Science Museum
Free national museum of science and technology on Exhibition Road, with ticketed Wonderlab and Power Up galleries; book a free timed ticket before visiting.
About Science Museum
The Science Museum on Exhibition Road is one of South Kensington's three great national museums, telling the stories of science, technology, engineering and medicine through its galleries and collections. General admission is free, but you need to pre-book a free ticket with an arrival time slot before you go.
For families, the two big draws are ticketed interactive galleries. Wonderlab has more than 50 exhibits, hands-on experiments and live demonstrations, and Power Up is a playable history of video games and consoles from the past 50 years; both are cheaper when booked ahead. The museum also runs a space programme and offers free themed visitor guides and an interactive guide in British Sign Language, English, French, German, Italian and Spanish. New galleries are under construction, so expect some building noise.
An average visit lasts around two hours, though you can stay as long as you like. It suits families with curious children, school groups and anyone interested in how things work. The museum is open daily from 10am to 6pm, with last entry at 5.15pm, and closed from 24 to 26 December; galleries start closing 30 minutes before the museum does. Enter through the main entrance on Exhibition Road. Children under 12 must be with an adult.