out more about these in our Exhibitions and Family sections.

The National Maritime Museum is open daily from 10am to 5pm excepting Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Boxing Day. The museum also closes early on New Year's Eve and opens late on New Year's Day, and London Marathon Day.

Find out more about the National maritime Museum.

How to get there

The closest station is at the Cutty Sark for Maritime Greenwich on the DLR line. If travelling by bus the 129, 177, 180, 188, 199, 286, 386, D3 and D7 all serve Greenwich.

The National Army Museum examines how Britain's past has helped shape its future and the impact the army has had on the story of the British Isles, Europe and the rest of the world.

The museum was established in 1953 and is located adjacent to the Royal Hospital Chelsea, it is constantly developing and enhancing its exhibitions and now has a dedicated Kids Zone that helps unleash the imagination through play, the zone features a forest and castle, art activities and other interactive opportunities for children.

The Galleries at the Museum are split up into the following sections;

The Making of Britain takes a look at goings on between 1066 and 1783; examining foreign invasions, civil wars and wars on European soil.

Changing the World looks at how British trade and the British Empire affected the shape of the world we know today. This section also features a 40 square metre model of the Battle of Waterloo.

World Wars examines the British defence of democracy during World Wars, how British and Commonwealth forces came together to protect their cultures.

Fighting for Peace explores the British army's role from 1946 to the present days taking a look at peacekeeping situations in Kosovo, our involvement with the Cold War, the Falklands, Suez Crisis and Gulf War.

If you are pushed for time there are self-guided tours visitors can partake in leading them to the many highlights of the National Army Museum, including war heroes, war icons and war animals. There are also tens of online exhibitions visitors can take a look at before visiting. Temporary exhibitions and family events take place throughout the year; you can find out more about these in our Family and Exhibitions sections.

The National Army Museum is open every day from 10am till 5.30pm excepting Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Year's Day, Good Friday and May Bank Holiday.

Find out more about the National Army Museum

How to get there

The closest tube stations are at Sloane Square and South Kensington.

If travelling by bus the  number 11, 19, 22 and 211 serve the King's Road, the 137 serves Pimlico Road and the 239 stops outside the Museum.

The Museum of London has a mission...to inspire a passion for London by communicating facts and stories about London's culture, history and archaeology to Londoners and visitors alike and documents the history of our capital city from the Palaeolithic age to the present day.

The museum resides in a modern building close to Barbican and is modern in its displays and how it presents information to visitors. However, the museum places a strong emphasis on archaeology and the museum itself is situated close to fragments of the Roman London wall.

Collections and artefacts are split up into two distinct sections; Prehistoric to 1700 and 1700 to Today.

Prehistoric to 1700 is divided into four key periods, Prehistoric; Roman; Saxon & Medieval and Tudor and Stuart.

The 1700 to Today section of the museum displays collections of a more recent nature and is split into the following sections, Decorative Arts; Dress & Fashion; Life Stories & Oral History; Paintings, prints & drawings; Photographs; Port & Rover collection and Social & Working History.

Highlights of the museum include the Lord Mayor's state coach and reconstructions of street life in Victorian London, pottery, bones, stone, Bronze age metal work, iron Lord Nelson's sword, gold and silver jewellery, recorded oral histories, water vessels, artwork, photographs, costume and a lot more besides.

The Museum of London also features number of online, virtual and temporary exhibitions, throughout the year a number of family events and workshops, the majority of which are free. You can find out more about these free events in our Family and Exhibition sections.

The Museum of London is open daily from 10am till 5.50pm Monday to Saturday and from 12pm to 5.50pm on Sunday. The museum is closed on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day.

Find out more about the Museum of London.

How to get there

The closest tube stations are at Barbican, Moorgate and Farringdon.

If travelling by bus the 4, 8, 25, 55, 56, 100, 153, 172 and 243 all serve Barbican, Moorgate and the surrounding areas.

The history of the Houses of Parliament goes back to the 12th Century when King's councils were held. During these councils, barons and archbishops alike would discuss Politics, judgements and of course, taxes. Inevitably the councils too on a more formal role and saw knights representing individual counties and by the 13th century the word Parliament were being used to discuss the councils.

