Archive for TBW Roving Journo Mummy Blogger

February Half Term in London – Part 3

Guest Blogger | February 10, 2012 | No comments

So, I’m back for the last time to talk about my family’s favourite days out in London.

There’s no time like half term than to indulge your children and bring them to their Capital City for the day and you don’t have to spend a fortune (although you certainly could if you wanted) because London really does have the best selection on offer for absolutely free. Lots of places, museums in particular ask for no more than a donation that suits your pocket so it really does make it viable to travel from further afield and grasp with both hands all we have to offer families here in London! I’ve talked previously about free things, something for a modest budget and a total treat and in this instalment it’s no different but I may just have saved some of the best till last…

BEST FOR FREE

The Science Museum, South Kensington – District Line, www.sciencemuseum.org.uk

We go to the ‘Science Museum’all the time and never get bored, we sometimes while away hours upon hours trawling round everything and going back to the bits we love the most and other days we just pop in to have a play in the ‘Basement’ which is set up especially for under fives. With a whole area for them to play, explore and try out experiments suitable for their age it’s a fabulous day out in itself forgetting that there are floors upon floors and displays upon displays of other things to keep the little ones (and the big ones) entertained. While you’re there check out one of the ‘Bubble’ talks which are not only fun, interactive and educational but suitable for children of all ages.

Playing with water at the ‘Science Museum’

Playing with water at the ‘Science Museum’

Upstairs the ‘Launch Pad’ is also designed for little minds but slightly older ones this time. With lots of hands on experiments as well as more ‘talks’ there really is something for everyone. For the rest of your time there my favourites have to be the human body exhibition, the area where your photo can be taken and aged up down or changed in sex and I simply love the household goods from  bygone times not least because there is a ‘Baby Daisy’ vacuum cleaner donated to the Museum by my own Grandmother on view.

What else is in the vicinity?

When visiting the ‘Science Museum’ why not check out the ‘Natural History Museum’ next door. A stones throw away and with a world of entertainment for little ones it’s certainly not one to be missed and it definitely won’t be forgotten. Dinosaurs, stuffed animals, fossils… This really is for any little explorers you might have and despite it not being as hands on and interactive as The Science Museum it’s still a great day out for the children! A short walk away from both museums is the ‘Princess Diana Memorial Playground’, a playground like no other you will have ever been to.

On the warmest October day ever in the ‘Princess Diana Memorial Playground’

On the warmest October day ever in the ‘Princess Diana Memorial Playground’

In Hyde Park and right next door to ‘Kensington Palace’ it’s a lovely central location from which you can start or finish your day. In summer children can splash about in the water feature but in winter it’s like an enchanted garden, a BIG one. There may be a small queue in busier times but it’s worth the wait and your offspring, no matter how old they are will NOT be disappointed! From a giant pirate ship to Tee Pee tents, tunnels and tree houses, this place has it all!

BUDGET TREAT

The National Army Museum, Kids’ Zone £2.50 per child (under 2s FREE)

Sloan Square – Circle and District Lines,

www.nam.ac.uk

Now this is one we haven’t actually been to ourselves yet but I have it on very good authority that it’s a wonderful experience! With the majority of the museum and its exhibitions being completely free of charge and only having to pay for the Kids’ Zone it’s a very inexpensive day out and I hear the children love it! It’s one we’ll be visiting in half term that’s for sure as it would appear that it’s suitable for absolutely all ages from tiny babies to adults!

Having a splashing time in the grounds of the ‘Chelsea Hospital’

Having a splashing time in the grounds of the ‘Chelsea Hospital’

At the moment there is the popular ‘War Horse’ exhibition which explores the hugely popular Michael Morpurgo novel alongside touching real-life stories of war horses and the men who depended on them. Featuring exclusive content from Michael Morpurgo, the acclaimed stage production by the National Theatre and the Spielberg-directed film, this hands-on, interactive exhibition is one for all the family and one I’m particularly looking forward to! Of course there’s so much more to this museum with an extensive program of events and activities complementing their permanent galleries and for the children not only is there the ‘Action Zone’ where older ones can get interactive bringing history to life but the aforementioned Kids’ Zone for the tiny ones. As stated this is chargeable and is hugely popular so a slot MUST be booked in advance to avoid disappointment. This new children’s play area explores aspects of army life from camping to clothing. It includes a dedicated soft-play space for babies, plus arts and crafts, dressing-up costumes, books, interactive toys and panels. Worth a visit I think don’t you?! When you leave don’t forget to pop down the road and take a walk round the ‘Chelsea Hospital’, home to the Chelsea Pensioners.

