Who else is a huge fan of these free London museums: The British Museum, The Natural History Museum, and The Victoria and Albert?

I can't believe what a good deal they are (free!) and how beautiful the insides of the buildings are. Then, oh by the way, those wonderful, huge collections.

We save the days our teenage daughter isn't with us for going. And even she is now getting interested in spending more time there. This summer specifically she wants to see more of the V&A.

I would like to hear what particular exhibits and special collections people enjoy in these three museums. Here are my favorites:

B.Mus: The Rosetta Stone, The painted Roman tiles in the stairwell (I forget which one), Going to see the exhibit on Ur and thinking that Agatha Christie worked on some of those pieces

V&Albt: Newer to me. The textile collection. The instrument collection. I love the way both have those glass cards/cases you pull out to see what you want to see. Am hoping to see the fashion collection this June. It was being restored/renovated (?) last time I went.

Nat'l History: The architecture and decor inside! The stairwell! The icthyosaur exhibit with femalel Victorian scientist Mary (last name forget) who first identified that fossil.

Meg

I visit London yearly and stay near the V & A. It is a mind-boggling museum and always a pleasure. Yes, the fashion collection has re-opened - I was there in March 2006 and always love it. I like The British Galleries, the Arts and Crafts/William Morris exhibits, Frank Lloyd Wright, Beatrix Potter, Raphael Cartoons -- could go on and on. Because it's free, it's so easy to pop in for 30 minutes -- that's what I do with my children. I always leave a donation as my father does in foreign museums -- in U.S. dollars (maybe not worth as much right now, except for the symbolic intention).

Have you been to The Wallace Collection near Oxford Street? It's not free, but is one of my favorites.

I always buy a recent Time Out London magazine a few weeks before I go to see what's on.

Ooo the Wallace Collection, humm? Have to check that out. I did want to try the William Morris exhibits this time. Never thought of looking for Beatrix Potter! Well those ideas will keep me busy there.

Oh those and the gift shop. I try not to shop too much but that gift shop has great stuff. I found some chandalier earrings in my budget last time. And just looking at the goodies for sale is fun.

Just heard about "Time Out" recently. I understand I can buy it when I get there? I don't know if anybody sells it here (near San Francisco).

Meg

My best friend introduced me to a great way of visiting those museums.

They're so huge that it's very easy to get museum fatigue. But, with them being free, it's possible to spend an hour just looking at one collection really well than trying to rush through and see everything (which I often do in Italy, as I'm paying several euros a pop!)

Favourites - V&A costume museum and the Tudors in the National Portrait Gallery.

I forgot to mention that the V & A has a brand-new expanded gift shop -- just opened in March.

In the Chicago area, I buy Time Out magazines at my local Borders Books and Music. You can also order their guides and magazines from the NYC office: go to www.timeout.com

Also, your teenaged daughter (and you!) might enjoy the daily e-mail service: dailycandy.com/london. Fun tips on what's on, shopping, etc.

I love the Science museum, the Natural history museum, and the British museum - not quite so keen on the V&A, although I did enjoy it.

best bits - Lindall man in the British museum , although all most of it is superb, the Darwin exhibition on the NH. The "kids" section in the bottom of the Science museum.

And don't forget the National Gallery. Another good bit of the V&A is the sequence of interiors of period rooms (some salvaged from knocked-down houses) illustrating the history of interiors, art, etc in Britain. Which are similar to the room-sets in the Geffrye Museum, a lesser-known (free) museum in the (newly annoyingly trendy) area called Hoxton, N.E. of the City.

I have to say the British Museum is my favourite.
Over 35 years ago I made my first visit there. I was keen to see the Rosetta Stone. I rushed there the morning after I landed and found to my dismay a small sign stating "The Rosetta Stone is off display for cleaning". Fortunately I have been able to visit many times and still the stone that unlocked the secrets of ancient Egypt is special to me.

Another favourite of mine is the British Library at St Pancras. Everything from medievil illuminated manuscripts to Lennon's lyrics and sketches are on view.
Dennis

I have a sort of sentimental attachment to the V&A. No excuses for "nothing to do" as a child on a wet Sunday or school holiday - I was always told to get on that bus to Kensington!

We were blown away by the Treasures Room at the British Library: the Gutenberg Bible, the Magna Carta, manuscripts by Chaucer, Shakespeare, Jane Austen, Charlotte Bronte, Leonardo da Vinci, Galileo, Isaac Newton, and so on. If you're interested in history, science, or literature.

Also I liked Sir John Soane's museum, the Courtauld, and the Cabinet War Rooms.

But these are smaller places. Can't forget the British Museum.

You are so right about all those museums - although I have a bit of a love/hate relationship with the V&A. I find the collections fascinating and I love the building, but some of the exhibits strike me as being far too dark.

If you like interiors, another museum that is free and an absolute gem is the Geffrye Museum. If you go on a Sunday you can also visit the Columbia Road Flower Market which is not too far away. Oops! just read Palazzo's post. Ah well great minds etc.

The other museum I love is the Museum of London. Completely different from the others in that the building is modern, but has riveting exhibits on the history of the city. It too is free so you can go back as often as you want.

I love the room of the marble Caesar's at the British Museum. Julius Caesar looks like Kelsy Grammer. I also found it fascinating that the women's head were very small in comparison to the male heads. Is this a symbolic reference to intelligence? I stumbled across the Rosetta stone by accident. When we were there the Museum was under renovations and it was not in the Egyptian exhibit. They had it in some hallway under a staircase. Most people were just walked right by it. I have not been to the V.& A. but hope to get there someday. Also the Tate.

Ginger

The Museum of London is wonderful. I especially appreciate how it is organized chronologically, giving a very real and accessible sense of London's history. This is also a very kid-friendly museum.

quote:

The other museum I love is the Museum of London. Completely different from the others in that the building is modern, but has riveting exhibits on the history of the city.

BeeBee,
I love the Museum of London, too. We discovered it a few years ago and had a grand time. I've sent a lot of people there (it's not as well known as some of the other museums). No one has been disappointed.
Sharon

When I walked into the BM the first time, I fell in love instantly with that library. I was so scared to go inside and when I did I just stood there in awe. Oh, it's so gorgeous!

I also love the architecture of the Natural History Museum. It makes me feel like I'm in an Indiana Jones movie or something.

Interesting that my favorite things should be the architecture, rather than what's housed inside. I have to admit that although I love every exhibit at the V&A, it doesn't thrill me the way the others do. On the other hand, I really enjoy sitting outside on the steps and watching the people go by.

Oh, has anyone seen the t-rex exhibit (if it wasn't temporary) they added at... I think the Science museum a few years ago? They created a whole environment for this animatronic thing and it is really quite good.

Also, I have been in a sort of museum that I can't remember the name of, and I wonder if anyone can help me remember what it is? I think it might be some part of the Royal Academy, but it seemed like a large room that was someone's personal collection. There were bottles and bottles of pickled specimens along the walls, and then various curiosities all over. The center display was a GIANT human skeleton that the collector had gotten through a series of frankly illegal means. Does anyone else know the place I'm talking about?

Suzanne - I think you might be thinking of The Hunterian Collection at The Royal College of Surgeons with the skeleton of an Irishman, Charles Byrne?