Drink tea at Dr Johnson's House

There can be no better place to take tea than the home of Dr Samuel Johnson, a man who described himself as "a hardened and shameless tea-drinker, who has, for twenty years, diluted his meals with only the infusion of this fascinating plant; whose kettle has scarcely time to cool; who with tea amuses the evening, with tea solaces the midnight, and, with tea, welcomes the morning."
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Johnson was known to be a prolific tea-drinker so it seems fitting that his former home in Gough Square - now a museum to the great man very close to your author's heart - has started serving tea over light conversation at 3pm every Tuesday in July and August in Johnson's Parlour. It sounds very civilised.

For more, see http://www.drjohnsonshouse.org/events.html#tea

See the Olympic Medals at the British Museum

If you've wondered what the Olympic medals actually look like, and thought that whilst you'd like to you'll never get to see one yourself, then help is at hand, as the British Museum has a few of them they'll let you look at.


We are told that the display will explain the story of the production of the medals for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, starting with metal mining by [metal mining company] through the designs by David Watkins and Lin Cheung and onto their production by the Royal Mint.

It's all on display in Room 37 until September, though judging by your author's experiences this week, this could be the quietest time to go. For more, see http://www.britishmuseum.org/whats_on/exhibitions/london_2012_games_medals.aspx

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See Scott's Last Expedition

One of the special exhibitions currently showing at the Natural History Museum, Scott's Last Expedition charts the story of Captain Robert Falcon Scott's last expedition to Antarctica in 1910-1913.


The exhibition looks at the expedition in its entirety, charting the final push to the South Pole, but also the seasons spent doing scientific work from the base hut at Cape Evans, which is mapped out in life size within the expedition helping visitors to understand what life might have been like, and using genuine artefacts and scientific specimens from the expedition to tell the story.

For more, see http://www.nhm.ac.uk/visit-us/whats-on/temporary-exhibitions/scott-last-expedition/exhibition-tickets/index.html

Explore the British Museum's North American Landscape

The gardens created on the West Lawn of the British Museum forecourt in conjunction with Kew Gardens have become quite a fixture in recent years, with China (2008), India (2009), South Africa (2010) and Australia (2011) all receiving the forecourt treatment. This year, North American landscapes have come to Great Russell Street, with the creation of a North American garden.


The garden will be in place until November, and is a living, breathing piece of North America open to exploration by visitors, with plants from Florida in the south to New England and Canada in the north, focussing on the Eastern Seaboard.

For more, see http://www.britishmuseum.org/whats_on/exhibitions/north_american_landscape.aspx

Visit the Savoy Museum

Most people assume that the Savoy is just a large posh hotel with very little to tempt ordinary Londoners inside, but it has an interesting history and, we are told, is home to one of the largest hotel archives in the world. A small museum off the lobby within the hotel, displays some interesting information and paraphernalia from the hotel's history.


When your author visited the museum back in the autumn, it was all rather empty, but remains open to the public as long as you're not too scruffy to get past the take-no-prisoners door staff. Your author's memory fails him but we are told that exhibits include a first edition of Harry Craddock’s Savoy Cocktail Book, Noel Coward’s lighter and cigarette case and Marlene Dietrich’s guest card showing her request that 12 pink roses and a bottle of Dom Perignon.

For more, see http://www.fairmont.com/savoy/articles/recentnews/generalinformation.htm

Visit the St Bartholomew's Hospital Museum

A fascinating little museum within the walls of the hospital in the City of London, the St Bartholomew's Hospital Museum traces the history of Britain's oldest hospital from its beginnings in the 12th century - when it was established by monks to provide hospitality - through the dissolution of the monasteries by Henry VIII, to the present day.


For your author it was a thoroughly thought provoking experience, hearing how the original treatments were largely prayer-based, seeing a facsimile of the original grant from Rahere, the founder of the hospital, in 1137 to create the hospital, and peering through the open door to see the two murals on the staircase painted by William Hogarth.

