Marco Mansi

The V&A is instantly calmer than its neighbouring Science and Natural History museums. On a warm day crowds gather to paddle in the elliptical courtyard pool. Inside there is always something new to discover. The blockbuster fashion exhibitions (Alexander McQueen, Christian Dior, Balenciaga) are definitely worth the entry price, but visitors shouldn’t miss highlights in the permanent collection including Renaissance works by Botticelli and statues by Michelangelo. Exit through the gift shop – the best museum store in London.

Probably best known for its Egyptian collection – which is the most comprehensive outside of Cairo and includes the Rosetta Stone – the British Museum is filled with every kind of antiquity imaginable. Discover world-famous objects from ancient Iran, 5000 BC China and Roman Britain. It’s jaw-dropping that all this is housed under one roof.

Ask any Londoner to name their favourite museum in the city and they will probably say Sir John Soane’s. This beautiful house (formerly the residence of one of Britain’s greatest architects) is an extraordinary treasure trove of sculptures, drawings and antiques. One room contains more than 100 mirrors, another is hung with paintings by Hogarth and Turner. It’s also one of the city’s most atmospheric spaces in which to host a dinner party.

This world-class address houses the greatest collection of paintings in the country. There’s Jan van Eyck’s The Arnolfini Portrait, the medieval Wilton Diptych and, in the Sainsbury Wing, a phenomenal collection of Italian Renaissance works. The exhibition programme is also wonderful. What a lot of people don’t know is that it’s open until 9pm on Fridays, so go late and then nab a table around the corner at The Portrait.

Although it’s largely a flat city, London does have a handful of vantage points with sweeping views: Frank’s famous car park café in Peckham looking north to the City, and from Alexandra Palace looking south. But the slope of Primrose Hill acts as a natural amphitheatre with views across Westminster towards the river. On a summer evening there are few nicer places to head with a picnic blanket and a bottle of wine. 

Second only to the Serpentine Pavilion knees-up, the London art world’s next big bash is preview night at the Summer Exhibition. The RA’s patchwork submission-based show has been going since 1769 and is wonderfully accessible. Yet the big focus on the exhibitions means a lot of people don’t know that Michelangelo’s Taddei Tondo (the artist’s only marble sculpture in Britain) is in the permanent collection. You’ll also find next-level jamón sandwiches at José Pizarro’s café Poster Bar.

The Tate Britain on Millbank houses the world’s greatest collection of Turners – probably the UK’s best-loved artist. It’s also home to the annual Turner Prize. Prepare to spend a few hours gawking at all its treasures.

Nicknamed London’s local theatre, this Waterloo not-for-profit is probably the most accessible arts space in London. The audience is 60 per cent first-time visitors but that doesn’t mean the plays aren’t hard-hitting. This is where Judi Dench, Michael Gambon and Maggie Smith first made their names. Laurence Olivier led the original National Theatre Company here and there is still a brilliantly academic team in charge of the programming – a show at The Old Vic is often deeply moving.