Kids in Museums has announced that 20 attractions across the country are in the running to be recognised for being the UK's most accessible and welcoming to visitors of all ages.

A panel led by Heritage Lottery Fund chair Dame Jenny Abramsky will consider the longlist for the Telegraph Family Friendly Museum Award before announcing the shortlist.

Longlisted museums include the National Army Museum; the Jewish Museum; the Museum of London and Museum of London Docklands; and Geffrye Museum, all in London.

World Museum, Liverpool; Haslemere Educational Museum, Surrey; The Cardiff Story; the Manchester Museum; and Nottingham Contemporary have also been longlisted.

The other longlisted sites are:

- The Potteries Museum and Art Gallery, Stoke-on-Trent

- River and Rowing Museum, Henly-on-Thames- Yorkshire Sculpture Park

- Museum of English Rural Life, West Berkshire- Brixham Heritage Museum, Devon

- Cumberland House Natural History Museum, Southsea- Tiverton Museum of Mid Devon

- Wolverhampton Art Gallery- National Museum of Scotland, Edinburgh

- Woodhorne Museum and Northumberland Archives- Tullie House Museum and Art Gallery, Cumbria

Kids in Museums director Dea Birkett said: "It's no longer enough to offer a few finger paints for five year olds.

"Visitors have said in their hundreds that they want the whole family, from 15 to a few months, to feel they belong among the Mummies and Old Masters."

Details: www.kidsinmuseums.org.uk

Image: National Museum of Scotland