Kids

Parks and nature | Museums and galleries | Workshops and activities | Trips out of town

Parks and nature

Battersea Park Children’s Zoo
This friendly zoo is pitched just right for small children. The most entertaining residents have to be the playful otters. Other friendly creatures include talking mynah birds, cuddlesome sheep and wide-eyed monkeys. The shop’s strong on pocket-money toys, and there’s space for a picnic if you don’t fancy the Lemon Tree café.
Battersea Park Children’s Zoo, Queenstown Rd, SW11 (020 7924 5826/www.batterseaparkzoo.co.uk). Battersea Park rail.

Battersea Park Children's Zoo

Battersea Dogs and Cats Home
The world-famous welfare centre is open to casual visitors. There’s a souvenir and accessory shop, a café and a collection of tributes to dogs and their owners. If you’re thinking of picking up a new pet, though, bear in mind that the adoption process can take several visits.
Battersea Dogs and Cats Home, 4 Battersea Park Rd, SW8 (020 7622 3626/www.dogshome.org). Battersea Park rail.

Crystal Palace Park
A large landscaped green space that stretches down the hill from the site of the Crystal Palace (which was moved to a permanent home here in 1852 and burned down in 1936; the woebegone terraces remain), Crystal Palace Park also has a maze, a children's play area and a café as well as the famous concrete Victorian dinosaurs and enough open space to wear out the liveliest kids. A bowl hosts open-air concerts in the summer.
Crystal Palace Park, Thicket Rd, SE20 (020 8778 9496/www.bromley.gov.uk). Penge West or Crystal Palace rail.

Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Playground
With its pirate ship, play sculptures and well-heeled facilities, this has become an established favourite, and can consequently get very busy. Lots of the equipment can be used by children with special needs. You could also wander over to the Serpentine to check out the once-notorious Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fountain (Near West Carriage Drive, Hyde Park).
Diana Princess of Wales Memorial Playground, Nr Black Lion Gate, Broad Walk, Kensington Gardens, W8 (020 7298 2117/ 2141/www.royalparks.org.uk). Bayswater tube.

Gorilla Kingdom
Gorilla Kingdom is London Zoo’s biggest project in 40 years, a £5.3 million home for three primates called Bobby, Zaire and Effie. The environment has been carefully planted and crafted to look as much like a forest clearing in Gabon as possible, with the addition of a moat, ‘enriching’ gym, and a crowd of Colobus monkeys zipping about.
London Zoo, Regent’s Park, NW1 4RY (020 7722 3333/www.zsl.org). Camden Town tube.

Gunnersbury Triangle Nature Reserve
This secluded natural habitat, cut off from the harsh realities of Chiswick by railway lines, is home to several rare species, including bats.
Gunnersbury Triangle Nature Reserve, Bollo Lane, W4 (020 8747 3881/www.wildlondon.org.uk). Chiswick Park tube.

Isabella Plantation in Richmond Park
A more intimate atmosphere than the rolling acreage of Richmond Park in which it's set makes the Isabella Plantation a magical place for a family walk. Established during the 1950s, the ornamental woodland garden consists of clearings, ponds and streams and is planted with ferns, exotic trees and shrubs.
Isabella Plantation, Richmond Park (nearest gates Ham or Ladderstile), Surrey (020 8948 3209/www.royalparks.org.uk) Richmond tube/rail then 65, 371 bus.

London Wetland Centre

London Wetland Centre
A 105-acre city wildlife area of lakes, reedbeds and marshes created by the Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust. A three-storey tower gives excellent views of the wild areas while six other hides offer more cover for watching the wetland wildlife, especially ducks and wading birds. Facilities include a café, theatre and the Explore children's adventure centre. Free guided tours take place twice a day.
London Wetland Centre, Queen Elizabeth's Walk, London, SW13 (020 8409 4400/wwt.org.uk). Hammersmith tube then Duck bus (283).

