This is a very small out of the way but free museum filled with mostly 'inappropriate' neon signs…read more I say inappropriate not because I was offended but many were sexual or religious in nature and in today's society there are a bunch of over sensitive adult babies. There is a small bar here that you can grab a drink while you walk around, they take credit cards. Overall it's kinda like a dive museum, but o believe worth it to get off the beaten path and away from the crowd of tourists. It is a sketchy neighborhood and the buses to get here are pretty rundown.

Take the London tube (Northern Line) going north to the last stop and hoof it for about 15 minutes…read moreand you'll arrive at this joint, which proclaims to be the largest collection (museum) dedicated to neon art and artists in the world. Located in a gated area with working factories, micro breweries and other commercial establishments. Stroll through, it's free and they play great tunes throughout as you enjoy the neon art. Enjoy some coffee, drinks and snacks at their cafe. The surrounding area has a large number fabulous and authentic global ethnic cuisine options and apparently the longest outdoor street market in London. The William Morris childhood Home and his Museum is also nearby so the area, is free and interesting. Overall it's a great day trip less than 45 minutes tube ride from London.

Battlebridge Basin is one of the larger basins on the Regent's Canal, located just north of King's…read moreCross station. It's home to the London Canal Museum, housing and offices, as well as the brand new 'Kings Place' office and cultural centre. The Regents Canal opened from Paddington to Camden in 1816 and throughout to the basin at Limehouse in 1820. Battlebridge Basin, originally called Horsfall Basin, was opened in 1822. Like the other basins, it was originally intended for the trans-shipment of goods to and from the canals. Among the unusual cargoes carried were ice - imported from Norway from the 1820s - used for making (among other things) ice cream. The former ice warehouse is now the London Canal Museum. Over the years, goods traffic declined, due largely to competition from the railways and then the roads, although some traffic continued until the late 1960s. The canal basin was privately owned until 2000 when it was purchased by British Waterways. The basin has since been redeveloped and gentrified, and provides moorings as well as an attractive urban space. Since 1989 it has been the home of the London Canal Museum, and in 2008 the Kings Place development opened, with a cafe, restaurant, art gallery space and two auditoriums for music recitals and concerts. NB: The main towpath is on the other side of the canal from the basin. Access (except by boat) is easiest via the Canal Museum, as most of the moorings are private. For information about boat moorings, contact British Waterways' London Office on (020) 7985 7200. The museum itself opened in 1992 and is based in a former ice warehouse, dating from the 1860s. The main hall includes a view down into one of the two large circular ice stores. The museum tells the story of canals in general, and in particular how the canal network developed around London. There's a small section of a narrow boat which illustrates how the canal families lived, a small tractor used from the 1940s onwards in place of horses on some of the London canals, and a wide range of smaller canal items. The upstairs is largely given over to exhibition space, showing newsreels from the 1920s-50s depicting canal life in London, wildlife in canals and the story of canal restoration. Downstairs there's access to the side of the Battlebridge Basin, from where the museum runs canal trips in the summer. By the entrance there's a small shop selling books and souvenirs. Staff a friendly and very knowledgable. A diverting hour or so if you are in the Kings Cross area.

I'm glad we stopped in this museum. It was very interesting! Bonus points for the opportunity to…read morestep outside onto the canal walk. Make sure you watch the video upstairs for some rare peeks at the canal and area long ago (humor included).

I don't know what this place is like in person but the online offerings are great and affordable…read more So many interesting lectures and talks. I hope there are more coming ondemand so I can catch up on what was missed. Enjoyed the 4 week magic class.

Viktor Wynd is a freak…read more And I say that in the kindest most honest way possible. The erotic novel, "An Enema for Emilia" is displayed in one of the many display cases found deep below the bar via a golden winding staircase. This sounds like both a dream and a nightmare, and it is. The Last Tuesday Society is a dark taxidermy lab in which you pay to learn how to stuff your favorite animal/pet. I'm coming back to stuff a crow. Seriously. The drinks are yummy and unique and the service is well above par. I enjoyed perusing the museum while trying to find the oddest most offensive thing. Sebastian Horsley in the throws of passion with a limbless lady was up there. Definitely worth visiting if you're a freak. And I am most definitely a freak, so it was right up my alley.

We stumbled into Hackney museum after taking shelter from a particularly nasty rainstorm and what a…read moresurprise it was! It's not huge but is really interesting. It really opened our eyes to the history of our local area and is a very well-curated museum. Highly recommend if you are passing.

