Odd museums in London.
Alex Fleming Laboratory MuseumTube: Paddington, (020) 7886 6528.
Through a reconstruction of his laboratory, displays and video, visitors can observe and uncover secrets of Alexander Fleming's discovery of penicillin in 1928.
Horniman Museum
Train: Forest Hill, (020) 8699 1872, www.horniman.ac.uk
Includes an exhibition room with a vast and fantastic collection of musical instruments from all over the place, including drums made from human skulls.
Bramah Museum of Tea and Coffee
Tube: London Bridge, (020) 7403 5650, www.bramahmuseum.co.uk
Everything you ever wanted to know about the importation and consumption of tea and coffee in the UK and the world.
Bank of England Museum
Tube: Bank, (020) 7601 5545, www.bankofengland.co.uk/museum
The museum tells of the Bank of England's history from its inception to its current role as the UK's central bank. Collection includes banknotes and coins, books and documents, furniture, pictures and photographs, silver, statues and other artifacts. Most notably, the museum contains the renowned Great Iron Chest and ancient balance weights ( for all those burgeoning numismatists out there.
Clink Prison
Tube: London Bridge, (020) 7403 0900, www.clink.co.uk
A harrowing vision of prisons of the past from the gaol that gave us the term "the clink".
Percival David Foundation of Chinese Art
Tube: Euston Square/Piccadilly, (020) 7387 3909, www.pdfmuseum.org.uk
London's largest collection of Chinese ceramics, promoting Chinese Culture and art under the auspices of scholar Sir Percival David. The museum includes rare pieces from the Song (960-1279) and Yuan (1279-1368) dynasties, as well as various other important Chinese ceramics finds.
Dr Johnson's House
Tube: Blackfriars Tube, (020) 7353 3745.
This was the home of Samuel Johnson from 1748 to 1759; here, he compiled the first English Dictionary. It's one of the few residential houses of its age, built in 1700.
London Transport Museum
Tube: Covent Garden Tube, (020) 7565 7299.
The museum occupies the site of a former flower market shed to the east side of Covent Garden's Piazza. It was re-opened in 1993 after a prolonged refurbishment. Buses, trains and trams abound in this child-friendly museum.
Dickens House Museum
Tube: Russell Square, (020) 7405 2127, www.dickensmuseum.com
Opened in 1925 as the last surviving home of Charles Dickens, the Dickens Museum continues to be a favourite of bibliophiles from all around the world. In it, he wrote Oliver Twist, whose effects have since coloured the Victorian age forever. Visitors can see paintings, rare editions, manuscripts and original furniture, plus more details about the famous author.
Wallace Collection.
Tube: Bond Street, (020) 7563 9500.
Considered one of the best private collections in the world, this small museum contains works from Rembrandt, Titian, Poussin and Roubiliac. Many of the best 18th Century French paintings and furniture can be seen.
Theatre Museum
Tube: Covent Garden, (020) 7943 4700.
The Theatre contains a vast array of archives and collections of live performances; portraits, posters, costumes, manuscripts and evidence deconstructing historical live performances in history; and guided walks exposing behind-the-scene secrets (paid tour).
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| Publication: | The Journal (Newcastle, England) |
|---|---|
| Geographic Code: | 4EUUK |
| Date: | Feb 3, 2007 |
| Words: | 506 |
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