Party Trips - London South West

Weather for the London South West by the BBC

London Museums

Arsenal Museum, The Arsenal Stadium, Avenell Road, Highbury, N5 Lots of memorabilia including shirts, boots and trophies club history from 1886 to present day. Open on Fridays match days & other selected days please tel for details Tel 020 7 704 4197

Bank of England Museum, Bank of England, Bartholomew Lane EC2 Displays include GOLD BARS coins bank notes and charts the history of the bank Tel 020 7 601 5545

British Museum, Great Russell Square,one of the finest and best museums in the world Tel 020 7 323 8599

Brooklands Museum, Brooklands Road, Weybridge, KT13 Discover the birthplace of British motor sport, exhibitions of cars aircraft & the origional buildings Tel 01932 857381

The Chiltern Open Air Museum, Newland Park, Gorelands Lane, Chalfont St , Over 30 reconstructed local historical buildings including a Public convenience. Nature trails & farm animals to keep the kids happy Tel 01494 871117 Education line 01494 875542

Crystal Palace Museum, Anerley Hill, Anerley Only open Sundays & Bank Hol Mondays includes a model of the 'Crystal Palace' that was distroyed Tel 020 8 676 0700

Design Museum, 28 Shad Thames, Butlers Wharf, Southwark One of Londons inspiring attractions, based in a converted 1950's warehouse, it provides an exciting view of the world of design from cars to household objects Tel 020 7 378 6055

Harrow Museum & Heritage Centre, Headstone Mannor, Pinner View, Harrow The medieval Tithe Barn is the centre piece of this museum which is surrounded by parklands, gardens & a childrens playground Tel 020 8 861 2626

Harrow School Life Museum, Peterborough Road, Harrow on the Hill 3 different tours which take you round the Old Speach Room Gallery & museum telling of life at Harrow School. Booking is essential Tel 020 8 422 2303

The Horniman Museum & Gardens, 100 London Road, Forest Hill in beautiful gardens with views over London there are 3 permanent exhibitions 1,500 musical instruments interpreted through touch screen computers, an Anthropology section, the Living Waters Aquarium & an African World Exhibition Tel 020 8 699 1872

Imperial War Museum, Lambeth Road, Lambeth North tube Tel 020 7 416 5000

Kew Bridge Steam Museum, Green Dragon Lane, Brentford 19th Century steam powered water works, with 5 Cornish Beam Engines origionally used to pump water round West London,. Tel 020 8 568 4757

London Transport Museum, Covent Garden Market, brilliant working exhibits and other displays of Tubes trams & busses plus KidZone interactive trail Tel 020 7 379 6344

London Toy & Model Museum, 21-23 Craven Hill, Bayswater, Tel 020 7 706 8000

Lord's Cricket Ground Tour & MCC Museum, Lord's Cricket Ground, St John's Wood. With Views over the cricket ground discover the wonderful history of cricket, displayed are portraits of famous players, historic bats & The Ashes Tel 020 7 423 1033

Manor Park Museum & Library, Romford Road, Manor Park, E12 Covers the local history from Roman times to the Second World War , there are contemporary displays of communities in Newham today Tel 020 8514 0274

Museum of Fulham Palace, Bishops Avenue Fulham This museum tells the history of this historic site once the home of the Bishop of London Tel 020 7 736 3233

Museum of Mankind, 6 Burlington Gardens, Picadilly Circus or Green Park tube Tel 020 7 437 2224

Museum of London, London Wall, EC2 a superb history of the City from pre-historic times to the present day, one of the most comprehensive city museums. Tel 020 7 600 36999

Museum of the Moving Image, National Film Theatre, South Bank,SE1 Lots of fab things to do, fly like Superman, become a news reader, when you enter the magical world of film & television Tel 020 7 401 2636

Musical Museum, 368 High Street, Brentford A fine collection of 200 instruments from a music box to a grand piano Tel 020 8 560 8108

Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road,see the wonders of the world from creepy crawlies to dionsaur & volcanoes Tel 020 7 938 9123

National Army Museum, Royal Hospital Road, Chelsea, tells of the history of the British Army from the 15th Century to the present day, please tel for information on the many special events & exhibitions held Tel 020 7 730 0717

National Maritime Museum, Romney Road,Greenwich Discover more than you could ever imagine, explore 16 galleries on the past, present & future of the sea Tel 020 8 312 6565

National Postal Museum, King Edward Street, St Pauls tube Tel 020 7 239 5420

North Woolwich Old Station Museum, Pier Road, North Woolwich, E16 Restored Victorian railway station with a display of locomotives & railway vehicles Tel 020 7 474 7244

Old Royal Observatory, Greenwich Park, SE10 Designed by Wren, this is the home of the meridian line the red ball falls every day at 13.00hrs Tel 020 8 858 4422