During the 14th century Parliament had split to into two houses, the commons and the Lords. Lords consisted of members of the clergy and nobility and the commons saw men from counties, towns and cities representing their local area in London. It was King Henry V who eventually put the commons on an equal footing with the Lords in the 15th century. Little did he know that this move would lead to Parliament rebelling against the monarchy and the onset of civil war.

However, in 1660 the monarchy was restored and in 1689 a Bill of Rights was agreed that gave parliament the authority over the monarchy; allowing parliament to be responsible for passing laws. The Parliament acts of 1911 and 1949 increased the authority of the commons over the lords and effectively created our modern day parliament.

The House of Parliament have become one of the leading tourist attractions in London. A royal palace has stood on the site since 1065 when Edward the Confessor was in power, and the buildings are still referred to as the Palace of Westminster. Westminster is the oldest part of Parliament, the walls date back to 1097 and the hall is one of Europe's largest medieval halls. The Houses of Parliament have been extensively rebuilt after being ravaged by fire and bombs.

One of the most dramatic aspects of the Houses of Parliament is the clock tower, affectionately called Big Ben. Big Ben was built in 1859 after a fire destroyed most of Parliament, the winning new design from Charles Barry was dominated by a large clock tower; the rest as they say is history.

UK Residents can arrange a tour of Big Ben in advance through their local MP or Lord for free! A guide will outline the history of the tower. Find out more about visiting Big Ben.

Tours of the Houses of Parliament are also free, but again only available to UK residents who apply for tickets in advance through their local MP or Lord. Find out more about Tours.

UK residents can also attend debates in Parliament; again tickets for debates must be procured through your local MP, to find out more details here.

Public committee sessions and Judicial Hearings are open to everyone; these committee sessions take place Monday to Thursday, visitors wishing to attend should get there early and join the queue, to find out what is where click on the hyperlinks above.

The Parliamentary archives are open Monday to Friday 9.30am to 5pm, no advanced tickets are required, but proof of identity is. If you wish to view specific records, you should book a space and check the availability of the records, you can find out more here.

In these days of heightened security photography and recording inside the Houses of Parliament is heavily restricted, the building is protected by a multitude of security and police officers who limit what is allowed to enter the Houses of Parliament, so only take what you need in a small bag and expect to be searched on arrival.

If all of the above sounds like a bit too much hassle (they don't exactly make it easy for visitors these days) then you may be satisfied with viewing the buildings from the Southbank or Parliament Square. Parliament Square is full of statues featuring political figures from the pages of history; the most recent addition was a statue of Nelson Mandela.

In recent months protestors have been camping out in Parliament Square campaigning about the war in Iraq and they are always eager to educate visitors on what they are doing and why.

Find out more about the Houses of Parliament.

How to get there

The closest tube station is at Westminster.

If travelling by bus the 3, 11, 12, 24, 53, 87, 88, 148, 159, 211 and 453 all serve Westminster.

The Hampstead Museum is located on the second floor of Burgh House on New End Square. Burgh House was built in 1704 and has had a colourful history. The house has been an officer barracks, housed vicars, Captains and even Rudyard Kipling's daughter Elsie Bambridge.

In 1946 Hampstead Borough Council bought the house and has been a public building ever since. Today Burgh House is a study and exhibition centre with the second floor housing the Hampstead Museum.

The museum tells the story of Hampstead from prehistoric to modern times, the first know inhabitants of Hampstead were forest hunters who settled in the area in 7000BC. Romans passed through the area and built their roads, the area has been known for its medicinal spa waters all before the area expanded in the Victorian era and railway speeded up Hampstead's development.

The collection reflects the history of Hampstead and features artwork by Helen Allingham and George Charlton, Second World War memorabilia, antique furniture, the flag of the UK's first scout troop flag, oral histories, touch screen computer displays and lots more for families to see and do. The museum gardens and its café provide a welcome area of tranquillity and relaxation.

Burgh House and the Hampstead Museum are open from Wednesday to Sunday from 12pm till Sunday. Visits are by appointment only on Saturdays.

Find out more about the Hampstead Museum.

