Ideas for present for a whole family that's not "stuff" iykwim? Zoo membership, that kind of thing please

[OliviaMumsnet]

Hello

I am looking for inspiration for something to buy my lovely nieces and nephews who are very lucky in the toy and books department. My sister is vg at taking them out and about so I'm thinking something like a zoo membership (except I think they already have this). They're London based btw
TIA

Is there a local wildlife type place that sponsors animals? We did that for our dds one year and they got their names on a sign on the enclosure and a season's ticket to go and visit "their" animal.

An alternative might be looking into The Science Museum's sleepover nights and booking for that?

I think you can stay on a boat too - might it be the Cutty sark, or did I dream that?!!!

How old are they?
I want Tate membership purely for the David Shrigley wallet that says 'i'm a very important person and demand to be treated as such'

If they are already zoo members then what about sposoring an animal there - we sponsored an animal for our daughter at a zoo we visit frequently - she gets magazines and updates - special sponsors events etc. The biggest plus is when we go to the zoo we get to visit 'her' animal!

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cinema tickets or theatre tickets

whale and dolphin watching?

season ticket for another local attraction?

Animal sponsering is good idea.

Tickets for something they would enjoy but wouldn't be likely to buy themselves? - Don't know London, but maybe an event coming up or a day out at a big attraction?

Wow! That was quick!
Tickets for a show vg idea - will look into all of these. thank you
Ages nearly 2 to 8

Olivia after lacking inspiration for some time I am buying some family friends (2 adults and 2 children) a ticket to The London Aquarium

I enquired to them about it and they are able to put a lovely gift card together!

Also....pantomime tickets, Ice Show, or anything similar that'll be on in the new year would be fun.

Mary Poppins is ending it's London run at the end of January......

Ah, I was going to suggest a balloon ride, but I think 2 would be too young, ditto ice skating at Natural History Museum.

Send them to a panto - or what about a session at a pottery/art cafe?

PS Boco, am loving that wallet too! I would quite like it made into a T-shirt for special occasions!

what lovely ideas...

subscription to the children's version of National Geographic? probably not very exciting...

oooh my girls get the NG - like it very much

My boys have subscription to First News, which they love!

The Science Museum have just launched a VIP membership which gives free entry to all the special exhibitions and IMAX here. £70 for a family.

I'm a member of Kew, I have found it great value and lots for parents and children to enjoy together (my 3 year old loves the badger set, as well as climbers and creepers, the educational soft-play area) plus all the seasonal lovely treats.. there's always something new to see, plus as a londoner I feel extra worthy getting out in the fresh air lovely place for picnics in the summer.

How about a subscription to the Woodland Trust. You geta tree planted for you and a certificate to say where the tree is - they will choose the plantation nearest to you. And a guide book to all the woods in the UK. Quarterly magazine and all that sort of stuff.

What is their local wildlife trust? That's quite good too.

one year we got membership to london zoo/whipsnade and it was fab! we went loads more than we could have afforded to. so that might be good,

national trust membership - friends of something like natural history museum - don't they do sleepovers?- that kind of thing. we also had tickets to mary poppins one year which was good - check out last minute for good prices, panto/ gruffalo etc would be good.

i'd like a membership for a cinema - sooo expensive to go as a family nowaday!!
oh and last year my s-inlaw took the 3 kids out for an adventure - dudley black country museum - she had them overnight and we had the night to ourselves - bliss!!!

what about a family photo shoot package so they can choose a few pictures to keep

The Taussards Group do a brilliant annual pass!

As they are a chain when you buy one of their annual passes you get access to:-

Chessington World of Adventures (London theme park)
Thorpe Park (another London theme park)
Alton Towers (theme park up North)
Madame Taussards
London Eye
Warwick Castle

I think it's great value for money! They are more than a ticket for 1 place but perhaps you could get someone else to chip in?!?!?!

You also get deals with other companies linked to the annual pass such as Thomas Cook, Vue Cinemas, Sea Life Centre etc etc

The website with full details is here www.annual-pass.com/default.asp?css=1

btw,

This makes you a brilliant aunt in my books. My dd has so many toys etc and I keep asking for her to have stuff like this but my family always want to give her "something nice to open on xmas day!!!!!" which means more sodding toys! Grrrr

Oh also, Girls Aloud are touring soon - I know my dd would love a ticket to that! They are about £31.50 and are at the O2 areans in May.

and you could buy the pressie with tesco clubcard deals!