Days out in London

[Tigermoth]

Escaped the cold and wet by going to the IMAX cinema, near Waterloo Station, on Saturday. Would highly recommend it. Both sons, toddler and nearly 7-year old, were entranced by the reach-out-and-grab-you 3D effects. So was I. We were all reaching out to clutch the imaginary objects that seemed to be floating past a few inches from our faces. Toddler wouldn't wear the 3D glasses, of course, but loved the general impression - the film only lasted an hour, so not too long to lose interest. The sound wasn't too loud or frightening either. There seemed to be lots of groups of 5 -10 year olds there, so might take my son and his friends there for his 7th birthday treat.

[sis]

emsiewill, sorry about the delay, I forgot( hangs head in shame). ds's school is closed from 14th Feb and restarts on the 24th Feb.

[sis]

Cheers everyone - will look at the thread and the site AND print details this time! I think in London there are two weeks for half term i.e. some local authorities choose one week and others choose the second week - don't really know why this has developed in the last couple of years.

I will check dates for ds's school and post them tonight.

[emsiewill]

Here is a link to the thread about frog tours.

[Twink]

Sis, there's a site here which gives details of loads of London stuff including Frog tours.
Emsiewill, we're in Berks and our half term is the week after yours.

[emsiewill]

sis, I think it's called frog tours, or something like that, if you search on frog tours, I'm sure you'll come up with something. I thought it sounded great, and thanks for reminding me, as we're going to be in London over 1/2 term.
Which brings me to a question, when is 1/2 term in London? I think it may be different to ours (Wales), which is 17 - 21 Feb. I'm hoping it is, so everything will be quieter while we're there.

[sis]

Does anyone remember anything about an amphibious type touring vehicle that someone kindly posted about last summer (and I forgot to makea note at the time)? I think ds may be ready for it this summer but don't know what it is called and where it goes to/from. Any clues would be hugely appreciated. TIA.

[Enid]

We went to London recently and visited the Tate Modern, highly recommended, they've got a great cafe, and the Turbine Hall is HUGE so my 3 year old could rush about madly from one end to the other which tired her out so much she slept in her buggy while we looked at the paintings. At the moment they've got a huge installation in the Hall which is absolutely breathtaking and worth a visit. Good shop too!

[tigermoth]

we had a nice day too, wandering around covent garden and watching the street theatre. Best bit was the cycle ride back to Waterloo station. One man peddling in front, three of us ( me and two sons) in the back seat sitting under a blanket. Magic.

Scummy - winter woods are fantastic aren't they?

[ScummyMummy]

Have had a lovely day out to Highgate Woods today complete with Tex and Pugwash, my boys' teddies, who were treated to a picnic. What a lovely place- I envy any North Londoners living near by. It was so nice to wander among and up the trees and there's a great playground too.

[Pat]

Thanks for that Thumper.
It is rather expensive (£11.50 adults and £7.50 kids) which is why I wanted to be sure it would be worthwhile (!).

[thumper]

Although we havent been there for quite a while, we had a spate of taking little relatives to the Tower. We thought it was a great day out, although as I remember it rather pricey to get in. There are lots of different things to see and you can pick and choose what. I think they are quite geared up for young visitors. When we went, the little ones were given a sheet of paper with questions and things to find en route which they loved, and taught us a few things too! To make it even more exciting, you could take the boat down there from Westminster (if not too cold a day!) Have fun!

[Pat]

Would anyone recommend a visit to the Tower of London? I'm thinking of taking my two (aged 7 and 5) there this Sunday. Are they the right age? (i.e. would they be too bored or too scared by the gory past!). It's donkeys years since I was last there so I cannot remember much.

[Fionn]

Another idea for those near south west London is Marble Hill Park in Twickenham. You park your car for free, walk (and good path for toddlers to cycle) to the river, feed the ducks, walk a bit more to a great playground - no litter, no graffiti, all the usual equipment plus a bit more - and there's a cafe by the playground selling Belgian chocolate ice cream cones and real coffee! Very Twickenham! There's also another cafe with more food, including toddler plates of carrot, cheese, crisps, apple and bread and an enclosed bit of the park for parents and young children only. It gets busy at weekends but fairly quiet during the week.

[WideWebWitch]

Sofiaames, the entrance to Snakes and Ladders is not the same entrance as the reptile house (love it there too, have held a few snakes and had them round my neck etc as ds reminded me yesterday). If you stand with your back to the reptile house and go left, down the side of the garden centre bit and keep going, past the cafe and down the little lane there, it's a bit further down a lane on your right (I've made it sound miles, it isn't!).