We took a fabulous walk round the grounds there in the summer, it’s free to get in and beautiful so don’t miss it! It’s quite moving to see the elderly gentlemen taking the air and enjoying their well deserved retirement.

Having a splashing time in the grounds of the ‘Chelsea Hospital’ last summer.

A SPECIAL DAY OUT

Lollibop’s Mini Disco, Ministry of Sound, Elephant and Castle – Northern and Bakerloo Lines, 12-5pm £10 pp or £15pp on the door (for ages 3 – 10 years), Booking line 0844 844 0444 or online with Ticketmaster,

 www.lollibopfewtival.co.uk

The ‘Lollibop Festival’ comes to London once a year in the summer and is the only festival entirely dedicated to little ones. Just as with an adult festival there is live music, dancing, food and attractions galore and do you know, it was one of the best days out we have ever had so when we left after our magical day knowing it would be another year before we could experience some ‘Lollibob festival’ glory again it was with a little sadness in our step.

Florence at ‘Lollibop Festival’ in the summer

Florence at ‘Lollibop Festival’ in the summer

Imagine our delight then, when we heard about the disco they are specially hosting for this half term! Kick off the kid’s holiday with a banging start and head down to what will undoubtedly be a brilliant day out for the whole family! DJ’s Dick and Dom will be pumping out the tunes while special appearances will be made by favourites such as Scooby Doo! Plus there’ll be loads of activities during the day such as beat boxing and hula hoop workshops, dance games, live music, story telling, bubble shows and entertainers! If it’s even a smidgen of just one hour’s worth of the normal festival it’s gonna be a sure fire winner and you’d be mad to miss it if you can help it!

So there we have the last of my top picks for half term and don’t forget all the best of the rest London has to offer from City Farms dotted all over the place with FREE entry, ‘Kids AM’ film screenings at ‘Vue Cinemas’ across the Capital (costing from just £1.50 per ticket for adults and children, www.myvue.com) and all the other wonderful and FREE museums of which there are plenty… It’s also worth looking to see if your train operator offers two for one entry on many attractions as so many do and then you can take a real treat to affordable in one easy step! Just get googling and come to your Capital City!

Ruth

Ruth Davies blogger at http://rocknrollerbaby.livejournal.com

Category: TBW Roving Journo Mummy Blogger, The Kids, Travel, Holidays and Hotels | Tags: , , ,

February Half Term in London – Part 2

Guest Blogger | February 9, 2012 | No comments
Museum of Childhood

Pretending to drive a police car in the ‘Museum of Childhood’

Well, as you may have realised from my previous post, I’m passionate about taking children out in London, showing them the sights, teaching them the history behind this beautiful City and showing them what London in 2012 has to offer!

Besides the upcoming Olympics there is a tremendous amount to be enjoyed with children in our Capital City but with the games approaching what better time is there to bring your children to London and sample the delights on offer! The summer will be truly hectic and while it will surely be fun and exciting I think February half term could be just the time to come and experience a little bit of London life. I have been writing about things to do for free, something for a small budget and a blow out treat and I hope you enjoy my selections for this, my second instalment.

BEST FOR FREE

The Museum of Childhood, Bethnal Green – Central Line.

This is a great little place to stop by and feed your own nostalgia as well as being given the opportunity to show your children what you were playing with when you were their age. With so many toys from other eras it’s a treasure trove of interesting finds but it doesn’t stop there. There is always an exhibition or two which will capture your little ones attention (at the moment it’s ‘Magic Worlds’ where children can delve into the realms of fantasy, illusion and enchantment with the major new exhibition revealing how magic has been embraced for hundreds of years) and a program of events which are full to the max for half term. There are of course the regular features too like the rocking horses, a little ones play area and a sensory zone! Plenty of interactive play to wear the children out and thoroughly have a good time!