Queen's Park
Parents with wandering offspring can find peace of mind at Queen’s Park, where wardens are much more visible than their equivalents in London’s larger parks. There’s a playground with a giant sandpit and adjacent paddling pool, a miniature farm, a nature trail and a pleasant, refurbished café. There’s also a programme of lively kids’ entertainment at the bandstand.
Queen's Park, Kingswood Avenue, NW6. Queen's Park tube/rail.

Parks and nature | Museums and galleries | Workshops and activities | Trips out of town

Parks and nature | Museums and galleries | Workshops and activities | Trips out of town

Museums and attractions

Cartoon Museum
For a more productive artistic outlet than scribbling on the wallpaper, try taking your budding Gary Larsons to this Bloomsbury museum. The first-floor gallery is the most engaging for children, and includes original artwork loaned by publications like the Beano and the Dandy. There’s a cartoonist in residence and lots to make and do. Visit the museum’s website for details of cartooning and animation workshops.
Cartoon Museum, 35 Little Russell St, WC1 (020 7580 8155/www.cartooncentre.com). Holborn tube.

Ragged School Museum

Firepower
Gung-ho children will find plenty to keep them entertained at Firepower, a museum dedicated to the soldiers of the Royal Artillery. The Real Weapons gallery allows the firing of (mini) cannons and the whey-faced youth can join a drill class run by a fearsome sergeant major. Then get the free Woolwich Ferry to the north shore. Here you’ll find the North Woolwich Old Station Museum, (Pier Rd, E16; 020 7474 7244/www.newham.gov.uk) where kids can climb all over the Coffee Pot, a Victorian commuter train, and ride Dudley the Diesel.
Firepower, Royal Arsenal, SE18 (020 8855 7755/www.firepower.org.uk). Woolwich Arsenal rail.

Horniman Museum
Set in 16 acres of landscaped gardens, the Horniman has a marvellous natural history gallery where the exhibits are displayed in traditional cases. There's also a wonderful collection of around 1,600 musical instruments. There are plenty of activities for families, including a nature trail, weekend workshops and a hands-on base where children can touch museum objects. The museum's aquarium, the original incarnation of which was the first free public aquarium when it opened in 1903, reopened in 2006 following a large-scale redevelopment.
Horniman Museum, 100 London Road, London, SE23 (020 8699 1872/www.horniman.ac.uk). Forest Hill rail.

London International Gallery of Children’s Art
Struggling to get the bairns to appreciate the merits of the National Gallery? You might have better luck with the London International Gallery of Children’s Art, with its far-reaching exhibitions ranging from the young talent showcase of Tokyo’s Artscape competition to photographs taken by children from ethnic minorities. The Gallery is scheduled to move in autumn 2008, so check the website for info.
London International Gallery of Children’s Art, 255 Finchley Rd, NW3 (020 7435 0903/www.ligca.org). Finchley Road tube.

National Army Museum
This Chelsea museum is a good alternative for those experiencing South Ken fatigue. The displays concentrate more on telling the story of the individual soldier's life than on chronicling campaigns and battles. Among the exhibits is the pencil-written scrap of paper that launched the Charge of the Light Brigade in 1854, sending more than 600 men charging in the wrong direction to attack the Russian Army. Uniformed presenters in role as soldiers from the past bring the museum's galleries to life at weekends.
National Army Museum, Royal Hospital Road, London, SW3 (020 7730 0717/www.national-army-museum.ac.uk). Sloane Square tube.

Pollock’s Toy Museum

Pollock's Toy Museum

There's plenty of fun to be had at this quirky museum, which houses everything from a 4,000-year-old Egyptian toy mouse to nineteenth-century magic lanterns and, of course, a fantastic toy shop.
Pollock's Toy Museum, 1 Scala Street (entrance on Whitfield Street) W1 (020 7636 3452/www.pollockstoymuseum.com). Goodge Street tube.