For more, see http://www.bartsandthelondon.nhs.uk/about-us/museums-and-archives/st-bartholomew-s-museum/


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See Sir John Soane's Hogarth collection

The Sir John Soane Museum at Lincolns Inn Fields is a treasure trove of items, and among the most celebrated are the ones that hang in the picture room at the rear, Hogarth’s A Rake’s Progress and An Election.


Over a number of pictures, the two collections tell two stories, firstly in A Rake’s Progress that of Tom Rakewell, a man who becomes consumed by a life of vice and self-destruction after inheriting vast wealth from his miserly father, and secondly in An Election, the story of an Oxfordshire contest at the General Election of 1754, which was mired in controversy. Best of all, you can view them for free right in the centre of London.

For more see here for A Rake's Progress and here for An Election.

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Celebrate the reopening of HMS Belfast

Despite it actually reopening more than a week ago, this weekend sees a family weekender on HMS Belfast to mark its reopening after six months of refurbishment works after its walkway to the shore collapsed late last year.


We are told to expect simulated gun firings, Arctic assignments, family events, live music and a barbecue, on board a ship which is well worthy of a visit whenever it is open, and a welcome reopening for London.

For more, see http://www.iwm.org.uk/visits/hms-belfast

See some Museums at Night

We're already onto day two of the annual Museums at Night weekend, but there are still some fantastic events taking place this evening, and even a few tomorrow.


Tonight sees a late opening at the Royal Observatory's Astronomy Centre in Greenwich, late talks at Apsley House, art by candlelight at the London Canal Museum and late steam engines at the Kew Bridge Steam Museum, amongst others.

For more, see http://www.culture24.org.uk/places+to+go/museums+at+night

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Celebrate British design at the V&A

A new exhibition focusing on design since the Second World War began recently at one of London's greatest Museums. However, this being the Olympic year, the exhibition couldn't just look at design since one of the most important conflicts to ever hit mankind, it has to focus on the Olympics, hence British Design 1948–2012 is born.


That said, the exhibition looks fascinating, and it's good to see the sort of showcase usually confined to the limited space of the Design Museum brought to one of London's finest venues. Based around various themes which chart the history of design from the Festival of Britain to 21st century architecture, it looks like a great visit.

For more, see http://www.vam.ac.uk/content/exhibitions/exhibition-british-design/british-design-about-the-exhibition/

Attend a talk at Dr Johnson's House

It won't surprise many readers to hear that your author is an admirer of Dr Samuel Johnson, and his house in Gough Square is a fascinating place to visit. There could be no better opportunity than tonight, the museum's very talented curator, Stephanie Chapman, is giving an illustrated lecture on Johnson's visits to different country houses around the country, which sounds fascinating.


We are told that the talk will concentrate on Johnson's visits to Kedleston and Chatsworth, taking a look at the great man's experiences and his predictably vociferous opinions of his visits. As the museum is small, tickets (£12) are limited so please check the website, and telephone ahead if necessary.

For more, see http://www.drjohnsonshouse.org/events.htm

See the British Museum in twilight

Often Londoners roll out of work on a Friday and go to the pub, which can be a lot of fun, but if you're in the mood for something a little more cultural after work on a Friday, selected galleries and the Great Court of the British Museum are open until 8.20pm.


There are also regular lectures and events, with tonight's considering the magnetism of Mecca, and exploring Hajj as artistic inspiration with British artists Idris Khan and Peter Sanders, and Saudi Arabian artist Ahmed Mater. However, if you're in the mood for something a little less highbrow, there is also an excellent cafe/ bar and restaurant.

For more, see http://www.britishmuseum.org/visiting/admission_and_opening_times/late_opening.aspx

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See London's transport in miniature at the LTM Acton Depot

Transport fans in need of something to do in London this weekend are in for a treat, with the latest in the regular series of open weekends at the London Transport Museum's Acton Depot.


This weekend's theme is London’s transport in miniature, with professional and amateur modellers arriving to display London's unique transport infrastructure in different sizes and scales.

