Best kids’ days out
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| Walking with dinosaurs at Crystal Palace Park |
Battersea Park Children’s Zoo
A charming little zoo with domestic animals alongside more exotic species such as lemurs, Asian short-clawed otters and a Vietnamese pot-bellied pig. In the meerkats’ enclosure, children can make their way down a tunnel to pop out on a level with the creatures. The zoo also has indoor and outdoor play areas, picnic tables and a coffee shop.
Battersea Park Children’s Zoo (near Chelsea Bridge Gate), SW11 (020 7924 5826) Sloane Square tube. Open daily 10am-4.30pm (last adm 4pm) in winter.
Crystal Palace Park
Kids always enjoy a visit to ‘the monsters’ – five dinosaur sculptures that lurk among the trees around the lake, the remains of a Victorian prehistoric theme park created on the site by Benjamin Waterhouse-Hawkins.
Crystal Palace Park, Thicket Rd, SE20 (020 8778 9496/www.bromley.gov.uk) Crystal Palace rail. Open daily 7.30am-dusk.
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Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Playground
The big attraction at this playground for kids aged up to 12 is the vast wooden pirate ship sailing on a sea of sand. It also has some delightful play sculptures among the shrubs and bamboos.
Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Playground (near Black Lion Gate), Broad Walk, Kensington Gardens, W8 (020 7298 2117/7298 2141) Queensway tube. Open daily 10am-dusk.
Discover
A magical world where under-eights embark on a story trail, helped by characters whose role is to help kids invent their own stories. Dressing-up outfits, finger puppets and the Story Garden outdoor play area help fuel young imaginations.
Discover, 1 Bridge Terrace, E15 (020 8536 5555) Stratford tube/rail. Open Tue-Sun 10am-5pm termtime, daily Newham school holidays.
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| It's a jungle in there - Kew Gardens fascinates kids and adults alike |
Kew Gardens
As well as the botanical gardens, there’s the aquarium in the Palm House, a human-scale badger set and insect-eating plants in the glasshouses. Best of all, for young children, is Climbers and Creepers: a plant-themed indoor play area for accompanied three- to nine-year-olds (sessions, which are bookable on arrival, last 20 minutes).
Kew Gardens, Kew Rd, Richmond (020 8332 5655/www.rbgkew.org.uk) Kew Gardens tube. Open daily, hours subject to change.
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6 comments
what about pall mall barbers,27 whitcomb st
www.pallmallbarbers.com
Best bookshops eh? I feel Biblion, the Antiquarian bookshop at Grays Antique Market should of been included! Its a treasure trove. Truly helpful staff, amazing diversity of books and in an Antiques Market! Its full of character and in a great location!
What about
Best Sunday Afternoons in spring/ summer/ autumn/ winter
once again - using the 'print' feature of this feature results in text obliterated by fotos in the layout.......
I would add St. John's Bread & Wine (in Commercial St.) to 'Best Breakfasts'. Brioche, porridge with prunes, delicious fresh rhubarb - it's all amazing. In fact, I think I'm gonna go tomorrow...!
Best barbers? Ya... They are also for women? (!!??) Please, let me know about the best hairdresser! I'm new in town (I'm portuguese), and really dont know where to cut my hair. With style, of course!