BEST ... SMALL MUSEUMS

Cabinet War Rooms
The war rooms were Churchill’s underground headquarters from 1939 to 1945. They’ve been preserved as they were left in August 1945. Among the rooms on show are Mrs Churchill’s bedroom and the seat from which Winnie addressed the nation. The museum is dedicated to the life and achievements of the former British prime minister.
Churchill Museum and Cabinet War Rooms, King Charles St, SW1 (020 7930 6961 www.iwm.org.uk) Westminster tube.

Design Museum
As well as a great Thames-side location by Tower Bridge, the Design Museum has a permanent collection of modern and contemporary industrial, graphic and fashion design, architecture and multimedia, augmented by regular temporary exhibitions showcasing everything from car design to cat-carriers.
Design Museum, 28 Butlers Wharf, Shad Thames, SE1 (0870 833 9955 www.designmuseum.org) London Bridge tube/rail.

Foundling Museum
Devoted to the history of the Foundling Hospital for abandoned children started by Thomas Coram in 1739, the museum has a fine collection of paintings by Gainsborough, Reynolds and Hogarth as well as a collection of Handel memorabilia (the composer was a benefactor) and a touching social history display.
Foundling Museum, 40 Brunswick Square, WC1 (020 7841 3600 www.foundlingmuseum.org.uk) Russell Square tube.

Museum in Docklands
This museum’s not physically small – it’s in a huge warehouse that opened in 1802 to store sugar, coffee and rum – but it deserves to be much better known. The museum tells the story of the Thames, its port and the people from all over the world who settled in the area extremely well, and has an excellent WWII section. There’s an excellent adjoining restaurant-bar called 1802.
Museum in Docklands, West India Quay, Hertsmere Rd, E14 (0870 444 3857 www.museumindocklands.org.uk) Canary Wharf tube or West India Quay DLR.

Sir John Soane’s Museum
Designed by Sir John Soane to house his own eclectic collection of architectural fragments and paintings by Hogarth, Canaletto and Turner, this is a peaceful warren of a place, a domestic setting modified by the ingenious Soane to show his treasures to best advantage. Highlights include a 3,300 year-old Egyptian sarcophagus.
Sir John Soane’s Musuem, 13 Lincoln’s Inn Fields, WC2 (020 7405 2107 www.soane.org) Holborn tube.

send to a friend