Museums & Attractions

Edgar West - It's not about 'vapid contemporary apology', it's about exhibiting objects with a better understanding of their significance. This is obviously more the case with anthropological objects than with anything involving natural history - the Victorians did a good job of physically acquiring objects but there was little if any genuine concern about their function or contemporary significance - it really was literally a 'treasure hunt'. With the prevalence of the internet being 'culturally poor' is becoming less and less of an issue (and in fact saying so is inaccurate - virtually all of the objects collected during the era of Empire are not 'British' at all, so it's not British culture that's being impovershed) , alterations in museums nowadays are made to convey that artifacts did - and still do - hold deep cultural importance as well as being beautiful, and this normally results in a need for compromise in display methods. Objects from natives here on the Northwest Coast are a great example of this - many of the masks they're world-famous for are in fact not meant to be seen unless being used for a dance, much less displayed openly behind glass. Hence you develop communication with the cultural owners of objects and as such alter display methods to enrich the functions of objects - instead of being permanently behind glass, natives might occasionally visit a museum and use those masks in ceremonial dances, for example.
It can get very complicated, but the short of it is that those changes you witness are genuinely meant to enrich the functions of museum collections rather than 'sterilize' them as might be interpreted. In the simplest terms, we simply know more now than they did then. In any case, there are certainly many places that continue to pay homage to British Victorian eccentricity (in many ways a museum-worthy subject of preservation in its own right), most notably the Sloane Museum.
I don't aim to berate you or anything like that, only to educate. I've been studying this kind of stuff a lot :)

The Wallace Collection is a great art museum that is free and near bond st tube.

The Huntarian and Soane's museums are pretty much opposite each other, and a 20-25 min walk from the British Museum. They make a great combination as they are both really unusual but in totally different ways! Around Lincoln's Inn are lots of historic buildings (the Inns of Court and so on) plus the fields themselves are a pleasant place to eat lunch and have a fairly upmarket cafe/restaurant.
They make a good combination for a day out in London and are themselves very close to Covent Garden for lunch/dinner.
They are my favourite London museums!

I agree with Erik. The Museum of Brands and Packaging is well worth a visit. It is a view of social history over the past 100 years or so by reference to everyday items such as food packaging, advertising styles etc. Educational and nostalgic. www.museumofbrands.com

Horniman Museum
Again took my niece there last summer and it was another museum she enjoyed, it has various exhibits, it also has lovely grounds to walk thru on a good day.. Has a basement fukllof aquariums, this museum is ideal for children as well as adult minds

the museum of brands and packaging is really cool and should be on this list. it's near notting hill tube and showcases food packaging from the turn of the century to present day.

has anyone been to the Horniman Museum ?
am intrigued to go today but don't want to be dissapointed...

I visited the Tea and Coffee Museum about a year ago and was seriously disappointed - too many exhibits (i.e. cramped), appalling lighting etc. I could have made a better job of it myself. I´m so glad they are refurbishing - the newly opened Museum can only be an improvement.

Unlike some of the rather well-known, much-visited museums included in this feature, a genuinely ‘unsung’ museum is the British Optical Association Museum at the College of Optometrists, a delightful Georgian building in Craven Street. Not only are its collections of vision aids, optician’s equipment and all things eye-related of international significance but because its displays are produced entirely in-house they avoid that ‘over-designed’ look that characterises and spoils so many wealthier museums these days. You won’t find a sign on the door and you must book in advance but if you pluck up the courage you’ll not only get a personal guided tour from a genuine expert (tailored to whatever time you have available) but you’ll thoroughly enjoy seeing some wonderful things, both serious and quirky…and all just a stone’s throw from Trafalgar Square. In fact, if you discount art galleries it’s the most centrally located museum in the entire capital and I bet most people don’t know it’s there!

V&A Museum of Childhood
I took my 2yr old niece here last summer and she loved it, its is very accessible and not to huge that a smaller child would lose interest. I would reccommend it

Can anyone give anymore information about the viv stanshall museum, i would love to go there and can't find any info about it?

I too have two more recommendations for those with inquisitive minds (seems like most Londoners do from these posts!). The Freud museum is a treat in Swiss Cottage/Finchley http://www.freud.org.uk/ and the Sir John Soan's museum in Holborn in well worth a visit (and it's free) http://www.soane.org/. Liking all the other recommendations - is there ever an end to the things you can do in London!

the petrie museum is a must if you love anything to do with egypt

The Viv Stanshall museum is fun up there in Finchley

What a brilliant list for people visiting London, my son and I and a friend are coming to London for a short break in February and this is so informative thanks.