Roald Dahl Museum & Story Centre

OK not exactly London, but it is Roald Dahl so we'll make an exception! Don't be put off by its size. There is enough here to keep children occupied for a good few hours. Intimate without being cramped, this small museum is situated just moments from the house where the world famous children's author lived & worked. The galleries take you through the works and life of Roald Dahl with lots of interactive displays and fun stuff to fire young imaginations. There are free story telling sessions in the courtyard and the twits cafe is great. Staff are friendly and attentive as are guest poets running the workshops! If you are travelling out and want to make a day of it, there are the Chiltern Hills, a model village and another Roald Dahl exhibition for younger children near by. There is an additional charge for workshops.  Click read more below for listings of summer events at the museum.

Open: Tues - Sun & Bank Holiday Mondays. 10am-5pm

Museum in Docklands

Exhibits and galleries trace the history of the port, river and its people. There is also a dedicated gallery for under 11s (Mudlarks). Explore the story of Londoners from across the world - from Roman settlers to city workers. See how the River Thames becomes a global gateway as it brings invaders, merchants and immigrants through one of the world's longest serving ports into the heart of the city. Exotic objects, tours, films and hands-on displays and events make the Museum in Docklands an adventure for all ages.

The British Library 

One of the world's greatest libraries with over 150 million items including manuscripts, maps, newspapers, magazines, prints and drawings, music scores, patents and a sound archive. Oh, and over 8 million stamps and other philatelic items! The library has taken some of the most famous and important historical treasures and put them in a permanent exhibition with interactive displays and a 'virtual curator'. Exhibits include the earliest dated printed book (The Diamond Sutra), the Magna Carta, Lindisfarne Gospels, Leonardo da Vinci's Notebook, The Times first edition from 18 March 1788, Beatles manuscripts, The recording of Nelson Mandela's trial speech and Beowulf! Pick up a family guide from the information desk.

The Ragged school Museum 

The Museum was opened in 1990 in three canalside warehouses in Copperfield Road, East London. These buildings were previously used by Dr Barnardo to house the largest ragged school in London. In a re-created classroom of the period, visitors can now experience how Victorian children were taught. There are also displays on local history, industry and life in the East End and a varied programme of temporary exhibitions.

Open: Wednesday, Thursday 10am - 5pm,First Sunday of the month 2pm - 5pm
Admission: Free
Bus: Nos 25,277,309,33 (summer only), 106, D5, D6, D7
Tube: Mile End, then walk, following the signs across Mile End Park
DLR: Limehouse, then walk via Flamborough St., Aston St. and Ben Jonson Rd.
Address:  46-50 Copperfield Road, London, E3 4RR
Tel: 020 8980 6405
Website
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Museum of Childhood 

After a multi-million pound redevelopment the museum has just reopened with a new Front Room gallery, creativity and moving toy displays and lots of fun hands-on activities. The museum has a dynamic programme of temporary exhibitions produced by the museum itself and a variety of touring exhibitions which are relevant both to visitors and the themes of childhood. There's lots going on everyday at the V&A Museum of Childhood. Choose from free, drop-in activities, performances and workshops. This is a great museum with a huge collection of toys spanning the centuries!

V&A Theatre Museum: National Museum of the Performing Arts  

The museum has lots to offer families, from daily costume workshops to learning about pantomime acting techniques! It collects a wide range of documents, artefacts and works of art, which record the history of the performing arts in Britain from the sixteenth century to the present.

Open: Tue-Sun 10-6pm
Admission: Adult £5, children £4
Tube: Covent Garden (zone 1)
Address: 1e Tavistock Street, London, WC2E 7PR
Tel: (020) 7943 4700
Web: www.theatremuseum.org.uk
Facilities: A, WC, BCF, S

Wandsworth Museum 

It houses exhibitions about the history of Wandsworth from prehistoric times to the present day. Amongst other things you can find an Ice Age fossilised skull of a rhino, a WWII shelter, an Iron Age sword and Roman period tools. Interactive exhibits for children and activities for under 6s and 6+ are connected with the exhibitions and nationwide events.

