One Day London Travel Museum Guide
A single day maneuvering through London's museums will prove to
be very enlightening and educational. With perhaps the world's
highest concentration of museums per square mile, the choices
are as varied as the tastes of the visitors. An itinerary of one
day, depending on energy levels, can prove to be absolutely
packed to the brim with not a moment to spare. This one-day
guide will provide the most interesting options for a packed
itinerary, and for those who want a calmer day, pick and choose
what sounds best for your energy and speed levels. As everyone
knows, London can be expensive; as not everyone knows, some of
London's best museums, like the British Museum, are free of
charge. Thus, an itinerary is provided for those who want to
spend the minimum of money seeing the maximum of London's
culture. On the other hand, some of the best museums, like the
Tower of London, are quite pricey. The London Pass can be an
economical solution, giving free entry to countless London
attractions for a set fee. Tourist-oriented museums, like Madame
Tussauds wax museum, are a category in themselves, perfect for
the day when the visitor seeks entertaining education rather
than analytical thought in a museum visit. So, let this article
be your guide through the best that London's museums have to
offer for minimal or free admission fees, through the benefits
of the London Pass, and through the attraction museums that
provide fun and fast-lane learning.
The museums in London whose permanent collections are free of
admission are not too few in number, and will fill up your one
day of London travel. To start, the British Museum is one of the
world's best-known museums, showcasing one of the widest
collections of world cultural history. Some highlights are the
Rosetta stone; the first known image of Christ; Lindow Man,
whose well-preserved 2000-year-old body was found in a bog; and
the Reading Room, where Lenin, among others, studied and wrote
plans for his Revolution that would affect the whole world.
After this contact with world heritage, promenade over to the
National Gallery on Trafalgar Square, where you can see art by
Europe's best painters and sculptors. Nearby is the National
Portrait Gallery, concentrating its collection on England's most
famous citizens throughout the centuries. For a change of taste,
follow up with the Tate, London's best modern art museum, with
paintings, photo exhibitions and installations. If you have time
at the end of the day, conclude with the Museum of London,
informing its visitors about London's history and culture. If
you're interested in London, this museum is for you; and,
presumably, you are interested in London if you've traveled all
the way to get here!
When you think of the distance you've traveled to get to
London, you may think it worth spending a few pounds while you
are here. The one-day London Pass costs 27 pounds (it can be
bought in combination with an Underground Travelcard for 32
pounds), gives you free access to countless museums, castles,
and other places of interest, saving you a good sum of money at
the end of the day. In this sample itinerary, you would save 30
pounds: start off at Kensington Palace, former home of Princess
Diana, and enjoy the museum as well as the grounds and gardens.
Next, St. Paul's Cathedral is a stunning architectural
achievement, offering stunning views of London from its cupola.
Shakespeare's renovated Globe Theatre will have the bard charm
you "encore" with his wit as you learn more about him and his
theater. In the afternoon, climb up Tower Bridge and learn about
the history and construction of this world famous bridge.
Conclude the afternoon with a tour of the Tower of London, which
will glitter your eyes with the Crown Jewels, and turn your
stomach with the tortures and mystery surrounding the prisoners
of this VIP prison, which definitely lacked in VIP treatment.
Finally, wind the evening down with a discounted West End show,
to give you a full and well-spent day discovering London's
culture. For those seeking to discover London's culture in a
more interactive setting, attraction museums are ideal. The
London Dungeon mixes history with a haunted house theme, with
museum employees and wax figures unexpectedly frightening the
visitors. In the north of London are the London Planetarium and
the neighboring Madame Tussaud's wax museum, which not only
houses the world's largest and most up to date collection of wax
figures, but also the most life-like - you will likely take a
double take to make sure Prince William isn't really standing in
front of you. For those who want to stand at the location where
"time begins", the nearby town of Greenwich, home of the Prime
Meridian, will impress you. There you can visit the Royal
Observatory, enjoy the beautiful park at the base of the
Observatory's hill, the National Maritime Museum, the famous
Cutty Sark ship, and get a feel for an English village, so close
to the metropolis of London.
Whether you choose to partake of the free collections of
London's museums, the countless options that the London Pass
provides, or the attraction museums both in and near to London,
you will be happy with the result. London's museums are very
well organized and are full of surprising facts about the city
that jump out at you from paintings, photos, sculptures,
documents, architecture, and wax figures! Any visitor is bound
to be surprised and impressed by the London they see guided by
its museums.