January 2014
61
way around from the scary-looking
medical equipment to the herb garden
filled with lotions and potions.
If the museum’s pickled body
parts haven’t caused your stomach
to turn, take the kids for lunch at the
wonderful Borough Market, a mere
two-minute walk away. The market is
a piece of history in itself, having been
in operation since the 13th century.
You can grab a snack at one of the
plentiful food stalls offering anything
from cheeses to pies, or check out one
of the many cafes and restaurants
lining the market.
Ship to shore
Time to head east towards Greenwich,
named a World Heritage site because
of its maritime history. The best (and
most fun) way to get there? By boat,
of course. The Thames Clipper is
actually a commuter service providing
“water buses” between eastern and
central London. The boat operates as
far west as Putney, but if you have just
come from lunch at Borough Market,
there’s a stop five minutes’ walk away
at London Bridge.
The boat is comfortable, with
toilets and even a cafe on board. Best
of all, under-fives travel free. You can
choose to brave the London weather
and sit outdoors or make yourself
cosy inside. Viewing London from
the water is a great experience and
the Thames Clipper is a cheaper and
more relaxed way of doing it than on a
traditional tourist boat.
The eastbound journey to
Greenwich from London Bridge takes
approximately 25 minutes. With
access ramps at each disembarkation
point, it’s also the most stroller-friendly
form of public transport in London!
Greenwich offers a huge number
of sites and most of them are free. It’s
likely that the Cutty Sark, a beautiful
boat and the world’s last surviving
tea clipper, will capture your child’s
eye. However, tickets are pricey
and best booked in advance. In my
opinion, the best way to do it is to
admire the outside then move onwards
and upwards towards the Royal
Observatory.
The Royal Observatory is home
to Greenwich Mean Time (GMT)
and the world’s Prime Meridian, aka
Longitude O°. You can literally hop
from East to West – which, judging
by the queues of people waiting to do
this all the time, appeals to everyone.
The Royal Observatory itself has
both paid and free galleries. The free
Weller Astronomy galleries, with
interactive exhibits where you can
touch a meteorite, are a great place to
take kids.
From here, walk down to the
National Maritime Museum, a place I
was reluctant to step back into, scarred
by an extremely boring visit from my
childhood – think dusty old maritime
maps and models of boats. My, how
this place has changed! The Great
Map is a huge interactive world map,
perfect for wayward toddlers that need
a run around. The Children’s Gallery
is the place for fun interactive exhibits,
including finding out what sailors ate
on board and even a ship simulator for
budding navy captains.
Room to roam
If the kids are flagging, Greenwich
Park provides the perfect antidote
with wide, open spaces, an expansive
outdoor playground and even a little
lake where you can hire pedalos.
Or, return to the river to catch the
westbound Thames Clipper. Let the
kids snooze while you plot where to
take the family for dinner.
London offers an overwhelming
choice of places to eat. If you’re
looking for a true British experience,
there’s no better representation
than a plate of fish and chips. Hop
off the Thames Clipper at Tower
Millennium and take the Circle Line
tube to Liverpool Street station. From
there, walk to Poppies restaurant at
Spitalfields for an authentic, delectable
fish supper. (It’s best not to think about
the number of calories in front of you.)
If you’re feeling really brave, be sure
to try their jellied eels, a traditional
East End staple.
Kids and parents alike can’t fail
to be wowed by London. With
so much on offer, a day can get
exhausting, so plan your trip carefully
and, if the kids are melting down,
there’s always a park close by. And
don’t be offended if a Londoner
doesn’t return a smile – they’re just
trying to give you the true London
tourist experience.
