Bank of England Museum

Amidst the gloom of recession, tumbling share prices and major banks making headlines for all the wrong reasons, where better to go than the Bank of England Museum, I thought.

This museum traces the history of the Bank from its foundation in 1694 and I was surprised to discover that there were still several branches operating within the UK until as recently as 1997. The first room you enter is the Bank Stock Office by Sir John Soane, a reconstruction of a late 18th century banking hall. Here there was a special exhibition on inflation entitled "The Pound in your Pocket". You can have great fun with various gizmos ( including a hot-air balloon simulator!) to find out just how much the cost of your pint or football ticket has risen over the last 50 years or so.

Moving on to the Rotunda, here there are various showcases including some of the Bank's extensive collection of silver. Learn about the "gold standard", how to detect forged banknotes and discover the connection between the author of "The Wind In The Willows", Kenneth Grahame, and the Bank of England.

For most visitors the highlight of the trip will be the opportunity to handle a genuine 13 kilogram gold bar inside a heavily-protected case. Lifting this bar with one hand took all my strength but was well worth the effort. Incidentally, the gold bar is currently valued at £249,000.

The Museum is lively, fun, educational, and the staff friendly and helpful. Nor will it cost you a single ounce of gold to enter since admission is free to all.