Best Museums in The Boot

"This former oil-fired power station sits smugly in the center of the South Bank, knowing that you’re interested in what’s going on inside. It’s filled to the rafters with paintings and sculptures by the likes of Picasso, Dali, Warhol, and Rothko, all set off perfectly by that gritty industrial interior. Of the current ticketed shows, The Making of Rodin (until November 21, tickets around $22) is a must examining the master sculptor’s more experimental side and his use of plaster, featuring over 200 works on loan from the Musée Rodin that haven’t been seen outside of France until now."

"Housed in the former Bankside Power Station, the vast collection includes works by Picasso, Warhol, Dalí, and Matisse. For a decidedly British take on modern art (1500 AD to the present day, that is), Tate Britain will be your cup of tea. Located up the Thames from Tate Modern (there’s a boat that ferries passengers between the two galleries every 40 minutes), Tate Britain is where you’ll find pieces by Turner, Hirst, and Bacon."

"Along the south bank (always worth a wander), you can stop in at Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre, the Tate Modern Art Gallery, and even quickly cross the Millennium bridge for a visit to St. Paul’s Cathedral. The Globe and St. Paul’s Cathedral are both included on the London Pass, whilst the Tate Modern is free to enter."

"Day 1: Arrive in London, Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour, the London EyeDay 2: Westminster Abbey, Buckingham Palace, Big Ben, Whitehall, Covent GardenDay 3: Tower of London, Tower Bridge, Borough Market, Tate Modern, St. Paul’s Cathedral, Sky GardenDay 4: National Gallery, Greenwich, Prime Meridian, Up at the O2Day 5: British Museum, Portobello Road Market, Victoria and Albert Museum, Harrod’s"

"The National Gallery is an art museum with a worldwide known collection of classical paintings. One of the most famous works is certainly the -Sunflowers- by Vincent van Gogh. Read which is the most well-liked British painting, where it is located and which other art works are definitely worth seeing ...Images, Info & Tips"

"Tucked behind the National Gallery, the National Portrait Gallery is the biggest collection of portraits in the world. It’s not quite as vast as the National Gallery but it’s very much worth taking your time to see the collection. One interesting thing about this free London art museum is that the paintings are chosen for the significance of the subject, not the artist."

"Where else but the National Portrait Gallery can you find oils of the Brontë sisters and William Shakespeare alongside black and white photographs of the Spice Girls and a mixed media portrait of J.K."

"In the East end of London is the V&A satellite, the Museum of Childhood. The museum has been collecting childhood related objects since 1872 and is home to one of the world’s finest collections of children’s toys, doll’s houses, games and costumes dating back to the 1600s. There’s plenty to keep kids busy with free daily activities including arts and crafts, tours, storytelling and treasure hunts."

"In Bethnal Green, this offshoot of the popular V&A museum is dedicated to the childhood experience. Your inner child will love exploring the amazing collection of toys and games from antique dolls’ houses to 1970s action figures. Kids are sure to especially love the hands-on exhibits – little wonder it’s one of the best places to visit with kids in London."

"Spanning the 1600s to the present day—toys, clothes and interactive displays are set within a 1872 hangar with marble floor and visible cast iron frame."

"It is home to Kirkaldy's giant testing machine that clocks in at more than 47 feet long, along with other smaller, modern pieces of equipment. The Kirkaldy Machine is kept in working condition at the museum. The museum is available to the public on the first Sunday of each month."

"One of London's most beloved art collections, the Courtauld is to your right as you pass through the archway into the grounds of the…"

"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–"

"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."

"Also known as the Temple of Mithras, this museum is centered around the remains of an ancient Roman temple in the City of London, left from the days of Roman rule, and is one of the lesser-known free museums in the capital. Named as one of the UK’s most significant archaeological sites, the museum showcases the ancient temple and a selection of interesting Roman artefacts found during excavations, including fragments of writing-tablets which feature the first known reference to London and the earliest hand-written document in Britain."

