Top museums in London – for kids! (by Robert)

The British MuseumIt's the Easter holidays, so we'll be expecting lots of of visitors to our home town, London. Because of this, Robert decided to write a very helpful blog post...

"When you come to England’s capital you might find yourself overwhelmed by the amount of things to do and places to see. Visiting a museum must be one of the most popular days out in London so I thought that I’d make a list of my favourites. (Please note that this is not in any order)

[caption id="attachment_2349" align="alignnone" width="676"]Robert at the British Museum Robert at the British Museum[/caption]

The British Museum


This is the most well known of the lot and for a good reason. Founded in 1753, the massive building has a section on every era of British history where you can learn loads and also have a look at the breathtaking objects that are displayed. It’s amazing for kids as well as adults as they always have many educational activities and workshops going on, plus you can get a backpack at reception on a particular era. This will include fun things to do and items to look out for in the display rooms. One of my oldest memories is going around with my dad in the Egyptian section looking at the mummies. The British museum is a fantastic museum where you can learn so much, not just about British history, but about the world.

The Science Museum 


This is probably the best museum for kids, I’ve been there so many times and it never gets boring. Filled with loads of science experiments to try out and activities to have a go at, this is the building that children love to go to. It so cleverly made that kids learn about science and don’t even realise it. There are so many interactive things to do, plus the normal facts and displays that you find in other museums. This is probably my favourite museum but parents, bring a book as you might be sitting down for a while your children are doing the experiments.

London Transport Museum


This is a fun museum that you only need a few hours to explore. The building is filled with the many vehicles that the public have used over the years and it is a quick but informative learning experience. There are quite a few interactive screens for the kids, plus you are allowed inside some of the vehicles like a double decker bus or a train carriage dating back over 100 years. It is a fun place to go and I especially liked the staff who dress up as old fashioned customers and speak to you in character. But I wouldn’t put it top of my list.

[caption id="attachment_2350" align="alignnone" width="1200"]First World War exhibition at the RAF Museum First World War exhibition at the RAF Museum, pic courtesy of the museum[/caption]

RAF Museum and the Imperial War Museum


Both of these museums are fantastic places to go if you want to learn about soldiers, wars and fighting. Both display an enormous collection of old fighter planes and other cool objects, they have rides, simulating what it was like to be in a plane during an attack plus lots of other interactive activities to have a go on. They also explain about the two world wars in a way so that little kids can understand.  They are fun places to learn especially for adults but because there's so much to see at the Imperial War Museum, younger kids may get a bit bored there. The RAF museum (based in Hendon, North London) may be better for a younger age group.

Bank of England museum


Money

This is lesser known than the others, but is a great building where you learn all about money in Britain and how it is made. You can explore the world of the pound and even try to lift up a real bar of gold. It is a really fun place to go with kids and once again you don’t really need the whole day to go there.

In this post I have listed a few of my favourite museums in London but there are so many more like the Natural History museum or one of my personal favourites (and if you want to travel  bit further afield) the National Maritime Museum in Greenwich. I hope this has helped you if you are planning a trip to London, and if you are -  bring an umbrella.

All the museums mentioned above - bar the London Transport Museum - are free to enter, although extras (such as the IMAX cinema at the Science Museum) do cost money. The RAF Museum is free, but you'll have to pay to park in the car park! The London Transport museum costs £17.00 for adults and £14.50 for kids, but that gives you entry for a year.

Read my thoughts on the National Maritime Museum

Read mum's post on 5 free things to do in London!

 
MummyTravels

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Family Travel Times: Top museums in London – for kids! (by Robert)

Thursday, 24 March 2016

Top museums in London – for kids! (by Robert)

The British MuseumIt's the Easter holidays, so we'll be expecting lots of of visitors to our home town, London. Because of this, Robert decided to write a very helpful blog post...

"When you come to England’s capital you might find yourself overwhelmed by the amount of things to do and places to see. Visiting a museum must be one of the most popular days out in London so I thought that I’d make a list of my favourites. (Please note that this is not in any order)

[caption id="attachment_2349" align="alignnone" width="676"]Robert at the British Museum Robert at the British Museum[/caption]

The British Museum


This is the most well known of the lot and for a good reason. Founded in 1753, the massive building has a section on every era of British history where you can learn loads and also have a look at the breathtaking objects that are displayed. It’s amazing for kids as well as adults as they always have many educational activities and workshops going on, plus you can get a backpack at reception on a particular era. This will include fun things to do and items to look out for in the display rooms. One of my oldest memories is going around with my dad in the Egyptian section looking at the mummies. The British museum is a fantastic museum where you can learn so much, not just about British history, but about the world.