How to get there

The closest tube station is at Hampstead.

If travelling by bus the 46, 210, 268 and 603 all serve the area.

The Gunnersbury Park Museum houses the histories of Ealing and Hounslow in a Regency building that was first a home to royalty and was the first country residence of the Rothschild banking family.

Nathan Mayer Rothschild purchased the estate in 1835 and it remained in the family until 1925 when Leopold De Rothschild sold the estate to the Ealing and Acton Borough councils for £130,00. The house was made open to the public in 1926 and the opening of the museum followed in 1929. The permanent collections display local archaeological finds, examples of domestic equipment, costumes, toys, oral histories of local people, wartime memorabilia, swords, Victorian kitchens and coaches belonging to the Rothschild family.

The museum is continually collecting material to ensure that future visitors will be able to see how we live today. Collections are currently so large that the majority are in storage but are regularly brought out to participate in rotating exhibitions at the Museum.

The grounds of the museum are extensive and feature ornamental gardens, woods, lakes, an Orangery and modern day sports facilities including a golf course and cricket pitch. In addition to its permanent collection and rotating exhibition the museum also stages workshops for schools and special events for families, you can find out more about these in our Family section.

The Gunnersbury Park Museum is open from 11am to 5pm seven days a week from March to November and from 11am to 4pm from November to March.

Find out more about the Gunnersbury Park Museum.

How to get there

The closest tube stations are at Acton Town, Gunnersbury and South Ealing.

If travelling by bus the E3 serves Popes Lane and the  70, 207, 266, 427, 440 and 607 all serve Acton Central.

The Cuming Museum investigates the history of Southwark, one of London's oldest boroughs. The museum is home to the collection of the Cuming family; this contains artefacts from paper bags to Egyptian figurines.

The collection was left to the Metropolitan Borough of Southwark by Henry Syer Cuming, he and his father Richard has amassed their 25,000 strong collection during their frequent travels abroad together and independently between 1780 and 1900.

Richard Cuming's collection began when he was given three fossils by his grandmother, from their on in his interest in science and natural history became a passion, a passion he passed on to his son Henry. The collection comprises of ethnography, decorative art, example of geology, textiles, prints, coins, ceramics, ancient Egyptian and Etruscan objects and items collected by Captain Cook on his travels to South America and New Zealand.

As well as the Cuming Collection the museum houses the Cuming family gallery and the Southwark gallery that explores the history of the local area from Roman times. In addition to the permanent collections and galleries there are also temporary exhibitions on display and family events taking place throughout the year, to find out more about these events check out our Exhibitions and Family sections.

The Cuming Museum is located on Walworth Road; it is open Tuesdays to Saturdays from 10am to 5pm excepting Public holidays.

Find out more about the Cuming Museum.

How to get there

The closest tube stations are at Elephant & Castle and Kenington.

If travelling by bus the 12, 35, 40, 45, 68, 148, 171, 176, P5 and 343 stop outside the museum.

Grant Museum of Zoology and Comparative Anatomy houses one of the oldest natural history collections in the UK, the collection dates from 1828 and contains many extremely rare and extinct animals.

The collection was founded by Robert Grant and even today many of his original specimens survive. Grant was the first professor of Zoology and Comparative Anatomy in England, on his arrival at University College London he discovered no teaching materials and began to amass specimens and material for dissection and discussion.

It was during his teaching period at the university of Edinburgh that Grant heavily influenced and inspired a young Charles Darwin. On his deathbed in 1874 Grant was persuaded to leave his now extensive collection to the University College London.

The museum is the only remaining university zoological museum in London. It houses over 55,000 specimens, many of which are preserved in fluid. Highlights of the museum include a quagga skeleton, dodo skeleton and one of the thylacine or Tasmanian tiger.

The museum is open to members of the public every day from 1pm till 5pm, however, the opening of the museum coincides with the university term time and so is closed over the Easter Holidays, Christmas holidays and Bank Holidays.

Find out more about the Grant Museum of Zoology and Comparative Anatomy.

How to get there

The closest tube stations are at Euston Square and Warren Street. If travelling by bus the number 10, 14, 18, 24, 27, 29, 30, 73, 88, 134, 205 and 390 all serve the area.

