Young V&A is the latest incarnation of the V&A’s East London branch dedicated to childhood. After a three-year renovation project, this new version is very much a museum for children rather than about them. A History Of Young V&A Young V&A is the latest incarnation of a museum which goes back to the Great Exhibition […]
A lot of pre-Roman and Roman history to explore at Verulamium Museum, including some of the best mosaics outside the Mediterranean. The museum is just one part of a Roman day out in modern St Albans. A Short History of Verulamium The Roman city of Verulamium lies almost, but not quite, under the modern city […]
This extensive archaeological site within easy reach of central Budapest tells the story of the city’s origins and early history. Great for a half day’s exploration. Aquincum: Óbuda’s Hidden Gem On my recent long weekend in Budapest, I found there was more than enough in the city itself to satisfy my curiosity without any daytrips […]
Franz Liszt’s part–time residence in Budapest from 1876, the Royal Academy of Music’s Franz Liszt Memorial Museum provides an excellent opportunity to learn about his career as a piano virtuoso, composer and teacher. Liszt Ferenc, AKA Franz Liszt Before visiting the Franz Liszt Memorial Museum (Hungarian: Liszt Ferenc Emlékmúzeum), what I knew about Liszt could […]
The same complex in Budapest houses the Dohány Street Synagogue (Europe’s largest) and the Hungarian Jewish Museum and Archives. Together they document a community’s history, continuity and traditions in sometimes unexpected ways. Introduction In my last post, a long weekend guide to Budapest, I briefly discussed the history of Budapest’s Jewish community and some of […]
The Thames River Police Museum is a delightful treasure trove of objects and documents relating to the oldest continually serving police force in the world. The Oldest Police Force? I must apologise first of all to the good folks of the Thames River Police. When I wrote some time ago about the history of policing […]
My first visit to the Museum of the Home since its 2021 reopening under a new name is an opportunity to see what has changed, and what has stayed the same in Hoxton’s hidden gem. The Museum Of The Home: A Short History It’s been a while since I last visited the Museum of the […]
The Migration Museum is a delightful surprise in a Lewisham shopping mall: an informative, generous tonic which proclaims the many experiences of migration to this green and pleasant land. A Museum? In A Mall? The Migration Museum is actually one of the closest cultural institutions to my South East London home. I found out about […]
In this post we explore some of the lesser-known sights in the Loire Valley, in particular a number of sites connected to troglodytes around Rochemenier and Doué-en-Anjou. Who Needs Châteaux When You Have Troglodytes And Roses? When you think of visiting the Loire Valley, what comes to mind? I’m going to guess some of the […]
A brand new museum in a new arts district in Lausanne, the Musée Cantonal Des Beaux-Arts takes a walk through Swiss art history. Plateforme 10 My recent visit to Lausanne was my first. Had I been there on previous trips to Switzerland, I would have missed out on seeing a brand new cultural district in […]
