To recreate DDs missed school trip

[Piratepete1]

DD (5) is due to go on a school trip to London later this month to see a Matisse: drawing with scissors (the cut outs) exhibition. She has really enjoyed the topic and was so excited about going. We are in the Midlands so it was a 2 hour train trip each way. Her much awaited consultants appointment has typically now fallen on the exact date. She can't miss it so will have to miss the trip and is very upset. I am considering a Sunday trip to London to see it with her but DH thinks I'm barmy as it's a costly train trip and a long day. He says to just buy a book of his work but I think it's a completely different experience seeing it at a gallery. I have tried to find if there are any prints of his work displayed in local galleries but it's been fruitless. She particularly likes 'The Snail' but I can't find where it is displayed anywhere.

Do you think it's worth the trip?

[MrsJayy]

What a shame sods bloody law that I would take her if she was looking forward to going I took 1 of mine to an exhibition she missed because she was off school with S &D was an hour not 2 though but why not

[elephantpig]

You could also get her this:
www.art.co.uk/products/p35590190894-sa-i9449211/henri-matisse-the-snail-1953.htm?sorig=cat&sorigid=0&ui=FC258CEC10AC4B7E90F66EC44D177B37

Would be a lovely present and I definitely think you should go!

(Don't mind me, just spending your money for you )

[SistersOfPercy]

We usually drive to the premier Inn at Wembley Park, it's yards away from the station so you can head straight into London. Outside congestion charge too and there is parking at the hotel.

I was going to suggest tate modern, have a look at the collection list for the lever gallery at Port sunlight too. If you wanted an arty day in general you could head for the lever where they have some amazing Rossetti works then go under the mersey tunnel to tate modern and see Picasso crying lady.

[Piratepete1]

Thanks everyone for your ideas. I am looking into options but it's working out quite expensive at the moment. DD can't use the underground as its too loud for her and hurts her ears (due to her precious condition). Therefore, we have to taxi it everywhere which soon mounts up. I'll keep looking though. And I've just got her that print of the snail for when she finally gets discharged from speech therapy as she has worked so hard

[Piratepete1]

Previous not precious

[Alanna1]

I absolutely would, lovely day out. You can book train tickets in advance. If you had the money you could stay over in a travelodge or Air BnB too.

[whois]

DH is a total kill joy! Take her if you can, it will be a lovey day.

[shellshock77]

We just did a day trip to London on the train from Liverpool, with a 2 and 4 year old. It was fab, they loved the train...if you are well prepared there's no reason you couldn't all go and make a day of it

[thetemptationofchocolate]

I saw The Snail at the Tate many years ago and was blown away by it in real life. VERY different from looking at it in a book.

[PurpleCrazyHorse]

I did something similar with a 4yo DD. DH was working in London and it was the school holidays so I spent the day there with DD too. We did the science museum.

Do it, it'll be great fun and what lovely 1-on-1 time with your 5yo.

Check out the EasyHotels. They're pretty orange and you pay for everything extra (TV, breakfast, towels etc), but I've stayed in the Earls Court one and it's only a 5min walk down the road to a huge Tesco. They can be cheap if you're only wanting a bed for the night.

The Tube is easy and if you travel outside of rush hour I found people to be really helpful with my buggy. As a regular Tube commuter before children, I was surprise so many people helped me up/down stairs (I did get the map of accessible stations to minimise the steps issue with the buggy).

[PurpleCrazyHorse]

Oops, sorry missed the bit where DD can't use the underground. Could she use the bus? The buses are a great way to see London. Also, things in central London are often fairly close together, so you might be able to walk with her in a buggy?

[CMOTDibbler]

No Matisse, but Birmingham art gallery is lovely, and when ds and I went to the preraphelite exhibition recently they had great activities for children. He really likes the sculpture there as

[NoSquirrels]

Definitely try and do it.

2 hrs on a train is fine, but maybe make a weekend of it.
If you pick where to stay carefully, you can get a riverboat to the southbank, or buses then walk - loads of options.

[AnnPerkins]

When we drive to London we park for free in West Hampstead. It's very easy to drive to from the A1 or M1. We take the tube from there but you can also get the Thameslink to Blackfriars and walk to the Southbank Centre.

Otherwise National Express is probably the way forward.

I really hope you go. It would be a lovely day out for your DD.

I notice that the tour is coming to a museum near me next year and I'll be looking out for it.

[whois]

Can she use ear defenders? Or the bus? Don't have to get the tube.

[CodyKing]

Let her have the experience! She may not remember much - take photos - but she will remember a lovely day out.

[DataColour]

I saw the Matisee exhibition which had the Snail in Tate Liverpool at Feb half term. Might be worth checking if it's still on.

[ChishandFips33]

I think it's a fab idea if it's doable. If she's previously been deaf then the arts will be an amazing channel for her communication, expression and creativity
To see it in its original scale would be awe and wonder for her - then you could maybe do something similar on a big scale afterwards, back of the house on a bed sheet etc type thing

[Plexie]

Although it has already been pointed out that this exhibition is organised by the South Bank Centre and is on show at the London Print Centre, can I please highlight that THE VENUE IS IN WEST LONDON and NOT NEAR central London. You might want to check out a map before gaily trying to organise add-on events in central London.

Also, the exhibition is just prints of his work, not the actual cut-outs. I don't know if a 5-year old will notice a difference but just be aware that it's not a full-blown exhibition of the type that would be held by the Tate etc. Actually, a smaller exhibition might be more suitable for that age group.

I hope the school is aware of this and isn't organising a trip to the South Bank?

[Plexie]

Not sure if this link to Google Maps will work:

www.google.co.uk/maps/place/London+Print+Studio/@51.5300942,-0.1864551,13.5z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x0000000000000000:0x98df2a7d3ab78909!8m2!3d51.525838!4d-0.2057516

[mummytime]

If she can't use the underground then investigate the bus. Look on the TFL site, and both Charing Cross/Trafalgar Square area and Westminster are quite close.

[DoreenLethal]

Can you use Megatrain? Usually very cheap tickets.

[mummytime]

Oops sorry it's not at the South Bank. But TFL can recommend bus routes from either Marylebone or Euston.

[ceebie]

I took DD on her first trip to London when she was 5. She loved it!

It was 2 hours each way on the train, I thought she would struggle with the length of the journeys but she was great. On the way there, I drew pictures of ten things to look for out of the window and a box to tick when she found them (church spire, lorry, cow etc...). On they way back I gave her a kids' magazine which kept her busy. We had colouring books and card games too.

I think we got a train down at 9 and arrived around 11, left at 4 and home at 6. It sounded like plenty of time in London but actually the time flew by, especially once you take into account the time it takes to actually get around London itself, so don't try to fit in too much and plan your time very carefully.

For us, trains are much faster and more frequent on a Saturday, we couldn't have done it on a Sunday.

Hope you have fun!

[Araminkin]

I know that The Snail has been at Tate Modern. From their website it should be at Tate Liverpool at the moment, but you say that it is no longer there. Maybe you can ask Tate modern if it is back there?