The Geffrye Museum showcases the changing style of English homes using a series of period rooms dating from the 1600s to the present day.

The museum is located in the East End in the former almshouses of the Ironmonger's Company. The grade 1 listed almshouses are surrounded by beautiful gardens including an extensive herb garden. The almshouses were formally used to house pensioners until the area of Shoreditch became severely overcrowded and the elderly were relocated to a healthier area.

The Geffrye Museum opened in 1914 during the Arts & Crafts movement, leading members of this movement persuaded the London County Council to convert the almshouses into a museum of the local furniture industry with the purpose of educating and inspiring the local workforce.

The museum is currently an independent charitable trust, the original collection of furniture has been greatly added to over the years and now comprises of furniture, decorative art, archives, paintings and various other artefacts all showcased chronologically in the context of period style middle class rooms.

The gardens at the museum reflect how the changes in interior design affected the gardens of the middle-class; over the years the garden has been a formal lawn, featured lime and plane trees, herbaceous borders and a bandstand. The award winning herb gardens were opened in 1992 and immediately added a new dimension to the museum's collections.

One of the almshouses has been restored and rooms have been furnished to depict the living conditioners of the elderly in the 18th century. Visitors to the museum can pay an admission fee to take a look at this comparison to the rather more grand period rooms in the museum on every first Saturday on the month.

Events often take place throughout the year including music, drama, seminars and workshops.

The Geffrye Museum is from Tuesday to Saturday from 10am till 5pm, and on Sundays and Bank Holiday Mondays from 12pm till 5pm. The museum is completely shut on Good Friday, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day. The Herb Gardern and Period Garden rooms are from April 1st to October 31 during museum hours.

Find out more about the Geffrye Museum.

How to get there

The closest tube station is a walk away at Old Street.

If travelling by bus the 242, 243 and 394 serve Kingsland Road.

This breath-taking building is part of the UNESCO Maritime Greenwich world heritage site and stands alongside the National Maritime Museum and the Royal Observatory.

The Queen's House was commissioned by Anne of Denmark, wife of King James I, rumour has it that he granted Anna a manor at Greenwich as an apology for swearing at her in public, he himself was often at the Tudor Palace of Greenwich as it was an important residence for the Stuart dynasty.

In 1616 Anne employed Inigo Jones, a famous designer to create a new pavilion for her at Greenwich that would her very own private retreat, however in 1618, Anne fell ill and work on the project stopped, she died the following year and the building was left incomplete, it was rescued by Charles I who gave the site as a gift to his queen Henrietta Maria of France, it was finally completed in 1635 and was hailed a revolutionary design.

In 1805 the house was granted to the Royal Naval Asylum from George II for the caring and education of orphaned children of seamen. The building was added to and dormitories and classrooms were added. When the house became part of the National Maritime Museum in 1934 work took place in an attempt to restore the house to its former glory.

Today The Queen's Houses is refitted and furnished to look as it would have done in the 1670's, it now houses the National Maritime Museum's extensive art collection, the house features the UK's first spiral staircase, a 'grotesque' style painted ceiling in the Queen's Presence Chamber and a marble floor.

There are also a number of special and temporary exhibitions some of which are free but some do charge an admission fee. There are also family events taking place throughout the year, you can find out more about these in our Exhibitions and Family sections.

The Queen's House is open daily from 10am to 5pm excepting Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Boxing Day. The museum also closes early on New Year's Eve and opens late on New Year's Day, and London Marathon Day.

Find out more about the Queens House.

How to get there

The closest station is at the Cutty Sark for Maritime Greenwich on the DLR line. If travelling by bus the 129, 177, 180, 188, 199, 286, 386, D3 and D7 all serve Greenwich.

Images © National Maritime Museum, London.

The V & A Museum of Childhood is located on Cambridge Heath Road in East London, is open every day of the year excepting Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Years Day and excepting a minority of activities is completely free.

The museum has four permanent displays these are:

The Front Room Gallery that showcases work from the museums community programme and outreach projects.

The Moving Toy Gallery that houses optical toys, battery operated toys, rocking horses, magnetic toys...all sorts of toys that move for children of all ages.

