Tower Bridge; or Clever Bridge as D (3) calls it, is one of many across the Thames, but, without doubt it is the grandest and, to my knowledge, the only one that opens.
As the bridge was built in the late 19th century when most shipping was powered by wind the bridge was required to allow for tall masted ships to pass; many designs were submitted and Tower Bridge was selected with its visual design in keeping with the near by Tower of London and its ability to raise the main bridge. Now such shipping is fairly rare but frequent enough to require regular lifting.
Most openings seem to be early(ish) morning and late(ish) afternoon; I found that an afternoon opening provided just enough time to get home in time to get the kids in bed.
I found three reasonable spots to watch from. On the north bank in front of The Tower, from The Tower's walls (requires entry to the Tower), oposite the Tower on the south bank of the Thames. We chose the first, which was a mistake; D's view was partially blocked by a railing and I was forced to carry B.
D watched transfixed holding his arms in imitation for the duration of the event; it turned out to be one of the highlights of his weekend.
What: Tower Bridge raising
Where: Closest tube is Tower Hill; map
Cost: Free
When: Permanent - check times
Going again: Yes, next time I will take them to the exhibition too
Try: Open for suggestions!
Top tip: The Starbucks in Katherine docks provides good coffee, cakes and views of yachts.
Thursday, 28 February 2008
Monday, 25 February 2008
Tower of London
Beafeaters, beheadings, ravens and lots of stairs; the Tower is in London's premier league of tourist traps attracting large crowds and long queues. In mid February, however, it was reasonably quiet and not a queue in site.
On entering it was clear that B's nappy was in need of change. The man in the tourist shop told me that there were no changing facilities; I found them in the disabled toilets behind the crown jewels.
We started with a walk round the wall. This takes you into many of the rooms used as prisons and one King's bedroom. I remember, as a child, being impressed by the graphiti carved into the stone on the wall by various inhabitants before their fateful walk up to the hill overlookin
g the tower; D, however, was uninterested but enjoyed looking out of the windows along the way with views of the Themes and Tower Bridge.
Next to the crown jewels; in the summer the queue can last for hours. In winter there was no queue at all. Many of the exhibits require lifting a child and one never got the feeling that they really liked what they saw. D did not think that, even if you asked REALLY nicely they would let you eat of one of the various imperial gold plates in the cafe. B, however, was very impressed with the security doors.
The White Tower houses exhibits from the Royal Armoury; lots of model horses and suits of armour. Also a lot of stairs "Unfortunately, in the 11th Century they didn't think of putting in lifts" I explain as we walk up another flight; "Why?" asks D. The top floor houses a hands on place where one can try out pulling an archery bow and lifting various swords and looking through the visor of a suit of armour. Both kids enjoyed this, but at only 2 B was too young to try things and D always needed lifting and or help.
What: Tower of London
Where: Near "Tower Hill" tube station; map
Cost: Adults: £15
When: Permanent (very permanent)
Going again: Yes, but probably when the kids have more of an understanding of the historical context.
Try: Hampton Court
Top tip: Don't turn up with a buggy, lots of stairs. If you can choose when to go choose a warmer winter day to miss the crowd.
On entering it was clear that B's nappy was in need of change. The man in the tourist shop told me that there were no changing facilities; I found them in the disabled toilets behind the crown jewels.
We started with a walk round the wall. This takes you into many of the rooms used as prisons and one King's bedroom. I remember, as a child, being impressed by the graphiti carved into the stone on the wall by various inhabitants before their fateful walk up to the hill overlookin
g the tower; D, however, was uninterested but enjoyed looking out of the windows along the way with views of the Themes and Tower Bridge.Next to the crown jewels; in the summer the queue can last for hours. In winter there was no queue at all. Many of the exhibits require lifting a child and one never got the feeling that they really liked what they saw. D did not think that, even if you asked REALLY nicely they would let you eat of one of the various imperial gold plates in the cafe. B, however, was very impressed with the security doors.
The White Tower houses exhibits from the Royal Armoury; lots of model horses and suits of armour. Also a lot of stairs "Unfortunately, in the 11th Century they didn't think of putting in lifts" I explain as we walk up another flight; "Why?" asks D. The top floor houses a hands on place where one can try out pulling an archery bow and lifting various swords and looking through the visor of a suit of armour. Both kids enjoyed this, but at only 2 B was too young to try things and D always needed lifting and or help.
What: Tower of London
Where: Near "Tower Hill" tube station; map
Cost: Adults: £15
When: Permanent (very permanent)
Going again: Yes, but probably when the kids have more of an understanding of the historical context.