The Science Museum 


This is probably the best museum for kids, I’ve been there so many times and it never gets boring. Filled with loads of science experiments to try out and activities to have a go at, this is the building that children love to go to. It so cleverly made that kids learn about science and don’t even realise it. There are so many interactive things to do, plus the normal facts and displays that you find in other museums. This is probably my favourite museum but parents, bring a book as you might be sitting down for a while your children are doing the experiments.

London Transport Museum


This is a fun museum that you only need a few hours to explore. The building is filled with the many vehicles that the public have used over the years and it is a quick but informative learning experience. There are quite a few interactive screens for the kids, plus you are allowed inside some of the vehicles like a double decker bus or a train carriage dating back over 100 years. It is a fun place to go and I especially liked the staff who dress up as old fashioned customers and speak to you in character. But I wouldn’t put it top of my list.

[caption id="attachment_2350" align="alignnone" width="1200"]First World War exhibition at the RAF Museum First World War exhibition at the RAF Museum, pic courtesy of the museum[/caption]

RAF Museum and the Imperial War Museum


Both of these museums are fantastic places to go if you want to learn about soldiers, wars and fighting. Both display an enormous collection of old fighter planes and other cool objects, they have rides, simulating what it was like to be in a plane during an attack plus lots of other interactive activities to have a go on. They also explain about the two world wars in a way so that little kids can understand.  They are fun places to learn especially for adults but because there's so much to see at the Imperial War Museum, younger kids may get a bit bored there. The RAF museum (based in Hendon, North London) may be better for a younger age group.

Bank of England museum


Money

This is lesser known than the others, but is a great building where you learn all about money in Britain and how it is made. You can explore the world of the pound and even try to lift up a real bar of gold. It is a really fun place to go with kids and once again you don’t really need the whole day to go there.

In this post I have listed a few of my favourite museums in London but there are so many more like the Natural History museum or one of my personal favourites (and if you want to travel  bit further afield) the National Maritime Museum in Greenwich. I hope this has helped you if you are planning a trip to London, and if you are -  bring an umbrella.

All the museums mentioned above - bar the London Transport Museum - are free to enter, although extras (such as the IMAX cinema at the Science Museum) do cost money. The RAF Museum is free, but you'll have to pay to park in the car park! The London Transport museum costs £17.00 for adults and £14.50 for kids, but that gives you entry for a year.

Read my thoughts on the National Maritime Museum

Read mum's post on 5 free things to do in London!

 
MummyTravels

Labels: , , , , , , , , , , ,

29 Comments:

At 24 March 2016 at 06:38 , Anonymous JuggleMum, Nadine Hill said...

Ah - the Bank of England museum!!! It is a lesser known one but I went there a few weeks ago and lifted up a gold bar that was worth over £300,000!! That's a nice memory!

 
At 24 March 2016 at 06:57 , Anonymous Zara said...

What a fabulous list! I used to love these places when I was younger too and I adore the fact my girls can enjoy the same experiences. I think we best take a trip to the science museum soon after reading this! Great reviews and list.

 
At 24 March 2016 at 09:06 , Anonymous angela hamilton said...

I have been to the imperial war museum and was amazed at the size of the place!! Such an important place to visit I think

 
At 24 March 2016 at 13:40 , Anonymous Sarah Ebner said...

Thank you very much - the science museum is particularly fab and for a wide range of ages.

 
At 24 March 2016 at 13:50 , Anonymous Jen said...

Oh I forgot about the Bank of England Museum. My boys love visiting London's many museums when we visit

 
At 24 March 2016 at 15:29 , Anonymous Cathy (MummyTravels) said...

It's great to see a list written by Robert - I do wonder sometimes what my daughter would pick if she had the choice (Natural History Museum probably clinches it, but I suspect she'd agree about the Science Museum). We did have a fantastic time at the British Museum, and the mummies there are one of my first memories of exploring London with my mum. #citytripping

 
At 25 March 2016 at 02:00 , Anonymous Sonya Cisco said...

I love all of those! Really fab list and now I am itching to get back at to London and visit some again!

