Best History Museum in Richmond

"You could spend several lifetimes in the British Museum, Britain’s largest museum, without running out of artifacts to ponder. The collection is one of the largest in the world, arranged by location (Ancient Egypt, Asia, Africa, the Middle East, and Greece and Rome), and the list of big hitters includes the Rosetta Stone and other finds from Ancient Egypt, Asia and the Middle East. Come early on a weekday for a less crowded experience, pick one gallery and stick to it (or go for a guided “Highlights” tour), and plan to hit one of the day’s free 30-minute taster talks."

"As its name suggests, The National Gallery is a government-sponsored museum that ranks, after The Louvre, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, and the British Museum, as the 4th most visited museum in the world. The National Gallery is particularly known for its encyclopedic art collection, with works from artists including da Vinci, van Gogh, Botticelli, Michelangelo, Raphael, Titian, El Greco, Rembrandt, Goya, Delacroix, Cézanne, Monet, and Renoir."

"The British Museum, located in the Bloomsbury area is the first public institution national museum in the world. dedicated to human history, art and culture. Its permanent collection presents the evolution of global human culture throughout history."

"If walls could talk, Westminster Abbey would have plenty to say!. The site of every coronation since 1066, this Gothic church is the final resting place for 17 monarchs, Sir Isaac Newton, Charles Dickens, Sir Laurence Olivier, and many, many others. It’s also a favourite for royal weddings—in 2011 Prince William married Kate Middleton here."

"Westminster Abbey is one of the most important historical places in London. The royal abbey church dates back almost a thousand years. It is also the burial place of many of Britain’s kings and queens."

"The Museum of London is a history museum focused on the history of London dating back to prehistoric times with a special focus on the city's social history. The Museum of London sits on the edge of the oldest part of the city, with the ruins of the Roman city wall in its sights. With more than six million objects in its collection, the museum houses the world's biggest urban history collection."

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"The museum tells the stories of the different industries that used the River Wandle. Such as Young’s Brewery, William Morris and Liberty’s."

"Housed in the old ordnance factory, displays of local history with maps, photos and artefacts from the Roman era to the 20th century."

": 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!"

"The British Library is the largest national library in the world, with an estimated 200+ million items in its collection. As well as its many books, the library holds historic manuscripts, maps, stamps, photographs and even music from every age of written civilisation. Visit the ‘Treasures of the British Library Gallery‘ to see some of its most significant items, including the Magna Carta, original writings from both Charles Dickens and Shakespeare, Michelangelo’s anatomical illustrations, one of the earliest Qur’ans and a copy of the world’s oldest dated complete printed book, the Diamond Sutra."

"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–"

"Soho is proudly unique and non-conforming, so you’d expect any gin distilled there to offer something that bit different. With 12 botanicals and made according to 11th century methods, the King of Soho doesn’t disappoint. Made by the son of late Soho personality Paul Raymond, this tipple is a love letter to the borough."

"Restaurants Chinese Mayfair. Pink cherry blossoms, swathes of rich red velvet and taffeta, a jazz quartet playing – welcome to Park Chinois, Mayfair’s sumptuous take on a 1930s Shanghai speakeasy. It’s a long way from spaghetti and meatballs, but you can indulge your deepest ‘Lady and the Tramp’ fantasies here by ordering the udon ‘carbonara’– an Asian ode to Italian trattoria richness that’s perfect for the restaurant’s slinky boudoir glitz."

"Despite the top-hatted concierges at the front door, Park Chinois on Berkeley Street remains something of a hidden gem – a sexy, tasty secret you’re not likely to forgot once you’ve discovered it. Not that you have to make the pilgrimage to Mayfair to enjoy a serving of 1930s Shanghai. Park Chinois at Home now operates seven-days-a-week, within a three-mile radius of the restaurant, from 12pm to 11pm."

"Dripping in decadence, the takeaway menu from Park Chinois is every bit as luxurious as the restaurant’s signature over the top interiors. Kick things off with a whole crispy duck or go all-in with one of the three choices of caviar (although you’ll have to have a spare £100-300 spare for that). Mains include Wagyu beef, Iberico pork, black cod, lobster and king crab."

"A London-based chain of restaurants, Ping Pong offers some of the best Dim Sum you'll ever consume. With a menu as long as your arm, there's plenty to choose from and you'll need to be lifted out on a crane after trying their huge variety of dumplings, buns, rolls and more. Highlights on the menu are the Honeyed Chicken Chilli Rice Pot, the Crispy Duck Spring Roll and the Spicy Chicken and Chinese Vegetable Dumpling."

"What: We would have included Ping Pong’s ‘Lazy Sumday’ menu solely on the merit of its punny title, but it turns out its substance is as good as its name. For less than £30, you can fill up on baos, buns and dumplings until your heart’s (or stomach’s) content. And, as if unlimited dim sum wasn’t enough, you can also add a bottle of prosecco to your lunch for a tenner."

"Dealing exclusively in dim sum dishes, cocktails and Chinese tea, these lively, modern venues – located across London – are great for either a snack or a full-scale meal."