Natural History Museum

The scale hits you first when you walk through those heavy doors on Cromwell Road. The Natural History Museum is vast - genuinely, almost oppressively vast - and you'll need far longer than you think to do it justice.

Inside, the famous dinosaur skeleton dominates the main hall and it's worth seeing once, though it's surrounded by school groups most days. The real draw for me was the mineralogy collection and the geology galleries, which are genuinely world-class. You can easily spend three hours here without scratching the surface.

Families with kids under eight might find it overwhelming - the place can feel crowded and there's a lot of standing about reading labels. Teenagers interested in natural sciences will be properly absorbed. Adults who like museums will find themselves coming back to tackle different sections on different visits.

It's free to enter, though donations are requested and your wallet will definitely take a hit at the gift shop. Go early on a weekday morning if you can - weekends are rammed with tourists. Allow at least two to three hours, more if you want to really engage with it.

If you're basing yourself at Lovat Parks, it's just a mile or so away, making it a sensible rainy-day option or a half-day excursion. The neighbouring South Kensington museums are within walking distance, so you could make a proper cultural loop if you're keen.