Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Original poster

Museum/experience ideas for a 6 year old keen on natural history?

56 replies

SarahAndQuack · 01/08/2023 22:27

As it says on the tin. DD is fascinated by natural history; she loves skeletons and finding out about different kinds of creatures and where they live; she would adore a bit of light dissection (I'm too squeamish - my mum dissected an owl pellet with her and identified all the tiny mousy bones, and DD considers this a high point in life).

I wanted to take her to the Natural History Museum or the Pitt Rivers in Oxford, but train prices are prohibitive as we're in North Yorkshire. Consensus from friends is that the Yorkshire Museum is pretty unimpressive.

Any thoughts - not just about good museums, but also experiences your children enjoyed - would be hugely appreciated!

OP posts:
Original poster
SarahAndQuack · 01/08/2023 23:00

Whyohwhyohwhy123 · 01/08/2023 22:55

https://www.wob.com/en-gb/books/roger-osborne/dinosaur-coast/9780907480884

This is a really good book, I’ve had my copy for years but it’s very well read by my 6 year old. Fossils are fairly easy to find in this coast.

That looks great - thank you!

OP posts:
Original poster
SarahAndQuack · 01/08/2023 23:01

IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads · 01/08/2023 22:58

@SarahAndQuack the fossil club that @CherrySocks posted about isn't at the Yorkshire Museum, it's at the Yorkshire Natural History Museum in Sheffield. It's only about a year old. I haven't managed to get there yet, but I have heard excellent reports of it, and the fossil club, from assorted children aged 5-10.

Oh, thanks! Sorry, I misunderstood. That sounds really positive.

OP posts:
Flangeosaurus · 01/08/2023 23:05

If you’re ever in Edinburgh and she likes looking at the insides of things then try the surgeons museum attached to the Royal College of Surgeons HQ. DH absolutely adored it, I thought it was facking horrible but had 6yo DS been with us he would have loved it too. He is also keen on natural history stuff and dead things, the Manchester Museum is ace and has just had a refurb.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

6 year olds
ExPreschoolTrustee · 01/08/2023 23:05

The National Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh would be a good day trip (if the trains play ball) Much better than the Hancock in Newcastle

Runswick bay (go to the far right/ Sandsend) and Port Mulgrave are fab for finding ammonite fossils

Thirsk Bird of prey centre?

Indigotree · 01/08/2023 23:06

If you're ever down London way, the Grant Museum of Zoology is truly horrible, full of animals in jars, and they do children's activities. I live near it and I avoid it because I'm squeamish too! It's a short walk from Euston and Kings Cross, so very easy to pop into if you're visiting London anyway.

Original poster
SarahAndQuack · 01/08/2023 23:19

Flangeosaurus · 01/08/2023 23:05

If you’re ever in Edinburgh and she likes looking at the insides of things then try the surgeons museum attached to the Royal College of Surgeons HQ. DH absolutely adored it, I thought it was facking horrible but had 6yo DS been with us he would have loved it too. He is also keen on natural history stuff and dead things, the Manchester Museum is ace and has just had a refurb.

Oh, dear, she'd love that and it's so much closer and cheaper than London ... but I know exactly what you mean about it. I've never been but I know some of what's in there. Eugh.

Manchester Museum sounds fabulous.

OP posts:
Original poster
SarahAndQuack · 01/08/2023 23:19

ExPreschoolTrustee · 01/08/2023 23:05

The National Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh would be a good day trip (if the trains play ball) Much better than the Hancock in Newcastle

Runswick bay (go to the far right/ Sandsend) and Port Mulgrave are fab for finding ammonite fossils

Thirsk Bird of prey centre?

Thanks! Another one for Edinburgh.

OP posts:
Original poster
SarahAndQuack · 01/08/2023 23:21

Indigotree · 01/08/2023 23:06

If you're ever down London way, the Grant Museum of Zoology is truly horrible, full of animals in jars, and they do children's activities. I live near it and I avoid it because I'm squeamish too! It's a short walk from Euston and Kings Cross, so very easy to pop into if you're visiting London anyway.

Grin I love how you've totally got the measure of what I am asking. Yes, she'd adore something horrible with animals in jars. I will keep it in mind for a London trip, but I'm looking at over £200 just for the trains, which is outside our budget at the moment. Next time!

OP posts:
TotheAlps · 01/08/2023 23:26

You've had a lot of good suggestions but just going to add World Museum in Liverpool. It's free and might be worth checking how easy it is on the train. They have a good Egypt department, space dept and a natural history dept too.

Also Eureka might be worth a shout if you are near. They have quite a few skeleton/ anatomy displays that would work. That's the original in Halifax but there is one now just south of Liverpool. Might be worth looking into what's there and if you could combine with a Liverpool museum visit.

Surgeons Hall is not an option until she is much older, they wouldn't let her in.

Original poster
SarahAndQuack · 01/08/2023 23:28

TotheAlps · 01/08/2023 23:26

You've had a lot of good suggestions but just going to add World Museum in Liverpool. It's free and might be worth checking how easy it is on the train. They have a good Egypt department, space dept and a natural history dept too.

