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Young V&A Review: Everything To Know About The New-Look London Museum Of Childhood

Gillian — Thu, 05 Oct 2023 11:39:47 +0000

Young V&A Review: Here’s What We Thought – And What You Need To Know The Young V&A in Bethnal Green, London, is the shiny new version of what was previously the V&A Museum of Childhood. It has recently reopened after a multi-year, £13m revamp. We were all big fans of the the slightly faded charm of the old version, so were keen to see if the Young V&A could live up to my children’s – museum of – childhood memories. Here’s our Young V&A review and everything you need to know before you go. What Is The Young V&A? Young V&A is the newly reopened version of the V&A (Victoria and Albert) Museum of Childhood, now designed for and – partly – by kids. In the same beautiful old building as the Museum of Childhood, Young V&A has three permanent galleries, Imagine, Play and Design. It showcases over 2,000 objects from across the V&A’s collection, with a lot of old and new childhood favourites both adults and kids will recognise. Including a big selection of Barbie… Where has Sindy gone though? Poor Sindy. There is also a big mix of smaller, interactive exhibitions and a story-telling stage. The new-look museum also houses a dedicated exhibition space, and the first paid exhibition will be Japan: Myths to Manga, opens in October 2023. Is Young V&A Free Entry? Yes, the Young V&A is free to enter, How Busy Is Young V&A? We went at the end of the school holidays and it was, as you’d expect, busy! It is probably a wise idea to get there early, we walked straight in at 10am but when we left after lunch there was a 30 minute queue outside. Be warned, when it is busy, it is also really noisy due, to how echoey the building is. How Long Does It Take To Go Round Young V&A? It is small! If you have kids that like to zip round museums you could probably do the whole of Young V&A pretty quickly. A big chunk of the Play gallery is aimed at younger kids which means it’s even quicker with tweens and teens. I wouldn’t devote a whole day to it (half should be more than fine). What Is There For Younger Children? It’s brilliant for babies and younger kids. The ground floor Play section has two big play areas, including a sensory environment for pre-walkers, and a section with big soft play building blocks. The sensory play area is a safe and clean place to take your just-crawling baby. And hopefully you can sit and drink tea and have a rest. What Is There For Tweens And Teens? The Play Gallery’s game design space ‘The Arcade’ with new and old video and board games is fun. There’s also an interactive Minecraft installation. The Design section focuses on different ways design can change the world and is really absorbing. (I’d love to come back minus-kids during term time). We all liked the Imagination section, with toys, optical illusions and small world houses. Is There A Cafe At Young V&A? Yes there is a café at Young V&A, in the main hall. Be warned, the café doesn’t have the widest choice of options, especially not for the pickier of kids. However, the main hall also has space for you to eat your own food if you’d rather take it with you. There are a lot of other food options in the area outside the museum too. Is There A Gift Shop? Yes as expected, there is also a gift shop. Whereas before it was situation in the main courtyard, it has now been moved to the front of the building, by the entrance and exit. Strangely for a child-focused museum, there’s not the widest choice of fun / small things for kids here either (lots of lovely expensive stuff for adults though!). Is There Pram Storage? Young V&A also has a lot of pram storage. There were a lot of prams! Where Is The Young V&A? Young V&A is at Cambridge Heath Rd, Bethnal Green, London E2 9PA When Is Young V&A Open? It is open every day from 10.00 – 17.45. What Did We Think? We liked it. We were initially sad to see that some of their favourites from the old museum – the rocking horse, the maid fancy dress, the magnetic iron filling heads that never really worked – were long gone. However, there was lots of newness they did love. The Young V&A looks fantastic, especially main hall and the mirrored staircase, and there is a huge amount of attention to colourful detail, from graffiti murals through to neon signs. It’s always going to be hard for a museum that has toys behind glass meaning you can’t play with them to keep it compelling, but there’s a big focus on interaction in other areas. It is also hard to balance everything for all ages but does feel like there’s a little bit less for older kids. My two are probably at the upper end of the age limit for spending the maximum amount of time here, and in the time it’s been closed they’ve come to love the V&A proper, which we can spend hours at. But we’re all looking forward to coming back for the new exhibition. More London Museums For Kids We Love The Tate Modern Florence Nightingale Museum The Postal Museum The Biggin Hill Museum. And follow me on Pinterest.

