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Just to prove that museums need not involve urns or old maps, the National Football Museum in Manchester features a wealth of artefacts of the Beautiful Game.

These include library collections from FIFA, UEFA and the FA, as well as the Hall of Fame, which celebrates the alltime greats of England.

There’s no shortage of interactive displays and free football skills lessons, which have proved popular with young visitors. http://www. nationalfootballmuseum.com/ The Victoria & Alfred Museum of Childhood in Bethnal Green, London, aims to preserve the recollections of childhood through extensive exhibitions, ranging from construction toys, games, models, puppets, dolls and dolls’ houses, board-games, clothing and literature.

There’s also an intriguing examination of how childhood has changed through the years, in collaboration with the Children’s Commissioner for England.

Entrance is free. See http:// www.vam.ac.uk/moc/ The Royal Armouries, in Leeds, has a collection of