Venue for 6-yr-old boy party, London anywhere

[krabbiepatty]

Anyone got a really fantastic venue idea, museum or wherever, not soft play, possibly spooky or halloween or pirates? Thought of doing it in house with baby etc is doing my head in also can't face all the work. Will consider anywhere in London or surrounds. Muchas gracias.[sic]

Did I mention how enormously grateful I would be and how pitifully tired I am?

Has to, has to be the Golden Hinde krabbie. We did ds' sixth there (a one off as we spent more than we would usually) and it was a rip-roaring success for the following reasons:

Lovely adult facilitators (acting students for the most part I expect) who were really good with all the children including some wanderers and the inevitable nervous child

Really good quality, wholesome party food (cake was from Konditor and Cook, mmm, yummy)

The ship itself is a beautiful recreation of the period

There is a sort of swank factor in seeing your guests arriving armed to the teeth up the gangplank - some tourists were snapping our tiny pirates

and of course the setting - you could have coffee and cakes for parents in the Captain's cabin, which we did, but Borough Market is two mins' walk away and a lot of mummies sloped off for shopping and loved that.

Good public transport links mean you can leave cars at home

highly recommended!

Hi, we took son (4) to the Airforce Musuem last weekend. He loved "the musuem with the fighting planes". It was easy to get to without a car and free entry. There was a birthday party for a boy of about 6 going on while we were there. They had a staff member take the group of around 20 kids and a gaggle of adults around talking about various things. There is also a great "hands-on" area for the kids to do stuff. There is also a movie about the battle of britain on every hour (never saw this as ds lost his nerve just before it started...) The party had their birthday food thingy in Museum's restaurant with what looked like their home made cake. Everyone seemed to be quite content. There is a shop there with lots of £2 planes to buy (and of course other stuff) - but I don't think the party went there.

Oh Marina., you are a wonder and I love you and that is actually quite handy - going to look it all up now...

ooh and will look that up too poppynic. thank you

tragedy - Golden Hinde no longer doing pirate parties. Any further prating or halloween or other thoughts much appreciated.

Yes, "pirating", not "pratting" that's just me...

What?, Oh that is such a shame Krabbie

did they say why, out of interest?

HMS Belfast does them too (we like boats in our house)

Coram's Fields is nice, but I think you end up doing all the work (cooking etc).

they just said only doing workshops or could hire whole thing! but hms belfast a good thought as is c fields if can force self to contemplate food preparation...

don't certain branches of Pizza Express do pizza making parties for children? I think they do but know no more I'm afraid.

What about something sporty? Our leisure centre does trampolining, football, wall climbing etc, fully instructed for an hour then use the function room after for an hour, for food and general mayhem. I'm sure a lot of leisure centres do similar.

Oh, netmums normally has a section on party venues, for each borough ...