Science Museum

In 1857 the South Kensington Museum was established and it contained of a significant collection of science and art pieces. Over the years as the collections grew, the museum slowly became two; the art collection forming the Victoria & Albert Museum, and all things scientific formed the Science Museum - a fabulous hands-on and interactive house of education and fun for all.

Located on Exhibition Road beside the Natural History Museum, the Science Museum is seven floors of over 300,000 impressive scientific items such as the famous Stephenson's Rocket and Puffing Billy (both early locomotives), amongst sections covering space travel, medicine, telecommunications, chemistry, time measurement, photography and computing.

Galleries and displays to explore include 'The Science and Art of Medicine', 'The Rosse Mirror' (the largest telescope in the world for 50 years), 'On Air' is where you can create your own radio programme or be superstar DJ, 'Flight' is for aviation fanatics and discover how humans can survive in 'Space'.

Something you can't miss is the 'Wellcome Wing' where you can morph your face in 'Who Am I?', ask questions and play future games at 'In Future' and explore 'Antenna', a constantly changing exhibition devoted to current science and technology news. The relatively new 'Dana Centre' is an experimental café/bar designed as a place for adults to discuss the controversial aspects of science and it has also been used as a venue for stand-up comics to mock scientific myths, for debating and even as a venue for a live heart by-pass operation.

A must is the 3D IMAX Cinema. For those who have never experienced an IMAX theatre then make sure you go. If you have been before, then there's no doubt you will be busting to go again. This is no normal cinema experience; you actually do feel like you're swimming with the sharks, stepping on the moon or being blown around by a tornado.

For children the Science Museum is great. On the basement level is 'The Garden', a great space for kids to play and learn at the same time, and 'Science Night Sleepover' nights are a lot of fun and very educational for children aged between 8 and 11 years.

Entry is free to the Science Museum, although there are fees for the IMAX Cinema, Simulator rides and entry to some of the special exhibitions. The museum is open seven days a week from 10am. Both the Science Museum Store and Ottakar's Bookshop are great for picking up souvenirs and educational books and toys. The Deep Blue Café on the ground floor is excellent for recharging the batteries with a great fresh menu, activity boxes for the kids and fab views of the 'Welcome Wing'.

South Kensington underground station is only a short walk from the museum through a connecting subway, running on the District, Circle and Piccadilly lines. Gloucester Road tube station is also an option further down Cromwell Road. There are also several bus routes passing by. Parking is very limited and expensive in the area so you really are best to travel on public transport; however there are spaces available for metered parking on Exhibition Road.

For up to date details on current exhibitions, events and general information head to the Science Museum website.