Best museum day for the under 5’s in central London ...

Hands down, the Science Museum is one of the best museums to take your toddler to in South Kensington. 

What makes the Science Museum such a favourite with parents and children alike, there are two areas that are specifically toddler focused as well as other parts of the museum that are fun for toddlers if they are tagging along with older children.

The toddler focused area include the Pattern Pod and The Garden.

The Pattern Pod is located at the very rear of the museum, on the ground floor and offers a wonderful experience for small children.  The exhibit is officially designated as being for 5 – 8 year olds, but there are many interesting, hands-on things for any young child to investigate.  There are dress up clothes for children to try on, tiles you insert into a special display that projects different patterns on the ceiling, giant foam pattern blocks and a pattern making art program plus much more.

The Garden, however, is the ultimate toddler destination.   It’s well-hidden in the basement so ask about it if you do not find it on your own.  When you first walk in, you notice small children wearing orange protective aprons playing in the most elaborate water table you have ever fathomed.  Filled with small boats that float down a cascading canal, children are able to work different levers and pumps to direct the water and boats.  It is really great fun for all. 

Farther along is a play area that suggests a building site, with giant blocks you move around using wheelbarrows and then dump into bag connected to a pulley rope you can hoist up a climbing frame, and then throw the beanbags down a chute and start over again. 

There is an amazing multi-sensory room, puppets, soft toys… I know I am missing some things, but you will have to bring your little ones and see for yourself.  Everyone we have taken to the Science Museum has had as much fun, if not more, than their children.

The picnic areas are right outside The Garden, which are basically a set of large steps, or you can go to any of the cafes for sandwiches, salads and drinks or to the restaurant for nice, burgers, salads, mezze, etc. 

Further, the Princess Diana Memorial Playground is just the other side of Kensington Gardens, while Whole Foods, with its amazing food court, and Wagamama are just down High Street Kensington.

The Science Museum:  Exhibition Road, South Kensington, London SW7 2DD 0870 870 4868 Open Daily from 10 – 6, except the 24 – 26th December Tube: South Kensington;  Bus 360, 70, 414, 74, 14, C1, 49, 430, 345

This post was written by Laura Vogel, a former primary school teacher and full-time mother of two who is enjoying every minute of her life in London discovering the city with her children on her extended maternity leave.

Photo credit: pineapplebun

Comments

[A Modern Mother]

Thanks, it's great to know what's what for the little ones. Wish I had read this before we went.

[nath]

We went to see the Wallace & Groomit exhibition and it was really well organised.

[Solnushka]

I was delighted to hear about this. I hadn't previously considered the Science Museum for my 1 year old. I even made a spirited attempt to go there this week.

There were queues. Really really long queues. Which I don't remember from when I was a kid, but there you go. Clearly word has gotton out.

I shall go back when the school holidays are over. Thanks for the idea!

[Moncler Jakke]

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