London

Museum of Garden History
Located in a restored medieval church, this charming, esoteric museum tells the story of British gardens and gardening. In the churchyard are the tombs of the two John Tradescants, gardeners to Charles I and II. Visitors to the Christmas shopping evening on December 20 from 5.30-8pm will receive 15 per cent off as well as free mulled wine and mince pies.
Gifts Gardener’s gift trug, £24.99.
Museum of Garden History, Lambeth Palace Rd, SE1 (020 7401 8865/www.museumgardenhistory.org) Lambeth North or Westminster tube. Tue-Sun 10.30am-5pm. Suggested donation £3.
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British Museum
‘The First Emperor: China’s Terracotta Army’ is this winter’s must-see exhibition. It’s sensational: if you’ve not booked it’s worth queuing in the cold for one of the 500 tickets released on the day. For an alternative perspective on the museum’s permanent collection, take one of the Highlights Tours. They’re led by a Blue Badge guide, take place daily at 10.30am, 1pm and 3pm, cost £8, concs £5, and can be booked on 020 7323 8181.
Gifts Lewis chessmen cufflinks, £17.99.
British Museum, Great Russell St, WC1 (020 7323 8000/www.britishmuseum. co.uk) Holborn tube. Open daily 10am-5.30pm, Thur & Fri 10am-8.30pm. Museum adm free, ‘The First Emperor’ £12, concs £10, under-16s free.

St Paul’s
Christopher Wren’s magnificent landmark dominates the City, despite being overshadowed by glass office blocks. Climb the 259 steps to the Whispering Gallery or stay on ground level and admire the spectacular interior. A new permanent exhibition in the crypt, ‘A Celebration of Royalty at St Paul’s’, focuses on services and ceremonies at the cathedral from the reign of Elizabeth I (1558-1603) to the current monarch. Services in the Cathedral include Christingle (a family service) on December 22 at 1pm, carol services on December 23 and 24 at 4pm, and Midnight Eucharist at 11.30pm on Christmas Eve. The shop stocks some traditional cards depicting St Paul’s.
Gifts Tijou ornament (tree decoration), in silver, £9.99.
St Paul’s Cathedral, St Paul’s Churchyard, EC4 (020 7236 4128/www.stpauls.co.uk) St Paul’s tube. Cathedral open for sightseeing Mon-Sat 8.30am-4pm. Shop open Mon, Tue, Thur-Sat 8.30am-5pm, Wed 9am-5pm, Sun 10am-4.30pm. Cathedral adm £9.50, concs £8.50, under-16s £3.50, under-sevens free. Shop adm free.

Horniman Museum
The south London anthropology museum is deservedly popular. In the centenary gallery discover items collected by tea trader Frederick Horniman, whose collection was bequeathed at the turn of the last century and forms the basis of the museum. The natural history and music galleries house fascinating treasures, and kids love the new aquarium and the mummy in the African Worlds gallery. ‘Wrapping Japan’, until February 10, looks at Japanese textiles – inspiration for your festive gift presentation, perhaps?
Gift Ceramic African-inspired bowl, £30.
Horniman Museum, 100 London Rd, SE23 (020 8699 1872/www.horniman.ac.uk) Forest Hill rail. Open daily 10.30am-5.30pm. Free.

Tate Britain & Tate Modern
At the original Tate (Britain) admire William Hogarth, JMW Turner, Lucian Freud and others, or check out this year’s ‘Turner Prize: A Retrospective’ (the Turner Prize 2007 is being exhibited in Tate Liverpool) or the Scottish landscapes painted by nineteenth-century artist Millais. At Bankside, Doris Salcedo’s ‘Shibboleth’ is a fissure along the length of the Turbine Hall; it’s as intriguing to watch others interact with it as it is itself.
Gifts Colour toys tray, £10.
Tate Britain, Millbank, SW1 (020 7887 8888/www.tate.org.uk) Pimlico tube. Open daily 10am-5.50pm. Adm free; ‘The Turner Prize: A Retrospective’ £11, concs £6; ‘Millais’, £11, concs £9.
Tate Modern, Bankside, London , SE1(020 7887 8888/www.tate.org.uk) Southwark/Blackfriars. Open daily 10am-6pm, Fri and Sat until 10pm. Adm free.

V&A
A walk through the V&A’s higgledy-piggledy galleries always leads to new treasures at which to marvel but the museum also stages excellent temporary exhibitions. This winter there’s ‘The Art of Lee Miller’, which displays photographs taken by the socialite and wartime photojournalist. The post-war fashions from Dior et al in ‘The Golden Age of Couture’ is a must for fashionistas. Both end at the beginning of January.
Gift ‘Keep Calm and Carry On’ T-shirt, £25.
V&A, Cromwell Rd, SW7 (020 7942 2000/www.vam.ac.uk) South Ken tube. Open 10am-5.45pm, Fri until 10pm. Adm free; ‘Lee Miller’ £6, concs £4; ‘Golden Age of Couture’ £9, concs 7.

Design Museum
Its location alone – on the Thames downstream from Tower Bridge – is a reason to visit this former warehouse. The shop is renowned for sourcing the best in innovative gifts and homewares from established and upcoming designers. Until January 31 is a display on the past ten years of British fashion designer Matthew Williamson, whose dresses have been worn by Madonna. You can also see the furniture and architectural designs of Jean Prouvé.
Gifts Reuseable shopping bag, £15.
Design Museum, 28 Butlers Wharf, Shad Thames, SE1 (0870 909 9009/www.designmuseum.org/ www.designmuseumshop.com) London Bridge tube/rail or Tower Hill tube. Open daily 10am-5.45pm. Museum adm £7, concs £4, under-12s free; shop adm free.