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Zero To Infinity At Tate Modern: 5 Things To Know Before You Go

Gillian — Wed, 26 Jul 2023 19:59:47 +0000

Here Are 5 Things To Know About Rasheed Araeen’s Zero To Infinity At Tate Modern Have you heard about Rasheed Araeen’s Zero To Infinity interactive play exhibition at Tate Modern this summer? You’ve probably seen the colourful cubes all over Instagram: (Including mine!) If you’re looking for free things to do during the summer holidays, here are five things to know about Rasheed Araeen’s Zero To Infinity at Tate Modern. Five Things To Know About Rasheed Araeen’s Zero To Infinity At Tate Modern, London 1. What Is Zero to Infinity At Tate Modern? Rasheed Araeen’s Zero to Infinity at Tate Modern is an interactive play art exhibition consisting of 400 wooden cubes in four bright colours that you’re able to stack and sort into any (short) shape or structure, with an infinite number of possibilities. The cubes were initially stacked as a grid, and by moving and playing with them, everyone is part of a constantly shifting live sculpture It’s part of the Uniqlo Tate Play series of family-friendly art activities. Previous child-focused play exhibitions have included the sticker-tastic Obliteration Room and every child who’s ever drawn on the furniture’s favourite, Mega Please Draw Freely. 2. How Much Is Entry To Zero To Infinity? It’s free. 3. Do You Need To Book / Will You Need To Queue? There’s no need to book. You might have to queue though depending on time of day. We went during the early afternoon and waited for about 15 minutes. There are also crafting and play activities on the balcony upstairs. From which you also get the best overall view. 4. How Long Is Zero To Infinity On For? It’s on till the 27th August in the back of the Tate’s Turbine Hall. Does everyone remember the crack in the floor exhibition? Or the bunk beds? I know everyone remembers the slides. 5. What Age Is It Most Suitable For? While Zero To Infinity is open to all ages, it’s definitely one older kids will get a lot out of. The actual act of lifting and stacking is obviously a lot more physical than stickering, and there are a couple of ‘rules’ – cubes are more on the fragile side and you’re not allowed to climb on them, you can only stack them three high, and so on. What Did We Think Of Zero To Infinity? We really enjoyed it! I’d read mixed things about it online but our session was calm and relaxed. Numbers are limited which helps, and the super-patient staff are clear on what you can / can’t do before you go in e.g. no climbing, only stacks of three blocks high. We went with friends, which was fun, and they all worked together to make an open-air house that’s probably not the best in this weather, but looked lovely and colourful. While they weren’t as engaged for as long as previous exhibitions – mine still talk about the stickering and the drawing – it was a fun and engaging thing to do, and as always a good art-related discussion point. And let’s face it, it’s probably never going to stop raining so the more fun things you can do this summer the better. Let me know what you think if you go! Where Is Tate Modern? Tate Modern is at Bankside London SE1 9TG. The nearest train and tube station is Blackfriars. The Tate website is here. More Fun Things To Do In London With Kids This Summer: Find the photo booth at Coal Drops Yard / The Postal Museum / Biggin Hill Memorial Museum / The London Transport Museum / The Florence Nightingale Museum / The Natural History Museum / and The Horniman Museum.

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Find The Photo Booth At Coal Drops Yard, Kings Cross

Gillian — Thu, 20 Jul 2023 10:13:13 +0000

How to Find The Coal Drops Yard Photo Booth This Summer If you’re looking for fun things to do in London with tweens and teens, we love taking photos at the photo booth at Coal Drops Yard, Kings Cross. The Coal Drops Yard booth is one of the only traditional photo booths left in London which will instantly print your photos in old fashioned photo strips. Which is such a novelty for digital-camera-era children (and adults!). Now my children are getting slightly older – not so much babies on board any more! – the type of thing they like to do in London has changed. While they’re not so keen on some of the things we used to do all the time when they were younger, there is, however, SO much for tweens and tween to do in London. Taking photos at the photo booth at Coal Drops Yard is a slightly random but fun thing my kids ask to do every holiday. What Is Coal Drops Yard? And Where Is It? The Coal Drops Yard area of Kings Cross was originally the place of historical ‘coal drop’ buildings built in 1850. Right by the Regents Canal, the area was originally used as a coal distribution and storage facility. It eventually became warehouse, a nightclub (which I went to in my youth!) and offices. before becoming derelict. It has since been regenerated as a super-modern shopping and food area. It’s also the home of Autofoto, the booth where you can take photos. Coal Drops Yard is at N1C 4DQ, nearest stations are Kings Cross and St Pancras stations. Where Is The Autofoto Booth At Coal Drops Yard? Autofoto is under the Lower Stable Street Arch off Stable Street (at the end of this photo, tucked way near the stairs) Coal Drops Yard, Kings Cross, London, NC1 4DQ. You can find a handful of other booths around London here. How Much Is The Photo Booth (And How Do You Pay?) The photo booth costs £5 a strip, and the photos are printed within about five minutes. You pay for photos via contactless credit card. What Else Is There To Do Around Kings Cross? Once you’re found the photo booth at Coal Drops Yard, in terms of other things for tweens and tweens to do around Kings Cross, we like the following: More Things to Do In London More things we like to do in London with tweens include: The Tate Modern The Florence Nightingale Museum The Transport Museum

