London Transport Museum
Staring at Stars, Monday 19 September 2011
With children going back to school earlier this month there now seems to be a lack of things to do and places to visit for families compared to the kids focused weeks of the summer holidays.
My two brothers (the youngest aged ten) spent the weekend in London with me last weekend – and for some reason (most probably because I live in town, and being T&L’s What’s On Editor) it fell down to me to find something to do! I always find it hard to find something that my youngest brother would find exciting and enjoyable, as children’s hobbies and interests change so frequently. One moment they’re obsessed with yoyos and the next it’s been forgotten, being replaced by Doctor Who Trading Cards.
Luckily I was fortunate as I found the brilliant Muggle Tour (find out more about it here) which finished in Leicester Square, leading nicely on to lunch, and then the London Transport Museum in Covent Garden. We had planned to visit at some stage but several factors helped to push us inside: a) it was raining, b) children go free with an adult and tickets can be used to revisit for a year, and c) once mentioned, my brother wouldn’t allow us not to go.
The museum itself isn’t very big but, spread on three levels, it’s packed with eye opening information about transport in London past, present and future, with loads of life size models from 1800s omnibuses and a 1930s underground train, to models of vehicles that designers decades ago imagined would be widely in use today but failed to make any impact. The historical records of building the world’s first underground are absolutely fascinating – the tunnels were cut by hand – it’s amazing to think most of the original stations survive today.
The most enjoyable part for my brother was being able to step into carriages from a different time and to be able to sit in a bus driver’s seat, steering the big wheel and pressing all the buttons on the dashboard, not to mention trying out a driving simulation of a tube train. At ten he probably knows more about driving than the average 16 year old, so to him the lower ground floor of the museum, full of buses and trains and interactive exhibits was an absolute dream.
I asked him if he would like to visit the museum again and he replied with a very quick ‘yes!' ... truth is ... I would like to too!
Staring at Stars is a local blog that reviews local and London events, as well as restaurants, books and photography. It is run by Nadine Truong who is also Time & Leisure’s What’s On Editor.
