Family Outings to London’s Less Popular Attractions

When visiting London as a family there are many attractions that would appeal to all ages. There are numerous museums, galleries and parks to visit although some may feel that visiting these places can become quite repetitive and give a ‘been there, done that’ kind of feeling, often leaving families stuck for ideas for something to do to.There are some alternative attractions throughout London offering unique experiences and provide the opportunity to avoid the crowdedness of the more popular attractions.

 

Brixton Windmill

This windmill is a Grade II listed building that was originally built in 1816 although it has been restored over the years to mirror its original features. It is the last of the working windmills in London and was originally used to produce wholemeal flour by grinding wheat between stones by the Ashby family and was known as Ashby’s mill for its working life.

In 1902, the decision to power the mill by steam was made and the mill regained business until the last Ashby miller died in 1934 and production ceased making the mill derelict.

In 1957, London County Council bought the land the windmill stood on and turned and turned it into a public space called ‘Windmill Gardens’.

In 1964 Brixton windmill was restored and became popular with visitors but closed due to long periods of restoration and neglect in 1990.

In 2010 a lottery fund was awarded to the ‘Friends of the Windmill Gardens’ which made possible the long-awaited task of full restoration of the mill and the mill was converted to electrical power. This resulted in Brixton mill being reopened to the public in 2011. Families can enjoy seasonal activities at the mill such as Easter egg hunts, a summer festival, spooky Halloween fun and a Santa’s grotto.

 

Chislehurst Caves

Chislehurst Caves are in South East London and consist of 22 miles of tunnels 30 metres below woodlands. They were first opened to the public during the start of the 20th Century as a show place and over the past 100 years has been used for a number of things including mushroom growing in the 1920’s and 30’s and providing shelter for over 15,000 people during the blitz. In the 1960’s and 1970’s the caves were used as a venue for dances and concerts. These days the caves can provide an overnight experience with lamp-lit tours of ghost-stories, smugglers and murderers. There are hourly tours offered throughout the day for families to have a slightly less scary experience of the caves.

 

Nunhead Cemetery

This is one of the beautifully kept cemeteries in London and was originally opened in 1840. The cemetery is a final resting place for the fallen soldiers of the battles of Trafalgar and waterloo and the monuments for these are seen throughout the grounds and contrast against the resting places of the public burials. Due to neglect, the grounds have changed into a woodland area home to a lot of wildlife including many species of butterflies, woodpeckers and tawny owls. Families can visit on the cemetery’s open day where there are activities to participate in such as bug-hunting, face-painting and music in the Anglican Chapel ruins that still remain in the grounds.

 

London’s only Lighthouse

This lighthouse was built in 1864-1866 and was used to test new lamps and maritime technology. It is located in Trinity Buoy Wharf where the River Lee meets the River Thames. Today, the lighthouse plays a continuous 1000 year long piece of music that was switched on during the Millennium celebrations and will continue to play via longplayer until midnight 31st December 2999. There is a listening room in the lighthouse where you can hear the music play.

 

Morden Hall Town and Country Show

Enjoy a piece of the countryside in a busy city at this show. There is entertainment of all kinds to appeal to families of all ages including ferret racing and Morris dancing. Activities such as bee-keeping, basket-making, a bouncy castle and a funfair will keep the kids occupied long enough for the adults of the family to sample a taste of the local scrumpy.

 

Creekside Discovery Centre

The centre offers families a fascinating day out walking through a wild river, fishing in a natural environment and discovering the history of fishing, ship building, slaughterhouses and dockyards. During school holidays there are a number of pre-organised workshops including crab-fishing and mud-larking.

 

Grant Museum of Zoology

This museum was founded in 1828 as a teaching venue and now houses over 68,000 specimens of the whole animal kingdom. Some of these specimens are preserved in fluid, mounted or are skeletons. This museum is the last University museum in London and offers educational workshops to all ages.

 

Travelling with the family Top ten tips –

• Plan – organise activities in advance according to age suitability.
• Involve the kids – let them have a say in where they would like to go and what they woyld like to see and make compromises.
• Pack an emergency bag – include medications, snacks and drinks, small toys and a change of clothes for young children.
• Have a plan for handling delays – take electronic devices and extra batteries for the kids to watch films or play games to prevent boredom.
• Prepare – explain to the kids that there may be queues, a lot of walking and traffic so any waiting is to be expected.
• Book the right accommodation – look for family friendly hotels. Some Piccadilly London stays offer activities for children and special menus for children. These hotels are also close to all major London transport links to make travel to various attractions hassle-free with the kids in tow.
• Document – let the children take photographs throughout the trip to keep the involved and make lasting memories.
• Take a stroller – prevent ending a day early because young ones are tired and have aching legs.
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• Be prepared to change – accommodate the needs of everyone in the family and deviate from the day’s plans if anyone becomes unhappy.