Tag: museum

Family Christmas Activities at the Science Museum, London

If you’re stuck for things to do over the Christmas Holidays, I really rate the Science Museum in London.  We went last Saturday and had a brilliant day and learned a lot.

After a bit of deliberating we decided to drive in, as it worked out cheaper than taking the train even with the price of parking.  We did have a bit of a surprise when we arrived as the underground car park we normally use, is no longer in use.  But thanks to a very kind Black Cab driver, we found street parking just around the corner to the museum on Prince Consort Rd, which was about £14 for four hours.

The museum itself is free but there is a suggested donation of £5.   We went to see the Legend of Apollo 4-D, to celebrate the 40th Anniversary of the Landing on the moon.  If you’re like me you’re probably wondering what 4D is?  We had a bit of a surprise on our quick trip to the moon, our chairs started to shake as we went through the atmosphere and we landed on the moon with a bit of a bump, bombed around in a space buggy collecting rocks,  learned what the moon smells like and then splashed back to earth.

If you do go do make sure you make a day of it as there is so much to see and do at the Museum.  We barely made a dent in it.  Our daughter is 5, so if you have children of a similar age, I really recommend the Basement where you will find the Garden an interactive play area and a theatre with different shows throughout the day; we saw the Bubble Show and it was great fun.

The Museum is open every day except 24 – 26 December, and stays open until 19.00 (last entry 18.15) during the school holidays.  For a full list of their Family Christmas Activities 2012 click here.  I quite fancy the Festive Physics show.  Could Reindeers really fly?  Why do crackers crack?

Disclosure:  Our tickets to the 4D Cinema were complimentary.

 

Dinosaur Days!

We accidently had a Dinosaur themed weekend.  Someone recently suggested ‘theme-ing’ your week with your kids (e.g under the water, at the Zoo, etc.).  However, to be honest I thought it sounded a bit wanky and far too organised for me.  Nonetheless, in this case it worked out well.

Last week a friend recommended Knebworth House and said it had a fantastic Dinosaur Trail.  So, Saturday morning I decided that’s what we would do.  I sat Madame on my lap and showed her all the pictures of the dinosaurs and the adventure playground.  She was very excited, until I flipped to the opening times and realised it closed in September.  Doh!

Quick change of plans, with a bit of gentle persuasion I convinced hubby, who is a London Commuter, to go to the Natural History Museum in London.  It was brilliant!  As it was a Saturday we drove in, no congestion charge on weekends, we have a diesel, parking was only a tenner and the museum is free!  Madame’s highlight was the robotic T-Rex.  She also liked these guys.  They reminded me of @chickenruby and me.

She was fascinated by the blood around their mouths and reckoned they needed some baby wipes!

Then, today, thanks to @zooarcheologis, we went to the local museum where they had a Dinosaur Day. Madame made a miniature dinosaur and giant wellie boot dinosaur foot prints.  I wasn’t there, so I’m hoping Claire jumps in and tells us how they’re made.  I think they look fab, even though they do look a bit phallic (rotate footprint 90 degrees clockwise)????

All in all a great weekend!

A Great Day Out! RAF Museum Hendon

I’m always looking for inexpensive family days out (in Herts or North London Area), not that we can’t afford it but I object to paying and arm and a leg to spend quality time with my daughter. @annieqpr one of my twitter mates recommended the RAF Museum in Hendon.

Earlier this week my daughter asked to go to an airport and I duped her by taking her to the local outlet centre which looks like an airport.  I think you’ll agree from the photo.  She had a great time running around but I don’t think the ride-on airplane fooled her. So I thought it was only fair to make more of an effort!

We had a great morning at the museum and it was all free, including the parking!  I’m not a plane enthusiast but my husband is a real anorak.  His father serviced planes during the war, which I attribute to this fascination. I’ve also been told that it’s a bloke thing.  I learned the date they painted black and white stripes on the bottom of planes, the equivalents to German planes and the process of recovery planes from lakes in Europe.

I really didn’t mind though because Madame absolutely loved it.  She just ran around shouting plane, plane, plane!  There’s also an interactive section for kids…she’s a bit young to get a lot out of it, but she did get to press buttons and things happened.  Plus, her daddy got to make a fool of himself on a glider and sat in a tiny helicopter (Roberts R22).

We ate in the Wings restaurant, which I wouldn’t recommend, but you could take your own food as there is an area for those who do.

All in all, a great day out!

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