1. British Museum

Great Russell Street, EC1
0207 636 1555
Holborn or Russell Square
A fabulous collection of classical antiquities, archaeological finds, prints, drawings and coins, gathered from the furthest reaches of the British Empire. Famous exhibits include the Rosetta Stone and the Elgin Marbles; the manuscript collection includes everything from the Magna Carta to Beatles lyrics. The Museum's unparalleled collection of mummies, coffins, funerary stauettes, amulets and Books of the Dead is on display in the Roxie Walker Galleries. When you visit, check at the information desk for the current exhibitions - they are always well worth seeing.
Mon-Sat 10.00-17.00; Sun 12.00-18.00; free

2. Madamé Tussaud's/Planetarium

Marylebone Road, NW1
0207 935 686
Baker Street
Renowned life-size waxworks museum featuring the famous and the infamous; includes the gruesome Chamber of Horrors. New models are added all the time; look out for the Time 100 People of the Century exhibition. The Planetarium features shows daily from 12.20 (10.20 on weekends); call 0207 486 1121 for details.
Daily 10.00-17.30; combined tickets £12.95/ £9.80 concs/ £8.50 children
Madamé Tussaud's £10.50/ £8 concs/ £7 children
Planetarium £6.30/ £4.65 concs/ £4.20 children

3. National Gallery

St Martin's Place,
Trafalgar Square, WC2
0207 747 2885
Charing Cross
An enormous collection of over 2000 works of art, representing all the leading schools of Western European painting from the 13th to the end of the 19th century. The quality and range of the pictures on display is remarkable. Don't miss the Micro Gallery, where you can see any painting in the collection and print out a reproduction.
Daily 10.00-18.00, Wed till 21.00; free

4. Natural History Museum

Cromwell Road, SW7
0207 938 9123
South Kensington
One of London's greatest museums, showing nature through the ages and housed in a magnificent building. First stop should be the giant dinosaur skeleton in the massive central hall (look up; the ceiling is beautifully painted) the and the rest of the collection of assorted dinosaur bits and pieces. The museum also holds a fake, full-size whale, some very educational a-v displays on every subject from insects to conservation, an extensive collection of stuffed animals and the Creepy-Crawlies exhibit, which features an ant colony in a 6-metre-high termite mound. Split between the Earth Galleries and the Life Galleries, this one of London's most imaginative and enjoyable museums. Daily 10.00 (Sun 11.00)-17.50; £6.50/ £3.50 concs/ children under 16 free; free after 16.30 (17.00 weekends)
The splendid interior of St. Paul's Cathedral

5. St Paul's Cathedral

St Paul's Churchyard, EC4
0207 236 4128
St Paul's
Christopher Wren's masterpiece, completed in 1610, is the fifth cathedral to be built on this site (the last one was destroyed during the Great Fire). The cathedral somehow survived the Blitz and has come to be a towering London symbol. Try out the Whispering Gallery; the hardy can climb the 627 steps to the dome for an unparalleled view over London. A breathtaking building and an unmissable sight. Mon-Sat 08.30-16.00; galleries 10-16.00; £4/ £3.50 concs/£2 children

6. Science Museum

Exhibition Road, London SW7
0207 938 8080
South Kensington
World-class museum of scientific discoveries crammed with information and packed with child-friendly displays. Have a look in the Space Gallery and the Apollo 10 command module. Leave the children at the Launch Pad playing interactive flying games and see the Time section, which traces the technology of clocks, or the Medicine sections on the fourth and fifth floors. One of London's best; well worth visiting and revisiting.
Daily 10.00-18.00; £6.50 adults/ £3.50 concs /free children; extra charge for some special exhibitions

7. Tate Gallery

Millbank, SW1
0207 887 8734
Pimlico
Splendid neo-classical exterior and contemporary Clore Gallery extension house national collections of British paintings (dating from the 15th century) from all periods as well as a respected collection of international modern paintings and sculpture. The Art Now space is dedicated to changing displays by young contemporary artists. The Tate Gallery of Modern Art is due to open in the former Bankside power station in May.
Daily 10.00-18.00; free (charge for for special exhibitions)

8. Tower of London

Tower Hill, EC3
0207 709 0765
Tower Hill
The Crown Jewels, the Bloody Tower, the site where Walter Raleigh was imprisoned for 13 years, inscriptions carved by people on their way to the executioner's block, the Beefeaters, the ravens, Traitor's Gate and an excellent display of arms and armour: the Tower is almost as old as the millennium and is an integral part of London's history. A good introduction is provided by the entertaining (free) guided tours hosted by the Beefeaters, who are apparently limitless sources of information about every aspect of the Tower.
Tues-Sat 09.00-16.00, Sun & Mon 10.00-16.00, March until 17.00; £11(call for child and concessionary rates)

9. Victoria & Albert Museum

Cromwell Road, SW7
0207 938 8500
South Kensington
Houses the world's greatest collection of decorative arts, which includes a huge silver collection, porcelain, sculpture, portrait miniatures, the Raphael Cartoons and Oriental and classical treasures. The Dress and Jewellery collections are popular. 145 glorious galleries to get lost in.
Daily 10.00-17.45; £5/£3 concs

10. Westminster Abbey

Broad Sanctuary,SW1
0207 222 5152
St James's Park
An architectural masterpiece, first consecrated in 1065 as the Norman church built for Edward the Confessor, with subsequent bits added by Henry III in the 13th century, Henry VII in 1503 and, finally, Hawksmoor in 1745. Throughout its existence, the Abbey has been linked to Royalty: every king and queen of England has been crowned here since William the Conqueror in 1066. Many are also buried here. The interior of the church is stuffed with monuments to statesmen, scientists, musicians and poets. Can close at short notice, so it's best to phone ahead to check. The Jewel Tower and St Margaret's Church, on the same site, are well worth a visit, too. Verger-guided tours every day (£3); call ahead for times.
Mon-Fri 09.30-15.45, Sat 09.30-13.45, closed Sun, except for worship; £5/£3 concs/£2 children