We really enjoyed our family visit here. It suited all ages and surprisingly for a museum our…read morechildren would have stayed for much longer than we had time for. We need to go back again to see all the things we missed last time. The only reason I didn't give five stars is because it was very difficult carrying the toddler. This is just due to the age of the building that it is not possible to take the buggy round and that had to be left behind. So I would suggest leaving this until your youngest child is about 4yrs old - old enough to be interested in seeing the beautifully laid out rooms and learn a bit about the past. We visited during the autumn but apparently when the weather is fine there is a lot ot do in the gardens at the back. Exit is through the gift shop. This was wonderfully stocked so expect to be forking out for toys and novelties to take home. There are pay and display carparks down the highstreet or park in the Battle Abbey car park.

Great selection of displays, has been expanded recently so a lot to see, great little shop when u…read morecome out as well

The British Museum is a must on your visit to London especially if it your first time in London…read more Check their website before you arrive to see if a reservation is required. On busy days they require pre-booked reservations which can be made at no cost. I suggest planning 1.5 hours to see the highlights or recommendations found on the free map at each entrance. There are places to sit and relax with a coffee or tea at a counter service cafe or a place with table service. There is a coat and bag check available to the left once you enter through the main entrance. I'm not sure if there is a cost for it.

Huge crowds and it wasn't even a weekend. Reason: free…read more This is equivalent to Natural History ones in US. However, there are historical contexts with british roman empires and other inclusions that makes this place distinct in a variety of ways. There are also kid packet activities- ask front desk. Some areas have uneven heating and cooling so you may be prone to fainting / esp if the ennui alone is not enough to get you there- ha! Place is great for history buffs, though, as it is free- do not expect high end bathrooms and overall exceptional service. Otherwise, 5 stars for being free and for a very elaborate set up.

Housed in a grand and impressive building, the NHM is well curated, with impeccable displays, and…read moreit's free. However, a donation of £10 is HIGHLY suggested as you enter. As with all London museums, there is security checking all backpacks, but this museum was checking for alcohol! When you see all the school teens sitting on the stairways (perhaps waiting for parents to pick them up?), then the alcohol check is understandable. Out of all the displays, my favorite was the dimly lit Treasures room. Each piece exhibited tells an important story beyond what you actually see like an Iguanodon tooth from the Mesozoic strata and found by Gideon Mantell (or his wife) and the rivalry that ensued between Mantell and Owen, who later usurped Mantell's contribution in discovering the first known dinosaur species and shaping the early understanding of dinosaurs. While I find the digital text for each display as being the true treasures, only 1-2 people can read at a time so you feel a bit rushed if you're a person (like me) who reads everything, yet people are behind you waiting their turn. In addition to the wonderful displays, there is a photo booth whereby you can have 3 photos taken against a green screen depicting a dinosaur encounter. What they don't tell you upfront is that the photos are NOT free and can be downloaded (depending on the package you choose) from £12 to £22 pounds. When I asked the staff for information on particular exhibits, I found them to be more than helpful and friendly, too. Allow time for this expansive gem.

Lots of bones! Plenty of old stuff! Great turn-of-the-century over-the-top ornate architecture!…read morePlan on an hour unless you're hardcore. Ride the escalator into the middle of the earth to find out what music is playing inside. See extraordinary taxidermy handiwork. Even see a fake dodo bird thought to be an adjacent species that didn't exist. And if you like dinosaurs this is your Mecca. Just don't dare sit anywhere like on some stairs in the corner or some overzealous guard will kick you right out. But otherwise you'll have a great time. Also enjoy the outside grounds for a stroll, and hit up the West entrance for zero lines while the hoards line up on the other side.

Formerly the site of the Royal Observatory (from 1958-1990), the site is now run by a charity as a…read morevenue for exhibitions, lectures and educational programmes. The renovated telescopes can be visited by the public, for school visits, and are used by colleges and astronomical societies. It makes a great fun-but-educational family day out. Most people associate the Royal Observatory with Greenwich, where it was founded by Charles II in 1675. It was increasingly recognised that London was not a good location due to light and atmospheric pollution, and the effects of vibrations from rising road and rail traffic. Plans were made to relocate the observatory in the 1930s; transfer began to the new site at Herstmonceux in 1947 and was completed in 1958. The complex of buildings was constructed to house three reflecting and three refracting telescopes in six domes, of brick and concrete with green copper domes and balustraded balconies, with adjoining support buildings, all set around a central ornamental pond. These are themselves classic examples of 1950s architecture. The telescopes were joined in 1967 by the giant 98-inch Isaac Newton Telescope (INT) once housed in the silver dome to the south of the main complex. The UK was never an ideal site for astronomical observations because of the preponderance of cloud, and over time, increasing light pollution from Eastbourne. The growth of cheap air travel in the 1960s enabled astronomers to travel to parts of the world with clearer skies and in 1984 the INT telescope was moved to the Canary Islands. Eventually, the decision was taken to close the site and move the remaining staff to the Institute of Astronomy at the University of Cambridge. The site reopened in its current guise in 1995 and the site, including the telescopes, was refurbished in 2004. Visitors now enter through the eastern grounds of Herstmonceux Castle (itself now a college of Queen's College, Ontario). Car parking is available in a small car park but in summer most park on the lawn in front. The ticket office at the entrance houses a small shop with merchandise aimed at children and young people, covering a range of scientific subjects. Numbers are limited, so advanced booking is strongly recommended. There are guided tours of the telescopes (which take about half an hour) and separate science demonstrations. The site has both indoor and outdoor hands-on activities for children (of all ages!) covering aspects of science and engineering - a bit like a small hands-on science museum. We found the volunteer staff to be friendly and knowledgeable, and the sessions were very interactive for the children. We happily spent a couple of hours there. There is a small cafe on site, serving drinks and a limited range of snacks. The site is on several levels and has a lot of steps and gravel pathways, but there are ramps for level access and a disabled toilet: more details are on the main website. Children must be accompanied and supervised by an adult at all times, and dogs are not admitted (except assistance dogs). As well as being open for general visits, there are periodic stargazing evenings: numbers are also limited for these and need to be booked in advance.