Open: Tue-Fri 10am-5pm, Sat 2pm-5pm
Admission: free
BR: Clapham Jct +bus: 39,77A,156,170,337 (zone 1)
Address: The Courthouse, 11 Garratt Lane, London, SW18 4AQ
Tel: (020) 8871 7074
Website
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Facilities: A, WC, BCF, S

Royal Air Force Museum London  

Each year the RAF Museum plays host to a number of events which provide opportunities for both enthusiasts and families to enjoy a great day out. Two-hundred model aircraft and eighty full-size aircraft from all over the world are displayed under cover on the historic site of the original London Aerodrome. See the famous Spitfire and Lancaster Bomber, photographs, medal and uniform collections. Try the flight simulator, cinema and watch a number of shows.
Open: Mon-Fri 10-6pm, last admission 5.30pm
Admission: free, kids under 16 must be accompanied by a responsible adult at all times
Tube: Colindale + 7min walk (zone4)
Address: Grahame Park Way, London, NW9 5LL
Tel: (020) 8205 2266(General Information)
Website
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Facilities: A, C, WC, BCF, S

	I love the Natural History Museum. The building is amazing and Axel loves the T-rex! Jaeger and his son Axel.

National Army Museum  

The British Army's own museum, it's the only museum to tell the story of the Army as a whole from the 15th century. Kids love some of the special exhibits. It has a Café' (kids lunches), a shop and a reading room.
Open: Daily 10am-5.30pm
Admission: free
Tube: Sloane Square (zone 1)
Address: Royal Hospital Road, London, SW3 4HT
Tel: (020) 7730 0717 (switch board)
Website
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Facilities: A, WC, BCF, S

London Fire Brigade Museum 

See how firefighting has developed in 340 years! It has lots of information and exhibits about the history of firefighting in London from The Great Fire of London to modern day. All visits are by guided tour and need to be booked in advance. Children are given colouring pencils to draw fire engines and can try on uniforms.
Open: Mon-Fri 10am-4.30pm, tours start at 10.30am&2pm
Admission:  Adults £3; kids 7-14yo  £2; Under 7s free
Tube: Borough, Southwark, Elephant & Castle; Bus: 344; BR: London Bridge (zone 1)
Address: Winchester House, 94a Southwark Bridge Rd, London, SE1 0EG
Tel: (020) 7587 2984
Website
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Facilities: A, WC, BCF, S

London Canal Museum 

You can see inside a narrow boat cabin, learn about the history of London's canals, the cargoes carried, the people who lived and worked on the waterways, and 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. The museum is an attraction housed in a former ice warehouse built in about 1862-3 for Carlo Gatti, the famous ice cream maker, and it features the history of the ice trade and ice cream as well as the canals.
Open: Tue-Sun 10am-4.30pm and Bank Hol Mon, last admission 3.45pm, closed Mon 3rd Jan
Admission: Adult £3, Children ages 8-15 £1.50, Under 8s free
Tube/BR: King’s Cross (zone 1)
Address: 12-13 New Wharf Rd, London, N1 9RT
Tel: (020) 7713 0836
Website
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Facilities: A, WC, BCF, S

Kew Bridge Steam Museum  

The Kew Bridge Steam Museum is housed in a magnificent 19th Century Pumping Station and centres around the stations five world famous Cornish Beam Engines. Activities range from science activities for children to the ever popular Live Steam Model Railway Show. During week-days engines are not running.
Open: Tue-Sun 11-5pm
Admission: Mon-Fri Adult £4.25, Students £3.25, Sat-Sun Adult £6.50/£7.50, students £5.50/£6.50, daily under 15s free
Tube: Gunnersbury +bus: 237, 267 (zone 3)
Address: Green Dragon Lane, Brentford, Middlesex, TW8 0EN
Tel: (020) 8568 4757
Website
Facilities: A, C, WC, BCF, S
Kew Bridge Steam Museum was voted as a Bronze winner in 2005 "Eurostar Visit London Awards" for the Small Visitor Attraction category!
Kew Gardens, Syon House

London Transport Museum Depot  

The Covent Garden Museum is currently closed until spring 2007 for an £18.6m facelift. In the meantime most of the items which were on display are now in the Acton depot! See some of the 370,000 items collected in 6,000 sqm of storage, including vehicles, models and uniforms. Cntact fr more information.

Open:  Sat-Sun 11am-5pm, last admission 4pm
Admission: Adults £6.95, Under 16s free.
Tube: Acton Town+bus: 70,207,266, 607,H40 (zone 3)
Address: 118-120 Gunnersbury Lane, London, W3 8BQ
Tel: (020) 7379 6344
Website

Horniman Museum 

The Horniman Museum

Open: Museum Daily 10.30am–5.30pm, Gardens Mon-Sat 7.15am-dusk
Admission: free
BR: Forest Hill+5min walk (zone 3)
Address: 100 London Road, Forest Hill, London SE23 3PQ
Tel: (020) 8699 1872 (General Enquiries)
Website
Facilities: A, C, WC, BCF, S

Livesey Museum for Children  

The Livesey is for all kids under 12 and has fully interactive fun exhibitions. Make a healthy meal in the cafe, dance in the museum's disco and find out about energy efficiency in the museum's very own eco-friendly house. The little courtyard area and The Education Room are full of curiosities. 