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The Postal Museum & Mail Rail Review: Everything You Need To Know

Gillian — Thu, 15 Sep 2022 10:34:59 +0000

We Take A Trip To London’s Postal Museum And Ride The Mail Rail Underground Railway If you fancy dressing up as an old-fashioned postman and riding on London’s secret underground mail network, then pay a visit to The Postal Museum and ride the Mail Rail railway. This is one of those London museums we’ve meaning to visit since it opened, but never quite got round to (because, well…). We were enticed in this summer after seeing a tube ad for the museum’s Mail Rail, where visitors get to ride on a train through the tunnels of London’s old underground mail delivery network. What can I say? We just love public transport. What Is There To Do At The Postal Museum? The Main Museum The Post Museum is on the smaller side of the bigger London museums and galleries (think Florence Nightingale Museum rather than Natural History or the Tate Modern). However, it packs a lot in and my two tween-ish aged kids were entertained for a good while. There’s a medium amount of postal history, and a good amount of hands-on activities, from post person dress-up to a stamp designing computer, and rotary dial phones. That made me feel about 100 years old. There’s also Postman Pat (of course!) And I really loved the vintage post posters and retro stamp designs. The Mail Rail At The Postal Museum Included in the ticket price is a ride on the Mail Rail, where you take a trip on a tiny train through underground tunnels that were used to deliver mail around London. There’s an audio / visual guide told from the perspective of an old employee, with video projections on the wall of the tunnel. You go past old equipment and even see the old staff dartboard. Once the trip ends, you exit through a section of the museum section that explains a bit more about the background and mechanics of the railway, with a couple of switching and sorting games. We loved the train, and found it all pretty fascinating. It was probably our favourite part of the museum. But be warned, the train compartment is tiny and pretty squashed. Probably not great if you’re claustrophobic! The Mail Rail is located in a separate building to the main museum, and you’re given a time slot on your ticket (however, no-one checked our ticket). Sorted! At The Postal Museum – Mail-Themed Soft Play Sorted! Is the postal place space, in the same building as the Mail Rail. It’s a postal-themed soft play area of the museum, set up as a mini soft-play town children can deliver post around. Sorted! is for ages 8 and under, and you’ll need a separate ticket (you can visit Sorted without buying a ticket to the main museum). Mine are sadly too big and far too tall for this bit, but it looked fun. On the day we visited there was a big queue, but if you go out of school holidays I suspect it will be less busy. Where Is The Postal Museum? The Postal Museum is at 15-20 Phoenix Place, London, WC1X 0DA. The Mail Rail and Sorted! the soft play area, are both in a separate building to the main museum. What’s The Nearest Tube To The Postal Museum? The nearest tubes to the Postal Museum are Farringdon and Russell Square. We walked from King’s Cross, which took around 20 minutes. How Much Are Tickets To The Postal Museum? Postal Museum tickets cost £17 for adults and £12 for children aged 3-15. It is on the expensive side compared to the bigger, free museums. However, you save £1 (!) on each tickets by booking online in advance. Tickets to the main museum include a ride on the Mail Rail and unlimited visits to the museum for a year. You need to buy a separate ticket for the Sorted! soft play area, which is £5 (adults don’t need a ticket). What Are The Postal Museum Opening Times? The Postal Museum opening times are Wednesday to Sunday 10:00 – 17:00. Is There A Café? Yes, there is a café at the postal museum. There’s also an small indoor and outdoor seating area. And there’s a gift shop in both buildings. Do You Need To Book Tickets To The Postal Museum In Advance? The website advises that you book in advance, and you do save £1 from each ticket. However, I’m pretty sure you can just turn up and you’ll be OK. How Much Time Do You Need At The Postal Museum? If you’re heading to the Sorted! soft play, then you’ll be given a 45 minute play slot. The Mail Rail takes about 30 minutes in total if you hang out after. The main museum kept mine occupied for a while (however, it’s quite small, so if you zip through museums you can probably do it quicker), Once You’ve Read Our Postal Museum Review, Read These Posts: Read review of the London Transport Museum / The Biggin Hill Museum / The Horniman Museum / And follow me on Pinterest

