As one of the world’s culture capitals, London boasts a wide range of museums and art galleries. However, whilst most people have heard of the big venues like The Science Museum, and the Natural History Museum, there are also some smaller quirkier venues that most tourists have not yet heard about. So if you’re looking for a slightly different experience in Britain’s capital, why not head to one of London’s more obscure venues.
In Notting Hill, the Museum of Brands, Packaging and Advertising has grown from one man’s obsession with hoarding everyday objects. From washing powder boxes to soft-drink cans and pretty much everything in between, the museum has over 10,000 exhibits and highlights 120 years of consumerism. As the museum is based in the affluent borough of Notting Hill, you’ll find that there are plenty of London hotels nearby, whatever your budget.
The Hunterian Museum is located in the grounds of the Royal College of Surgeons and boasts some truly unique exhibits. Tourists visit the museum to catch a glimpse of Winston Churchill’s dentures, the pickled organs of soldiers who fought in the battle of Waterloo and the 7’7″ skeleton of Charles Byrne, the Irish giant. The closest tube station to the museum is Holborn, which is also located close to the British Museum and just a short walk from the West End.
If you’re looking for London hotels further afield, or simply want to explore a quirky museum in London’s suburbs, then the Horniman Museum in Forest Hill is definitely worth taking a trip around. An Alaskan totem pole flags up the entrance and the diverse collection ranges from a huge replica of a sabre-toothed tiger, to an overstuffed walrus, the work of an over-zealous taxidermist in the 1880s.
If you’re staying at London hotels with your children, then you may want to take them along to the Pollock’s Toy Museum. The museum is particularly relevant if your children are studying the Victorian era at school. You won’t find any computerised gadgets here as these toys hark back to a far simpler time. You’ll find decorated doll-houses, and intricate model villages. However, some of the exhibits date back long before the Victorian era, a mouse made from clay from the River Nile is believed to be over 4,000 years old, while the museum also contains the world’s oldest surviving teddy-bear.
Film-buffs may want to head to the London Film Museum, which although very few people have heard of, boasts a range of exhibits and sets including a reconstruction of the original set from Sherlock Holmes. Children will love the interactive element of the museum; 3D modelling clay is set up in the green room, for children to create their own 3D animation. There are also a few surprises, props from the Hollywood blockbusters – Superman and Batman Returns that were actually both shot in the United Kingdom. The museum is based in London’s County Hall next to the London Eye, and close to a range of attractions like the London Aquarium and Namco Station.
Tags: famous museums, science museums