Museums in London [1] [2] [3]
The Horniman Museum - Conveniently located, a 13-minute train ride from London Bridge station to Forest Hill is followed by a five-minute walk to the Museum. Also, there is now direct access to the beautiful gardens via a new main entrance - the 16 acres host events
throughout the year and have spectacular views over the London skyline. On entering the development, which doubles the existing public space of the museum, you are struck by a feeling of light and space. This now serves as the main entrance, with a wonderful café with barrel vaulted ceiling echoing the original building, and a brand new shop. At the heart of the new building is the central orientation area - 'Gallery Square'. A balcony overlooks the lower ground floor, and from here visitors can access any part of the Horniman. An expanse of glass on one side forms a magnificent picture window and offers views onto Frederick Horniman's 1894 conservatory (Grade ii listed), and the Gardens. Also on this level is the Museum's new education centre which can be configured to accommodate a classroom, a craft space and lunch area for schools, as well as evening classes
for adults. Around the balcony is the new "Hands on Base", housing the
Museum's prestigious handling collection. Comprising 3,700 objects, especially
procured to represent the Museum's three main collections of music instruments,
natural history and ethnography, the collection has become an important learning
tool for the Horniman's diverse visitor mix including families and community groups,
highlighting the many environments and cultures represented by the Museum's varied
collections.
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The
Imperial War Museum - Based in south London with connection of Elephant
& Castle, Lambeth North or Waterloo tube line it holds a variety of militaristic
display of weapons. From the trenches of WWI and Blitz campaign on London it will
try to represent statistics of war and casualties of such things. There is a section
of Secret War Gallery that is not so enlightening. Interesting thing about this
museum is that the building itself was until 1930 a lunatic asylum that confined
Charlie Chaplin`s mother. Open from: daily 10am-6pm.Tel: 0207 416 5000.
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Kew Bridge Steam Museum - Built in the 19th century to supply London with water, the museum is recognised as the most important historic site of the water supply industry in Britain. This museum contains the world's largest collection of steam pumping engines, many of which you can see working every weekend. The museum is open from 11.00 a.m to 5.00 p.m. from Tuesday to Sunday. They are closed on Mondays, except Bank Holidays. Last admission at 4.15pm.
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The
London Transport Museum - Makes an interesting place to visit and compare transport from the past and learn facts about today's speed of travel in central London that is only 8 miles
per hour. That alone tells you about congestion we experience on daily basis travelling
trough London. Plenty of old trains, trams and buses make this exhibition and
for those with children there is a chance to hop on and off some buses. Open from:
Mon-Thurs, Sat & Sun 10am-6pm, Fri 11am-6pm. Tel: 0207 836 8557.
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The Museum in Docklands - London's newest museum unlocks the history of London's river, port and people in an early nineteenth century warehouse at West India Quay. Originally used to house imports of exotic spices, rum and cotton, it now holds a wealth of objects from enormous whale bones to WWII gas masks, which provide glimpses of lost and almost forgotten worlds.
Here you can encounter the wide array of people that have come and gone from the Docks over the last 2000 years, from its Roman founders to Viking invaders and from gentleman pirates to today's city workers. The state of the art galleries include a dedicated space for children, called the Mudlarks Gallery. This fully interactive play and learning area introduces kids between 5 and 12 to the history of Docklands.
They can winch and weigh cargoes, get a divers eye view of work under water, balance the cargo in the hold of a nineteenth century clipper, and discover archaeological
finds in the foreshore discovery box. Museum of Docklands is located at No. 1
Warehouse West India Quay, Hertsmere Road E14. Travel by DLR to West India Quay.
Adults £5, Concessions £3 (tickets valid for 1 year), Children go
free.
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The
Museum of Childhood Bethnal Green - The Museum of Childhood
at Bethnal Green contains one of the largest and oldest collections of toys and
childhood artefacts in the world. As well as its permanent displays, the Museum
has temporary exhibitions, gallery play areas and every weekend, has art activities
for children aged 5+ and soft play for under fives, with additional activities
during school holidays. It also has a souvenir shop, a café, children's
birthday party and corporate hire facilities, and a garden with picnic tables.
The collection, which dates from the sixteenth century to the present day is permanently on display to visitors, comprises dolls, dolls' houses, teddy bears, toy soldiers, train sets, model cars, puppets, rocking horses, board games, and some of the very first jigsaw puzzles ever made. In addition to its toys, the Museum houses the national collection of children's costume.
The
upper gallery is devoted to the theme of growing up through the ages. With its
unique display of baby equipment, nursery furniture and children's costume, the
gallery explores the experience of childhood, from birth to adolescence. Open:
10.00 - 17.50. Closed: Fridays, 24 - 26 December and 1 January. Admission free.
Museum of Childhood at Bethnal Green, Cambridge Heath Road, London E2 9PA.
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The Museum of Garden History - Situated in the restored church of St. Mary-at-Lambeth, adjacent to Lambeth Palace on the banks of the River Thames, the Museum of Garden History provides an insight into the history and development of gardens and gardening in the UK, an important facet in our social history. The Museum houses one of the finest public displays of garden tools and garden related artefacts and curiosities in the country, as well as an intriguing collection of garden related ephemera.
In addition, a beautiful reproduction 17th century knot garden filled with flowers and shrubs of the period has been created in the graveyard around the tombs of the famous 17th century plant hunters, the John Tradescants, father and son, and Captain William Bligh of the 'Bounty'
Opening
times: Open Daily 10.30am - 5.00pm (short closed period over Christmas and New
Year, contact the Museum for details). Admission rates: Suggested donation Adults
£3.00, Concessions £2.50 (Gift shop and café free). Facilities:
Café, Gift shop, Toilets, Full disabled access, Library (by appointment
only). Nearest tube: Lambeth North, Westminster or Waterloo
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The Museum of London - Can be found near City of London (also called Square Mile because of its size and it's a place where Big Boys operate). Nearest Tube stations are St.Paul`s or Barbican. Its name says it all, and this museum will try to walk you through different eras of life of London. Roman relics are most impressive and they start on your entering of the museum.
Ages before and after Great Fire of London are included as well as Georgian and Victorian London with articles of the early twentieth century till present times. The real
treasure of Museum of London is though in exhibitions, lectures, walks and videos
that are being held and organised throughout the year. Open from: Tues-Sat 10am-5:50pm,
Sun noon-5:50pm. Tel: 0207 600 3699.
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