Best History Museum in Newbury Park

"The British Museum in London’s Bloomsbury was founded in 1753 and was the first national museum in the world to cover all fields of human knowledge. The impressive museum now has a permanent collection of over eight million artefacts which span two million years of human history, art and culture. And if the museum’s extensive free collections aren’t enough to draw you in, then its architecture certainly will."

"The British Museum has been offering free admission to ‘studious and curious persons’ since it was first founded in 1753. It’s the most popular museum in the country, with over 6 million visitors a year but don’t worry, it’s big – very big, so there’s room for everyone. Where to start with this magnificent, overwhelming place, dedicated to human history, art and culture?"

"Despite the name, this sprawling building in London’s academic Bloomsbury district is only fleetingly concerned with British history. Instead, it aims to represent the entire sweep of human endeavour, from pre-historic man through Ancient Egypt, Greece, and Rome. Absolutely marble-ous!"

"Standing proudly next to the Westminster Houses of Parliament, the home of British politics, is the beautiful and hugely significant Westminster Abbey. Declared a UNESCO world heritage site back in 1987, this church is one of the most important in the UK and dates back to around 800AD. Westminster Abbey is steeped in history and has been the scene of royalty since William the Conqueror in the 1000s."

"This Gothic architectural masterpiece has hosted almost every coronation of English monarchs since 1066, when William the Conqueror was crowned on Christmas Day. Over 3,300 people are buried here, including at least sixteen monarchs, eight Prime Ministers, and the Unknown Warrior."

"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 free to enter Museum of London takes you through the history of the capital from Celtic times through to present day. The family events programme ensures children will never get bored, with interactive areas teaching little ones keys facts on topics as diverse as prehistoric animals, Victorian window shopping, and children’s toys from years gone by and what it was like to live during Saxon times."

"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…"

"The Bethlem Museum of the Mind is a museum focused on the history of the Royal Bethlem Hospital. Inside the museum is an art gallery that was created in 1997 as a way to showcase the art of artists who are currently or were once patients of the hospital. Famed patients with work on display at the museum include William Kurelek, Richard Dadd and Louis Wain."

"One of the best things to do in St. Albans is strolling around the narrow streets of the old town. Just admire the stunning old buildings and imagine how it would be like to live in one of them 😉. St Albans old town really is worth visiting as it’s one of the best places to see in St Albans!"

"St Albans Museum + Gallery details the history of the city from the Roman period to modern times. Through the many artefacts and exhibitions, a story is weaved together that traces the timeline of St Albans. It’s housed inside the old Town Hall building."

"The V&A's Theatre Collections hold the UK's national collection of material about live performance in the UK since Shakespeare's day, covering drama, dance, musical theatre, circus, music hall, rock and pop, and other forms of live entertainment. Theatre and Performance galleries dedicated to the performing arts, display works of art, costumes, ephemera, video recordings, puppets, posters and photographs."

"Alternatives (or additional spots) in the area to the above attractions: Southwark Cathedral, Borough Market (one of London’s most famous food markets), The Old Operating Theatre Museum (fee*), The Monument (fee*), and The View from the Shard (fee*)."

"Restaurants British Spitalfields. From the people behind the Lundenwic coffee house, this head-turning minimalist café/restaurant in Spitalfields is a daytime diamond for all the family with an eclectic brunch menu to match. There are heaps of croissants, apple turnovers, banana flapjacks and brownies for sweet-toothed carb-hungry punters, while savouries range from flatbread with halloumi and harissa yoghurt to coconut dhal with chapatis or a three-cheese and onion toastie with fried egg and berkswell cheese."

"Restaurants British Spitalfields. Treat the kids to a three-cheese toastie or avo on sourdough for breakfast at this minimalist Spitalfields café/restaurant from the people behind the Lundenwic coffee house near Holborn. Otherwise, share the good stuff from one of their ‘lunch bowls’ (perhaps coconut dhal or Tuscan ribollita stew topped with grilled chicken)."

"Crispin’s an all-day restaurant in Spitalfields, but they’re limiting delivery to to breakfast and brunch for now. Options range from scrambled eggs with Berkswell on sourdough to daal, purple kale, and black turnip pickles on flatbread. They’re also delivering coffee."

"Established by two second generation Filipino British brothers, Nigel and David’s Kapihan has progressed from a residency in Central St. Giles to this Battersea Park outpost. The decision to centre Filipino baking traditions and coffee culture, a narrowing in focus from the residency, has led to a renewed quality and precision to the baking: a pandan-hued pan de coco filled with macapuno — a Filipino variety of coconut with a more jellied flesh; a shattering chocolate croissant; and a pan de adobo whose braised pork filling gives pause to the assumption that coffee needs sweet pastry as a pairing."

"This requires a little forward planning for Nigel, David, Plasmara, and Rosemary Motley’s formidable Filipino baking. Pre-order tinapaya, like the pan de adobo, or the dulce de leche bibingka, with a lechon rice, all crunchy pork belly, now added to the weekend rotation. Or just rock up for coffee from the hatch before rolling home or towards Battersea Park."

"Kapihan in Battersea celebrates the best of Filipino cafe culture, so as well as brewing speciality coffee sourced from the islands it serves up traditional bakes too. Pandesal is a classic bread and this version has chorizo and a blend of three cheeses in it, with some extra pecorino on top for good measure."

"One of the best free attractions in London for lovers of the weird and wonderful is Gods Own Junkyard. Located in a large warehouse in the North London neighbourhood of Walthamstow, Gods Own Junkyard is a ‘neon wonderland‘ full of bright neon signs and artwork, old movie props and colourful retro displays that you can visit for free to take a wander around and snap some cool photos. Built from a 40-year collection of old salvaged signs, the unique space is now without a doubt the capital’s coolest art store and one of the most popular free places to visit in London."

"This showroom in Walthamstow is the late neon artist Chris Bracey's personal collection of work. Walk around the small space taking in the vibrant displays of neon signs. It really does contain all sorts of goodies, from Soho club signs to ones that have featured in Hollywood films - there's even a cute little cafe for taking a pit stop."

"God’s Own Junkyard is an art store that’s anything but ordinary. It’s packed full of bright neon signs and displays, including plenty of vintage items. It’s all very vibrant and fun to see, and it makes for very unique and eclectic Instagram photos."