London Days Out: Museums and Galleries

Morning: London Days Out: Museums and Galleries

With an amazing collection of seven million objects dating back as far as two million years, there's plenty to see at the British Museum. Highlights include the Rosetta Stone, Parthenon sculptures and the Mummy of Katebet. Visit the British Museum website to see what activities and talks are taking place on the day of your visit.

If you prefer exploring the contemporary to the ancient, start your day at Tate Modern. This famous gallery on London's South Bank displays exhibitions by some of the world's top artists.

Lunch: London Days Out: Museums and Galleries

At Tate Modern, there are three eateries where you can have lunch: a restaurant, a café and an espresso bar.

Located on level seven, the Tate Modern Restaurant has fantastic views! The early lunch set menu costs £15.95 for two courses or £19.95 for three courses. Café2 meanwhile offers hot and cold food and refreshments.

Both offer a free kids meal with every adult main meal: perfect for an affordable family lunch. For more details, visit the Tate Modern website.

Afternoon: London Days Out: Museums and Galleries

From Tate Modern, walk along the Southbank and over the Jubilee Walkway to Trafalgar Square, home to two of London's top galleries – the National Gallery and National Portrait Gallery.

Explore the National Gallery's incredible collection of Western European paintings from the 13th to the 19th centuries. Highlights include paintings by Van Gogh, Botticelli, Da Vinci, Constable, Rubens, Vermeer and Cézanne.

At the National Portrait Gallery, you'll find more than 160,000 portraits of famous British people – from Henry VIII to Kate Moss – dating back to the 16th century.

Take a break midway and enjoy a traditional English afternoon tea in the National Dining Rooms, the National Café or National Portrait Gallery Café. Options range from a cream tea for £5.50 to a champagne afternoon tea for £16.50.

Evening: London Days Out: Museums and Galleries

From Central London, go off the beaten track and explore the vibrant art scene of East London. Whitechapel Gallery, near Algate East Tube Station, is the place to go to see contemporary and 20th-century art from around the world.

Check out the Whitechapel Gallery events programme to see what's happening on the day you visit. You might be able to squeeze in one of the regular talks, film screenings or performances. Finish your day off with dinner at Vacherin, the Whitechapel Gallery's in-house dining room, which serves a delicious menu of seasonal British produce.