Try: Hampton Court
Top tip: Don't turn up with a buggy, lots of stairs. If you can choose when to go choose a warmer winter day to miss the crowd.
Tuesday, 19 February 2008
Human Biology - Natural History Museum
We have two children (D 3 years and B 2 years) we are expecting a third referred to as "Project X" this leads to inevitable questions from D; enter Natural History Museum.
The Human Biology exhibition is in the blue zone close to their famous Dinosaurs. The exhibition opens with cells with microscopes set up to view examples (D looked and told me he saw something, I've no idea what!). We move quickly on to reproduction, which was a bit of a time jump for me as it is exactly the same exhibition as when I was growing up in the early 80s with some improvements to the graphics on the video.
Both D & B enjoyed videos of a sperm entering an egg (now a subject of D's drawings at nursery) and a baby growing inside a womb.
A feature of the reproduction part is a model of a giant baby with sound recorded from inside a pregnant woman's womb (see photo). This terrified D to the point that to continue he need to run through as fast as possible; B, however, loved it.
Further on demonstrations of muscles and nerves and joints and things proved interesting to both. The exhibition continued, however, sadly we ran out of time.
What: Human Biology
Where: Natural History Museum; map
Cost: Free - with a suggested donation
When: Permanent
Going again: Yes
Similar: London's Museums of Health & Medicine
The Human Biology exhibition is in the blue zone close to their famous Dinosaurs. The exhibition opens with cells with microscopes set up to view examples (D looked and told me he saw something, I've no idea what!). We move quickly on to reproduction, which was a bit of a time jump for me as it is exactly the same exhibition as when I was growing up in the early 80s with some improvements to the graphics on the video.
Both D & B enjoyed videos of a sperm entering an egg (now a subject of D's drawings at nursery) and a baby growing inside a womb.A feature of the reproduction part is a model of a giant baby with sound recorded from inside a pregnant woman's womb (see photo). This terrified D to the point that to continue he need to run through as fast as possible; B, however, loved it.
Further on demonstrations of muscles and nerves and joints and things proved interesting to both. The exhibition continued, however, sadly we ran out of time.
What: Human Biology
Where: Natural History Museum; map
Cost: Free - with a suggested donation
When: Permanent
Going again: Yes
Similar: London's Museums of Health & Medicine
The Power Within - Natural History Museum
The Natural History Museum's Red Zone deals with all things geographical with many exhibitions on the subject. Enter the museum from the side entrance on Exhibition road rather than the main entrance. An escalator will then take you up through a model of the planet to the top floor of the building.
Volcanoes and earthquakes are capable of inspiring most little boys and D (3 years old) is certainly no exception. While most of the exhibits were too advanced he found plenty that did interest him; including videos of volcanic eruptions and volcanic rocks that locked like hard mud.
Else where we looked at, but didn't go on the earthquake simulator; B (2 years old) "Why is the floor moving?" and talked about pictures of houses that earthquakes had pulled down.
Although they enjoyed the beginning, the exhibition was too large for children as young as mine and by the end the staircase down to the Dinosaurs was a welcome relief.
What: The Power Within
Where: Natural History Museum; map
Cost: Free - with a suggested donation
When: Permanent
Going again: Yes, but when they are older
Similar: Nothing comes to mind
Volcanoes and earthquakes are capable of inspiring most little boys and D (3 years old) is certainly no exception. While most of the exhibits were too advanced he found plenty that did interest him; including videos of volcanic eruptions and volcanic rocks that locked like hard mud.
Else where we looked at, but didn't go on the earthquake simulator; B (2 years old) "Why is the floor moving?" and talked about pictures of houses that earthquakes had pulled down.
Although they enjoyed the beginning, the exhibition was too large for children as young as mine and by the end the staircase down to the Dinosaurs was a welcome relief.
What: The Power Within
Where: Natural History Museum; map
Cost: Free - with a suggested donation
When: Permanent
Going again: Yes, but when they are older
Similar: Nothing comes to mind
Monday, 4 February 2008
Art Trolley - Tate Britain
The art trolley at Tate Britain provides art material which can be taken into the gallery for children to do their own work based on, or inspired by, what they see. The trolley contains material for drawing and collage along with short introductions to some of the works in the galleries.
So glue, scissors, paper, pipe cleaners, straws and two children in hand we set out to find "Dark landscape" by John Craxton. After talking to D about the picture and what was in it he set to work cutting, gluing and instructing me and friend where to put things. It has to be said that this was by far the most complex picture he has ever produced; how much this was due to discussing Dark landscape and how much this was because we could discuss what he was doing and how he was doing it is, obviously, impossible to say.