Open: Tue-Sat 10am-5pm
Admission: free
Tube: Elephant & Castle +bus: 53, 453, 172(zone 1)
Address:  682 Old Kent Rd, London, SE15 1JF
Tel: (020) 7639 5604/ (020) 7635 5829
Website
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Facilities: A, BCF, WC

Geffrye Museum 

The Geffrye Museum is a great museum in east London with exhibits that chart the changing style of the English domestic interior in a series of period rooms from 1600 to the present day. Although slightly off the beaten track it is well worth a visit. Great website, nice restaurant and more to do than you might think.

Open: Museum Tue-Sat 10am-5pm, Sun & Bank Hol 12-5pm; Gardens 31Apr-1Oct; The Almshouse on the 1st Sat of the month
Admission: free for Gardens and Museum; The Almhouse charges Adults £2, Under 16s free
Tube: Old Street Tube+Bus 243; BR: Liverpool Street+bus: 149/242 (zone 1)
Address: 136 Kingsland Road, London, E2 8EA
Tel: (020)  7739 9893
Website
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Facilities: A, WC, BCF, S

Top tip:Ideal as a Sunday trip and lunch destination. Could combine with a visit to Petticoat/ brick lane or collumbia road flower market. Also near to the museum of childhood (Check if open again after refurbishment).
Close(ish) to the Museum of Childhood, but still a bus or cab away

British Museum  

Explore history in one of the biggest and oldest museums in the world. The British Museum has over 6.5 million objects to look at! The glass covered courtyard is breathtaking. The museum has good exhibitions and activities for kids from age 3+. There is a lot to take in. The Egyptian artifacts and mummys seem to be of particuar interest! Family trail available, family audio tours are £3.50 and can be picked up from the entrance at the Parthenon Gallery. Check with the museum for further details.

Open: Daily  10am-5.30pm, Thur-Fri 10am-8.30pm
Admission: free
Tube: Tottenham Court Road, Holborn (zone 1)
Address: Great Russell St, London, WC1B 3DG
Tel: (020) 7323 8299 (Information Desk)
Website
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Facilities: A, C, WC, BCF, S
The British Museum runs Eye Openers which are free introductions to 10 world cultures. They are excellent and last 40 min!

Museum of London 

Uncover some of the city's 2,000 year history, through interactive displays that reveal the ways that the city has changed over the years. Find out what Romans ate for dinner, experience the Great Fire of London and find out when pointy shoes first became fashionable.  Reconstructed interiors and street scenes are alternated with displays of original artefacts found in the museum's archaeological digs.

Admission: free
Tube: St. Paul’s, Barbican (zone 1)
Address: 150 London Wall, London, EC2Y 5HN
Tel: 0870 444 3852
Website:  www.museumoflondon.org.uk
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Facilities: A, C, WC, BCF, S

Imperial War Museum 

Gain an insight into the reality of modern warfare, how it affects our lives and what led up to wars, as well as what happened during and after them. Exhibits range from tanks and aircraft to personal letters and ration books.  Interesting parts for kids are WWI and II galleries and ’Childrens’ War’ exhibition.  There is a café with kids menu available.
Open: Daily 10am-6pm
Admission: free
Tube: Lambeth North, Elephant & Castle (zone 1)
Address: Lambeth Road, London, SE1 6HZ
Tel: (020) 7416 5320/5321 (General Enquiries)
Website
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Facilities: A, C, WC, BCF, S

Queen’s House Greenwich 

Designed in 17th century it is now home to an impressive art collection which includes works by Hogarth and forms part of the National Maritime Museum.
Open: Daily 10-5pm, last admission 4.30pm
Admission: free
DLR: Cutty Sark
Address: Romney Rd, London, SE10 9EF
Tel: (020) 8312 6565
Website
Facilities: A, WC, BCF
Visit the al nearby Greenwhich park, Royal Observatory, Cutty Sark,  National Maritime Museum and Greenwich Market!