Very limited play areas. The ground floor consisted of an art area (wooden spoon, color pens and…read moretape), a small slide, climbing structure, and a simulated ship reading nook. The first floor has a boat area, rocket ship, and a outdoors . I believe we paid an extra amount to attend this special event closer to closing time where kids were treated to an additional play area for about 45 minutes. Unsure if entire price was worth it but if you're in the area and it's a rainy day by all means come here.

The gallery has only just reopened following a major refurbishment in fact parts of the grounds…read moreand Lloyd Park are still not quite completed yet! The new look is fantastic and currently sporting Grayson Perry's wonderful Walthamstow Tapestry for another few weeks. There is far more interaction, more history about William Morris himself, and Morris &Co, including big fat books of Morris designs. And it's all free! You can very easily get round the beautiful venue in 40minutes if you're not lingering about too much, but there is also a fabulously well-appointed cafe now, giving a great reason to just hang out and chill, overlooking the beautiful grounds. Highly recommended and almost on my doorstep!

This is a gallery founded in a house once occupied by the titular Morris, and is mostly concerned…read morewith him and his Pre-Raphaelite colleagues. It is in a creaky old building and access is a problem, there is a manual ramp which has to be trundled out by staff to let in wheelchairs, and then the visit is limited to the ground floor. Recent reductions in opening has also limited visiting this gallery. Saying that it is set in a large park, which also until recently was a pleasure to visit, now it is very dowdy and uncared for. There is a cafe and toilets in the park, but have very limited opening hours and are quite far away. With all this against it the exhibits are glorious and well worth the effort of a visit

Perhaps not as spectacular or as instantly recognizable as the National Portrait Gallery or the…read moreTate Modern, but the Geffrye is good at what it does. It's a museum recording and celebrating London interior design and decoration through the ages. With displays from the 1700's right through to the 2000's, it's a neat look at the evolution of the typical English home. You'll be hard pressed to spend more than an hour or two here and I recommend moving on if there are a school-load of students. It can get very loud. Do spend the £2 for the audio guide. It's well worth getting the additional background and detail that isn't mentioned on the display captions or the various postings. I'm glad I went, but I don't know that this is the sort of place you do a second time.

Lovely museum that gives you an idea of what houses in London looked like across the centuries…read more Especially beautiful to visit during Christmas time with each room done up in era appropriate Christmas decorations. This museum closes for 2 years for refurbishment on 7 Jan 2018, so do visit before that.

I was killing time but I'm glad I went to this free museum that was geared towards the younger…read moreaudience. I saw a lot of toys and games I used to play with when I was a kid and it was quite nostalgic. I did have to put on my patience hat because there are kids running around, yelling everywhere but I came here expecting that. My favorite was the horse that was used in War Horse, the live performance.

One of the best museums I've seen in the world. It's tremendous we can spend probably a week here…read moreand get lost with all the beautiful pieces. Wonderful assortment of China and sculptures and artwork rugs and fashion and furniture from all over the world. Really a tremendous museum and it's free entrance! Open until 530 or six.

I am a big fan of William Morris, but even so, this gallery exceeded my expectations. I love that…read morethe location is an actual home he lived in! His work is gorgeous and he lived a very interesting life, so all the exhibits were fascinating. I had no idea he was so versatile, making wallpaper, rugs, furniture, and even books! The gift shop and cafe are both lovely as well and one fun feature was the patterned bathroom doors (see picture). Definitely worth a visit!

Charming little museum dedicated to the work of William Morris, set up in his childhood home. It's…read morehard to believe this huge house was what the Morris family downgraded to during tough financial times. But there you have it. There are some lovely displays detailing Morris' background, craftsmanship, work and influence. As well as details on his contemporaries and socialist inspired work. The museum is also home to a shop full of pretty William Morris patterned items. The cafe is full of light. Glass fronted and looking on to the delightful Lloyd Park. The gardens are absolutely beautiful in the summer. A lovely sunny Sunday activity if you are in E17 or a fan of design.

This is an old-fashioned archive, upstairs in Vestry House Museum, in the attic, not the best place…read moreto keep priceless artifacts, as it's hot in summer and freezing in winter. If you cannot manage the stairs, they will arrange somewhere in the museum for the consultation. The place feels like an schoolroom, with shelves and mismatched furniture. There are few modern readers, I got a headache using the film reader, which had to be re-focused constantly. The archive has many original parish records, as well as many printed books and maps. They also hold several card indexes which are not available anywhere else. You need to book your visit and have an idea of which records you want to access. They allow laptops with prior permission, but charge if you want to photograph anything. They do copy document on request.