Museums of London - Our favourite museums of London

Covering more than a century of aviation history, the world-renowned RAF Museum at Hendon boasts a superb collection of fighting aircraft, along with "hands-on" interactive displays and a wide range of aero engines, propellers and other equipment such as weaponry and navigational instruments.

Most impressive to youngsters however, are the many restored aircraft on display which include the graceful Sunderland Flying Boat, an Avro Lancaster bomber, the amazing looking Bristol Blenheim and a VTOL Harrier 'jump jet'.

Elsewhere, there's a audio-visual presentation, "Our Finest Hour", which depicts the events of the Battle Of Britain, while separate galleries allow you to learn the basic principles of flight, as well as getting 'airborne' in a Jet Provost trainer. In addition, Hendon's newest attractions include "Aeronauts" (an interactive flight-science gallery) and "Milestones of Flight".

Purpose built in 1881, the Natural History Museum occupies a beautifully ornate Victorian building which has been brought up to date inside by some wonderfully imaginative, child pleasing exhibits. Although it can only exhibit a small fraction of the items accumulated over the years (some 68 million specimens), the museum is neatly split into two main areas, the Life and Earth Galleries. Displays, which cover everything from the origins of life to exhibits on various land-based and marine species, also includes a thought-provoking journey of discovery in the Earth Gallery. With a scary (and smelly) roaring T Rex, creepy crawly gallery, interactive displays and a special children's centre in the basement, you'll find much to keep young ones happy. Admission now free.

Surpassing even our high expectations, improvements made to the Museum of London over recent years have served to reinforce its reputation as the best (and most imaginatively put together) exhibition on the city's historic past. As the largest museum of its kind in the world, over a million objects and artifacts make up its inventory, with displays of Roman relics accompanied by exhibitions covering medieval, Tudor and Victorian England.

Collections are neatly divided between London's early and more recent history, with highlights such as the Lord Mayor's coach, a mock-up of a Newgate prison cell and a section depicting typical Victorian dwellings, shops and pubs. Along with the museum's temporary exhibitions (which change every 6 months or so), a visit here is made all the more rewarding by free entry.

The Victoria and Albert Museum is the jewel in the crown of London's famous South Kensington cultural area and a "must-see" on every London itinerary.

The V&A houses 7 miles of exhibition space, containing a collection of over 4 million objects drawn from 5000 years of cultural history.

Founded in the 1850s, it now boasts the greatest and most diverse collection of decorative art and design in the world, spanning all continents and dating from 3000BC to the present day. Alongside an innovative and challenging exhibitions programme, the Museum's constantly developing permanent collections encompass artforms as varied as photography, fashion, metalwork, sculpture, glass and ceramics.

The initial collection of the Brisitsh Museum was bequeathed by the original Sloane Ranger, Sir Hans Sloane, a wealthy Chelsea doctor in 1753.

It became a magnet for all the loot being amassed by the British Empire through the 19th century. In the 1880s the natural history collections were transferred to South Kensington . It still houses the British Library where Marx plotted capitalism's downfall (Although this will soon transfer to St.Pancras). It transfered in 1997 - and is open to the public.

Key Exhibits include the Egyptian Hall, the Tomb of Payava, the Elgin Marbles & the Sutton Hoo treasure (British Museum). The Magna Carta (British Library).

Tate Modern

Tate Modern is Britain's national museum of Modern Art. Housed in the former Bankside Power Station, on the banks of the River Thames, the gallery displays the world famous Tate collection of international modern and contemporary art, including major works by Matisse, Picasso and Rothko and contemporary work by artists such as Francis Bacon, Matthew Barney, Chris Ofili and Gerhard Richter.