Also Eureka might be worth a shout if you are near. They have quite a few skeleton/ anatomy displays that would work. That's the original in Halifax but there is one now just south of Liverpool. Might be worth looking into what's there and if you could combine with a Liverpool museum visit.

Surgeons Hall is not an option until she is much older, they wouldn't let her in.

Ooh, World Museum sounds wonderful, thank you so much! She likes Space stuff too.

They went to Eureka on a school trip.

Thanks for the warning about Surgeons' Hall. I suspect if they wouldn't let her in, I don't want to go in! Grin

OP posts:
FlamingYam · 01/08/2023 23:29

It would be a long day but you could drive to Stanmore station and park for £6 and underground it the rest of the day for the natural history museum. That's what we do but we are an hour closer at least.

Original poster
SarahAndQuack · 01/08/2023 23:43

FlamingYam · 01/08/2023 23:29

It would be a long day but you could drive to Stanmore station and park for £6 and underground it the rest of the day for the natural history museum. That's what we do but we are an hour closer at least.

That's a clever thought - we might manage it from my parents' house, which is a bit nearer. From us I think it'd be too much. But very worth knowing, thank you!

OP posts:
AdaColeman · 02/08/2023 00:20

Not a day out, but an idea for a gift, have a look at Dara McAnulty's wonderful book, Diary of a Young Naturalist, which won the Wainwright Prize for Nature Writing in 2020.
It's packed full of ideas and possible projects for children interested in nature, but is focused on things available on your own doorstep, in your garden or local park, things to look out for on local walks.

While you would probably need to be involved while your daughter is young, you could guide her towards looking at things independently. It really is an inspirational book.
(ps I'm the world's most squeamish person, but there isn't anything repulsive in the book.)

ErrolTheDragon · 02/08/2023 00:20

There's nothing particularly close to us that looks very interesting, unless I'm missing something!

That was re Wildlife Trust - I'm not sure if they'd have everything mentioned online. Our local ones (t'other side of Pennines) had a 'Watch group' for kids once a month, though maybe a bit older than 6. I just had a poke about their website, they've got various activity ideas to do at home.

https://www.wildlifewatch.org.uk/activities?gclid=Cj0KCQjwnOlBhDhARIsAG2y6zNHHx7ZILEhdX3DPS46tBIyYEEFTWfzbz8O5h44swTgASK837lNBo8aAvLvEALww_wcB

Original poster
SarahAndQuack · 02/08/2023 00:26

ErrolTheDragon · 02/08/2023 00:20

There's nothing particularly close to us that looks very interesting, unless I'm missing something!

That was re Wildlife Trust - I'm not sure if they'd have everything mentioned online. Our local ones (t'other side of Pennines) had a 'Watch group' for kids once a month, though maybe a bit older than 6. I just had a poke about their website, they've got various activity ideas to do at home.

https://www.wildlifewatch.org.uk/activities?gclid=Cj0KCQjwnOlBhDhARIsAG2y6zNHHx7ZILEhdX3DPS46tBIyYEEFTWfzbz8O5h44swTgASK837lNBo8aAvLvEALww_wcB

I am actively seeking to avoid activities to do at home. I'd love to find experiences for her to go to, or museums I can take her to. I have hit my threshold with stuff to do at home - and we have done a fair bit - in that she really likes stuff that is more gruesome than I can manage. We've got bats and owls at home, and a pond; we've done hawk walks and so on, and TBH most other things I can think of that she'd like, I don't feel I'd do very well. I have really strong memories of my mum doing activities with us that she clearly didn't really get, and I don't want to be that parent who spoils it for a child - does that make sense?

OP posts:
Original poster
SarahAndQuack · 02/08/2023 00:28

(I don't think I am unnaturally squeamish, but she keeps wanting me to take home animal skulls to boil up so we can look at them. I get it; I know people who do this. But personally, I can't. So I would love to send her off to some event where they do stuff like that.)

OP posts:
ErrolTheDragon · 02/08/2023 00:30

Each to their own, I don't think the link I looked at had anything gruesome!Smile

sandgrown · 02/08/2023 00:33

Another vote for the Manchester Museum.

AdaColeman · 02/08/2023 00:42

If you've not already been, a day out at Malham Tarn might be fun. It's a glacial lake a few miles north of Bradford.

Floralnomad · 02/08/2023 00:52

The Yorkshire Wildlife trust has lots of activities on during the holidays , fossil hunting etc .

ErrolTheDragon · 02/08/2023 00:55

AdaColeman · 02/08/2023 00:42

If you've not already been, a day out at Malham Tarn might be fun. It's a glacial lake a few miles north of Bradford.

There's a really nice boardwalk, from which you can see lots of interesting plants including sundews, which are insectivores.

peopleandthedales.org/tarn-moss-boardwalk/

Avatartar · 02/08/2023 01:03

A local estate/gamekeeper may do a rabbit skinning or pheasant plucking/preparation. Local fish market Whitby to watch fish being gutted (if it’s still done dockside).
for star gazing Kielder Forest has an Amazon observatory

Avatartar · 02/08/2023 01:04

Amazing not Amazon