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The Obliteration Room At Tate Modern: 5 Things To Know Before You Go

Gillian — Wed, 27 Jul 2022 18:03:04 +0000

Here Are Five Things You Need To Know About Yayoi Kusama’s The Obliteration Room At Tate Modern, London Have you heard about Yayoi Kusama’s The Obliteration Room At Tate Modern this summer? It’s an interactive art exhibition where visitors are given a sheet of colourful stickers and are invited to stick them anywhere they want. Yes, absolutely anywhere. I’m having toddler flashbacks. It’s a brilliant free, summer holiday activity for kids, and adults, if you’re in London this summer (spoiler: it’s also a LOT of fun). The Obliteration Room At Tate Modern: 5 Things To Know Before You Get Stuck In 1. What Is The Obliteration Room At Tate Modern? Yayoi Kusama’s The Obliteration Room is a giant white space built in the Tate’s Turbine Hall (like last year’s Mega Please Draw Freely). The art exhibition is designed as a mini apartment, with furniture, and it starts off as being all white. Everyone, including the adults, are given a sheet of dotty stickers. And unlike with most art exhibitions when you’re not allowed to even get close, with this one you can stick the stickers absolutely anywhere. The aim is to ‘obliterate’ all of the white with colour. And they do mean anywhere! You can stick them on the white walls and floor, plus all of the furniture – there’s a bed, wardrobes, kitchen, sofa, and so on. The room contains lots of all-white items including a table football table you can play, Connect 4, musical instruments that work, plants, soft play toys among others. There’s even a computer plus mouse. You can see more in our Instagram Reel of our trip. 2. How Much Does The Obliteration Room cost? It’s free! 3. Do You Need To Book A Ticket Or Time Slot To The Obliteration Room? You don’t need a ticket or to book a time slot to the Obliteration Room at Tate Modern. Unlike last year when you needed to book a timed slot for the Tate, in 2022 you can just walk in and take part. Be warned, you might need to queue though. We were first in when it opened at 10am and there was already was a queue when we left (but it seemed to be moving quickly). 4. How Long Is The Obliteration Room Open For? It’s open until 29th August. 5. What Will Happen To All The Stickers? The stickers won’t be removed (unlike in most parent’s houses!). The idea is that the room will get more and more stickered-on over the summer, until all the white is covered. It’s a ridiculous amount of fun! It also looks incredibly cool and it’s fab to be able to interact so much with everything in the room. We all absolutely loved it. Go get stuck in. Tate Modern is at Bankside London SE1 9TG. The nearest station is Blackfriars. More Fun Things To Do In London With Kids This Summer: The London Transport Museum / The Florence Nightingale Museum / The Natural History Museum / The Horniman Museum and our favourite south London parks and our favourite Nintendo Switch games

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The Beano: The Art Of Breaking The Rules Exhibition: Everything You Need To Know

