September « 2008 « Little Legends

September, 2008

Kids London — 2 Comments
29
Sep 08

Family Days Out: How to see London on the cheap

If you are going on a family day out to London, you don’t have to spend money on sightseeing buses. Instead you can choose to take the regular number 15 bus from Tower Hill. The bus will take you all the way from The Tower of London through the City, past St Pauls, past Trafalgar Square and on to Regent St (where Hamleys Toy Shop is) and Oxford St. It’s a double decker and so make sure to get a seat upstairs

Kids London — 2 Comments
25
Sep 08

Family Days Out: Family Friendly Hotels in London

If you are coming to London with the kids then you are probably looking for somewhere to stay that is family friendly. You might be looking for somewhere with adjoining rooms or high chairs, or somewhere cheap as chips etc Obviously there are loads of places to choose from, but I thought I would share with you some of the hotels that (did) appear on Little Legends:

The Carlton Tower – Perfect for shopaholics as this luxury hotel is situated within walking distance of both Harrods and Harvey Nichols!

Novotel London Waterloo – This hotel is very close to the London Eye and just across the bridge from Covent Garden and many theatres. There are also many childfriendly venues along the southbank so this is a good location.

London Thameside Youth Hostel – I doubt you will find anything cheaper than a Youth Hostel. This one is not far from the Tower of London, Tower Bridge and London Dungeon. There are also several others dotted across the capital.

Shepiston Lodge. This place is only 1.5 miles from Heathrow so handy if you need to catch an early flight.

Why not share your experiences of great (or terrible) hotels for kids in London? I am sure there are loads of parents out there looking for tips from families who have been there and done that

Kids London — No Comments
24
Sep 08

Family Days Out: The Big Draw For Kids

The Big Draw is taking place from 1st to 31st October this year. For those of you who don’t know, it is the national campaign for drawing.

It is inspired by the visionary Victorian artist and writer, John Ruskin. His mission was not to teach people how to draw, but how to see.

To accompany the Big Draw, the National Portrait Gallery is setting up a special event for kids and teens from 1pm to 4pm. Best of all it is FREE! Family visitors and young people will have the opportunity to work with professional artists on an exciting drawing project in the Gallery.

It sounds great fun and a good opportunity to bring Art alive in the perfect setting.

Kids London — No Comments
21
Sep 08

Family Days Out: The Rainforest Cafe

This restaurant is set in the basement of the shop and is located very centrally, just off Piccadilly. The whole place is decorated as if it is a rainforest and there are model electronic animals dotted around the place that move at various intervals.

Be warned that there is a soundtrack that is on a loop, not only with various animal noises but also with a deafening thunderstorm. If your child is sensitive to noise then this is not the place to come!

The children’s food is fairly standard; burgers, chicken and fish nuggets and chips plus a few healthier options. However, the selection for the adults is much wider. The portions are large even though the quality isn’t outstanding.

The best place to sit is in the Elephant room, so do book ahead if you can. No bookings are allowed on Saturdays, so turn up early to ensure you get a good table and don’t have to wait around for ages.

If you are driving then there is an NCP car park on Denman Street. It is extremely narrow but worth it because Rainforest Cafe customers pay a bargain flat rate of £10 from Monday to Saturday and just £5 on Sundays.

What do you think of the Rainforest Cafe? Have you found somewhere better to eat?

Kids London — No Comments
19
Sep 08

Family Days Out: London Zoo

I am particularly fond of London Zoo because it brings back lots of childhood memories, so it is interesting to visit it as a parent.

Part of the reason that London Zoo is so popular is that it houses a fair few big animals. This is something that you just don’t expect in the hectic urban London environment. The giraffes are particularly impressive and are as tall as you would imagine, if not bigger!

My kids loved just running around. The Zoo is well laid out over quite a large area. There is plenty of space for children to run around and when you need a rest there is a good picnic area. Alternatively, there is a very child-friendly cafe with ramps, space for parking your buggy and changing facilities. Here you will find a special range of healthy food for kids to put into a specially designed cardboard lunchbox with puzzles/games on.

You may be surprised to find a whole host of extras to keep the kids entertained, such as a carousel, face painting and even a bouncy castle.

My top tip is to visit the butterfly house. The butterflies are not behind any screen and they literally fly around you. It really is magical.

Be warned though, that due to the fact that most of the attraction is outdoors, the Zoo is not a good place to go on a rainy day. Also, if you are thinking of visiting in the winter months, you may find that many of the cages are being refurbished which can be disappointing.

Under 3s go free, tickets for 3-15 years cost £10 and adults pay £13. Family tickets are available (2 adults and 2 children or 1 adult 3 children) for £41.

The zoo is open daily from 10am to 4pm. It is a great family day out.

