FIRST TIME at London’s Science Museum (my honest reaction)

Three grown men travelled to the moon in the Apollo 10 command module. Standing in London’s Science Museum looking at the thing they travelled in, I couldn’t get over that. Three adult men! Space was the section I spent the most time in, and this was probably one of its stars of the show.

I’d come to the museum for the first time after loads of people told me it was their favourite. As with my other museum trips, I hadn’t researched what was there because I wanted the surprise. I booked my train and museum tickets, left the paid extras alone and went to see what happened.

Watch my first visit to London’s Science Museum on YouTube.

A good lunch, with nobody to impress

The museum is absolutely massive. I started in the Energy Hall, where the steam displays didn’t particularly interest me. They’re still cool, but I only had so much time and energy, and I wasn’t going to spend all of it on steam.

I did spot a cafe on the map, though. I always try the food on these solo museum trips so I can compare, and this was one of the better museum lunches I’ve had. On this visit, £16 bought me chicken schnitzel, seasoned wedges, edamame and lemongrass coleslaw, plus a full-size drink. That might sound like a lot, but for a tourist museum in central London, I thought it was good. The chicken was hot and crispy, and the meal was filling.

Having lunch alone used to make me embarrassed. I’d think about how sad I must look, being this woman in a museum eating by herself. Honestly, nobody cares. I sat by a window, people-watched and had a great meal with real cutlery. Once you get over yourself, you can just enjoy your lunch.

Space was where I wanted to linger

By the time I was walking through Making the Modern World, I could see the sign for space at the end of the hall and wanted to get there. I stopped at things that interested me, including a lighthouse lens, which wasn’t something I’d expected in a science museum. It made sense once I read about it, but I went through this area fairly quickly and looked at more on my way out.

The Apollo 10 module, Charlie Brown, went to the moon in 1969 without landing. Apollo 11 did that two months later. Beside it was the Soyuz descent module used by the international crew that included Tim Peake to travel to and return from the International Space Station. These were probably my two favourite pieces in the space section.

I also learned that Helen Sharman became the first Briton in space in 1991, and saw her spacesuit. There was so much here that interested me. I’ve always loved space, so this was where I wanted to spend my time. I didn’t do the IMAX, and I didn’t feel like I’d missed out.

Planes, then computers I recognised

Flight was my favourite after space. The room had planes, helicopters and a whole wall of engines, some taken apart so you could see inside them. I took a slower walk here and read about the things that caught my attention. A platform gave you a view of the room from above, too.

A monoplane from 1909 stood out. I couldn’t imagine flying in it, and I liked that the display showed the slats inside a wing with its exterior removed. I was surprised how few people were in this room when I visited, because for me it was one of the most interesting areas.

Information Age was another section where I spent quite a bit of time. There were radios, computers and cell phones, including things I’d actually used myself. I wasn’t born when the 1980s computers came out, but seeing phones I’d had first-hand experience with in a museum was a different sort of encounter.

Looking at the devices through the decades made me realise how much cell phones and computers had changed in such a short time. It was humbling. The room was quiet during my visit, and I could walk at my own pace and read without pushing through people to get to a plaque.

Enough plaques for one day

After about two hours, I’d enjoyed myself and I’d read enough. I hadn’t seen every exhibit, and I wasn’t going to absorb any more information just by continuing to read. The nice thing about going alone is that I can have a quick look through something that doesn’t interest me, then spend longer somewhere that does.

Would I recommend the Science Museum? Absolutely, especially if space, planes or the science behind things interests you. I had a really enjoyable visit on a free entry ticket without buying any of the extra exhibitions or the IMAX. I’d like to go back, but that day I was happy with what I’d seen. It was time to sit outside for a bit before the Tube, the train and home.