Posts Tagged: London_kids

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

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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.

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Kids London — No Comments
29
Jan 08

Family Days Out: Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace

I am not sure why the Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace is such a famous spectacle. Maybe it has something to do with the well known poem by A A Milne (author of Winnie the Pooh):

They’re changing guard at Buckingham Palace -
Christopher Robin went down with Alice.
Alice is marrying one of the guard.
A soldier’s life is terrible hard, – Says Alice.

Or maybe people are just curious to see men wearing tall, black, furry hats!

If you want to see the Changing of the Guard for yourself, it takes place daily at 11.30am from April thorugh to July and alternate days at 11am the rest of the year. Be warned though that it is frequently cancelled because of bad weather or other events.

Due to the popularity of the spectacle it is advisable to arrive at least an hour early to bag a good spot to watch from.

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Kids London / Kids Manchester — No Comments
23
Jan 08

Family Days Out: Baby Loves Disco!

If you are one of those uk parents who likes clubbing and you feel that your dancing days have taken a bit of a nosedive since you had kids then this is the event for you. Baby Loves Disco has events in London or Manchester where parents can groove along with their young kids and just have a bit of fun.

Baby Loves Disco is an afternoon dance party for little kids (6 months-7 years) and (especially) their parents: featuring Heart 106.2 DJs playing feelgood tracks guaranteed to get those little booties moving and grooving.

This latest and most unlikely dance craze was started in the States and pulled over the pond to debut in London and Manchester …

The fun spills out from all corners of the coolest clubs in town: bubble machines, baskets of instruments, a chill-out room (with tents, books and puzzles), diaper changing stations, a full spread of healthy snacks and dancing, LOTS of dancing (and yes, the cash bar will be open for mommy and daddy!).

Now that sounds fun – see you there :)

-all parties from 2-5 pm
-admission is £8 for all walking humans. (non-walkers free!)
-if the party is not sold out in advance, there will be a limited number of tickets available at the door and they are cash only.

London
The Clapham Grand
21-25 St John’s Hill
Clapham Junction
SW11 1TT

Manchester
Pure
The Printworks
27 Withy Grove
Manchester
M4 2BS

Visit the Baby Loves Disco website to buy your tickets now – booking advised.

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Kids London — No Comments
22
Jan 08

Family Days Out: New Event for Artistic Teens in London

Keeping Teenagers amused on holiday is no mean feat, so I was pleased to read about “New on the Scene” which takes place at the Courtauld Gallery.

It is an all day painting workshop for teenagers (13 to 18yrs) where they explore the world of Manet, Degas and others. They look at the way in which the invention of photography kickstarted artists’ preoccupation with modern life.

The best bit is when they can put their newfound knowledge to use by creating their own artwork.

Nearest Tube: Temple/Charing Cross
Saturdays 10.30am to 4pm
£10 each (booking advisable)
Tel 020 7845 4600 or email familyandlearningbookings@somersethouse.org.uk

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