Kids London — No Comments
17
Sep 08

Family Days Out: Holland Park

Holland Park used to be my local park. It amazed me that there was such a great local park for kids so close to the centre of London.

Holland Park has a wide variety of facilities. The best place for young children is the play area for under 5s. This is basically a large sandpit with swings, slide and climbing frame. The play area is handily situated right next to the WCs and not far from the cafe. There is also a One O’clock club, but this has fairly limited facilities.

Other attractions include a much bigger adventure playground for the older kids. The Japanese garden is fun to visit (although younger ones need to be supervised) because the kids can look at the fish in the pond and the waterfall, and even cross the stepping stones. There are also peacocks and rabbits located in various enclosures around the park.

If you want to bring a picnic, the area behind the main house is dog-free. However, if you are bringing your pooch then there is a huge playing field at the High St Ken end where your kids and your dog can run around.

Last but not least, if you contact the information desk they can tell you about nature trails for kids and the ecology centre.

All in all a well maintained, beautiful park with great facilities for kids. A great placed to take the kids for a family day out.

Kids London — No Comments
16
Sep 08

Family Days Out: The Natural History Museum

The Natural History Museum is one of the top destinations for a family day out in London. The entrance hall with the huge dinosaur skeleton is well known and never ceases to amaze.

It is a huge place, so it is advisable to visit only a couple of different zones to really enjoy the place. You will find the helpers in red fleeces very knowledgeable and able to point you in the right direction (which is necessary because the maps are not very detailed).

The most popular zone by far is the Dinosaur Zone. It has an impressive start to it, with a Tyrannosaurus Rex and Triceratops. You then climb steps to cross the sky walk. This gives you a great view of all the displays. Towards the end you will come across animatronic dinosaurs which are very impressive, but a bit scary for the younger ones. The only down side is that due to the one way system, once you are in this zone, you have to keep going if you want to leave. There are no short cuts. Also, be warned that the last exhibit shows Dinosaur themed toys and surprise, surprise the exit faces the toy shop. A good marketing ploy for the museum but infuriating for parents.

Look out for the “Focus Points” where staff allow children to learn about the exhibits through touch and games. They are a good way of bringing some of the displays to life, because there are limited interactive exhibits (although the number is growing).

There are good changing facilities and a spacious kid friendly cafe.

Great fun, especially for kids aged 4 and above.

What are your top tips for a trip to the Natural History Museum? Please share them here

Kids London — No Comments
15
Sep 08

Family Days Out: Kew Gardens

I spent a wonderful family day out at Kew Gardens yesterday and have even become a member because I think it is such a great place for kids. So, I thought I would share a few tips to help those of you planning a trip to Kew with younger ones:

* Take a picnic with you – there are some reasonable cafes but if you take a picnic you can find a spot amongst the plants and trees and settle down for a while. The kids can then charge around to their hearts’ content.

* If your kids are a bit older, the easiest way to get there is by tube. The main entrance is only a short walk away. However, if like me, you have toddlers in tow and you need the car, there is a large car park hidden around the back of Kew Gardens by the Brentford Gate entrance.

* Not far from the Brentford Gate entrance is the Climbers and Creepers activity place for kids. There is an indoor and outdoor play area as well as a cafe. If you are very organized you can even book special hands on activities to keep the little ones amused.

* The Badger Set is always a hit. It is situated in the top left corner of the gardens, so the walk there will tire out even the most energetic child. When you get there, the kids can chase each other in and out of the tunnels for ages. Be warned that these tunnels are definitely for kids! I have been in to rescue my child once or twice but I would avoid it if at all possible.

* The Treetop Walkway will give you some good views over London. The lift was not working when I went, so be prepared to walk up the stairs. There are lots of information plaques around the top with good information on. The walkway is made up of a steel mesh so you can see below you. My boys loved this because they could see all the ant like people wandering around below, but if you suffer from vertigo this is probably not the place for you!

Please share any experiences you have of taking the kids to Kew – it is always good to hear other people’s views.

Kids London — No Comments
13
Sep 08

Roald Dahl’s Little Red Riding Hood Event

On Saturday 27th September, there is a special family event taking place at the Cadogan Hall (Sloane Terrace, SW1X 9DQ).

Doors open at 10.15am when children will be able to as well as meet the inspring young musicians of Southbank Sinfonia take part in fun creative activities.

Children will recognise the main characters – the wolf, grandma and the little girl in a red cape – but not everything is as it seems in this mysterious and magical retelling by Roald Dahl

Tickets cost £6 per person or four tickets for £20. There are concessions for children attending Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea Schools – One child goes free with every adult ticket.

You can book tickets by following this link or by calling the Box Office on 020 7730 4500