What else is in the vicinity?

After the ‘Museum of Childhood’ why not hop on the tube a couple of stops to Stratford, home of the Olympic stadium and the new ‘Westfield Shopping Centre’ which also has surprisingly great facilities and play areas for the kids as well as a brilliant viewing platform of the work in progress for the games. You could pop in for a bit of retail therapy before taking the kids to your next stop of the day. Next try out the DLR (Docklands Light Railway) which is actually a bit of a treat in itself and I have yet to meet a child who doesn’t like to sit at the front and pretend to be driver! Either alight at the next stop, Pudding Mill Lane, and take a walk along the Green Way where you will be able to view the stadium up close in all it’s amazing glory or just watch as it goes by from the window of the train and head on to West India Quay, home to the ‘London Museum of Docklands’.

Building a dam at the ‘London Museum of Docklands’

Building a dam at the ‘London Museum of Docklands’

I always head here when in the area because it’s a simply fascinating museum and you can book a slot for their magical soft play area for the children to have a run around in. It’s actually a little bit more than just soft play with lots of hands on and interactive games and display, our favorite being the real river where you can build a dam; you could easily spend more than just your allotted hour which is why we go back time and time again. While you wait for your time slot neither you nor your children will be disappointed with everything else on offer and will enjoy learning about the history of the docks in the extra special way that it is provided!

A BUDGET TREAT

Thames Clippers, various routes, Adult fares from £3, children from £2 and under 5’s FREE.

Us with friends enjoying a ‘Thames Clipper’ trip

Us with friends enjoying a ‘Thames Clipper’ trip

Not to be used just by commuters and passengers who have to travel this fun boat on the Thames acting like a bus service can be used to travel from destination to destination and really become an attraction of the day itself! It’s really easy to hop on and hop off and your usual tube pass can be used with a top up fee making it incredibly easy too! If for instance you want to travel from the ‘Southbank Centre’ to the ‘Tate Modern’ why not hop on a ‘Thames Clipper’ instead of the tube or bus! Enjoy a scenic trip down the Thames and let the children have an experience they will remember as they watch the famous landmarks from a different view point! I loved taking Florence on the Clipper and the friends we travelled with had just as much fun as us. If you’re looking round some of the free things in London it’s an inexpensive way to really spice up the day and give it an extra twist. Buy a day pass and use it for your entire trip or just hop on for one ride only, either way it’s something that bit more unusual than your average public transport and not something you’ll do every day! Unless you’re a commuter of course!

A SPECIAL DAY OUT

The Tower of London, Tower Hill – District, Circle Lines and DLR, ticket prices start at (individual rates) of £19.80 for adults, £10.45 for children between 5 and 16 (under 5’s are free) and £17.05 for concessions, packages are available.

Possibly not a great one for the very tiny, as steps are in abundance here but if you’re seasoned sling wearers like us then it shouldn’t prove a problem and the little ones will find just as much to enjoy here as the big ones so don’t let the steps put you off if you can cope! We love walking past the Tower as often seems to happen living in London but hadn’t been inside before and when recently we finally did we realised we had been missing out! It is steeped in history with something to capture all imaginations and stimulate an interest in the ‘Tower of London’.

My family enjoying our day out at the ‘Tower of London’

My family enjoying our day out at the ‘Tower of London’

It is a brilliant day out! I’d say 3 hours is probably about the best amount of time to allocate when visiting with children as there is enough to capture their attention for that long but it is tiring due to the walking and stair climbing so too long might be a bit over the top for young ones. Visit the gory bloody tower, take a tour with a Yeoman Warder (or Beefeater as they’re more popularly known), check out the Royal Beasts exhibition and see the many beast sculptures throughout the tower. Watch live enactments of historical scenes, see carvings on the walls left by prisoners and get to visit the crown jewels and try to make the soldiers who guard them smile (impossible)! Walking round the battlements and looking out over London is a lovely experience for both old and young and I really do think that if it’s history, fun and something totally special to London that you’re after then here is the place to be!

