Museum of London - Review for families

Best for:

Babies / Toddlers & Preschool / 5 – 8

OK for:

9 - 12 / 12 +

Cost:

Free

What’s on offer

Explore the capital’s history in a range of child friendly galleries. You can take a stroll through London in Roman, Saxon and Victorian times or learn about the plague & Great Fire of London. The exhibits go back far into London’s past – you can even learn about its prehistoric animals. There’s also a modern section, going right up to the present day.

Children can play in a 1950’s living room, keep busy in the interactive family area and marvel at the Georgian Pleasure Garden.

Borrow an activity bag from the front desk (suitable for ages 4 – 11) or download an activity sheet from the official website to engage your child in each area of the museum. For children over ten, you can borrow an iPad from the information desk and check out their digital storybook. They also have simple games online which parents can jot down to play whilst exploring the attraction – alternatively, you can make up your own.

For under 5’s, toddler’s groups and storytelling events are available on selected dates. As always, check on the website to see exactly what’s on and when!

The Museum of London has fully accessible toilets on each floor and accessible lifts serving each floor. Two cafes are inside the museum, alongside a lunch space where visitors can ‘grab and go’ from the café or eat their own packed lunches. There are lockers on the ground floor (but you need a token from the desk) and there’s paid parking nearby.

Highlights

The museum is big and clean with fantastic visual displays. It has an arty, slightly less traditional design – which is a nice break from the hundreds of museums you and your child will be used to.

It follows a chronological timeline, which is not only practical, but great in educating your child about the changes throughout London’s interesting (and fire-hazardous) history. Children who have studied Victorians at school will really enjoy the respective exhibit.

It’s interactive elements have been approved by families on TripAdvisor. Finally, the museum is often an unexpected gem for locals and tourists alike!

What to watch out for

- You take a lift to get to the museum’s entrance, so keep your eyes peeled for it.

MFM tips:

- Look out for collapsible seats in the galleries, designed for when people need a quick sit-down break from walking around.

- The museum recommends bringing some paper, crayons and perhaps a colouring book with you, in case tiny feet get worn out!

- It’s one of the less crowded museums in the capital, which considering it’s free is a definite selling point. Still, outside of school hours is one of the quieter times to visit!

What the owners say

“The Museum of London tells the story of the world’s greatest city and its people. It cares for more than two million objects in its collections and attracts over 400,000 visitors per year. It holds the largest archaeological archive in Europe.”

Visit the official Museum of London website