This is such an interesting place to take the kids for some star-gazing. They are so good at…read morekeeping everyone's attention on the go (things like this can get a bit boring). There's so many different night and daytime events on offer here and a lot of them depend on weather and, of course the stars but we had a great night there and got to see so many beautiful sights. There's a fantastic shop to pop into at the end of the day with some really interesting and informative books to buy.

Loved loved loved my visit here! I learned so much and saw some beautiful artifacts and jewels!…read moreBreathe taking! My personal favorite was the bible with all the gold carvings. It was the most intricate thing I've seen! I also really enjoyed seeing some artificers about world religions and learning more about other cultures. Free admission. Spend a half day or a full day here and be prepared to learn a lot and see beauty you have never seen before :)

We were in London for a week and we visited more museums than we normally visit in a year. My wife…read morewas especially interested in seeing the Victoria and Albert Museum. So, on our last day in London, we took the Underground to the South Kensington area to see the Victoria and Albert. It was well worth the effort of getting here. The V&A is awesome. And, like most of the museums in Britain it is FREE. We spent about 3 hours here and barely scratched the surface. You could easily spend a day (or days) in this museum.

The widlife reserve is fantastic, a great place for the young and old to get close to a huge…read morevariety of birds. The entrance fee of £7 for an adult is not cheap, however you can happily spend the day. There is a small railway, a playpark, peacocks wandering through the grounds, pigs and of course the motor museum, showing many unusual motor vehicles and providing the history behind many of it's exhibits. The cafe is cheap and provides a good selection of hot and cold snacks, alternatively take a picnic. A great day out and good value for money.

Despite it being very cold and plenty of snow on the ground, we had a lovely time…read more Plenty of ducks and swans wandering about and all in a very peaceful setting. Good to look at some of the old cars on display in the motor museum as well. Some cracking home made cake on offer as well.

It's great walking around here and looking at old costumes, dating back as far as the 17th century!…read moreEveryday items along with work outfits and costumes. There are also collections housed inside relating to technology and all sorts of other objects. It's a very interesting trip where a lot can be learnt about fashion, fabrics and other items and objects from several decades. Would be great for fashion students!

Small lovely museum, funded mainly by donations with lovely staff. Educational and mind opening…read moreexperience. I hope the museum gets the opportunity to expand and have more exhibits. When we came they had an exhibit about menopause. I think more people need to learn about the vagina in general and as a whole and understand what it is like to have one and all the burdens that come along with it and without it in the end.

A soon as I saw the name on the sign outside I HAD to go in. They have a wide variety of products…read moredisplayed from information pamphlets, books and jewellery that looks like ummm well I'm not sure what word Yelp will consider PC or risqué so just read the name of the business and you'll know exactly what I'm messing. You can wear them on your ears with a knitted sweet or on a chain around your neck made of an plastic type material, they had bold showing every size, shape and colour. You can also get t-shirts. The staff stayed behind the desk but they were friendly and greeted everyone that entered. I realised like myself most people seemed to be coming in out of curiosity and don't make any purchases but b they staff took that in stride and continued greeting everyone with the same courteous smile. Kudos to this company for celebrating woman so boldly

Okay, so this doesn't rival the big museums up in London, but it is a very sweet local museum,…read moreperfect for those days when you can't think of what to do, but don't want to travel very far. I've visited a few times, and found fascinating, if small, displays, each time connecting the time period they were highlighting back to how it affected local life. Personally, I think that helps to make it real for people, children especially, as sometimes history can seem to them as some big blur of back then Opening hours vary, so do call in advance, but I think you're safe if you visit on Saturday mornings, and admission is free.

For only £3.50 admission to this large former aircraft hangar that is on the site of the former…read moreWoodley Aerodrome, you have the opportunity to see aviation history going back to WWI and up to quite recent technologies. Chock full of aircraft, both full size restorations and many model dioramas and walls covered in articles, stories and various implements of flying history. There are also two full-size planes parked outside which may or may not be visitable depending on weather and mood. There is also a small jet "trainer" suitable for children to ride and play with, supervised carefully by staff. A nice visit for kids, if they are interested in planes and flying, and especially if it is part of a school project. This one has been in my bookmarks list for a few months and only now with my bicycle have I been able to make the trip. It was well worth the wait.