So that was my second lot of choices for fabby days out with children in London but if nothing has caught your eye just yet, do come back and read the third and final part of this series soon.

Ruth

Ruth Davies blogger at http://rocknrollerbaby.livejournal.com

Category: TBW Roving Journo Mummy Blogger, The Kids, Travel, Holidays and Hotels | Tags: , , , ,

Another new mummy blogger!

fiffes | September 12, 2010 | One comment

Hi everyone, for those who dont know me I’m Fiona or Fee. I have a 19 month old daughter called Ella. We live in East Kilbride or as the locals call it Siberia with my husband Neil.

Both Neil and I work full time – Neil as a software engineer and I as a Special Needs Teacher. Scarily enough I teach in a part of the building that was my primary school. My mum very kindly looks after Ella while we are both at work.
So that is me – a very busy, bruised and battered Fee hehehe. It does concern me a lot that as Ella grows up she will become worried about the amount of bruises I get at work. But on the other hand she will hopefully be going to the mainstream school in the same building, so will develop an awareness of special needs and not be as frightened of wheelchairs etc as many children are. On saying all this, I do love my job – just not the managment of the school :) How many people get to play with shaving foam, and sand all day at their work.

As Ella is now 19 months old, her wee personality is really starting to show. She now thinks it hilarious to lift her dad’s tshirt and tickle in his belly button. And then to direct my hand to the same spot to frustrate him even more. She isn’t the best speaker yet – in fact only has / uses a few very random words, but she has a wicked sense of humour and understands everything. Her favourite TV programme is Total Wipeout – the harder they fall, the more Ella laughs. And believe me it is a deep laugh from the depths of her belly.
As I said she isn’t the best at speaking but she continues to amaze me at just what she understands. We can tell her to go get her shoes and coat, and off she toddles to collect everything and returns with said items to be put on. She loves trying on shoes – hmmmmm 19 months old with a shoe fetish already.

Anyway for now I had better go. I can see the mop of curly hair bounding into the living room and can predict the devestation about to ensue onto my living room.
Bye xx

Category: TBW Roving Journo Mummy Blogger | Tags: , ,

It’s only me!

BlondeLou | September 7, 2010 | 2 comments

Hiya everyone! I’m one of the new ‘Mummy Bloggers’ for The Baby Website.

I suppose I’d better start by introducing myself…..

My name’s Louise, I’m 31 years old (although I still feel 18 in my head), fiance to Steven who I’ve been with for over 8 years now &  full-time mommy to 3 red-headed rascals. Kian is 5, Lucas is 3 & Zac is almost 21 months. So, to sum it up, I am the only female in a house of 4 red haired males (with the tempers to match)….. cue the ahhhhhhhh’s, lol! I’m tempted to get a couple of female cats or something, just to even it up a bit, but I’d just be adding more to my ‘to-do’ list by doing that…. So, most of my days are spent rushing around like a headless chicken, doing school runs, cooking, cleaning, washing, refereeing (is that even a word?), you know, the usual ‘mommy’ stuff. I still like to go out occasionally & be ‘me’ for a few hours, as it helps with the sanity!

Well, I have a date with the cooker, so I’ll have to leave it there for now. There’s always something going on around here though, so it shouldn’t be long before you all hear from me again!

Oh & before I go, I’ll leave you with a photo of the 3 little men in my life….

Kian, Zac & Lucas - My gorgeous boys!

BlondeLou x

Category: TBW Roving Journo Mummy Blogger |

Guess who!!!! hmmmmm….

Mummy Lorrie | September 7, 2010 | One comment

Hi everyone, it’s your resident Trini saying ‘hiya!’
i’m Lorrie and i’m mummy to Nathan who is 3 and a half years old (there was a time when i could tell you his age in months, days and even hours!) and i’m married to Ryan (the saint) for almost 9 years although i still think of him as the best boyfriend i’ve ever had lol.
It’s one of those days when i don’t quite know what to do even though there are sooo many things screaming for my attention simultaneously but i’m somehow managing to be blissfully unaware and am able to ignore them. gosh, am i good or just really bad? ah well, let’s see what the evening brings, eh!

Mummy Lorrie

Category: TBW Roving Journo Mummy Blogger |