Life during lockdown prevents us from being out and about. So visits to museums etc can't take place. However, while trips aren't possible in the real world! Explore the links and visit museums etc without having to leave your home!
Museums
British Library - Some of the world’s most important and beautiful books and manuscripts are in the permanent exhibition at the British Library, the UK’s national copyright library. The library’s treasures include the Magna Carta, Gutenberg’s bible and the original handwritten copy of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland
British Museum - London The British Museum’s remarkable collection spans over two million years of human history and culture. Over 6 million visitors every year experience the collection, including world-famous objects such as the Rosetta Stone, the Parthenon sculptures, and Egyptian mummies
British Museum - The Museum of the World An interactive experience through time, continents and cultures, featuring some of the most fascinating objects in human history.
Buckingham Palace - London Buckingham Palace has been the focus of many moments of national celebration, from Jubilees and weddings to VE Day and the annual Trooping the Colour which marks The Queen's official birthday. It is also a busy working building welcoming tens of thousands of people through its gates each year for Investitures, Garden Parties, Audiences and other events
Imperial War Museum - The Imperial War Museum tells the story of modern war from the perspectives of both combatants and civilians, from the First World War to the present day. You can explore IWM’s collections online, and the website also offers hundreds of articles and podcasts
Museum of London - You can learn about the history of the city from prehistoric times to the present at the Museum of London. The displays show how London has evolved from before the city was even built, through Roman times, the Middle Ages and the Victorian era, up to current times. The museum has online slideshows with highlights from the permanent galleries.
The National Maritime Museum - The National Maritime Museum tells the story of Britain’s naval history. There are ancient maps and model ship to explore, and you can see the uniform which Admiral Nelson wore on the day of the Battle of Trafalgar. If you go to the museum’s website you can search the museum’s collections, discover epic stories of sea, space and exploration, and get expert insights from curators.
The National History Museum - With more than 80 million specimens spanning billions of years, London’s Natural History Museum is home to one of the world’s largest collections of natural history. From dinosaur skeletons to furry frogs, from a meteorite to an earthquake simulator, there are amazing exhibits to see wherever you are in this museum. The NHM website includes fascinating stories from the natural world.
The Science Museum - The Science Museum’s collection is a record of scientific, technological and medical achievements, and includes exhibits such as Amy Johnson’s Gipsy Moth plane, the Apollo 10 command module (which has been around the moon) and the first ever jet engine. The museum’s online collection includes more than 250,000 objects and archives.
Art Galleries
The National Gallery has more than 2,600 paintings from the Middle Ages to the 20th century. The collection includes works by artists such as Da Vinci, Van Gogh, Caravaggio and Botticelli, and is open for everyone to explore on the website.
The National Portrait Gallery is home to the world’s most extensive collection of portraits. The museum’s aim is to promote an ‘understanding of the men and women who have made and are making British history and culture’ and also to promote ‘the appreciation and understanding of portraiture’. It has portraits of everyone from William Shakespeare to Ed Sheeran, the Bronte sisters to Darcy Bussell, and you can explore the collection here.
The Royal Academy - The RA was founded in 1768 by a group of 40 artists and architects who became the first Royal Academicians. All Royal Academicians donate one of their artworks to the RA when elected, creating an outstanding collection of British art. You can explore the RA collection here. The RA’s website has an excellent and practical Family How To section, with instructions on activities such as stop-frame animation, making your own paintbrush and printing with fruit and vegetables.
Tate Britain - Tate Britain showcases the best of British art from 1500 to today. The works are exhibited chronologically, and include the world’s largest JMW Turner collection, as well as paintings by Gainsborough, Whistler and Francis Bacon.
The Tate Modern - Housed in a former power station on the South Bank, Tate Modern is London’s centre for modern and contemporary art. Visitors can enjoy world-class paintings, photographs and performance art, and take part in free workshops.
Animals
These links below take you to webcams where you can watch the animals.
https://www.cotswoldwildlifepark.co.uk/animals-gardens/web-cams/
https://www.livingcoasts.org.uk/explore/penguin-webcam
https://paradisepark.org.uk/events-and-news/penguin-webcam/
https://www.paigntonzoo.org.uk/explore/webcams
https://www.dudleyzoo.org.uk/our-animals/webcams/
https://www.blairdrummond.com/animals/webcams
https://www.edinburghzoo.org.uk/webcams/
https://www.zsl.org/zsl-london-zoo
https://nationalzoo.si.edu/webcams
Theme Parks
Enjoy the thrill of a roller coaster! Missing the opportunity to visit a theme park? Try taking a front row ride on all 10 of the roller coasters at Blackpool Pleasure Beach, all POVs are filmed in 4K and with the permission of the Pleasure Beach.
Why not experience some Disney rides!