Pollock's Toy Museum, 1 Scala Street, toys from arround the world, including Victorian toys. Tel 020 7 636 3452

Purfleet Heritage & Millitary Centre The Royal Gunpowder Magazine, No 5 Centurion Way, Purfleet, Displays of millitary uniforms & artefacts from the Airforce, Navy & Army dating from 1760 please tel for opening times Tel 01708 866764

Royal Air Force Museum, Grahame Park Way, Hendon The history of flying, from the early days through 2 world wars & a flight simulator!!! Tel 020 8 205 2266

Shoreham Aircraft Museum, High Street, Shoreham, Sevenoaks Has a permanent collection of aviation relics, uniforms & insignia from World War 2 Tel 01959 524416

Science Museum, Exhibition Road, Explore science & technology with lots of interactive galleries on 7 floors filled with scientific inventions.Tel for details of the Science Night's for kids between 8 11 yrs old on 020 7 938 9785 Tel 020 7 938 8000

The Shelock Holmes Museum, 221b Baker Street, NW1, The rooms occupied by Sherlock Holmes & Dr Watson during the late 19th CenturyTel 020 7 935 8866

Sir John Soane's Museum, 13 Lincoln Inn's Fields, the interesting home of the man who designed the Bank of England showing his collection of architectural models and more Tel 020 7 405 2107

The Theatre Museum, Russell Street, the national museum of performing arts traces the history of the theatre demonstrations & workshops for kids please tel for details Tel 020 7 836 7891

Tower Hill Pageant, Tower Hill, 2000 years of London's waterside history with computer aided displays Tel 020 7 709 0081

Twickenham Stadium & Museum of Rugby Rugby Football Union Ground, Rugby Road, Twickenham, TW1 Take a tour around the home of English Rugby & visit the museum where you can follow 75 years of rugby history Tel 020 8892 8877

Upminster Tithe Barn, Agricultural & Folk Museum,Hall Lane Upminster RM14 Over 12,500 exhibits dating from Roman times, telling the history of the area housed in an early 15th Century thatched barn Tel 01708 457266

Vestry House Museum, Vestry Road, Walthamstow E17 Local history with aninteresting collection of local artefacts, toys & games. Childrens workshops are held in the summer please tel for details Tel: 020 8509 1917

Victoria & Albert Museum, Cromwell Road,( The Activity Cart ) Explore the museums collections through drawing and making activities. Activities are suitable for children between 3 12 yrs old tel for details. Tel 020 7 938 8500

Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Museum, All England Lawn Tennis & Croquet Club, Church Road, Wimbledon SW19 Admire the magnificent Championship Trophies, see the world famous Centre Court a video theatre shows highlights of recent championships Tel 020 8946 6131

Places to Visit

Buckingham Palace, SW1 The official London residence of the Queen, during August & September the State Rooms are open to the public Tel 020 7 930 4832

Bruce Castle, Lordship Lane, Tottenham, N17 set in 20 acres of parkland Tel 020 8808 8772

Cabaret Mechanical Theatre, 33 The Market, Covent Garden, WC2 automata & push button amusements including a man in a bath of spaghetti Tel 020 7379 7961

Cabinate War Rooms, Clive Steps, King Charles Street, SW1 Winston Churchill's underground wartime headquarters just as they were in 1945 Tel 020 7 930 6961

Changing the Guard, Buckingham Palace, daily at 11.30am. FREE Tel 020 7 839 1377

Cutty Sark,King William Walk,Greenwich, SE10 brilliant tea clipper and old lady of the Horn, stand on the deck and feel the force! Tel 020 8 858 3445

FA Premier League Hall of Fame, County Hall, The Riverside Building, Westminster Bridge Road, SE1 an exciting celebration of English football Tel 0870 848 8484

The Golden Hinde, St Mary Overie Dock, Cathedral Street, SE1 Reconstruction of Francis Drake's 16th Century ship Tel booking line 08701 505041

Hampton Court Palace, East Molesey, begun in 1514 and finished - well you'll see - and don't miss the famous maze Tel 020 7 781 9500

Hendon Royal Air Force Museum,Hendon, signed from M1 Junction 4 Tel 020 8 205 9191 (24hr info line) / 020 8 205 2266

HMS Belfast, Morgans Lane, Tooley Street, SE1 Europes only surviving big gun armoured war ship from the 2nd World War Tel 020 7 940 6300

Kensington Palace State Apartments, great for children Tel 020 7 937 9516

Tower of London, Tower Hill, EC3 One of Londons oldest landmarks with over 900 years of history, see the Crown Jewels on display as well as the Bloody Tower Tel 020 7 709 0765