Pumphouse Educational Museum
The Young Archaeologists Club (for nine- to 16-year-olds) meets on Saturday of each month at the Pumphouse Educational Museum in Rotherhithe to discuss all things digging. Activities include walking the Thames foreshore to collect objects that have washed up, identifying bones and mosaic-making.
The Pumphouse Educational Museum, Lavender Rd, SE16 (020 7231 2976/www.thepumphouse.org.uk). Rotherhithe tube.

Ragged School Museum
With so many of the big museums laying on a multimedia frenzy, it might do your child good to visit the Ragged School Museum, not least because you will have the satisfaction of seeing them experience life in a Victorian classroom. The museum has a decent basement café and offers plenty of activities and workshops.
Ragged School Museum, 46-50 Copperfield Rd, E3 (020 8980 6405/www.raggedschoolmuseum.org.uk). Mile End tube.

Royal Air Force Museum
A perfect day out for plane-obsessed kids, attractions include 80 aircraft on display, an interactive area and a simulator ride. In the Aeronauts Gallery visitors can take a pilot aptitude test to discover whether they are the 'right stuff'. 'Milestones of Flight', a permanent exhibition in the museum's new silver barrel-vaulted, stainless steel-clad building, includes some of the most important RAF aircraft along with classics from the USA, Germany, Japan and France.
Royal Air Force Museum, Grahame Park Way, NW9 (020 8205 2266/www.rafmuseum.org.uk). Colindale tube/Broadway rail.

The Royal Observatory
It’s well worth a visit to this Greenwich landmark, originally built for Charles II by Wren in 1675. The 120-seater Peter Harrison Planetarium is particularly spectacular, with an advanced laser projector and presentations specifically aimed at children. Most are suitable for kids over six, with special shows for children aged three to six at weekends and during the holidays (check the website).
Royal Observatory, Greenwich Park, SE10 (020 8312 6565/www.rog.nmm.ac.uk). Cutty Sark DLR/Maze Hill rail.

Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Museum
A trip here is always worthwhile. Recently reopened, it now boasts a 200° camera which lets you experience a Centre Court match from a player’s point of view. You can also ogle the trophies close up and tour the players’ gym, the BBC television studios, and the iconic Centre Court.
Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Museum, All England Lawn Tennis & Croquet Club, Church Rd, SW19 (020 8946 6131/www.wimbledon.org). Southfields tube.

Parks and nature | Museums and galleries | Workshops and activities | Trips out of town

Parks and nature | Museums and galleries | Workshops and activities | Trips out of town

Workshops and activities

Activity courses
If you're reaching the end of your tether, a good day course can be rewarding all round. Barracudas (0845 123 5299/ www.barracudas.co.uk), runs day camps throughout London incorporating activities as diverse as quad-biking, jewellery-making, archery and karaoke. Alternatively, your child could learn circus skills at The Circus Space (Coronet St, N1; 020 7613 4141/www.thecircusspace.co.uk), inline skating with Citiskate (020 7228 3999/www.citiskate.co.uk), or scuba diving with London Scuba (07000 272 822/www.londonscuba.com).

Kids' Cookery School

Turn the tables on fussy eaters by giving them a special kitchen treat! They should appreciate your pasta bakes, cakes and homemade jam a whole lot more once they’ve sweated their way through a shift at Acton’s Kids’ Cookery School (107 Gunnersbury Lane, W3; 020 8992 8882/www.thekidscookeryschool.co.uk). Your reluctant chefs will learn all about ingredients and equipment while being encouraged to touch, feel, smell and taste different foods. They might even cook you Sunday lunch when they get home.

There’s not much in the way of play spaces in Stratford, so community-driven children’s centre Discover (1 Bridge Terrace, E15; 020 8536 5563/www.discover.org.uk) is an unexpected delight. It’s an interactive ‘story trail’ where children are encouraged to be as imaginative as possible in their pursuit of fun. There’s a shouting footbridge, a cave where you can manipulate your own echo, and lots for fertile imaginations.