The Creativity Gallery looks at how children express their creativity, the gallery is made up of four sections, imagine, Be Inspired, Explore and Make It Happen. The section is dedicated to play and aims to build confidence and self-esteem.

The Childhood Galleries take a look at the social history of childhood organised into the following themes Babies, Home, Playing Outside, What We Wear, Who will I be, How We Learn, Good Times, Children In Trouble and World In The East End.

In addition to the permanent displays there are always numerous new exhibitions and free activities for families, please check our Family section for more details on these free events, exhibitions courses and activities.

The V & A Museum of Childhood is open from 10am until 5.45pm.

Find out more about the V & A Museum of Childhood.

How to get there

The closest tube station is at Bethnal Green. If travelling by bus the 8, 106, 254, 309, 388, D3 and D6 all serve Bethnal Green.

There are numerous Imperial War museums scattered all over the UK, but we are just focusing on the London based museum in this article.

In 1917, after the First World War, it was decided by the Cabinet that a museum should be set up to collect and display memorabilia from the Great War. In 1920 the museum was official opened, a board of trustees were appointed and was given the name of the Imperial War Museum.

Before Second World War the museum was housed in two adjacent galleries in South Kensington, this was not ideal and in 1936 the Duke of York reopened the museum in its current Lambeth home. During WW2 the museum was closed and numerous objects were evacuated outside London. After WW2 items were added to the collection and in 1953 the Museum's terms of reference were extended to include all military operations with Britain and the Commonwealth had been involved with since 1914.

Permanent Galleries at the museum include the following;

The Large Exhibits Gallery that includes large weapons and vehicles in its collection.

First World War and Second World War Galleries which both include posters and memorabilia as well carefully constructed reconstructions including The Trench and the The Blitz Experience.

Conflicts Since 1945 takes a look at advances in technology and new organisation such as NATO.

The Holocaust Experience tells the story of the persecution of the Jewish community in Nazi Germany through photographs, newspapers and artefacts.

'Crimes against humanity: an exploration of genocide and ethnic violence' is a 30 minute film which examines the theme of genocide and is the centrepiece of the Crimes Against Humanity exhibition.

The Secret War goes undercover in the world of spies and espionage and takes a look at the development of M15 and M16.

The Art Galleries display First and Second World War artwork from the Museum's collection.

The Victoria Cross and George Cross Gallery houses the museums collection of these awards.

Monty; Master of the Battlefield marks the sixtieth anniversary of the Battle of El Alamein and documents the life and military career of Field Marshall Montgomery.

The Imperial War Museum does house temporary exhibitions in addition to its more permanent displays; you can find out more about these in our Exhibitions section.

The Museum is open daily from 10am till 6pm excepting Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Boxing Day.

Find out more about the Imperial War Museum.

How to get there

The Imperial War Museum is located in Lambeth, the closest tube stations are at Lambeth North and Waterloo. If travelling by bus the 1, 3, 12, 45, 53, 63, 68, 159, 168, 171, 172, 176, 188, 344 and C10 all serve the area.

The Natural History museum is a place beloved by adults and children from all over the UK and is a world-renowned research centre. The Waterhouse building that houses the museum was first designed by Captain Francis Fowke who died before creating his mater-piece, however, the work was taken on by Alfred Waterhouse who after adapting Fowke's designs created a truly breath-taking building.

The Museum was created a hugely grand scale and has often been referred to as a 'cathedral of nature' and the museum's cavernous central hall is reminiscent of a grand cathedral. The outside of the building is adorned with terracotta bricks and tiles featured sculptures of living, extinct and mythical creatures.

The Natural History Museum's outstanding collection was founded on the collection of Sir Hans Sloane, an Irish doctor who sold his artefacts to the British Government. The collection has grown significantly since this time, and housed in the museum today are several casts of dinosaur skeletons, the most impressive being the famous Diplidocus cast that resides in the central hall and greets all visitors.

The museum is split into colour coded sections Green represents the Earth's ecology; Red explores the ever-changing natural forces and so on. Highlights that should not be missed include the skeleton of a Steller's sea cow, the tusk of a narwhal, a life-size model of a blue whale, thousands of specimens of gems and rocks, the skull of a gigantic crocodile, a wildlife garden and a whole lot more.

