Image via Robert Course Baker on Flickr.
There are over 240 museums in London and a museum date is a great way to learn new things, keep the conversation flowing and bond with your date. Here are 10 ideas for a cool museum date in London.
1) The National History Museum, South Kensington
Go to the National History Museum and you’ll stay entertained all day long! There are 70 million specimens from different areas of national history. Some of the most unique things include a 42,000 year old baby Mammoth discovered in Siberia in 2007. You’ll also see the Dinosaur gallery and take a peek into the labs to see scientists live in action.
2) The London Science Museum, South Kensington
Be mesmerised by the seven floors of fascinating exhibits including an Apollo 10 flight simulator, a Medical History Gallery and an in-house IMAX cinema. You’ll learn about everything from astronomy to biochemistry to meteorology! An educational, interactive and exciting day out!
3) Tate Modern, Bankside
A magnificent collection of modern and contemporary art, a visit to Tate Modern will be a feast for your eyes. It’s the most visited art gallery in the world, thanks to its eccentric pieces, ever-changing installations and masterpieces by famous artists such as Picasso, Matisse and Pop art by Lichtenstein and Warhol.
4)The Victoria and Albert Museum, South Kensington
With the tagline ‘the world’s greatest museum of art and design’ – you’ll certainly be dazzled by the treasures waiting for you in the V&A galleries. Entry is free and some of the most interesting things including a 11-by-10 foot wide bed mentioned in Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night, a jumpsuit worn by Mick Jagger and five of Leonardo da Vinci’s notebooks.
5) National Gallery, Trafalgar Square
With over 2000 works of art, the National Gallery is a must-visit London museum with some of the most famous paintings in the world on display. Get up close to Vincent van Gogh’s ‘Sunflowers,’ Claude Monet’s ‘The Water Lily Pond’ or Sandro Botticelli’s ‘Venus and Mars’. There’s also a lovely cafe offering modern European cuisine such as ricotta gnocchi, crab linguini, smoked duck salad or you can sample “The National Afternoon Tea.”
6) Grant Museum of Zoology, Bloomsbury
This place certainly ticks the weird and wonderful box! There are over 67,000 preserved animals scattered around the building. You’ll see skeletons, taxidermy and specimens preserved in jars of fluid. You’ll see the full range of the animal kingdom from dodo bones to starfish to the remains of a rare creature called a Quagga. If you’re looking for a strange date that’s more unusual than any place you’ve been before – this is it! Perhaps warn your date beforehand though in case they are squeamish!
7) The Charles Dickens Museum, Holborn
Literature fans – this is the place for you! A Museum in the building where Dickens once lived, with a collection of fascinating artefacts including rare photographs, paintings and books. You’ll get a unique insight into the life of Dickens and the room he worked from when writing some of the world’s most famous novels such as Oliver Twist.
8) The Cartoon Museum, Bloomsbury
If you love old comic books and animations, The Cartoon Museum is the place for you. A quaint museum in Bloomsbury that opened in 2006 and has a collection of comic strips, caricatures, British cartoons and animations from the 18th century to the present day. There are over 6000 books about cartoons and comics, and an additional 6000 comics to browse through so you’ll never get bored here!
9) Sherlock Holmes Museum, Baker Street
Sherlock Holmes fans rejoice! It’s time to grab your hat and magnifying glass and step back in time as you visit that famous address :“221b Baker Street!” This museum is dedicated to the world’s most famous fictional detective and the rooms have been recreated as they’re described in the Sherlock Holmes books. Get ready to wander around ‘The Study’, Dr Watson’s room and there’s even a gift shop at the end of your tour in case you want any Sherlock souvenirs.
10) National Portrait Gallery, Leicester Square
This is the place to come to learn about Britain’s icons throughout the ages. It was the first public portrait gallery in the world and has over 195,000 portraits of famous Brits from Tudor times to today. Some of the highlights include four Andy Warhol silkscreens of Queen Elizabeth II, portraits of Oliver Cromwell, Dr Johnson, Charles Dickens and most recently, the portrait of Catherine, the Duchess of Cambridge. It’s free to get in, all that is requested is a small donation.
Next time you’re thinking about meeting for a day date – a museum could be your perfect option! From portraits of the Queen to old comic books and dinosaur skeletons, London has so much to offer.