Best History Museum in Decker House

"The domed glass-and-steel ceiling at the British Museum – the world’s first national museum opened to the public – lets light into the atrium-like Great Court below, bouncing off the blinding-white, sweeping staircases and marble walls. It’s one of the capital’s prettiest spaces, but beyond the impressive lobby, it has sprawling galleries dedicated to the Egyptians, the Greeks and the Romans. Artefacts including the Rosetta Stone, Pantheon Marbles (once a part of the original structure in Athens) and more than 120 mummies draw millions of visitors every year."

"Two million years worth of artifacts, sculptures and antiquities—including Egyptian mummies, the Elgin Marbles and the hieroglyph-busting Rosetta Stone—call the British Museum home. Don’t be surprised if your family’s history buff goes missing for several days. Psst—here are 20+ history lessons your teacher lied about."

"No visit to London would be complete without a trip to the British Museum. It’s home to over 8 million artefacts, including the Rosetta Stone and Parthenon Marbles. There are so many things to see in this museum that even a full day spent here will barely scratch the surface."

"Westminster Abbey and the Tower of London are my personal recommendations for travellers interested in English history, though a walk by Buckingham Palace might be a better place to spot one of the royals (or at least some handsome guards!). Art-lovers can spend hours inside the Tate Modern and the National Portrait Gallery, while theater-goers will want to buy tickets for Shakespeare’s Globe or the Sam Wanamaker Playhouse. Walking through one of London’s numerous parks is also an option, and so is admiring the architecture of Tower Bridge, the Gherkin, or St. Paul’s Cathedral. In the evenings, have some fish and chips in a pub or enjoy London’s multicultural dining options."

"A splendid mixture of architectural styles, Westminster Abbey is considered the finest example of Early English Gothic. It's not merely a beautiful place of worship – the Abbey is still a working church and the stage on which history unfolds. For centuries, the country's greatest have been interred here, including 17 monarchs from King Henry III (died 1272) to King George II (1760). Much of the Abbey's architecture is from the 13th century, but it was founded much earlier, in 960 AD."

"The Abbey was built by Edward the Confessor, and William the Conqueror was crowned in it on Christmas Day 1066. Thousands of people are buried, or have their ashes interred, in it. Many others have plaques."

"The greatest stories from the greatest city are spread across nine permanent galleries, taking you on a huge journey from London before London, through Roman and Medieval London, to key historic moments such as The Great Fire, and the evolution of London as the People’s City and a World City. Keeping with the theme of London education, guest exhibitions include Beast of London, which explores the fascinating role animals have played in shaping the capital, and The Clash: London Calling, where over 150 items showcase the history of London’s most iconic band."

"Over in the City, the Museum of London documents the history of the UK capital from prehistoric times to the present day. It’s one of the best London museums for diving into the Big Smoke’s past. Located next to the Barbican and on the London Wall, it’s sandwiched between London’s ancient and modern heritage."

"If there's one place to absorb the history of London, from 450,000 BC to the present day, it's here. There are 7,000 objects to wonder…"

"Marble Hill House is a beautifully proportioned Palladian villa overlooking the Thames at Twickenham. It’s in a fine location, just across the river from one of the main entrances to Richmond Park. It’s also one of the loveliest visitor attractions in London, and one of several things to see in Richmond and around."

"170 million items and 330 miles of shelf space make this not only one of the best museums in London, but also one of the biggest. It also hosts regular, curated exhibitions based around its rare collections; including displays of the original manuscripts of Charles Dickens, Virginia Wolf, Jack Kerouac, Lewis Carroll and varying instalments of maps, sacred texts, newspaper and sound archives. Details: 96 Euston Road, NW1 2DB | Free entry, exhibitions from £14 | Find out more and book–"

"Visiting the British Library is one of our favourite things to do around London. This landmark of London is next door to St Pancras station. It’s been there barely twenty years, but I can’t imagine London without it."

"The World Rugby Museum is located in Twickenham Stadium in London. The museum has rotating exhibits that include both items from the permanent collection as well as special exhibits. Past exhibits have included More Than A Tour: the 1905 All-Blacks; Core Values: The Life and Work of Gerald Laing; and England 2010: the Women's Rugby World Cup."

"Based in south London’s Brixton, the Black Cultural Archives is the only place in Britain that is dedicated to the history of the country’s black communities. The museum has a great collection of modern and historical artefacts and photographs that all tell their own stories on the topic of black British culture. When the museum was first coming together 30 years ago, it was a time when the African and Caribbean community in London was severely underappreciated, so the co-founder Len Garrison began collecting what is now one of the most comprehensive collections documenting the cultural heritage of Black Britain."

