London (Fodor's 2012) - Fodor's [80]
Jewish Museum.
Reopened in 2010 after a £10-million refurbishment, this museum traces the history of the Jewish people in Britain from medieval times to the present day, although most of the exhibits date from the 17th century—when Cromwell repealed the laws against Jewish settlement—and later. The collection is spread over four galleries. “History: A British Story” provides a general overview of British Jewish people over the centuries, through a mix of rare artifacts and interactive displays, including a re-creation of a Victorian street from what was then the Jewish Quarter of East London. The Holocaust Gallery focuses on the incredible story of Leon Greenman (1910–2008), a British Jew who survived six concentration camps—including Auschwitz—and later became a prominent anti-racism campaigner. There are also galleries on modern Judaism, a changing exhibition space, and a free overview of the collection on the ground floor, including a medieval mikveh (ritual bath), excavated in 2001. | Raymond Burton House,129–131 Albert St., Camden Town | NW1 7NB | 020/7284–7384 | www.jewishmuseum.org.uk | £7 | Sun.–Wed. 10–5, Thurs. 10–9, Fri. 10–2. Last admission 30 min before closing. Closed Sat. and on major Jewish festivals | Camden Town.
OFF THE BEATEN PATH: London Canal Museum.
Near the St. Pancras International train station, in a former ice-storage house, you can learn about the rise and fall of London’s once extensive canal network. Children enjoy the activity zone and learning about Henrietta, the museum’s horse. Outside, on the Battlebridge Basin, float the painted narrow boats of modern canal dwellers—a few steps and a world away from King’s Cross, which was once one of London’s least salubrious neighborhoods. The quirky little museum is a half-hour walk along the towpath from Camden Lock—you can download a free audio tour to accompany the route, or join one of their several guided walking tours (£6 per person). | 12–13 New Wharf Rd., King’s Cross | N1 RT | 020/7713–0836 | www.canalmuseum.org.uk | £3 | Tues.–Sun. and holiday Mon. 10–4:30; last admission 30 min before closing. First Thurs. open until 7:30. Closed Dec. 24–Jan. 1 | King’s Cross.
Lord’s Cricket Ground & Museum.
If you can’t manage to lay your hands on tickets for a cricket match, the next best thing is to take a tour of the spiritual home of this most English of games. Founded by Thomas Lord, the headquarters of the MCC (Marylebone Cricket Club) opens its “behind the scenes” areas to visitors. You can see the Long Room with cricketing art on display; the players’ dressing rooms; and the world’s oldest sporting museum, where the progress from gentlemanly village-green game to world-class sport over 400 years is charted. Don’t miss the prize exhibit: the urn containing the Ashes (reputedly the remains of a cricket ball presented to the English captain in 1883, a jokey allusion to a newspaper’s premature obituary for the death of English cricket published after the home team’s defeat by Australia), and even smaller, the poor sparrow that met its death by a bowled ball. More up-to-date is the eye-catching Media Centre building, which achieved high scores in the architectural league. The tour is not available during major matches (it’s offered during smaller “county” matches), but the museum remains open to match ticket holders. | St. John’s Wood Rd., St. John’s Wood | NW8 8QN | 020/7616–8595 | www.lords.org | £14. Museum only, £3 match days | Museum Apr.–Sept., daily 9:30–5, except during major matches; Oct.–Mar., daily 11–5 (closes at 4 Fri.). Tours