Art classes
Dulwich Picture Gallery runs an award-winning education programme for budding artists of all ages and abilities. Classes for seven- to ten-year-olds are on Saturday mornings, 11- to 14-year-olds can head along on Thursday evenings, and 15- to 18-year-olds can take classes on Tuesday evenings. There are also free drop-in classes.

Elsewhere, similar classes run at the National Portrait Gallery (www.npg.org.uk) and National Gallery (www.nationalgallery.org.uk). And the ever-attractive Camden Arts Centre (www.camdenartscentre.org) runs two-day holiday courses in anything from clay to mixed media. Somerset House (www.somersethouse.org) runs free (ticketed) art workshops on Saturday afternoons, as well as occasional 'studio days' for older children.
Dulwich Picture Gallery, Gallery Rd, SE21 (020 86935254/www.dulwichpicturegallery.org.uk). North Dulwich or West Dulwich rail.

Little Angel Theatre © Gautier Deblonde

Little Angel Theatre
If your wee ones want to tread the boards, head to Islington’s Little Angel Theatre – London’s only permanent puppet theatre since 1961. Summer shows commence on Aug 9. Most productions are aimed at audiences aged five and over. The Saturday Puppet Club runs over ten weeks, and culminates in a show for family and friends.
Little Angel Theatre, 14 Dagmar Passage, N1 (020 7226 1787/www.littleangeltheatre.com). Angel tube.

Pineapple Performing Arts School
The renowned Pineapple Performing Arts School offers a drop-in street dancing class on for eight- to 16-year-olds every Saturday; you just need to turn up and pay six quid. It’s a great way to either keep the kids fit, or drain them of excess energy. For the really keen there are also summer schools in street dance and musical theatre, for nine- to 17-year-olds.
Pineapple Performing Arts School, 7 Langley St, WC2 (020 8351 8839/www.pineapplearts.com). Covent Garden tube.

Polka Theatre
Less sporty types can get their kicks in the sticks at the Polka Theatre, a beautifully designed kids’ theatre which puts on daily shows (10.30am, 2pm) and runs school holiday workshops.
Polka Theatre, 240 The Broadway, SW19 (020 8543 4888/www.polkatheatre.com). South Wimbledon tube.

A workshop at Camden's Roundhouse

The Roundhouse
As well as being a superb music and theatre venue, Camden Town’s revamped Roundhouse features a high-tech set of studios and rehearsal spaces that are ideal for creative children. Courses range from rap to contemporary dance, film and TV to experimental drama; there’s even the chance to be a presenter on Roundhouse Radio, broadcast over the internet. Brochures and enrolment forms can be downloaded from the website.
Roundhouse, Chalk Farm Rd, NW1 (020 7424 9991/www.roundhouse.org.uk). Chalk Farm tube.

Swimming
On sunny days take advantage of one of London's superb open-air lidos. As well a giving a unique swimming experience, many of them seem under permanent threat of closure, so should be patronised and introduced to a new generation. Brockwell Lido (Dulwich Rd, SE24; 020 7274 3088/www.brockwelllido.com) is friendly and set amid the greenery of Brockwell Park; Tooting Bec Lido (Tooting Bec Rd, SW16; 020 8871 7198/www.wandsworth.gov.uk) is quite awe-inspiring (and has a paddling pool). North of the river try Parliament Hill Lido (Parliament Hill Fields, NW5; 020 7485 3873).
See our guide to London's best pools and lidos

Tricycle Theatre and Cinema
This theatre/cinema/gallery has a great reputation for its children’s shows; there’s a fantastic range of workshops on weekdays, with everything from prop-making sessions to interactive whodunnits, as well as holiday workshops and youth theatre.
Tricycle Theatre and Cinema, 269 Kilburn High Rd, NW6 (020 7328 1000/www.tricycle.co.uk). Kilburn tube.

Parks and nature | Museums and galleries | Workshops and activities | Trips out of town