Free Museums in Belsize Park

"As entwined with the art world as paint, no list of London galleries would be complete without one incarnation of the Tate. Without a doubt the art giant of London, the Tate Modern is home to all things contemporary and unique and always worth a visit. “When my daughter Coco was born, we visited Tate Modern 11 times in her first 6 months!"

"The Tate Modern displays modern and contemporary art from 1900 to the present. It’s an absolute must-see in London, even if you're not an art lover. The newly opened Tanks and Switch House tower opens up the gallery for further exhibits and is well worth a visit on its architectural merit alone."

"Housing the UK’s national collection of international modern and contemporary art, the Tate Modern is undoubtedly London’s most iconic modern art gallery. The gallery has been considered the mover and shaker of the contemporary art world ever since it opened in 2000."

"It’s worth battling past the floating Yodas to get to the crown jewel of Trafalgar Square; the National Gallery. The formidable building sits resplendently behind the Fourth Plinth - always a talking point for art lovers - and contains some of the most famous paintings in the world. Here you’ll find works by Caravaggio, Rembrandt, Vermeer, Turner, Botticelli and Van Gogh - and you won’t be charged a penny to enjoy them."

"From Michelangelo to Monet and Raphael to Rembrandt, almost all of the old European masters can be found on the walls of the National Gallery, overlooking London’s famous Trafalgar Square. Crowd favorites include Van Gogh’s "Sunflowers"; Botticelli’s "Venus and Mars;" and Monet’s "The Water-Lily Pond." (If you’re short on time, you can pre-plan your trip around the gallery’s 30 must-see paintings.)"

"PRACTICAL INFORMATION: The National Gallery is open every day from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm. It closes at 9:00 pm on Fridays. It’s closed on 1 January and from 24 to 26 December."

"A temple to the work of British artists over the past 500 years, with a vast collection of Pre-Raphaelite paintings, two rooms of Henry Moore sculptures, a free picture library filled with rare and fragile sketches from major artists, and a restaurant with a mural by Rex Whistler. Late at Tate Britain: On the first Friday of every month, Tate Collective Producers curate an evening exploring a different abstract theme, with a little help from DJs, activists, artists and more. Details: Millbank, SW1P 4RG | Free entry | Find out more and book–"

"Explore the world's biggest collection of British art at Tate Britain. Spanning pieces by renowned artists, including JMW Turner, Lucian Freud, David Hockney and more, you can enjoy the museum independently or on a guided tour. After admiring the artworks, refuel at the Djanogly Café or pick up souvenirs from the museum shop."

"Tate Britain focuses primarily on historic and contemporary British art. The pieces on display are always changing, but you can expect to see famous masterpieces from artists like J.M.W. Turner and William Hogarth. The gallery’s Rotunda staircase is one of the most impressive sights inside the building."

"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. You will stay in the city until the morning of Day 3."

"The National Portrait Gallery presents a who’s who of British history. Located just behind the National Gallery, it houses a remarkable collection of paintings, sculptures, photographs, miniatures and works on paper, and takes visitors on a unique journey through British history featuring Tudor kings and queens all the way up to contemporary artists and actors. Some of the masters of portraiture on display include Hans Holbein, Sir Joshua Reynolds and Paula Rego."

"Just behind the National Gallery, the National Portrait Gallery is another of the best museums in London. Not only was it the world’s first portrait gallery, but it also holds the most extensive collection of portraits globally. As the name implies, the National Portrait Gallery is home to a collection of portraits of historically important and renowned British people."

"One of the branches of Victoria and Albert Museum, the Museum of Childhood was founded in 1872, but only in the 1920s began to concentrate primarily on children. With an enormous collection of childhood objects, the Museum successfully fulfils its mission of giving everyone the opportunity to explore the wonderful ways of the designated world. The unique exhibitions, galleries of toys (older and newer) and the entertainment programs prepared for children will definitely get them prancing around."

"While taking the kids to a museum housing toys they can’t touch may seem like a disaster, the V&A Museum of Childhood makes an extra effort to include interactive exhibits that will keep little hands busy. Adults can enjoy nostalgic displays of dolls’ houses and rag dolls dating back to the 1600s, while kids can try rocking horses and play with Lego. The museum also has free daily activities such as treasure hunts."

"A treat for children of all ages, this East London outpost of the Victoria & Albert Museum—in an iron, glass, and brown-brick building…"

"If you’re a keen shopper, you will want to hit the shopping mecca that is Oxford Street. But also make sure you experience luxurious afternoon tea in London , take an offbeat food tour, sample street art, and hit a few alternative bars in town. Check out our Guide To London for loads of offbeat and fun ideas of things to do in London."

"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."

"Bars and pubs Breweries Deptford. It’s easy to forget you’re in south-east London when sitting in the warm glow of this laidback boozer. Full of twinkling lights, reclaimed wine barrel tables, and saucy smells from a little domed pizza oven, the vibe is more Continental than cockney at Taproom SE8."

"As Jonathan Nunn puts it: “A good fish and chip shop has to understand what fish and chips is about. There is no point trying to gussy it up...Fladda in Camberwell gets this, but isn’t shy to make improvements and alterations. Anonymous ‘chip shop’ sausages and pert, scarlet saveloys sit alongside battered sausages from The Butchery; homemade steak and ale pies alongside Pukka; whole fish fillets alongside a £5 fish bites..."

"Rich Mix allows creativity in all its magnificent forms – live music, theatre, poetry, film, art, design and drawing, so it’s a little distinct from the other places on the list, but the charity behind the cross-media arts centre, The Rich Mix Cultural Foundation, has a pretty inspiring goal. And that’s to offer the public space to discover more about the creative offerings of people from various migrant populations. Since taking over the former clothing factory on Bethnal Green Road, Rich Mix has put on many free exhibitions, screenings and concerts."

"This fantastic creative space in the East End, on the site of what used to be in a leather factory, has regular exhibitions featuring emerging and established artists. 39-47 Bethnal Green Road, E1 6LA Free entryrichmix.org.uk"

"Perched atop South Place Hotel, Angler’s 40-seat west-facing roof terrace boasts lovely views of the city. Chef Gary Foulkes heads up the Michelin-starred kitchen, which serves up a fish-focused menu of dishes like Cornish turbot with scallop stuffed courgette and Dorset crab with bouillabaisse sauce. anglerrestaurant.com"

"Perched at the top of South Place Hotel, Angler is a Michelin-starred restaurant with a beautiful rooftop terrace, showcasing sustainable seafood from British waters with the best seasonal and local produce."

"Randall and Aubin’s resplendent window display on Brewer Street in Soho fixates onlookers in the way that the neighbourhood’s sex shops once did. The restaurant remains one of central London’s most reliable restaurants to eat fresh shellfish — a full platter costs £44.50 per person and can be upgraded with a half lobster for an additional £22.50. Its white tiling and chess board floor recalls a seafood bar of yesteryear, which, in a changing and increasingly homogenised Soho, is something that should be cherished."

"What:Randall & Aubin has been a stalwart of the London seafood scene ever since it opened in 1996. This Soho haunt is decked out with marble counters for old world glamour while the food menu consists of a mixture of English and French seafood favourites. Choose from the beautiful shellfish-on-ice display or opt for a classic such as bouillabaisse or linguine vongole.Where: 16 Brewer Street, W1F 0SQ"

"Originally London’s first butcher’s shop, this place has been transformed over the years in to a popular seafood eatery while keeping its original Victorian features. With high marble tops and stools it has an informal and friendly feel – especially thanks to the giant glitter ball above. Go classic with the the creamy moules marinieres, French fries and crusty baguette to mop it all up with."