 
At 25 March 2016 at 16:56 , Anonymous Stephs Two Girls said...

Great list, there's at least one there I still need to go to!

 
At 26 March 2016 at 04:32 , Anonymous Mary Louise said...

Lovely list there Robert - I love the Imperial war museum!

 
At 26 March 2016 at 06:46 , Anonymous Kara said...

I never even knew there was a bank of england museum. We love the science museum and the Imperial war museum is on our wishlist for this year

 
At 26 March 2016 at 09:03 , Anonymous Sarah Ebner said...

It's less well known than the others, but it's really good!

 
At 26 March 2016 at 09:50 , Anonymous Mellissa Williams said...

The RAF museum is great, I've been there when my son was little. Some excellent ideas here, I also love the Natural History Museum - kids always love the dinosaurs!

 
At 26 March 2016 at 09:52 , Anonymous mariesbeauties said...

Oh wow I really love your list especially the Imperial War Museum, great post! xx

 
At 26 March 2016 at 10:10 , Anonymous Rosie @Eco-Gites of Lenault said...

Thank you for this post - I am thinking about doing a trip to London with my boys sometime - we have done The Science and Natural History Museums before when they were small but the other all sound like something my now teens would enjoy. Off to pin this for future reference. #citytripping

 
At 26 March 2016 at 13:43 , Anonymous Elaine Masters said...

Nice list, Robert. Looks like exactly what my son would've picked at your age except I had to drag him to museums. He missed out, didn't he?

 
At 26 March 2016 at 13:53 , Anonymous Sarah Ebner said...

So glad it was useful! I think they'd really like the RAF Museum and the Bank of England. Hope you get to them!

 
At 26 March 2016 at 21:52 , Anonymous Anda said...

I've seen the British Museum and I was absolutely in awe of it. I would like to return to London and see the other museums as well. I had no idea about the Bank of England Museum. Great post, Robert!

 
At 27 March 2016 at 00:06 , Anonymous Elizabeth (Wander Mum) said...

Great choices Robert and very helpful to know which ones are suitable for certain age groups. I think the next one we need to explore is the Science Museum. I've heard so many great things about it! Thanks for linking to #citytripping

 
At 27 March 2016 at 05:14 , Anonymous Cass@frugalfamily said...

We love the Science Museum and the IWM and have been a few times to each over the last few years x x

 
At 27 March 2016 at 12:33 , Anonymous Adonis Villanueva said...

I've never been to London but I'll visit on my next trip to Europe. I'm really interested in the RAF Museum! I will be referring to this post for my visit :)

 
At 27 March 2016 at 17:53 , Anonymous Bell | Wanderlust Marriage said...

Great list! We love visiting London and popping into the museums! How is the Victoria and Albert museum for kids? And we find science museums to be the best even for adults ;)

 
At 28 March 2016 at 02:17 , Anonymous Sarah Ebner said...

The Victoria and Albert is more for older children, we'd say. It depends on what exhibition is on and when, but it does have some family trails and programmes, so is worth a look (but not at the top of your list!)

 
At 28 March 2016 at 02:33 , Anonymous Maggie said...

Great list of Museums Robert!! I'd like to visit Imperial War Museum soon....

 
At 28 March 2016 at 05:07 , Anonymous Globalmouse said...

What a brilliant round up. I really want to make it to the Transport Museum, I think my three would love it.

 
At 28 March 2016 at 08:28 , Anonymous Carolynne @ Mummy Endeavours said...

Thank you! Great post! We haven't been to museums for a while. Might visit some this Easter x

 
At 28 March 2016 at 12:48 , Anonymous Sarah Ebner said...

It's great!

 
At 28 March 2016 at 13:58 , Anonymous Kate said...

Very cool list! I go to London quite often and have visited since I was 2 years old so I know some of these places well. I went to the London Transport Museum for a Lonely Planet event last year and we had a great time looking around. My absolute favourite has to be the Natural History Museum with its dinosaurs. Great post

 
At 29 March 2016 at 04:15 , Anonymous tammyonthemove said...

I worked in London for 8 years and haven't been to any of the museums you just mentioned, but these sound great. I particularly love the fact that most British museums have free entrance too. So next time I am in London, I will make a point of visiting some of the lesser known museums.

 
At 31 March 2016 at 23:09 , Anonymous Rosie @Eco-Gites of Lenault said...

Me too - I love a good museum!

 

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