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Most museum visits are an hour snatched between other plans. A few London collections, though, reward giving them the whole day, and the fact that the great ones are free makes that an easy decision.
The British Museum
You could visit the British Museum a dozen times and still miss things. Our advice is to choose two or three galleries rather than marching through everything, then come back another day for the rest. It anchors any trip built around London's museums.
The Victoria and Albert Museum
The Victoria and Albert Museum is the one we send design lovers to first. It is enormous, generous and quietly overwhelming in the best way. Give it a long, slow morning and a coffee break in the courtyard.
The Natural History Museum
The Natural History Museum is a favourite with families and with anyone who still feels a flicker of wonder under that great roof. It sits a short walk from the V and A, so the two make a natural pair for a day in South Kensington.
None of these need to cost a penny, which is why they feature so heavily in our free things to do guide. Plan a day, pace yourself, and let the building do the rest. The full list lives on our places to visit page.
