L
ondon has the X factor.
As a Londoner I know
I’m somewhat biased, but
where else will you find
four UNESCO World Heritage sites,
more than 240 museums, 3,000 parks,
more than 300 languages spoken and
the oldest underground system in
the word? Whether you are London-
bound for the first time or it’s your
annual pilgrimage home, there are
bountiful family-friendly adventures
to be had. Whilst tourists flock to the
big attractions of the British Museum,
London Eye and Madame Tussauds,
why not make time in your itinerary to
visit some off-the-beaten-path gems?
But first, a word to the wise:
Weather in London can be
unpredictable at the best of times.
Come armed with layers and a
Museums, parks and the opportunity to travel from the East to the
West in an instant all await you in London, writes
Nicola Burke
.
lightweight raincoat. Londoners
also get a bad rap as an unfriendly
bunch of people. Whilst it’s true that
your kids might not get the adoring,
friendly welcome they receive in
Asia and North America, Londoners
are approachable and secretly enjoy
pointing lost tourists in the right
direction.
A great place to start your tour
is The Museum of London, which is
a brilliant, yet often overlooked, way
to get acquainted with the nation’s
capital. You’ll find it in “The City”,
the area of London that originally lay
within the ancient city walls and now
houses major financial institutions.
The museum is incredibly family-
friendly, offering “Explorer Bags”
for under-fives. With free entry, you
can pick and choose the galleries that
L NDON
will keep the kids entertained without
feeling guilty about what you’re
skipping. I recommend the Victorian
Walk in the People’s City as a great
way to visualise how the city looked in
the mid-19th century.
From the Museum of London,
wander through The City, taking in
St. Paul’s Cathedral and the Bank of
England en route before marching
over the real London Bridge. Here
you’ll find one of my favourite
museums: The Old Operating
Theatre & Herb Garret. Ascend a
windy old staircase to find a museum
perfect for budding Harry Potters or
doctors-to-be. This place is crammed
with medical curios and the oldest
operating theatre in Europe. The
museum provides worksheets for
the kids and you can work your
lesser-known
58
Playtimes