B(2) stuck one piece of paper to another piece of paper and tried to eat both pipe cleaners and scissors.
What: Art Trolley
Where: Tate Britain
Cost: Free - suggested donation of £3
When: Saturday's and Sunday's every week
Going again: Yes
Similar: Many art galleries
So glue, scissors, paper, pipe cleaners, straws and two children in hand we set out to find "Dark landscape" by John Craxton. After talking to D about the picture and what was in it he set to work cutting, gluing and instructing me and friend where to put things. It has to be said that this was by far the most complex picture he has ever produced; how much this was due to discussing Dark landscape and how much this was because we could discuss what he was doing and how he was doing it is, obviously, impossible to say.
B(2) stuck one piece of paper to another piece of paper and tried to eat both pipe cleaners and scissors.
What: Art Trolley
Where: Tate Britain
Cost: Free - suggested donation of £3
When: Saturday's and Sunday's every week
Going again: Yes
Similar: Many art galleries
Tuesday, 29 January 2008
Shell Wildlife Photographer of the Year
Since moving to London the Natural History Museum has been a regular fixture in days out. It is the ultimate temple of D's (3) major obsession (Dinosaurs) and the venue of one of my favourite proud parent stories:
D, standing in the prehistoric swimming reptiles section spots a curator holding a dolphin skull. She crouches down and shows the skull to him, "do you know what this is?" she enquires; "um... I think its an Opthalmosaurus skull" he retorts.
This trip was to see the Shell Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition. This was aimed directly at adults, the only real attempt to engage children was a scratch-off-the-answers question sheet asking questions about both nature and photography; also all photos were presented at an adult's height requiring any child to be lifted to get a good view. Fortunately I was in a group of four adults to two children so this was not a real problem.
However, with effort to engage D (the love of my life looked after B) he got a lot out of it; even if he did think that a magnificent shot of a crocodile hiding in the water was a dinosucus.
What: Shell Wildlife Photographer of the Year
Where: Natural History Museum; map
Cost: Adult £7, Concessions £3.50, under 3 free, family ticket £18
When: Until 27th April
Going next year: probably
Similar:
D, standing in the prehistoric swimming reptiles section spots a curator holding a dolphin skull. She crouches down and shows the skull to him, "do you know what this is?" she enquires; "um... I think its an Opthalmosaurus skull" he retorts.
This trip was to see the Shell Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition. This was aimed directly at adults, the only real attempt to engage children was a scratch-off-the-answers question sheet asking questions about both nature and photography; also all photos were presented at an adult's height requiring any child to be lifted to get a good view. Fortunately I was in a group of four adults to two children so this was not a real problem.
However, with effort to engage D (the love of my life looked after B) he got a lot out of it; even if he did think that a magnificent shot of a crocodile hiding in the water was a dinosucus.
What: Shell Wildlife Photographer of the Year
Where: Natural History Museum; map
Cost: Adult £7, Concessions £3.50, under 3 free, family ticket £18
When: Until 27th April
Going next year: probably
Similar:
- Animals
- London Zoo
- London Aquarium
- Horniman Museum
- Photography
- to be added...
Monday, 21 January 2008
London Model Enginering Exhibition
Who with little boys could possibly resist such an opportunity! And the number of little boys clearly showed that I was not alone. However, most of the exhibition was more targeted at big boys with many modelling companies and tool manufacturers displaying their wares.
What was available for little boys was reasonably good, D&B both spent a lot of time staring at trains (both and stationary), traction engines (stationary), helicopters (moving) and a hovercraft (moving) and a miniature steam train ride. And for this it was well worth the visit, however, having a show area and a trade area and perhaps some more adventurous demonstrations would have improved the day out immensely.
What: London Model Engineering Exhibition
Where: Alexandra Palace
Cost: Average (Adult £9.50)
When: Jan 2008
Going next year: if there is nothing else on
Similar:
What was available for little boys was reasonably good, D&B both spent a lot of time staring at trains (both and stationary), traction engines (stationary), helicopters (moving) and a hovercraft (moving) and a miniature steam train ride. And for this it was well worth the visit, however, having a show area and a trade area and perhaps some more adventurous demonstrations would have improved the day out immensely.
What: London Model Engineering Exhibition
Where: Alexandra Palace
Cost: Average (Adult £9.50)
When: Jan 2008
Going next year: if there is nothing else on
Similar:
- Various miniature model railways (I'm familiar with the one in Chingford, Waltham Forest, but others exist)
- Kew Bridge Steam Museum - Never visited
- Science Museum - Many examples of old machines in the permanent "The making of the modern world" including models; most of these are stationary exhibits with no working railway.
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