Museum of London

The Museum of London is one of the capital’s best museums but remains largely off the radar for most visitors. That’s not surprising when you consider that it’s encased in concrete and located above a roundabout in the Barbican. Despite this, once you’re inside it’s a fascinating walk through the various incarnations of the capital from Anglo-Saxon village to global financial centre. The first gallery here, London Before London, outlines the development of the Thames Valley from 450 million years ago. Harnessing computer technology to enliven its exhibits and presenting impressive fossils and stone axe heads in shiny new cases, it does a good job of bringing to life the ancient settlements that pre-dated the capital. Next up is the city’s Roman era, a far more interactive experience, full of interesting displays and models of how the city would have looked at the height of Roman influence. The rest of the floor takes you through the Saxon, medieval, Tudor and Stuart periods, culminating in the Great Fire of 1666. You can pause for a breather in the pleasant garden in the building’s central courtyard or head for the adjoining Museum Café, which serves light meals from 10am to 5.30pm (from 11.30am on Sunday). Alternatively, on a sunny day, pack some sandwiches and lunch in the next-door Barber Surgeon’s Herb Garden. When arriving, look for the Barbican’s gate 7; before leaving, don’t forget to have a browse through the well-stocked bookshop and check in on the temporary exhibits also held here.