London Aquarium, County Hall, Riverside Building, Westminster Bridge Road, SE1 ,3 floors of watery beasts & sea life Tel 020 7 967 8000

London Butterfly House, Syon Park, Brentford TW8 See the tropical butterflies in an indoor garden & other creepy crawlies (behind glass) thank heavens!!!!! Tel 020 8 560 7272

London Dungeon, 28-34 Tooley Street, SE1 Famous museum of horror displayed in waxworks Tel 020 7 403 7221

London Eye Very big ferris wheel on the South Bank, opposite Westminster, next to the old GLC building offering fantastic views

London Planetarium, Marylebone Road, NW1 Take a virtual reality journey to the planets & the solar system an inter-galactic treck across the Universe Tel 020 7 935 6861

London Zoo,Regent's Park, London, NW1 Lots & lots to do & see, a brilliant day out Tel 020 7 722 3333 Childrens birthday parties tel 020 7 449 6381

Madame Tussauds, Marylebone Road, NW1 famous waxworks the chamber of horrors is a real hit with children (not advised for the very young or sensitive) also popular is the 'black taxi ride' through London's past. Tel 020 7 935 6861

Namco Station, County Hall, Westminster Bridge Road, SE1 video games, simulators,dodgems & tecno bowling Tel 020 7 967 1066

Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, fabulous gardens and plantlife, well worth a visit Tel 020 8 940 1171

Royal Mews, Tel 020 7 839 1377

Shakespeare's Globe, New Globe Walk, Bankside, SE1 a variety of programmes fo all ages Tel 020 7 401 9919

Stage by Stage, do backstage tours around the Old Vic & Prince Edward theaters, West End Tel 020 7 328 7558

Thames Barrier Visitors Centre, 1 Unit Way, WoolwichSE18, views of the barrier & exhibitions Tel 020 8 305 4188

Tower Bridge Experience, Tower Bridge, SE1, visit inside the most famous bridge in London Tel 020 7 378 1928

Tower Hill Pageant, Tower Hill, 2000 years of London's waterside history with computer aided displays Tel 020 7 709 0081

Tottenham Hotspur Football Club Stadium, Bill Nicholson Way, 748 high Road, Tottenham N17 please tel for details of tours which need to be booked in advance Tel 020 8365 5000

Trocadero, 13 Coventry Street, W1 high tech attractions, restaurants, shops for techno-teans!!! Tel 0891 8811

Westminster Abbey, Parliament Square, brilliant Gothic buildings with museun too Tel 020 7 222 5152

London Galleries

Courtauld Institute Galleries, Somerset House, The Strand, fantastic collection of Impressionist paintings Tel 020 7 435 2543

Hayward Gallery, South Bank Centre a world renown gallery Tel 020 7 928 3144

National Gallery, Charing Cross, special exhibitions Tel 020 7 839 3321

National Portrait Gallery, St Martin's Place, fine selection of portraits Tel 020 7 306 0055

Royal Academy of Arts, Piccadilly, runs major exhibitions Tel 020 7 439 7438

Tate Gallery, Millbank, Tel 020 7 887 8000

Queen's Gallery, Buckingham Palace Road, part of the Royal collection Tel 020 7 839 1377

Animals - Zoos & Farms

Battersea Park Zoo, Battersea Park, Battersea SW11 Lots to do & sea farmyard & exotic animals the kids will love the pony rides Tel 020 8 871 7540

Hyde Park Riding Stables, 63 Bathhurst Mews, London W2 Caters for kids of all ages & abilities aged over 5 closed Mondays Tel 020 7 723 2813

London Zoo,Regent's Park, London, NW1 Lots & lots to do & see, a brilliant day out Tel 020 7 722 3333 Childrens birthday parties tel 020 7 449 6381

Hackney City Farm, 1a Goldsmith's Row, Hackney E2 Come & feed the animals. Facilities include visitors centre cafe & shop, activities for kids & those with special needs.Tel 020 7 729 6381

Bus Tours, the Big Bus Co provides open top bus tours with comentary and hop-on-off option at 31 points, call for details Tel 020 8 944 7810

Jason's Canal Boat Trip, opposite 60 Bloomfield Road, London. goes up and down the Regents Canal - Little Venice to Camden Market, 1.5 hrs Tel 020 7 286 3428

Catamaran Cruisers, Charing Cross Pier, Victoria Embankment. Regular trips to the Tower of London and Greenwich (Thames Barrier), a great way to view London Tel 020 7 839 3672

Woolwich Ferry, 10 miles east of London Bridge and in sight of the Thames Barrier, crosses all day and is FREE

Twickenham Experience, Twickenham, includes the museum of rugby Tel 020 8 892 2000 Wembly Stadium Tours, Wembly, Tel 020 8 902 8833