London has around 300 tourist attractions, including four World Heritage Sites and 70 museums. But, with so much to choose from, where do you start?

Here's our guide to the best places for families to visit, many of which are free.

See the capital as you've never seen it before from a glass capsule on the London Eye. There can be queues but they rarely last longer than 30 minutes and buying tickets on the day means that you won't have to take a chance with the weather.

British Airways London Eye, Westminster Bridge Rd, London SE1. 0870 500 0600, www.londoneye.com. Adults, £16.74; 4-15s, £8.58; under-4s are free

The British Museum is a number-one hit with kids where Ancient Egypt and its mummies provide an endless source of fascination. The Rosetta Stone, the Elgin Marbles and the peat-preserved Celtic Lindow man are among its other world-famous treasures. The EyeOpener tours are an excellent introduction to the museum's extensive collections.
British Museum, Great Russell St, WC1. 020 7636 1555, www.thebritishmuseum.ac.uk. Admission free

A short train ride to Forest Hill in southeast London takes you to the fabulous Horniman Museum, where imaginative exhibitions, events and activities illustrate the cultural and natural world. Its collections of anthropology, natural history and musical instruments are part of an inexhaustible collection of art and artefacts gathered by everyone from divers to anthropologists.

Look carefully and you'll also find exotic reptiles, stuffed birds, masks and puppets.

Don't miss the aquarium, with varied underwater habits and creatures. After your visit, relax in the beautiful gardens with views over central London, or have a  bite to eat in the café
Horniman Museum, 100 London Rd, SE23. 020 8699 1872, www.horniman.ac.uk. Admission free

Sharks called Rod, Jane, George, Zippy and Bungle are among the 350 species of aquatic life resident at the London Aquarium. Pacific, tropical, coral and mangrove habitats have been recreated here in a series of luminous tanks that mesmerise children.

At the ray and plaice tank, there's the opportunity to touch as well as look.
London Aquarium, County Hall, Westminster Bridge Rd, SE1. 020 7967 8000, www.londonaquarium.co.uk. Adult, £20.74; child 3-15, £16.26; under-3s, free.

How many species of animal can you fit into 36 acres of land? Well, at London Zoo they've managed a staggering 850 types of animal. Run by the Zoological Society of London, the zoo is dedicated to the conservation of its inhabitants, which include Komodo dragons, South African penguins, porcupines, llamas, rats, meerkats, giraffes and otters, to name but a few.
London Zoo, Regent's Park, NW1 4RY. 020 7722 3333, www.londonzoo.co.uk Adults, £16.60; 3-15s, £13.20; under-3s, free

What kids don't love dinosaurs? These prehistoric creatures fire the imagination like no other and the Natural History Museum is the place to see them. The Life Galleries in the museum entrance hall harbours the enormous cast of a Diplodocus skeleton, while the Dinosaurs gallery nearby is home to an animatronic Tyrannosaurus rex.
Natural History Museum, Cromwell Rd, SW7 5BD. 020 7942 5000, www.nhm.ac.uk. Admission free (charge for temporary exhibitions)

Learn how things work as you make your way through the Science Museum's six play zones, each of which explores the principles of science through interactive activities and displays. For a different perspective, book your family in for one of the monthly Science Night sleepovers aimed at 8 to 11-year-olds.
Science Museum, Exhibition Rd, SW7 2DD. 020 7942 4454, www.sciencemuseum.org.uk. Admission free

At Tate Modern, art is definitely not just for adults. The voluminous turbine hall that acts as the entrance hall will take kids' breath away, while numerous activities and trails available free from the information desk will keep them occupied for hours with sketching, writing and matching games.
Tate Modern, Bankside, SE1 9TG. 020 7887 8888, www.tate.org.uk. Admission free

Not just one tower, but several towers (among them the Bloody and the Beauchamp), the foundations for this great fortress were laid by William the Conqueror in 1078. Beefeater guides lead visitors through the labyrinth of rooms, telling tales of execution, treason and torture.
Tower of London, Tower Hill, EC3N 4AB. 0844 482 7777, www.hrp.org.uk.
Family ticket, £47

Click here to read how one family kept their heads on a trip to the Tower...

The Wetland Centre in southwest London is one of Europe's best nature reserves. Here you can see 150 species of bird, 27,000 types of tree, 300,000 aquatic plants and, when summer's in full bloom, 300 varieties of butterfly. Children's activities and events run at weekends and during school holidays.
WWT Wetland Centre, Queen Elizabeth's Walk, SW13. 020 8409 4400, www.wwt.org.uk. Adult, £10.55; 4-16s, £5.85; under-4s, Free; family ticket, £29.40