Gillian — Thu, 04 Nov 2021 12:11:13 +0000

We Loved The Beano: The Art Of Breaking The Rules At Somerset House Here’s Everything You Need To Know About The New Beano Art Exhibition In London If you loved iconic comic The Beano, have a child who loves The Beano or just want something fun to do, then you should head on over to new art exhibition The Beano: The Art Of Breaking Rules at Somerset House . Who used to read The Beano as a child? I’d sneak my brother’s copy until I was allowed my own, which obviously he loved. Ahem. My favourite Beano characters were Gnipper the baby dog (does anyone remember when Gnasher went missing and then came back with him?) And Minnie The Minx, of course. My children now read the more modern version too, and find it just as funny as I did all those years ago. The Beano: The Art Of Breaking The Rules – What Is It? The Beano: The Art Of Breaking The Rules is an exhibition in celebration of the art of The Beano, and a exhibition of art that’s inspired by it and in the spirit of rule breaking. There’s a lot to look at! It’s laid out brilliantly, in a child-friendly colourful Beano Town set over a couple of floors. IT even has its own art gallery and record store. As well as a lot of fun and fascinating art, there’s an interactive catapult game (expect queues) colouring at the end and you can make and take home your own protest placard. What Did We Think Of The Beano: The Art Of Breaking The Rules? We all loved it! It’s probably better suited for slightly older kids who’ve read The Beano and recognise the characters. It’s also great for adults as there’s so much nostalgia and fascinating ~stuff~ (I’d like to go back child-free for a proper look). The art is brilliant. It prompted a lot of ‘what is art?’ type of discussions among us (Me: ‘what do YOU think?’ :-)) Do I Need To Book Tickets To The Beano Exhibition? How Much Does It Cost? If you want to see the exhibition, you need to pre-book tickets and a time slot for the day. It costs from around £12.50 per ticket, kids under six are free. You can book via the Somerset House website here. When Is The Beano Exhibition On Until? The Beano: The Art Of Breaking The Rules is on till the 6th March 2022. Where Is The Beano: The Art Of Breaking The Rules? It is at Somerset House in central London at the Strand, WC2R 1LA. Make sure you go in via the Somerset House terrace entrance, which is just off Waterloo Bridge. We didn’t, went in the main entrance then spent a long while wondering up and down stairs and randomly around everywhere getting helplessly lost. What Else Is There For Families To Do In London? Other places we love in London include: The London Transport Museum The Florence Nightingale Museum The Tate Modern and The Natural History Museum Further out there’s the Horniman Museum and the Biggin Hill Museum. PS here’s how to get a baby on board badge and how to get a Zip Card.

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Take Flight At The Biggin Hill Memorial Museum, London

Gillian — Thu, 23 Sep 2021 13:29:14 +0000

Looking For Child-Friendly Museums In London? Check Out The Biggin Hill Memorial Museum If you’re looking for kids’ activities and child-friendly museums in London, but don’t want to trek all the way to central London, have you heard about the Biggin Hill Memorial Museum? It’s a small but perfectly formed museum in south-east London / Greater London. With the added bonus of being right next to an airport for child-friendly plane viewing (who doesn’t love watching planes take off?) What Is The Biggin Hill Museum? Situated next to the business flight and private jet hub that is the London Biggin Hill Airport, The Biggin Hill Memorial Museum tells the story of the original RAF Biggin Hill airport during the second world war, those who served there, the surrounding community that supported the airport and the impact the war had on everyone. The Biggin Hill Museum on the same site as the St George’s RAF Chapel of Remembrance, which was built in 1951 to preserve the legacy of everyone who served, fought and died at RAF Biggin Hill during the second world war. Entrance to the museum includes the museum room (which is one room, it’s very similar to the Florence Nightingale Museum) as well as the main chapel, the gardens, cafe and shop. There were also craft activities taking place on the day we went, and there are regular themed events at the museum, including guest speakers. From the gardens and outdoor area of the cafe, you can also watch the planes take off and land, which is fun for everyone (right?) There are also real spitfire (I think!) planes in front on the museum. What Did We Think Of The Biggin Hill Memorial Museum? We really enjoyed it; the story it told about the war was fascinating, brave, sad, important, and done really well. As a relative newcomer to this part of London, it was really interesting to read about the history of the area during the war, the huge impact RAF Biggin Hill had on the war, and how it impacted women, children and families especially. You can also go into the RAF Biggin Hill Memorial Chapel, which we found really beautiful and peaceful. The gardens are also lovely. We had cake at the on-site Nightingale Cafe – how good is the mural? How Suitable Is The Biggin Hill Museum For Kids? Although the museum is small, there’s lots kids can interact with, from the war-themed costumes to the plane plotting board. Mine also loved the ‘real time’ video of pilots relaxing at the airport while the clock counts down to action stations (we watched this at least twice, sitting down, it was great and yes, very relaxing). Children are also given a special ‘flying high family pack’ of activities, including a scavenger hunt, which is really well thought-out and means you can spend longer looking around for clues. It is more suitable for school-age children due to amount of reading involved in the main exhibit but at 6 and 9, both of mine really enjoyed it. It’s not a huge museum – more of an afternoon out with a cafe trip rather than a whole day – and if you zip through museums pretty quickly, you’ll be done in no time. But then there are always planes to watch. But if you have older children and are looking for a local activity that doesn’t involve going all the way to zone 1,and want to avoid the crowds at of your favourite big London museums for kids like the Natural History Museum, London Transport Museum etc it’s a really good alternative for a trip out. Like the Horniman Museum, it’s off the beaten tourist track and a local museum we really enjoyed. How Much Does The Biggin Hill Museum Cost And Do We Need To Book A Ticket? We paid £10 for a family ticket on the day (we just walked in, we didn’t book). Where Is The Biggin Hill Memorial Museum? The museum is part of Biggin Hill Airport (but if you’re going out on the bus, it’s the stop after). It is at Main Road, Biggin Hill, Leaves Green, Westerham TNH16 3EJ. When Is The Biggin Hill Memorial Museum Open? The Biggin Hill Memorial Museum is open on Tuesday – Sunday from 10am – 5pm (last admission is at 4pm). The Nightingale Cafe is open from 10am – 4pm and you don’t need a ticket to go in. Where Else Would We Reccomend Visiting In London? Here are a few more of our favourite places: The Florence Nightingale Museum London Transport Museum Discover Story Children’s Centre The Postal Museum You can also read the best things to see and do in London with babies And how to get a baby on board badge and how to get a zip card Follow me on Instagram, I’m Gill_Crawshaw