For more, see http://www.ltmuseum.co.uk/whats-on/museum-depot/events

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Visit Harrow Museum

Out in the London Borough of Harrow, they have local history just the same as those of us in inner London, and the Harrow Museum, located across listed buildings in the beautiful grounds of Headstone Manor, is an educational museum examining that history.


Headstone Manor itself dates back to roughly 1310, but is sadly only open for tours on summer weekends due to its fragile nature. However, the rest of the museum is open all year round, with permanent exhibition in the Small Barn and the Granary, and the museum's temporary exhibitions and cafe in the historic Tithe Barn, built in 1506 on the orders of the Archbishop of Canterbury.

For more, see http://www.harrow.gov.uk/info/1017/local_museums/934/harrow_museum/1

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See Grayson Perry's "The Tomb of the Unknown Craftsman"

Though Grayson Perry's "The Tomb of the Unknown Craftsman" exhibition has been extended to 26th February, that still means it only has a few weeks to run, so now is the time to make plans if you want to see it.


Celebrating unknown men and women throughout history, using his own creations and items from the British Museum’s collection, Perry is eccentric and intelligent in equal measure, and today's idea is a note to remind your author, who has so far failed to make it to the British Museum.

For more information, see http://www.britishmuseum.org/whats_on/exhibitions/grayson_perry/introduction.aspx

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Eat at the Garden Café

Part of the Garden Museum at Lambeth Palace, the Garden Café is a relaxing spot to while away a few hours, and offers seasonal food, as well as drinks and cakes baked in house.


The Cafe spreads itself between the inside of the museum and the interesting knot garden which, whilst not at its most impressive in winter months, still offers a sheltered spot to try to soak up some winter sunshine.

For more, see http://www.gardenmuseum.org.uk/page/caf

Visit the Cuming Museum

First opened to the public in 1906, the Cuming Museum, is based around the results of a century of collection by Victorian father and son team, Richard and Henry Cuming, between 1780 and 1900. Now displayed over a couple of rooms in Old Walworth Town Hall, it is free and worth popping in to if you're in the area.


There are also some interesting exhibits about the history of Southwark, which supplement the objects selected from the Cuming Collection's 25,000 artefacts from the world of archaeology, art, geology, textiles, nature, coins and ceramics.

The only slightly odd thing about the collection is that the Cumings appear to have gathered the vast majority of it from auction houses, when it always seemed to your author that the joy of the Victorian gentleman collector was travelling around the world gathering things.

For more on the museum, see http://www.southwark.gov.uk/info/200162/the_cuming_museum

Explore Sailortown

The Sailortown galleries, at the Museum of London Docklands, recreate the environment of a bustling Victorian Wapping for visitors to explore.


Designed to reflect the winding lanes of Wapping between 1840 and 1850, Sailortown is found on the second floor of the Museum, and features a public house, lodging houses, a chandlery and even a wild animal emporium.

For more information, see http://www.museumoflondon.org.uk/Docklands/Whats-on/Galleries/Sailortown-1840-1850.htm

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See Stevenson's Rocket

Billed as the most famous steam locomotive in the world, Stevenson's Rocket was the first modern steam locomotive, built in Stephenson's Newcastle Upon Tyne the Forth Street Works in 1829. The original Rocket can still be seen on display in the 'Making the Modern World' gallery at the Science Museum.


Considering the Rocket fatally hit a Member of Parliament, William Huskisson, MP for Liverpool and a keen supporter of railway building, on its opening day, by running over his leg, it seems amazing by today's standards that the Rocket wasn't scrapped, but it continued with adjustments until 1840.

For more, see http://www.sciencemuseum.org.uk/Centenary/Home/Icons/StephensonsRocket.aspx

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Have coffee in the Brunel Museum cafe

During a trip to the Brunel Museum this week, your author enjoyed fantastic hospitality and a welcome & warming cup of coffee in the recently refurbished cafe.


Alongside tea, coffee and home-made cakes, the café also serves as a gallery, hosting exhibitions by talented local artists and photographers, and is a welcome addition to a museum well worthy of visiting.

For more, see http://www.brunel-museum.org.uk/VisitUs/Cafe.aspx