British Museum with 6 yr old DD

[fatsatsuma]

Can anyone advise me? DD wants to see some 'ancient things' and I'm wondering about the British Museum. When I take the DCs to museums we usually focus on just a few special things, rather than trying to see everything. Are there some good kids trails etc at the BM which would be appropriate for a curious 6 year old with quite a short attention span ?

Are you anywhere near Oxford? The Pitt rivers museum is fabulous for kids (and adults). I find the British museum is too big for little kids.

Thanks. I've promised her a trip to London (bit of a family tradition). I agree it's too big, but I thought having a mission to seek out certain special things might make it more manageable. I've looked at their website and they have a few suggested objects which we might try to track down.

That sounds like a good plan. I loved the Egyptian mummies when I was a child. and I'm pretty ancient myself The building itself is pretty cool too.

Have a super day.

We took our six year old dds. We just did the Egyptian gallery plus a couple of other highlights. We got a kids trail booklet and it was really good, things to look for in the galleries and information at a child's level. Dds really enjoyed it prob took about an hour.

They have lockers and cloakroom for family but you need to ask.

They have special events on in school hols too.

Definitely one of our favourites of the London museums but it was the family trail that made it as it kept the kids interested, they have a little colour booklet to fill in. We had to ask for it, it wasn't promoted as was outside school hols when we went.

Thanks, that's good to hear. Good tip about the cloakroom too - will use that.

Another tip is to avoid the loos on the ground floor, they were really busy and really horrible the last time I went (not that long ago). If you go into the basement there are some nice quiet clean loos -

These things are important!

I personally think it is a bit overwhelming, so try to concentrate on something beforehand. The Egyptian gallery can be crowded as well.

We liked the family cloakroom, you can eat there as well.

Depending what he means with Ancient things, you could also try the museum of London which has a small Iron Age and Roman section and I find it more child friendly.

HowDid - thanks for the loo tip - very important
noramum - I agree about the Museum of London - my absolute favourite museum actually - but not so handy from our direction so will have to do that one another time.

Next question (maybe better in a new thread?): can anyone recommend a fun place to have lunch near the museum? (Fun for a 6 year old that is...) Maybe the kind of place we wouldn't find in our little hometown? Thanks.

There's a pancake place on High Holborn, not too far away. I would have exploded with excitement if I'd been when I was small.

I haven't ever eaten a savoury meal there though, so can't comment.

Thanks - a quick search of their menu led me to a pancake filled with crushed smarties

Like I say, never had a savoury meal...

The sweet ones are great when hungover though .