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Draw On The Floor At Mega Please Draw Freely, The Tate Modern

Gillian — Wed, 04 Aug 2021 21:25:42 +0000

If You’re Searching For More Summer Holiday Activities, We Loved Mega Please Draw Freely If you fancy getting down with your kids and drawing all over the floor of one of the UK’s most famous art galleries, head over to the Tate Modern in London to take part in Mega Please Draw Freely. But what is it, and do you need to book a ticket? Here’s everything you need to know about this new, free art event that’s a lot of fun for children AND parents. What Is Mega Please Draw Freely At The Tate Modern? Mega Please Draw Freely is an interactive art exhibition that’s turned the Turbine Hall floor into a giant drawing pad. It’s been covered with a vinyl surface, and everyone is encouraged to draw, write and doodle whatever you like all over it with giant crayons. There are also daily interactive art sessions at 11am and 2pm that take place in this fun, forest-like space. It’s the idea of artist Ei Awarkawa, who was inspired by the Gutai group of Japanese artists who wanted to change the world through art and play. It is part of Tate Play series of free, creative activities for families. And it’s especially good for every parent who’s ever discovered doodles on their walls or furniture (me). How Does It Work? Once you’re inside the Tate (you need to book first, see below) everyone is given their own bag of big crayons. You’re then free to pick a spot and can draw / write / doodle all over the floor, over and among everyone else’s drawings, writings and doodles. And that’s it, really! Don’t go in your best clothes as you are likely to get crayon all over you (but mainly on your children). And someone will probably try to draw on you with the big crayons. Mainly, your children. As it’s the Tate there is also a cafe area nearby, as well as baby change facilities and a gift shop. How Much Does It Cost And Do We Need To Book A Ticket? Tickets are free, but you need to book a timed slot for the collection route in advance online (this also includes the Tate Modern galleries). More info here. Although a booked time means you have to plan your visit, it does means numbers are kept low. When we went everyone was very spaced out, and wearing masks . Lots of tickets are available, we booked the morning we went. When Is It On Until? It’s on until 29th August. So What Did We Think Of Mega Please Draw Freely At Tate Modern? It’s a lot of fun…for everyone! Parents included. I noticed a lot of parents were really getting into it. Me included, obviously. There’s something really liberating about letting loose with the big crayons. And hopefully they won’t try this at home. Where Is It And When Is It Open? It’s taking place at the Tate Modern, which is open Monday to Sunday 10.00–18.00. The Tate Modern is at Bankside, London SE1 9TG. Where Else Would We Recommend To Take Kids In London? Here are a few more of our favourite places to take kids in London:

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How to Get A Zip Card If You Want Free London Travel For Kids

