Science Museum

The Science Museum is London's great museum of human ingenuity, free to enter on Exhibition Road in South Kensington and one of the most family-friendly attractions in the city. It grew from the same mid-Victorian project as its neighbours, the V&A and the Natural History Museum, and its collections are full of the real objects that changed the world: steam engines that powered the industrial revolution, early locomotives, cars and aircraft, computers, medical instruments and spacecraft. The ground floor sets the tone. The Energy Hall is filled with huge mill engines, and Making the Modern World lines up icons of invention, from early steam to computers and the Apollo 10 command module that carried astronauts around the Moon. The newer Space gallery explores human spaceflight, and Information Age tells the story of communication from the telegraph to the smartphone. Higher up, the Medicine galleries are among the most thoughtful anywhere, tracing health and the human body through thousands of objects, from ancient amulets to modern prosthetics. The paid highlights are designed for children and teenagers: Wonderlab, an interactive gallery packed with live experiments, demonstrations and hands-on exhibits; the IMAX theatre; and a gaming experience. These are cheaper when booked ahead. General admission is free, and booking a free timed ticket online is recommended, especially in school holidays and at weekends. The museum is open daily, and like its neighbours it gets very busy on wet weekends, so arriving at opening time pays off.

Planning a family visit: Wonderlab is the single biggest draw for children aged roughly seven to fourteen, and its demonstrations and shows run to a schedule, so book a slot and build the rest of the day around it. For younger children, the museum has dedicated hands-on spaces and family trails, and the ground floor's giant machines impress every age. Allow at least three hours, more with Wonderlab or an IMAX film. There are cafes on site and space for picnics, and baby-changing facilities are available. Weekday afternoons during term time are the quietest, while school groups fill the mornings.

For adults without children, the Science Museum is a better museum than its family reputation suggests. The Medicine galleries, the Information Age story and the historic objects in Making the Modern World reward slow looking, and temporary exhibitions, which change through the year and are sometimes free, add depth. The museum also hosts adults-only late evenings at times, with talks, workshops and bars, which are a fun alternative to a night out. Check the What's On listings for current exhibitions and events.

Location and pairing: the museum is on Exhibition Road beside the Natural History Museum and the V&A, reached from South Kensington station through a pedestrian tunnel. Many families do the Natural History Museum's dinosaurs in the morning and the Science Museum in the afternoon, which is ambitious but achievable with older children. Hyde Park is a five-minute walk north for a run-around. On a rainy day in London with children, there is no better free option. One practical tip: the museum is large and the galleries are spread over several floors, so pick up a map at the entrance, agree a meeting point with older children, and plan a mid-visit break in one of the cafes before energy runs out. The shop is excellent for science kits and books, and makes a good last stop for souvenirs that are more interesting than the usual London fare. Above all, do not try to see everything: choose three or four galleries that match your group's interests, and save the rest for a return visit, which is easy when entry is free.