Fionn, no I don't live near Syon Park, but I used to and it was a favourite haunt. Ds also loved the very low flying aeroplanes there so there are times when he'd have been happy just standing in the car park

[SofiaAmes]

Fionn, thanks, you reminded me that I couldn't find it either on the map when I tried to go back a second time....the incorredt spelling must come from the jewish in me.

Wickedwaterwitch, where is the Snakes and Ladders? Is it a different entrance from the reptile/butterfly houses?

[Fionn]

Wickedwaterwitch - just curious, you don't have to tell me, but do you live near Syon Park...?

[WideWebWitch]

Syon Park also has "Snakes and Ladders" which is a big indoor play area, (good soft play for under twos plus big climbing areas for older ones)and a cafe and some nice Capability Brown designed gardens. Haven't ever been in the house but it looks interesting too. It's worth it for a whole day out IMO. And the peacocks wandering about are nice.

[Fionn]

I mean Syon Park!

[Fionn]

KMG - We took our 3.5 year old son on the London Eye 2 weeks ago and he loved it, thought it was like being in a Thunderbirds pod and enjoyed spotting the boats etc from it. He had no concept of a fear of the height (I did but it wasn't as bad as I thought!). We booked on the internet a few days before just in case, but weekdays outside school holidays are quiet and you sholdn't have to queue for long.

SofiaAmes - you mean Syon Hill Park, sorry to be pedantic but no-one will find it listed under your spelling!

[SofiaAmes]

I'm not sure where in london you guys are, but....We've taken my stepkids (8 and 9) to the Butterfly/reptile houses at zion park several times (last summer, so they were a year younger) and they loved it. They are very small and it only cost a few £'s to get in. In fact, there is a large garden center across the parking lot, so I sent my husband with the kids and did my garden shopping alone(!) at the same time! Also, I've taken all my stepkids (there is a 13 year old too) to the Tate modern several times and they loved it. They thought the piles of rocks (art!) looked like poo (lots of excitement there) and enjoyed feeding the pigeons by the river afterwards. And it's free. Also, my neighbor says the science museum is great (her son is only 2) although I've never been. My husband takes the 2 younger ones to Fantasy Island near Wembley which is basically a big indoor (great for rainy days) ball pool with slides and LOTS of screaming kids. The noise/activity level is too much for me, but he doesn't mind and the kids absolutely love it. I think it's only a few £'s for 2 hours. It's probably good from 4 or 5 up to 9 or 10 years old. And plenty of parking. If the weather is good, the swimming pool in East Finchely (just off the north circular next to the Warner Cinemas) is wonderful! They have a shallow (2 feet?) kids pool and a deeper lap/diving pool outsideand a great lawn area with good lawn chairs for sunbathing and inside they have a large wave pool and also a separate deep lap pool. Kids under 8 have to have a parent in the pool with them (though if your kids can clearly swim, they don't usually hassle you if you are near the edge of the shallow outdoor pool. Lots of parking and only a few £'s to get in. Get there before noon for the lawn chairs. We did the Imax several times which the kids (and me) loved. We went to the War Museum once which was TERRIBLE. There is almost nothing the kids can touch or interact with. I was at a loss to explain to my stepson (6 at the time) how he could possibly damage (hence the no touching) a solid steel piece of tank.

[tigermoth]

scummymummy, I am sitting here right now trying to think of a small, local outing to avoid those weekend grumps, too. I know just what you mean!

[ScummyMummy]

Thanks to everyone on this thread. Was feeling at a loose end- partner at work, boys already niggling each other in irritating way!- but couldn't think of anywhere good to go today. I've read a couple of these options out to my boys and they've chosen Coram's Fields, which I love but always forget about, so that's good. Hurrah! Hope the rain holds off. Keep adding everyone- having nowhere to go to banish the weekend grumps (esp. if it rains) is one of my most perrenial problems!

[Tigermoth]

A quick footnote. With all that wife-beating etc,Punch and Judy is not very PC, and when my son was about 4 years old, he found the show a little frightening. He still loved the event at St Pauls, however, because there were lots of other puppet shows happening. It's just something to bear in mind if you have younger children.

[Tigermoth]

The Punch and Judy Fair is happening this Sunday, 13 May at St Paul's Church, Covent Garden.It's free entry and really, really lovely. We've been twice.

This year, as 'Time Out' informs me, is Mr Punch's 339th birthday.There's a procession at 10.30 followed by an entertaining service in the church with Mr Punch in the pulpit, then from 12.00 to 5.30, 20 or so puppet booths spring into life at various times in the church garden along with other sorts of puppet shows. There's also a maypole and stalls selling new wooden toys, some jumble and really cheap ice cream.

I don't know if I am going this year, but if you see a very tired-looking woman with two loud blonde boys, it may be me!!