Free Museums in Alperton

"The former Bankside Power Station was selected as the new gallery site in 1994. The original building, designed by Sir Giles Gilbert Scott, was constructed in two phases between 1947 and 1963. Swiss architects Herzog & De Meuron were commissioned to convert the building into a gallery, making use of the power station’s iconic oil tanks."

"Ever since the Tate Modern opened in 2000, it has quickly risen to be one of the famous places in London to visit. This art gallery generates an estimated 100 million euros annually. The Tate Modern was previously the Bankside Power Station, but it was converted into an art gallery in 1994 by Swiss architects Herzog & De Meuron."

"Part of the Tate group with three other museums, including Tate Britain, Tate Modern's collection showcases the national British art collection from 1900 through today. It also displays international art from the same time period. Tate Modern is among the biggest contemporary art museums in the world."

"One of the most famous and indeed most prestigious art galleries in the world, the National Gallery rightfully commands a domineering position overlooking Trafalgar Square. Home to a huge collection of paintings, it is a marvelous place to visit. An almost endless array of stupendous artworks greet you from every conceivable wall space."

"The National Gallery is the jewel in the crown of London’s Trafalgar Square. This impressive neoclassical building houses paintings from the mid-13th century to 1900. There’s art from all over Europe here, and every period from the Italian Renaissance to the Impressionist era is well represented."

"The National Gallery is an art museum located in London's Trafalgar Square. The museum has more than 2,300 paintings, with some reaching back to the 1200s. The National Gallery sees some five million visitors each year."

"Located on the former site of the Millbank prison, Tate Britain offers one of the most comprehensive collections of historical British art from 1500 to the present day. Founded by Sir Henry Tate, of global sugar brand Tate & Lyle, the striking Neoclassical gallery boasts the world’s largest collection of works by JMW Turner as well as impressive pieces by William Hogarth, William Blake, Angelica Kauffman, John Constable, Richard Dadd, Barbara Hepworth and Henry Moore. The gallery is located on the River Thames, and you can take a scenic ride on the Tate Boat to its sister gallery, Tate Modern."

"This classical gallery was opened in 1897 and is home to iconic British art from the 16th century to the present day, including works by the Pre-Raphaelites, J. M. W. Turner, Henry Moore and William Blake. The Tate Boat runs between the Tate Modern and the Tate Britain every 40 minutes, taking you through the heart of the city. Get a spot on the outdoor deck for the best views of both sides of the river."

"While the Tate Modern focuses on more recent art, Tate Britain is all about the past with a big collection of historical British art."

"London’s West End is pretty good for celeb spotting, but the easiest place to do it is probably at the National Portrait Gallery. It’s home to kings, queens, cultural juggernauts and sporting heroes – all in portrait form, of course – with a collection spanning over five hundred years of painting history. You can find Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn in the Tudor galleries, Mary Jane Seacole and the Bronte sisters in the Victorian galleries, right up to Amy Winehouse and the Queen in the contemporary galleries."

"London's National Portrait Gallery is a premiere art museum in the heart of the city. The National Portrait Gallery was the world's very first portrait gallery upon its 1856 opening. The gallery's collection focuses heavily on portraits of people who were important to Britain over the years; the gallery is less concerned with who produced the painting, but rather places its value on who the portrait is of."

"The gallery houses pictures of the major (and not-so major) figures of the nation’s history from King Henry VIII to David Beckham. It makes a great introduction to British history for both kids and adults. Kid-friendly audio tours are available."

"Funnily enough, the Museum of Childhood is actually first and foremost geared towards adults who want to relive their own childhoods, but don’t worry – they’ve planned ahead and know that many adults will be bringing their own children. For toddlers, there are interactive exhibits featuring toys and games at the Museum of Childhood, as well as drop-in activities including crafting and storytelling to get your toddler involved in some educational play."

":  A fun blast from the past, this museum will take you back to your childhood with it’s collection of children’s toys, clothes and games. Be warned though, don’t fall into the trap that many others have and assume it on the same site as the original V&A, otherwise you will have a very long trip across London!. The Museum of Childhood is one of the most popular on our list, receiving almost 500,000 visitors a year."