You can also partake in daily events at the museum; these include loaning explorer backpacks for the under-seven visitors, discovery guides and informal talks.

In addition to the permanent exhibitions the Natural History Museum also features many temporary exhibitions some of theme exhibitions and galleries do charge for admission. You can find out more about these in our Exhibitions and Family Sections.

The Natural History Museum is open every day of the year from 10am till 5.50pm excepting Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Boxing Day.

Find out more about the Natural History Museum.

How to get there

The closest tube station is at South Kensington. If on the bus jump on either the 14, 49, 70, 74, 345, C1, N14 or the N97.

The Royal Observatory is one of London's best loved and most famous landmarks, it is located at Maritime Greenwich, a world heritage site, and home to the National Maritime Museum and The Queens House.

Founded by Charles II in 1675, the observatory was built in a bid to improve navigation at sea and find the longitude of places by astronomical means. In the early 18th century Parliament established a panel of experts, the Board of Longitude, and offered a reward of £20,000 to anyone who could solve the problem of finding longitude at sea, after 60 years a little known Yorkshire clockmaker called John Harrison claimed his prize. The highlight of a visit to the observatory is viewing Harrison's four groundbreaking timekeepers that has maintained in full working order.

Greenwich is most famous for being the source of the Prime Meridian of the world, this meridian line divides the Eastern and Western hemispheres of earth and is defined by the position of the large transit circle telescope in the Meridian building. Currently, the Prime Meridian has served as the base for the calculation of Greenwich Mean Time that keeps the international standard of time.

This fantastic museum of time not only hold, cultural, historical and international significance for everyone but also houses some of the most interesting sea-faring and time-keeping equipment. In addition to Harrison's timekeepers visitors can also view astronomical instruments and special exhibitions relating to the sea, ski and time.

There are also a number of special and temporary exhibitions some of which are free but some do charge an admission fee. There are also family events taking place throughout the year, you can find out more about these in our Exhibitions and Family sections.

The Royal Observatory is open daily from 10am to 5pm excepting Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Boxing Day. The museum also closes early on New Year's Eve and opens late on New Year's Day, and London Marathon Day.

Find out more about the Royal Observatory.

How to get there

The closest station is at the Cutty Sark for Maritime Greenwich on the DLR line. If travelling by bus the 129, 177, 180, 188, 199, 286, 386, D3 and D7 all serve Greenwich.

Images © National Maritime Museum, London.

The Science Museum would not have come into existence were it not for the Great Exhibition in Hyde Park's Crystal Palace. The museum was founded in 1857 with objects shown at that famous exhibition.

Originally part of the South Kensington Museum, the Science Museum (or the Museum of Patents as it was then known) split off to form its own institution in 1858, in 1885 the museum was renamed the Science Museum. During the early part of the 20th century the Science Museum began encouraging ordinary folk to visit rather than science and technology specialists; in the 1930's the Children's Gallery was opened and ever since the museum has been a favourite of school children.

Galleries at the museum include the following:

The Energy Hall which showcases how steam has been the driving force behind Britain's trade and industry using working models and full-size engines.

Making the Modern World displays a series of objects that have marked turning points in the technological and scientific worlds. These objects include George Stephenson's Rocket Locomotive, and Watson's DNA model.

Exploring Space explores the history of the rocket with displays of real rockets and uses projections to educate on satellites and space debris.

Other notable galleries include those on the Weather, Shipping, Medical History, Psychology, Computing and Agriculture.

Visitors can also enjoy daily dramatic performances, workshops, guides and science shows the Science Museum houses an IMAX 3D cinema, however, charges for screenings do apply.

In addition to its permanent exhibitions the Science Museum hosts special exhibitions, you can find out more about these in our Exhibitions and Family sections.

The Science museum is open every day of the year from 10am to 8pm excepting Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Boxing Day.

Find out more about the Science Museum.