Gillian — Fri, 06 Mar 2020 14:00:41 +0000

Here’s How To Get A Zip Card And Free London Travel For Kids Here’s how to get a child’s Zip card, which means kids over five can travel for free in London Want to know how kids over five can travel for free in London? Easy – apply for a Zipcard, or Zip Oyster card. Here’s how. Want Free Travel For Your Kids In London? While babies and children under five can travel for free across London transport, did you know that as soon as your child hits five you need to pay for them travel on some modes of transport in London – unless you apply for a travel card, otherwise known as a Zipcard? A lot of people don’t know this! It’s worth having a London kid’s railcard / Zipcard to access free transport in London for kids if you live in or near London, or travel in an out a lot (lots of people we know would never drive into central London, for example). And as the mum of two tall girls, I can confirm that their ages will be checked in London train stations on train services in to London. And inevitably, children will tell the truth when asked! It seems like yesterday that I was writing a post on how to get a baby on board badge, and giving advice on how to use London’s public transport with a pram. now the babies are all grown up *sob*. Well, not quite… So..what do you need to do? Want Free Travel? Apply for a 5-10 ZipCard. Where Can Children Travel For Free In London With The Zip Oyster Card? Where Can Children Travel For Free In London Without A Card? How To Apply For Your Child’s Zip Travel Card: Zip Card Application More questions you might have about applying: How much does a Zip Card cost? What happens if my child loses their Zip card? How long does a Zip card last? What happens if I forget my child’s Zip travel card when travelling in London? The best places for children to go in London with your Zipcard Once your child has a Zipcard, go to one of these brilliant places in London: Make sure you’re following me on Instagram for more of our London-based adventures…

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See Santa at London Transport Museum

Gillian — Thu, 19 Dec 2019 20:01:25 +0000

If you’re looking for a last-minute visit to see Father Christmas, or want a trip out over the holidays, then head on over to see Santa at London Transport Museum. We were given tickets to visit Father Christmas and check out this year’s seasonal offering and, as always, absolutely loved it. Santa at London Transport Museum: Where is it? The London Transport Museum is in the corner of Covent Garden Piazza, with a deceptively small entrance considering the museum is home to over 450,000 transport-related items, including trams, several buses and even tube trains. Where’s Santa? You can pay a visit to Santa in his grotto (above) or find him wandering around the museum, looking for people to take festive transport selfies with. Once Santa wonders back to his grotto, you can line up to have a chat with him – and all children get a badge. This is the second year we’ve been now (which makes it a Christmas tradition, right?). I absolutely love the look and feel of the Santa area – it looks really, really magical and very special. You can also take part in Christmas crafting in the room next to Santa; we made Christmas bunting – or more specifically, the adults sat and watched for hours as the children made Christmas bunting. This is all included in the price of the ticket. What else is there to see at London Transport Museum? In short, loads – you could easily spend a whole day in the museum, minus Santa. We’ve been several times but there’s always something new to see. For most part you can sit and climb up and in and out of the busses, trains and trams, and press buttons to your heart’s content (it never ceases to amaze me that for my children, who use public transport all the time, it’s still a novelty to sit on all the buses here). There are also two brilliant transport-themed play areas, as well as a stamp trail for children which keeps everyone occupied for a long while: There is also the new Hidden London exhibition, which is all about the secrets of London transport and all the things you might not know, with a really moving section about the people who sheltered in the tube during the war. *Whispers* Is it interesting for adults, too? YES! I don’t know any adult that doesn’t have a love / hate relationship with London Transport, and there is so much here to see and find out that’s really fascinating, from all the historical facts through to the moquette sofa and all the amazingly-designed historical posters. PS who doesn’t love sitting on trains and pressing buttons as a grown-up, either? Where is there to eat at London Transport Museum? For a festive snack, although it’s in the middle of central London and surrounded by places to eat, it’s worth visiting Canteen, the newly revamped Transport Museum cafe (we were given a voucher for our meal). This is where you can eat train-shaped pasta and roundel cupcakes, among other things. Compared to our previous visit here, there’s a lot more space now, and the vintage transport decorations look great, too. For a central London restaurant it’s also pretty reasonably priced. And you get a great view over into the gift shop (me: spying all the vintage posters I want to buy). How long will there be Santa at London Transport Museum? Santa and the Christmas activities are there till 5th Jan, so there’s plenty of time to head over. And finally...Although, unlike some of the big central London museums, it’s not free to get in – but did you know if you buy a ticket then you can come back free all year? Happy Christmas, indeed. We were given free entrance to the museum and a meal in the restaurant for this post, more info on tickets is on the website. More great things to do in London…The Florence Nightingale Museum and the Horniman Museum

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