"Out in Bethnal Green, you’ll discover the free Museum of Childhood. Operated and curated by the V&A, it’s home to toys, dolls houses, and thousands of other interesting items, but a major refurbishment is aiming to turn it into a “world-leading museum of design and creativity for children and young people”."

"Children can handle real torture devices at the world’s most notorious medieval prison at this museum in Southwark, on the original site of The Clink Prison, which dates back to 1144. You’ll find out about a day in the life of a medieval prisoner and hear tales of some of the gruesome prisoners. If you’re feeling brave, it’s a great place to spot ghosts: the prison is reputed to be one of the UK’s most haunted locations and is renowned for its ghostly sightings…"

"A rather arresting spot amongst London museums, The Clink spent some 600 years as one of the city’s most feared prisons. Far from the charming spot it is today, Southwark used to be a lawless place; prostitutes, heretics, and drunkards all graced the cells of The Clink at one point or another."

"The Clink Prison Museum was a prison in England that started in the 12th century and operated through 1780. Today, it is the oldest surviving prison in the country. Notable prisoners of The Clink include Father John Gerard, Father John Jones, Farther George Blackwell, and Edward Knott."

"Consisting of low-slung red-brick terraces and fronted by a large plaza featuring an oversized statue of Sir Isaac Newton, Colin St John Wilson’s British Library building is an architectural wonder. Completed in 1997, it's home to some of the greatest treasures of the written word, including the Codex Sinaiticus (the first complete text of the New Testament), Leonardo da Vinci's notebooks and a copy of the Magna Carta (1215)."

"I love the striking red brick buildings of the British Library, home to the largest national library in the world. The British Library has so many books that no-one knows the exact number. The best guesses put it at between 150 and 200 million in the collections."

"This neo-Gothic house built in the late 1890s for William Waldorf Astor, of hotel fame and once the richest man in America, showcases art from UK museum collections outside the capital. Visit as much to see the opulent house (it's astonishing) as the collections on display, but note it's only open for a few months each year for the Winter Exhibition Programme (see the website). Check out the bronze putti (cherubs) chatting on old telephones on the steps!"

"Red Rooster is about as American a restaurant you’ll find in London – the original can be found in Harlem and is run by highly acclaimed US chef Marcus Samuelsson. Its only sibling site is in Shoreditch, and serves up a seductive array of soul food classics. An essential start to a slap-up spread is slightly sweetened cornbread with honey butter, which can then be followed with “ol’ man shrimp ‘n’ grits”, fried chicken and waffles, “Obama” short ribs and macaroni cheese stuffed with collard greens."

"Uli is the second coming of Michael Lim’s modern Asian restaurant featuring the food of the Chinese diaspora – from regional China through Malaysia, Thailand and Singapore. The place originally opened in All Saints Road, but Lim retired three years ago leaving a loyal clientele bereft. Now he’s back, with partner Graham Rebak, and they’ve revamped the operation with a bright new identity and lighter cooking for the clean-eating generation."

"Fans of the minuscule Uli Chinese/Asian on All Saints Road were gutted when it shut a few years ago. Two of them, Graham Rebak and Adam Wilkie, decided to relaunch the restaurant, along with founder Michael Lim. It's small but smart and an outdoor terrace adds space."

"Restaurants Chinese Marylebone. ‘Family eating’ is second nature to the Chinese, so it’s no surprise that this palatial rendezvous, located just a stroll from Madame Tussauds, is good with the kids. Sit with your little’uns at one of the big circular tables and share the spoils from some superior dim sum – ideal finger food for youngsters who haven’t yet mastered the art of chopsticks."

"Restaurants Chinese Marylebone. Decked out in lavish Oriental style, Phoenix Palace is a favourite of international businessmen, but its easy-going bustle also suits local families who crowd round circular tables for the excellent weekend dim sum (reservations are a must unless you fancy queueing). Dinner is a blast during Chinese New Year."