Victoria and Albert Museum

The Victoria and Albert Museum in South Kensington is one of the world's great decorative arts museums, and it is far more family-friendly than its grand reputation might suggest. The permanent collection is free and covers an astonishing range: fashion through the centuries, Renaissance masterpieces, Islamic tilework, Japanese lacquerware, European furniture, and the famous Cast Courts where enormous plaster reproductions of world-famous sculptures stand two stories high. For families, the sheer variety means there is something to genuinely capture almost every child's imagination.

The V&A regularly runs family-focused activities and trails, particularly during school holidays, and the dedicated Family Activity Room offers drop-in making and creative sessions. The building itself is spectacular — vaulted ceilings, ornate ironwork, and the beautiful mosaic-tiled dining rooms that are among the most photogenic spaces in any museum anywhere. Those Victorian tearoom spaces serve food and are worth a visit in their own right.

With children in tow, it helps to pick two or three galleries that match your family's interests rather than trying to cover everything — the museum is genuinely vast and can be overwhelming if you approach it without a plan. The Friday late-night openings (until 10pm) are perfect for families with older kids or teens who want a quieter experience.