London mums what do you like doing best with your dc in London and other questions?

[MilaMae]

We've done Museums of Childhood,Nat History,Science and Kensington Gardens all lovely but could do with some new ideas.

Preferably free/cheap.

Where do you find out what's on over Easter?

When did you first take your dc to the Tate Modern,mine 3 are 5,5 and 4 are they too young?

Can you recommend anything in Covent Garden,is Pollocks still there?

Many,many thanks.

ooops, just noticed the OP mentions Museum of Childhood. Ahem.

Check out this link for The Barbican

Great free stuff for kids and adults alike. Just click on What's On.

Sorry Peasholme - should have read all posts first!

Royal Institution (nr Green Park tube) has monthly family fun days and also interactive exhibits.

Forgot to mention Kew Gardens - fab!

Also, if you are out west, Syon Park and the butterfly house are worth a visit.

City farms are good for under fives - Kentish Town or the one in Hackney are both decent.

DS (nearly 3 now) loves the markets - especially Columbia Road market on Sundays (handily we're up v early with him so we get there at the perfect time - Hackney City Farm near there is also v good) and Borough Market on Saturdays where he always eats his body weight in free cheese samples - we then often amble down along the southbank with him watching boats etc.

The Princess Diana playground at Kensington Gardens, Hampstead Heath playgrounds and Primrose Hill playgrounds are all huge hits with him - and he loves museums (especially Natural History Museum). Have heard good things about the Hornimans museum but havent ventured there yet.

Syon park butterfly house closed down a couple of years ago unfortunately.

Little Angel Theatre in Islington (puppet shows!)

Parks with a ball / frisbee / scooter / baby buggy / bike

Bodeans American BBQ restaurant - soho plus other branches - downstairs haqs a wide screen TV in a 'den' showing DVDs like 'Ice Age etc (requests taken) so the kids can watch when they've eaten while you carry on!

Boat trip to and from Little Venice

Transport Museum (sorry if already mentioned)

Wander along South Bank at the weekend with all the street shows...

Archway swimming pool - built like a beach / theme park - wave machines, a slides, bubble patches, slopes like a beack etc

army museum in chelsea - nearest tube is sloane square and walk from there via Peter Jones (for grownups) and Saatchi Gallery (not sure what that's like). Army museum is near Chelsea Hospital which has lovely grounds. There's free soft play in the museum and a little shop and cafe and some interesting exhibitions e.g of life as soldier in Afghanistan.
It's only a small museum but if you are in the area it's worth popping into

The Tricycle theatre in Kilburn and the Arts Depot in Finchley both do great kid's theatre, too.

The Puppet barge in Little Venice is good fun.

We love the RAF museum in north london, the science museum is fab, as is the bm, and there is a really interestin museum south of london with vintage motorbikes, cars and airplanes (cant remember the name) and kew gardens.

Another secret (not so, now) tip is the Brentford Fountain Leisure Centre pool (in the wastes of semi-Gunnersbury) - sounds rather like Thankyou's description of Archway pool, but because it's in such a no-man's land place it is rarely too busy. Think it has parking too, not that I've ever used that

Crystal Palace Park - with dinosaur statues, playgrounds etc.
Sydenham Woods
The street artists between the Eye and the RFH
Peter Pan playground, Kensington gardens
iMax cinema, 3d films
The Museum of Docklands (v good for children, esp if you go by DLR and sit at the front, and then walk over the pontoon bridge over the docks)
Museum of London
Go ten pin bowling
Check out free events in the RFH - they just had a week long 'imagine' festival over half term
Check Unicorn, Polka and Half Moon children's theatres and look for cheap previews at Unicorn to keep price down.
Behind unicorn Theatre are fabulous street fountains, good for running amongst.
Watch skateboarders and stunt cyclists on South Bank
Look out for Carters Steam Fair,
Streatham Kite Festival in April or May

I don't think anyone's mentioned Tate Britain - it's much quieter than Tate Modern, has some fascinating modern British exhibits, and it has a great Art Trolley at weekends and in school holidays - you grab an idea sheet and a tray full of crayons, sticky tape and junk, and go off to make your own art work inspired by one of the works on display. Also the cafe does yummy kids' portions of chocolate mousse.