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There is no shortage of children’s folk tales, poems and stories concerning London.
Winnie the Pooh author A.A. Milne for instance wrote of Christopher Robin going to see the Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace with Alice.
And surely every young school pupil should know the tale of how Dick Whittington went to London to seek his fame and fortune.
London, as poor young Dick soon discovered, does not have streets paved with gold. But it is a great place for families with young children to visit, especially on Bank Holiday Monday (30th May 2011) when there are so many fun child-friendly events in the capital.
Yellow Moon has some great London-related arts and crafts to inspire kids before a trip to England’s most famous city.
A Build Your Own Tower of London kit comes with 40 push-fit puzzle pieces.
Once assembled this 3D model is a splendid representation of one of London’s most historic landmarks.
The Tower currently has a daily event called Royal Beasts which explains why wild and exotic creatures such as lions, tigers and monkeys were held captive by kings and queens within the tower. You have until December 31st to attend this fascinating talk!
The Build Your Own Big Ben kit also guarantees fun times for arty kids who fit together its puzzle pieces. Did you know that, if you are a UK resident, you can arrange a visit to Big Ben’s clock tower? To do so, you need to send a written request to your MP.
The model you can make with a Build Your Own Tower Bridge kit won’t – unlike London Bridge in the nursery rhyme of the same name – fall down. No glue is required for making this popular tourist attraction.
Families can visit the real bridge and marvel at the exhibitions held inside it. Summer opening hours are from 10:00 to 18:30 and the stunning views of London and the Thames from the high level walkways makes this famous bridge well worth a visit.
Making these landmarks will put children in the mood for visiting London. There are plenty of Bank Holiday Family Events in London on 30th May – the View London website has a comprehensive list.
Kids who like a giggle will enjoy the Comedy for Kids event at Southbank Centre near Waterloo tube station. They should expect to hear gags about things like parents and penguins from grown-up comedians who have honed their skills raising laughs at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.
Over at the O2 Arena, kids can step 65 million years back in time at the Dinosaurs Unleashed event. State of the art animatronics ensure that the ‘dinosaurs’ at the event look and move in a life-like fashion.
The Natural History Museum is a great place for families to visit at any time of the year. Until September, it is hosting a Butterfly House exhibition which has plenty of child-friendly activities. The museum also has a maze, a treehouse and a play area located in the outdoor garden. What more could a child want?
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