Royal Observatory Greenwhich 

Built in 1675, today it is a centre of excellence for modern astronomy. It houses the largest refractory telescope in the country, eight in the world. On this site you can ask astronomers questions, browse frequently asked questions and read the latest astronomy news.  

Open: Daily 10am-5pm, last admission 4.30pm
Admission: free
DLR: Cutty Sark (zone 1)
Address: Greenwich Park, Greenwich, London, SE10 9NF
Tel: (020) 8858 4422(General Enquiries)
Website 
Facilities: A, BCF, S
In the courtyard of the Royal Observatory in Greenwhich is the Prime Meridian Line, you can pay £1 to receive a certificate marking your visit

National Maritime Museum 

Britain's worldwide influence is explained through exhibits on its explorers, traders, migrants and naval power. The NMM has the most extensive collection of british naval and maritime artifacts in the world. It's British portrait collection is only exceeded in size by the National Portrait Gallery. You can also see Prince Frederick's gilded royal barge, round-the-world yacht 'Suhaili', ship models and features on costume, the global garden and the ecology of the sea.  There are lots of Family activities laid on during school holidays and at weekends.

While you are there: Have a wander around the Royal Naval College (Have a look of this Panorama of the chapel), visit the planetarium, have a butchers at the Queen's House, Browse in the market visit the royal observatory and, if there's time take in a show at the Greenwich Theatre!       

Open: Daily 10am-5pm, last admission 4.30pm
Admission: free
DLR: Cutty Sark (zone 2)
Address: Romney Rd, London, SE10 9NF
Tel: (020) 8858 4422 (General Enquiries)
Website
Facilities: A, C, WC, BCF, S

Top tip: Tie your visit to the National Maritime Museum with a boat trip from Westminster

Victoria and Albert Museum 

The V&A is the world's greatest museum of art and design, with collections unrivalled in their scope and diversity. Discover 3000 years worth of amazing artifacts, see examples of ceramics, textiles, architecture and art side by side. The museum runs activities and workshops for children. There is a picnic area in the museum's basement and a great outdoor area, the garden, which is a huge Quadrangle with a fountain and a cafe.

Open: Daily 10am-5.45pm, Wed & last Fri of the month 10am-10pm.
Admission: free
Tube: South Kensington (zone 1)
Address: Cromwell Road, London, SW7 2RL
Tel: (020) 7942 2000
Website
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Facilities: A, C, WC, BCF, S

Science Museum 

A seven-storey museum with over 2,000 exhibits, lots of interactive displays and things to do. Facilities offer kids unparalleled opportunities for hands-on experience of science and technology. The Museum has a range of interactive galleries designed for ages 3-6, 7-11 and older kids, together with a range of activities and support materials designed to complement the UK National Curriculum and provide fun for families. See also Stephenson’s Rocket, WW2 planes and space rockets, visit the IMAX cinema or take a ride on a virtual reality simulator. Nice cafés. Great kids interactive play in ‘Launch Pad’ and a picnic area in the basement and on 1st floor. 

Open: Daily  10am-6pm
Admission: free 
Tube: South Kensington (zone 1)
Address:  Exhibition Rd, London, SW7 2DD
Tel: 0870 870 4868 (General Enquiries)
Website
Facilities: BA, C, DAL, L, WCD, WC, BCF, R, S
Try to get your children in ‘Science Night’ (see this month’s Indoor Fun).

Natural History Museum  

Lots of Animals and dinosaurs to look at.The dinosaur gallery is a favourite with children and includes an animatronic T-Rex. Other memorable exhibits include the full size blue whale and the earthquake simulation room! There are also a number of children’s activities run daily. For families the museum runs a programme of participatory events, activities and workshops for under 7s and ages 7-12. The museum includes a number of cafes and a great basement picnic area. It is worth visiting this museum for the building alone. Check with the museum for times of tours. Check out this panarama of the great hall! 

Bruce Castle Museum

A Grade I listed 16th Century manor house in 20 acres of parkland. As a kid I spent a lot of time in and around the house and grounds. Bruce Castle opened as a Museum in 1906 and now houses the Borough of Haringey's local history collections and archives. William Compton - a member of Henry VIII’s court, built the oldest surviving parts of the house and there have been plenty of modifications since then. The castle is said to be haunted by one of the wives of the 2nd Lord Coleraine. Sir Rowland Hill's family ran a progressive school for boys at Bruce Castle during the Victorian period (Sir Rowland reformed the British postal system and became famous for introducing the Penny Post). If you are in the area it's worth a quick visit.