"Kings College London only recently opened this permanent site for the Science Gallery, a dedicated space for showing contemporary artwork that explores scientific questions. Its inaugural exhibition is all about addiction, called Hooked, and previous shows in its travelling days have investigated blood, food and orifices. Think of it as looking at science through the eyes of an artist."

"Science Gallery London is an art-science-and-health inspired gallery in London. The free museum has been open since 2018 in London Bridge after a series of pop-up exhibits across London. The gallery aims to bring together scientists, artists, and communities with three themed seasons every year."

": Row upon row of glass jars, with everything from tiny organisms, to strange two-headed beasts, to examples of gross diseases, this museum can be very creepy at times, especially when it’s quiet. However, it’s so much more than the freakshow that it is sometimes made out to be, offering a unique insight into the history of surgery and advances in modern medicine. The next few months are your last chance to see the museum before it closes in 2017 for refurbishment, so get going!"

"This small chain of informal Indian eateries is a firm favourite of ours for a cheap and cheerful meal that doesn’t cut corners on taste. Alongside classic curries, dhals and biryanis, choose from a selection of dishes inspired by the street food of India, such as bhel (a puffed rice salad) or aloo tikki chaat (a spiced potato cake). Or to keep choosing to a minimum, go for one of the thalis – a platter including bread, rice and a selection of mains for little over a tenner."

"Masala Zone offers good, hearty Indian food across a number of locations, all featuring unfussy and comfortable atmospheres. Children are well accommodated, with under-sevens having the option of eating from the versatile children's menu. With seven outposts in London, this could be a good option the next time you plan a family meal in the city."

"Delicious food uniquely from the true sources of Indian food – the gourmet homes & street stalls across India’s regions."

"Somewhat bemusingly, it claims to be the oldest French restaurant in London despite only being founded in the 1940s. Still, the menu is brimming with classic French dishes, so we’ll forgive this apparent fib."

"Don’t ask for the menu – there isn’t one - and don’t baulk at the bill (which there will be), because by the time you’ve gorged your way through the umpteen dishes spirited up from Chef Peng’s basement kitchen, you’ll have realised this Pimlico institution thoroughly deserves its not-so-secret fame. Chef Peng (that’s him, occasionally glowering from the top of the stairs, casting an approving eye of his necessarily tiny cohort of diners) has been doing his Taiwanese-influenced thing here since 1982, and if the signature “don’t ask, just get” service doesn’t do it for you (calm down, you can call a halt when you’ve had enough, or if it’s too spicy) then the celebrated wine list certainly will. Never tried a Gruner Veltliner with crispy frogs’ legs served with fermented bamboo shoots and chilli?"

"Restaurants Chinese Chelsea. Visit this acclaimed but under-the-radar Chinese and you’ll be asked if there’s anything you can’t/won’t eat and what level of spice you like. After that, you’re in the kitchen’s hands as wave upon wave of progressively larger plates arrive, often with the distinctive taste of Hunanese regional cuisine."

"If unnecessarily lengthy menus leave you sweaty-palmed and stressed, Hunan is the place for you. Leave the hard work to the experts at this menuless restaurant, which is tucked among Pimlico's galleries and antiques shops. Dine like an emperor on a series of small plates followed by heaps of hand-pulled noodles and fiery sauces."

"The Wonderlab exhibition is arguably top of the list of London attractions for kids aged 7-14. There’s something for everyone in this gallery in London with over 50 hands-on science experiments, exhibits and activities. The Science Museum has another three levels of interesting science exhibitions and demonstrations too."

"Regent Street is the main thoroughfare through London towards one of Londons iconic green spaces, Regents Park. (Travelling with kids, visit Regents Park to try all the playgrounds!). Don’t miss the lanes and side streets running off Regent street."

"The first solo venture from Wei Guirong, co-owner of Xi'an Impressions, may be closed to the public, but its delivery arm seems to be working to pretty much the whole restaurant menu. Order the biang biang noodles that Grace Dent described as 'emotionally stirring' or the potsticker dumplings that Giles Coren called "excellent" in his review. Follow them on Instagram: @master.wei.3150"

"Master Wei is one of the best Chinese restaurants in London thanks to its elevated menu of Xi'an cooking. Head on over to Bloomsbury for the chance to tuck into street food-inspired dishes such as shredded chicken with spicy sauce, biang biang noodles and their take on a beef burger."

"The chef behind popular Chinese restaurant Xi'an Impression has opened her first solo restaurant. It features some of the favourites from the original restaurant by Arsenal's Emirates stadium as well as more traditional dishes. More about Master Wei"