First of all thanks to all of you who headed down for ‘Stand Up Sit Down Party On’ on Thursday. A fantastic time had by all – look out for more events coming up in the near future.

Now, newsletter time. One of the requests for newsletters we get quite frequently is great little places to take our younger urban explorers. Given that this week is half term for a lot of them, we thought it was time. As ever please share any other nuggets you might have in the comments. Let’s get this conical-hatted party started.

North:
Pirate Castle, Oval Road, NW1 7EA

This is a pirate castle. In London. That’s a very strong start, and it keeps on giving. Pirate Castle is a volunteer run watersports centre on Camden Lock, and has been since 1966. Begun by Viscount St Davids (originally in his back garden), kids and adults alike will find a handsome array of water craft, including canoes, kayaks and bell boats. You’ll get a full induction, salute the Jolly Roger then off you go. Prices vary based on craft, but are on the whole less than £10.

Thanks for the tip off: Rachele Webb

Art4Fun, 172 West End Lane, West Hampstead, NW6 1SD

A café where you snazzify your own crockery. The concept is this: You pick a plain ceramic (pot, mug, plate) off the shelf then get your hands dirty and paint it up – or there’s glass and t-shirts to colour up too. It’s all pretty cheap – items start at £3.50 – and drink and eat and be merry as you do it. Great for kids, and also ruddy good fun for the 20+ kids amongst you too…

Thanks for the tip off: Paul Chalmers

Central:

Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Playground, Kensington Gardens, W2 2UH

Continuing the pirate theme, this Hyde Park Playground has a full on wooden ship at its centre. Just next to Kensington Palace, there is a sensory trail, teepees, a beach around the pirate ship and various toys and play sculptures; all set against a lush backdrop of trees and plants. There’s plenty of seating so the grownups can relax too. And in summer time the Diana, Princess of Wales, Memorial Fountain is round the corner too, to cool the tootsies off. Ahoy. Admission free.

Thanks for the tip off: Laura Street

East:

Mudchute Park & Farm, Pier Street, Isle of Dogs, E14 3HP

London isn’t the first place you associate farms with, but there are actually a fair few in the city – mostly dotted around East. The biggest is Mudchute, a full 32 acres of countryside in the middle of the Isle of Dogs. Were it not for sky being scraped by the nearby Canary Wharf monsters, you’d never think you were in the city. Alongside the standard chickens, goats, cows and sheep, Mudchute rock a few llamas too, or half a Pushmi-pullyu to the littl’ns. The café here’s also particularly good, and it’s all easily accessed on the DLR. Admission free.

Thanks for the tip off: Deanne Wallace

Hackney City Farm, 1a Goldsmiths Row, Hackney, E2 8QA

We’ve mentioned Hackney City Farm before as a cracking breakfast spot, but while we’re on the subject of city farms it would be a shame not to give it a shout out again. This is a working farm in surrounded by full on city life – it’s very cute, homely and friendly and as we mentioned before the breakfast is spot on. Admission free.

Thanks for the tip off: Rachele Webb, Deanne Wallace

Museum of Childhood, Cambridge Heath Road, Bethnal Green, E2 9PA

Does what it says on the tin. A V&A Museum, this is a free & fantastic assembly of the objects that have kept young people busy through the ages. Basically a giant toy museum from 17th century to now, all set in a fine old Victorian east end space. It’ll bring your own memories flooding back, and surprise your kids with how you ever managed to entertain yourself without a microprocessor. Admission free.

Thanks for the tip off: Lara Traill

West:

Royal Botanical Gardens at Kew, 18 Station Parade, Kew Gardens TW9 3PZ

Kew Gardens, as it’s more often known, is 121 hectares of beautiful botanical gardens and glasshouses between Richmond and Kew. The site has four Grade I listed buildings on the site and 36 Grade IIers – it’s pretty special. It’s been going over 250 years, and the kids are fully catered for. The new treetop walkway is a particular treat, and the nippers will also love the aquarium, sensory play area and road trains that navigate the whole site. Free guided walks are available at 11am and 2pm every day except Christmas Day. Admission: Adults £13.90, Concessions £11.90, Children FREE. For food after, head here: http://www.theoriginalmaidsofhonour.co.uk/

Thanks for the tip off: Deanne Wallace

Kew Bridge Steam Museum, Green Dragon Lane, Brentford, TW8 0EN

Assuming not all that much has changed since I were a lad (just mobile phones, the Internet, Black Eyed Peas – small stuff) kids love steam trains. Now whilst this isn’t really a steam train museum, it does have London’s only working steam railway – and lots of other big steamy machines. The world’s finest collection of stationary steam pumping machines no less. The Kew Bridge Pumping Station was originally opened in 1838 to pump London’s water supply. It became a museum in 1973 and is now a special location for all sorts of events, not least of which as a backdrop in Eastenders and The Bill, God rest its soul. Admission £9.50 for adults, £3.50 for children 5-15.

South:

Battersea Park Children’s Zoo, Battersea Park, SW11 4NJ

Battersea is one of GLP’s favourite parks in London (Victoria and Clissold run close), with all a gentlemen or lady could ever want from a park – a boating lake, a secret English garden, hireable sit down bikes, lovingly manicured rockeries – it’s all there. As is a zoo. And it’s a great little one. Animals include monkeys, meerkats and donkeys, and the Kune Kune pigs are frankly adorable. Admission £7.50 for adults and £6.50 for children – though that will go up a little on 1st March.

Thanks for the tip off: Laura Street

Sammy Duder, 67 Webbs Road, Battersea, SW11 6SD

It’s paint your own pottery again, but this time in friendly high street studio form. Just off the prams and Pimms mecca of Northcote Road, Sammy has been immortalising the prints of toddlers and tots since 2002. There are three simple steps to stardom: Choose a piece to paint, draw on a design and then paint it with washable, non-toxic paints then Sammy’s will glaze and fire the piece, ready for you to pick up 10 days later. A studio fee of £5 covers the processing costs.

Greenwich, SE10 8QY

There are a load of great things to do with the chiddlers in Greenwich, so we haven’t gone for just one – you can fit a lot in in one go. The Wren designed buildings of the Old Royal Naval College provide a stunning backdrop to London’s oldest royal park, Greenwich Park. The park is part of the Greenwich World Heritage Site – host to the Prime Meridian Line (aka the home of time), the old Royal Observatory and neighbours the Royal National Maritime Museum. Don’t miss the beautiful Painted Hall. In 2012 you’ll be able to add the Cutty Sark to that list. Finish off with a milkshake from Shake It and trip to Oliver’s Music Bar and you’re away. Tip: get there on the River Bus. It’s cheap, quick and the kids will love it.

Thanks for the tip off: Laura Street, Aras Sara

That’s it for this week – here’s hoping your week is stress and mess free. Wishful thinking perhaps. For more updates give us a good old follow on Twitter, http://twitter.com/glpLondon. Ta ra.

This entry was posted on Monday, February 21st, 2011 at 2:06 pm and is filed under Newsletters, With Children. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.