Educational London: Top 10 museums in the city

Natural History Museum

The Natural History Museum is one of London's most popular museums, not only for children but also for adults. A 30-meter blue whale skeleton hangs from the ceiling.

The museum is divided into four zones:

• The Blue Zone features a huge dinosaur gallery with roaring tyrannosaurs, as well as mammals and marine life from around the world.
• Green Zone – here you will find birds, insects, and carnivorous plants.
• Red Zone – here you can learn about geological processes, including earthquakes and volcanic eruptions, as well as see meteorite fragments.
• Orange Zone – Here you will find the Darwin Research Center, the High Tech Studio, and scientists' laboratories.

In addition, from November to January, one of the most beautiful ice rinks in London opens in the museum courtyard.

• Address: Cromwell Rd, South Kensington
• Free admission

Harry Potter Museum

London has plenty of museums dedicated to unique themes. For example, in the suburbs of London, there is the Harry Potter Museum, which houses original props from the filming of the cult film.

Here you can walk through the carriages of the Hogwarts Express and choose "the one" magic wand from the bench. Many of our favorite characters are moving around and doing their usual magical things: for example, Mrs. Weasley's knitting needles are just finishing another sweater.

Before Christmas, Hogwarts is covered in snow, lit up by hundreds of candles the magical ceiling of the Great Hall, and the students dress in festive robes.

London has more than 300 museums and galleries, making it one of the world's leading capitals. Historical museums with ancient artifacts, museums with the largest collections of European art, fortresses, and contemporary art galleries — how can you see everything when the city is so expensive? It's simple — almost all of London's museums are free. So here's where you can spend your time in London on a budget, viewing the royal jewels, ancient Egyptian relics, and masterpieces by the great painters.

• Address: 12th Floor Millbank Tower, 21-24
• Price: €67 for adults

National Gallery

The National Gallery in London is located on one of the city's most famous squares, Trafalgar Square. Here, surrounded by modern sculptures and the historic Nelson's Column, stands the majestic gallery building. The National Gallery is as important as the Louvre in Paris or the Prado Museum in Madrid. Its collection includes more than 2,500 paintings by Western European artists, including masterpieces by Rubens, Cézanne, Raphael, Michelangelo, and Rembrandt.

It would take more than a day to see all the significant exhibits in the National Gallery, but there are several paintings that are definitely not to be missed. For example, Van Gogh's legendary Sunflowers or the painting by Spanish artist Velázquez, Venus with a Mirror. The masterpieces of the French Impressionists, including works by Claude Monet, Auguste Renoir, and Cézanne, deserve special attention. The list goes on.

• Address: Trafalgar Square, London WC2N 5DN
• Price: free admission, except for some temporary exhibitions

British Museum

The British Museum, one of the largest museums in the world, houses an incredible collection: the permanent exhibition features artifacts from ancient cultures, including the Rosetta Stone and sculptures from the Parthenon.

The museum was founded by decree of the British Parliament in 1753. The first collections were purchased not with state funds, but with proceeds from the national lottery.

The modern British Museum is a collection of priceless works of art and cultural heritage from different peoples of the world spanning 4-5 millennia. In particular, the museum's library alone possesses such rare exhibits as the world's first printed book, the Diamond Sutra, the first editions of ancient Greek classics, and others. The manuscript room houses the Magna Carta, a deed signed by William Shakespeare, and much more.

• Address: Great Russell St, London WC1B 3DG
• Price: free admission

Madame Tussauds London Wax Museum

The world's largest wax museum, Madame Tussauds, is interesting for visitors of all ages and interests. Children love the halls dedicated to American blockbuster heroes and the Marvel 4D cinema. Adults enjoy walking through the history of the British capital: the Tudors, the Great Fire, the construction of St. Paul's Cathedral, Admiral Nelson, Winston Churchill.

Madame Tussauds London now has over 1,000 figures, and the exhibits are constantly being added to. Often, the stars themselves share real items of clothing with the wax models made by the craftsmen at Madame Tussauds.

• Address: Marylebone Rd, London NW1 5LR
• Price: from €39

You can book a hotel in London with a discount of up to 65% on the website.

Science Museum

Check out humanity's awesome achievements at the Science Museum, which is super popular in Europe. Kids really dig it because all 15,000 exhibits are there to be touched!

See Stephenson's Rocket locomotive, Whittle's jet engine, and the Apollo 10 space module.

• Address: Exhibition Rd, South Kensington, London SW7 2DD
• Price: free admission.

Victoria and Albert Museum

The Victoria and Albert Museum is one of the largest museums in the world dedicated to art and design. The museum building is located opposite the Natural History Museum and looks no less luxurious thanks to its Victorian architecture mixed with modern glass and metal inserts.

The museum's exhibition covers more than 3,000 years of history and introduces visitors to the fashion of different eras, architecture, furniture, sculpture, and jewelry.

The temporary exhibitions, which the museum organizes several times a year, are particularly noteworthy. For example, the museum hosted the largest exhibition of Frida Kahlo's work, which included not only her paintings but also her memorable costumes. The museum also hosts exhibitions dedicated to famous photographers, future technologies, and clothing collections by renowned designers.

• Address: Cromwell Rd, Knightsbridge, London SW7 2RL.
• Price: admission to the museum is free, except for temporary exhibitions.

The Tate Modern

The museum is filled with world-renowned paintings, photographs, and performance recordings. Within its walls, you can learn about the Impressionists, radical painting, and gypsy fashion,, and discover many new things from the world of alternative art.

The gallery's café also offers a view of the river.

• Address: SE1 9TG Bankside, London, SE1 9TG
• Price: admission to the gallery is free, temporary exhibitions and tours are paid

Greenwich Royal Observatory

The Greenwich Prime Meridian line runs through the cobblestone courtyard of Greenwich Park and crosses the axis of the Royal Observatory's passage instrument. This line attracts visitors from all over the world who want to be in two hemispheres at the same time.

Greenwich Park is home to a planetarium, the house and museum of Royal Astronomer John Flamsteed, and the Museum of Astronomy and Navigation. And if you walk up to the statue of General Wolfe, you will be rewarded with a magnificent view of London.

• Address: Blackheath Ave, London SE10 8XJ
• Price: €28 for adults, €14 for children

Westminster Abbey Museum

Westminster Abbey is one of the most iconic historical monuments in Great Britain, with a history spanning over a thousand years. Coronations, wedding ceremonies, and the burials of monarchs have all taken place here.

The 11th-century underground sacristy houses a museum with artifacts such as 12th-century frescoes, death masks, Queen Mary II's throne, royal funeral sculptures, and other ancient relics.

• Address: 20 Dean's Yard, London SW1P 3PA
• Price: €34