"One of London’s quirkier and lesser-known spots is literally a blend of old and new. The London Mithraeum is a museum centred around the ruins of a Roman Temple and is located, rather oddly, underneath the shiny glass Bloomberg Buildings in the middle of the city. A visit to the Mithraeum is not just looking at old artefacts, but a full on sensory experience."

"Year Built: c.240 CE Location: Modern-day Walbrook Purpose:  Temple/sanctuary Still Standing:  No – only partial ruins remain. photo source: Wikimedia Commons. The Temple of Mithras is one of the few remnants leftover from the Roman Empire’s time in the area and is one of the oldest buildings ever discovered in London."

"When I call this one ‘small batch’, I mean really small batch. As in, sixteen bottles a day, distilled in a humble copper pot behind the bar. Plus, it’s not just the teensy tiny production that makes Highwayman Gin one of the most unique gin tastings in London."

"In a nutshell: Portuguese food and wine for Covent Garden Where is it?. 13-15 Tavistock Street, London WC2E 7PS Why should you care?. The ex-Salt Yard Group founder returns to the fray with a Portuguese restaurant that'll start with custard tarts in the morning and move through to larger dishes in the evening."

"No list of restaurants with the best views in London would be complete without some mention of The Shard: the city’s tallest building, towering 306m above ground. Half way up on the 31st floor you’ll find Aqua, an upscale, stylish spot with floor-to-ceiling windows. Nab a table beside one of them for a truly breathtaking dining experience – particularly at night, when the London panorama is lit up with thousands of twinkling lights."

"Aqua Shard is a lively, cosmopolitan restaurant serving contemporary British cuisine. It is located on the 31st floor of London’s most recent landmark and sky scraper, The Shard, and it offers breath-taking panoramic views of London’s skyline and riverside. In the day time you can easily see Tower Bridge right round to the London Eye."

"Fast becoming one of the most iconic views of London, Aqua Shard is the ultimate venue for special occasions. Offering a modern take on traditional British produce, the chic interiors include soaring floor-to-ceiling windows, revealing a panoramic view of London’s skyline.aquashard.co.uk"

"The paparazzi don’t stalk this Notting Hill landmark as they did in the glory days of models and movie stars, but a slick, well-heeled crowd is still drawn to Will Ricker’s concept of fashionable pan-Asian small plates. Mouth-watering dim sum include scallops with lemongrass, black cod and king prawn gow gee, various dumplings, ribs and the ever-popular chilli-salt squid, while the roll call of sushi, sashimi, curries, tempura and larger plates of whole crispy sea bass with ‘three flavours’, Wagyu strip-loin or Korean lamb with kimchi will make a sizeable but delicious dent in your bank balance. The restaurant’s interior is restrained and minimalist, with dark wood and crisp white linen, although a lively flash of pink in the bar announces great cocktails and a terrific buzz."

"It does a wonderful dim sum brunch, and, by night offers tasty sushi and tempura. E&O can also be booked for special events like private dinners and parties."

"Serving irresistible Italian cuisine in casual, friendly surroundings, Prezzo Wembley uses only the finest seasonal ingredients to create their award-winning pizzas, as well as other dishes prepared with produce sourced directly from Italy, all at…"

"London Cakes & Bakes is a patisserie owned by Victoria, a skilled and well-established patisserie chef that offers delicious cakes, cupcakes and pastries that would certainly delight the sweet tooth in you. Using the finest ingredients of fruits, organic butter, free-range eggs and chocolates from the best French and Belgian suppliers, they guarantee delicious and flavourful combination that will tempt any palate. Oozing with all-natural flavours and taste, they guarantee no artificial flavouring used for the cakes that they have."

"Tahini cookie with finely chopped hazelnuts and dark chocolate chips, it’s earthy and nutty, with a lovely crispness from the sesame seeds on top. 11 Goldhurst Terrace, London NW6 3HY.Open for take-away and local delivery."