How to get there

The closest underground station to the Science Museum is at South Kensington. If travelling by bus the 14, 49, 70, 74, 345, 360, 414, 430 and C1 stop outside South Kensington Underground Station, from where it is a five minute walk north to the Museum's Main Entrance

The British Museum is a building in which a huge collection of art and antiques is held in trust for the people of Britain. This amazing collection spans two million years of human history and is intended as a place where the British and visitors to Britain can have easy access to cultural artefacts.

Naturalist Sir Hans Sloane bequeathed the collection at the British Museum to King George II in 1753, he wanted the 71,000 artefacts he had collected to be preserved together after his death, Sloane asked that £20,000 be paid to his family in return for his grand gesture and this money was raised by a public lottery. King George II in turn donated the Old Royal Library to the collection and in 1759 the museum opened to the public free of charge.

Since then the collection has splintered off to create other museums including the Natural History Museum and the British Library. However, the collection at the British Museum has continued to grow and now includes high profile pieces like the ancient Egyptian piece the Rosseta Stone.

The Museum has remained on the same Bloomsbury site since its beginnings, however, the first Montagu House quickly became too small for the collection and the museum has been extended, however, it still remains one of the most beautiful buildings in London.

The museum is split up into the following departments; Department of Africa, Oceania and the America, the Department of Ancient Egypt and Sudan, the Department of Asia, Department of Coins and Medals, Department of Conservation, Documentation and Science, Department of Greek and Roman Antiquities, Department of the Middle East, Department of Portable Antiquities and Treasures, Department of Prehistory and Europe, Department of Prints and Drawing.

The museum is large, so large that one visit will be insufficient to see all this fantastic collection has to offer, however highlights include, artefacts from the Chinese Zhou Dynasty, ancient Egyptian jewellery, coins from the Ottoman Empire, bronze work from Afghanistan, pottery and artwork from all over the globe and so much more.

In addition to its permanent collection the museum also houses many temporary exhibitions most of which are free but some do charge an admission fee. You can find out more about these free exhibitions in our Exhibitions section.

The British museum is open daily all year round excepting the following dates Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Year's Day and Good Friday. The main galleries are open daily from 10am till 5.30pm though some galleries do have late opening times.

Find out more about the British Museum.

How to get there

The closest tube stations to the British Museum are at Holborn, Tottenham Court Road, Russell Square and Goodge Street. If travelling by bus the 1, 7, 8, 19, 25, 38, 55, 98, 242 serve the nearby New Oxford Street and the 10, 14, 24, 29, 73, 134 and 390 all stop at Tottenham Court Road.

The V & A Museum in Kensington is one of London's and the UK's best loved museums, it was established in 1852 with the purpose of enabling everyone to enjoy the splendid collections and exhibitions that Britain has to offer.

Over the past 150 years the V&A's collection has grown to become an encyclopaedic resource of costume, fashion, jewellery, furniture, art and sculpture, the collection is of national importance therefore a board of Prime Ministerial appointed trustees governs the museum.

The V & A is vast it houses permanent collections of everything be it architecture, ceramics, fashion, furniture, metalwork, glass, objects from Asia, books, paintings, you name it...whatever you are interested in you will find it on display at this amazing museum.

The only problem with the V&A is it's size, there is so much to see, it is literally impossible to fit it all into just one visit so pick what you want to see and see it properly!

As with many of London's museums there are always new exhibitions taking place at the V&A for short and extended periods of time. Some events to charge an admission fee but the majority are free. The museum also organises events and courses for families, children, teenagers and adults you can find out more about these exhibitions, events and activities in the various relevant sections of Londonisfree.com.

The Museum is open every days of the year excepting December 24, 25 and 26. The main collections are open from 10am till 5.45pm Saturday to Monday; opening times for Fridays are 10am till 10pm with some galleries remaining open after 6pm.

Other sections of the museum such as the National Art Library and Textile Study Rooms have more restricted opening hours; other sections such as the Blythe House Archive and Library Reading Room are accessible by appointment only. Find out more detailed information on opening times.

Find out more about the V&A, its history, collections and future exhibitions click here.

How to get there

The closest tube station to the V & A is at South Kensington. If travelling by bus the C1, 14, 74 and 414 stop outside the Cromwell Street entrance.

Image by Morley von Sternberg 2005