On Saturday I was down on the South Bank taking a look at the Christmas market before heading to Covent Garden. I thought I'd share with you some photos I'd taken on the day!
19 November 2013
05 November 2013
SCIENCE MUSEUM
The Science Museum was founded in 1857 and is located on Exhibition Road (where the Natural History and V&A are also situated). The museum is open 10:00-18:00 everyday, excluding the 24th-26th December. During school holidays the museum closes at 19:00.
Split into a number of different galleries there is a lot to see at this museum. Whether it's Exploring Space or Visiting the Modern World with over 300,000 items there is plenty around to take a look at. It's not just items to look at but there are also a number of interactive points in various galleries throughout. The museum, like many others in London, is free to enter with temporarily exhibitions costing an additional charge.
It's not just the galleries and interactive experiences that are housed in this museum there are also 3D films and experiences as well.Some of 3D films that are currently showing include Hubble 3D - "Journey through distance galaxies on this mission to service the Hubble Space Telescope" and Penguins 3D: "A heartwarming tale of a very special King Penguin". Tickets for these films cost £10 for adults, concessions £8 and family tickets are also available. You can also attend tours of certain areas of the museum so definitely check out their website if you want to know more about that!
So whether you have a slight interest in space or are just interested in a variety of different things I'd really suggest heading down to the Science Museum to try out something new. Perfect for a rainy day or just a general browse there is plenty inside to keep you occupied for many hours.
Nearest tube station: South Kensington
22 October 2013
VICTORIA AND ALBERT MUSEUM - V&A
The Victoria and Albert Museum (also known as the V&A) is set near the Natural History Museum, on Exhibition Road. It is the world's largest museum of decorative arts and design, housing a permanent collection of over 4 million objects housed within. It was founded in 1982 and is named after Queen Victoria and her husband Prince Albert. Entry to the museum is completely free but as with many museums like this they do ask for donations to keep it running. The museum is open from 10:00 - 17:45 daily. On Fridays 10:00 to 22:00 (selected galleries remain open after 18.00).
The museum is split into 5 sections:
Exhibitions
There are currently two ticket ticketed exhibitions that are running. These are Pearls (21 September 2013 - 19 January 2014) and Club to Catwalk: London Fashion in the 1980s (10 July 2013 – 16 February 2014).
Asia
This section houses pieces from China, Islamic Middle East, Japan, Korea, South Asia and South East Asia as well as Sculpture section.
Materials & Techniques
Housing a range of articles and pieces on a variety of materials from glass to silver, there is a lot to see in this section of the museum. Whether it's stained glassed windows or old tapestries there is something for everyone to take a look at. There is also a section within dedicated to fashion showing a variety of pieces from different periods and styles. This is where the exhibition Club to Catwalk is held.
Europe
Take a look at pieces from 1500-1760 Britain before traveling through Britain in 1760 - 1900. Then there is the chance to look at pieces from Raphael and the Medieval & Renaissance pieces. Also housed within are pieces from Europe from the period of 1600-1800 and Europe & America from 1800-1900. With this section containing some of the largest in the museum there is a lot of delicate and intricate detailing to look at on these pieces.
Modern
The final section is Modern showing pieces from the 20th Century.
As well as the exhibitions and the various pieces there are also shops with in the museum and also a cafe/restaurant to allow for you to grab something to eat whilst having a break from browsing the museum.
The V&A is a place where you could spend hours discovery and I would highly recommend it. With so many things housed in a incredible building it really is worth visiting if you find yourself with a spare day or couple of hours in London.
Nearest tube station: South Kensington
15 October 2013
NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM
With free entry, as well as some ticketed exhibition, there is a lot to see all under one roof. The museum is split into four different zones.
- The Blue Zone is one of the larger ones showcasing dinosaurs, mammals, human biology, marine invertebrate and fishes,amphibians & reptiles.
- The Red Zone is more physical geography natural history whose galleries include; Earth's treasury, From the beginning, The Power within and Earth today & Tomorrow.
Until January 2014 the Power Within Gallery, located in the Red Zone, is closed due to refurbishment.
- The Green Zone houses birds, minerals, creepy crawlies, ecology and Our Place in Evolution.
- Finally, the Orange Zone features the Attenborough Studio, the Cocoon (entrance), the Wildlife Garden (entrance outside) and the Zoology Spirit Building.
As well as the permanent galleries, temporary exhibitions are also run through the year at various points. A temporary exhibition showing at the moment is Wildlife Photographer of the Year. This is running from 18th October 2013 - 23rd March 2014. The tickets for this cost Adult £12, child and concessions £6. As well as the temporary exhibtions there is also the ice rink, outside the builiding, open from 31st October - 5th January 2014. Tickets for that are Adults £12.65 and Child £8.80 with family tickets also available.
With so many things to see and do at the museum, where the majority is free, it's really worth heading down there for the day. Whilst your down in South Kensington you can also check out the Science Museum (located next door) or the V&A which is slightly up the road. For information on what they have there as well as findning out what other exhibitions are currently showing, check out their website http://www.nhm.ac.uk/index.html.
Nearest tube station: South Kensington
08 October 2013
COVENT GARDEN
I really enjoy taking photographs and documenting days out or places I've visited. As I now live in London I really wanted to start a new series doing posts documenting places I visit or things I've seen whilst around the city. I hope you enjoy these posts as much as I know I'll enjoy visiting the places and taking the photos!
First up Covent Garden! A well known and popular shopping and tourist attraction, Covent Garden is a place worth visiting whilst you're in London. With a mix of food, shops and culture there is plenty to see.
Theatres nearby include the Theatre Royal Drury Lane, currently showing Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and the Lycuem Theatre, where The Lion King is shown. So if you fancy seeing a show, it's worth visiting Covent Garden for a bite to eat before or after you catch a performance. Other attractions around the area include the London Transport Museum and the Royal Opera House.
In terms of food there are plenty of restaurants and places to eat to choose from. For those with a sweet tooth I'd recommend grabbing a Ben's Cookie or a Crème de la Crêpe. If you fancy a more savory affair then Jamie Oliver's Union Jacks is great for a place to sit down and eat. When looking for something a bit quicker and for on the go you can try one of the many foods created in the lower courtyard areas such as the huge paella served just outside Sass & Belle.
Not only is there shops and restaurants to keep you occupied but Covent Garden is known for having street artists so make sure you check those out. For the best experience of seeing these street performers I'd recommend heading down at the weekend as there is a greater variety of acts.
Covent Garden isn't just the main market area and courtyards it spreads a bit further a field, so make sure to have a good look around all the back streets to find some hidden shops when you visit!
Nearest tube station : Covent Garden.
I hope you enjoyed this post and thanks for reading!
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