Day 3 brought on a tri-fecta of museums that were conveniently bunched within a 10 minute walk from one another.
Natural History Museum (5 of 5)
Just a 10 minute walk from our rental, the concept of a Natural History museum is nothing new to a city nor is there anything in this one that is distinctly British. The big difference is that this venue is nothing short of superb in every aspect of the word. Every major city in the world has their own version of this concept and I've been to a few. So why the fuss? When you first approach the entrance, it is so dramatic and grand that you can't help but admire the architecture on the outside. Inside, they have different subject matters such as volcanoes, ecology, dinosaurs, evolution, bugs, gemstones (the list goes on...) with each section having so much thought and detail put into it that they are excellent on their own. The best part? It's FREE. They have something for everyone so if the kids get bored here - you mind as well pack up and go back on the plane since all hope would be lost. Chloe's personal favorite was the 110 karat "sundrop" diamond they had in the vault. Um, I think Daddy may have to get a second job to get that one honey...
Science Museum (4 of 5)
Around the corner from the Natural History Museum was the Science Museum. Think Telus World of Science on steroids, HGH, and everything else Barry Bonds has taken. It is a high-tech, interactive, hand-ons place with some significant historical sections paying homage to our journey's in air and space. On the ground level was a replica of the V2 rocket that spans at least 100 m that is pretty darn cool. The Launchpad area should only be entered if you don't want to leave for the next 2 hours - so beware. The kids will have fun interacting with the displays and the helpful assistants. My only real beef about the Science Museum is it seems to be very confused and disjointed. The air and space section, that represent an extremely large area, although excellent, seemed to have no place being here. Much more appropriate in an aviation type place. In addition, the third level (the "future" level) is such waste of space that I'm surprised people would spend more than 10 minutes there. But will the kids care though? Not one bit.
Victoria & Albert Museum (2.5 of 5)
We stretched it this day, but the V&A was right across the street from the Science Museum that we decided to go for it. The V&A concentrates on the history of ceramics, textiles, fashion, and jewelery. Can you imagine the conversation with your kid? "Hey Chloe. Would you like to see dinosaurs, volcanoes, and space shuttles? Or would you rather see bowls and pieces of cloth?" If you are on your own this may interest you, but with kids I would leave this to the end of the day or take in during their nap. One great surprise though - which is why I gave it 2.5 of 5, was the courtyard. It is an awesome place to relax and get away from the heat and recharge your batteries for a bit. I felt like I was in an Italian oasis there and they have a splash pond to cool down. A great picnic area!
