Museums & Landmarks in United Kingdom

London holds 89 of the 188 places here, and the big names cost nothing to enter. The British Museum, Science Museum, Victoria and Albert Museum and The National Gallery are all free, but they suit different children. Reviewers of the British Museum say to pick two or three galleries, such as the Egyptian mummies or the Rosetta Stone, and collect a family activity backpack at the information desk. The Science Museum has a downstairs play space for toddlers; SilverSpoon London describes its Garden area as a place under-fives explore water, light and sound through play. The V&A rewards older children and teens, with sparse interactive zones for toddlers, while the National Gallery runs a Welcome family space at weekends and in school holidays.

For younger children, Young V&A is compact, roughly an hour, and built for ages 0 to 8. The Postal Museum hinges on the Mail Rail ride, which runs on timed entry, so do it first. At London Transport Museum the ticket doubles as a year-long pass, and SilverSpoon London notes children go free. Paid attractions split by age: Madame Tussauds London suits children of 6 and up who follow sport or Marvel, Shrek's Adventure London lands best with children who know the films, and The London Dungeon is for brave nine-year-olds and older.

Manchester has 12 entries. Science and Industry Museum and Manchester Museum are free, the latter strong on dinosaurs, mummies and a live Vivarium, and National Football Museum takes one to two hours with a year-long ticket. Edinburgh Castle is paid and needs three to four hours; reviewers time visits around the one o'clock gun. Eureka! The National Children's Museum in Halifax covers ages 0 to 11 with an annual pass priced like a single visit.