patsylabrador Posted January 9, 2013 Share Posted January 9, 2013 To kick start my new year resolution I went to the Natural History Museum. Thinking of going to Jorvik Viking Centre next month. Anyone got any views or tips on the place, I've never been to it. Three pictures of today - Monkey architecture A mineral that looks like a tiny city Horrid things in jars Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluekarin Posted January 9, 2013 Share Posted January 9, 2013 No tips for you I'm afraid, but just wanted to say I love the Natural History Museum. I've not noticed that city mineral before - amazing! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
majorbloodnock Posted January 9, 2013 Share Posted January 9, 2013 At the risk of asking a silly question, what exactly was your New Year's Resolution? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patsylabrador Posted January 9, 2013 Author Share Posted January 9, 2013 I plan to go into London more especially museums. On my list to do so far are Museum of London, Imperial War, National Army Museum, Science and V&A, The Wellcome Museum if its still opening. Also hope to have courage to go to some lectures. That's it so far. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soapdragon Posted January 9, 2013 Share Posted January 9, 2013 The Pitt Rivers Museum in Oxford is great and well worth a visit; loads of other things to do in Oxford too (Museum of Oxford, colleges, Bodlian Library) and The Ashmolean Museum is amazing! If you feel like travelling then the Edinburgh museum is fascinating as is Mary King's Close (city under the city!) Somewhere in London is a Georgian House set up exactly as.......a Georgian House! Think it might be NT but I have always wanted to go there as it looks so atmospheric. I could probably live in the Museum of London; we are hopingto take the boys there at Easter! What an exciting timeyou are going to have; Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheGirlsMum Posted January 9, 2013 Share Posted January 9, 2013 Taking eldeat to Natural History Museum in Feb half term her first trip to London, and ,my first "in charge" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patsylabrador Posted January 9, 2013 Author Share Posted January 9, 2013 Thank you for all the info. Do you mean 18 Folgate Street, Dennis Severs house? I've read the book and it sounds very different. This might be the year to visit. Liverpool Street Station is nearby so easy by tube for me. Enjoy museum trip, thegirlsmum, take a peek at the Darwin Centre, lots of things in jars. Have you been in Exhibition Rd recently, the layout is open and much nicer. No pavements as such. At the bottom is the Cremerie Crêperie, very nice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlottechicken Posted January 9, 2013 Share Posted January 9, 2013 I love your photo of monkey architecture, so many monkeys! That mineral is just stunning Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soapdragon Posted January 9, 2013 Share Posted January 9, 2013 (edited) Thank you for all the info. Do you mean 18 Folgate Street, Dennis Severs house? I've read the book and it sounds very different. This might be the year to visit. Liverpool Street Station is nearby so easy by tube for me. Oh, thanks for that...that is the one! I knew it was 'someone's' house but the name escaped me! Am hoping that OH can take some time off over the summer and I will venture forth solo - eek! Used to live in south Ken when I 1st left home but years of country living have put me off 'the big city'! A revisit to the Museum of London might be in order too!!! Thanks so much for inspiring me! Have just lookedup the Denis Severs House website; it looks JUST AMAZING!! Trouble is I'd want to do the evening tour so would have to stay overnight somewhere! Edited January 10, 2013 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Looney Posted January 9, 2013 Share Posted January 9, 2013 Taking eldeat to Natural History Museum in Feb half term her first trip to London, and ,my first "in charge" Good luck! I took my son last year in half term to the Natural History Museum and boy, was it busy! We got there about 15 mins before the advertised opening time and the doors were already open. (about 9.45 I think?) We got around the dinosaur bit first but by the time we came out of there, there was already a queue of people waiting to go into that section. By the time we left at midday-ish, the queue to see the dinosaurs filled the entire main gallery (the big hall you come into when you enter the museum, not sure what it's called!) and there was a queue of people waiting to get into the museum itself. Son was tired and ready to leave (he's only 4) so we didn't stay too long. He loved what he had seen but is perfect height to get knocked about by bags and there really wasn't room to move to keep lifting him up to see things! You can book a session to go into the dinosaur section, check on the website, must be a day or two in advance I think but would save standing for an hour in a queue. I had a free guided tour at the Tate Britain a couple of months ago. They run several times a day and last 45 mins. I really enjoyed it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lizinsa Posted January 9, 2013 Share Posted January 9, 2013 I really like the Jorvik Viking Centre and as an added bonus you can have a wander round the quaint streets of York and visit Betty's Tea Rooms for some delicious treats: I'd recommend the rarebit and a Medici! The IWM is fascinating but it's pretty much closed for renovations so I'd put that at the bottom of your list for now. I really want to see the Lomo photography wall at the museum of London but never quite get round to going despite living 20 minutes away, I think your resolution sounds great! Has anyone visited the Gefferye Museum, have gone past it and it intrigues me but no one I know has ever been? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snowberry Posted January 10, 2013 Share Posted January 10, 2013 The Bank of England museum is only open on weekdays, but it's fascinating! I took daughter there a few years ago; she got to hold a gold bar Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bramble Posted January 10, 2013 Share Posted January 10, 2013 Jorvik's great - but if you are going at peak times (any time in school holidays and many weekends) I'd pre-book - the queues are amazing. (Mind you the queues for Betty's aren't to be sniffed at either!) It's (deliberately) a bit whiffy - not a nice smell at all and REALLY gets up my nose ... The National Railway Museum is also in York and is absolutely awesome - it's free to get in and is well worth a look, even if you're not really into trains, you're bound to find something to interest you! Oh and York Minster is awesome too - not exactly a museum but very much worth a trip. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
majorbloodnock Posted January 10, 2013 Share Posted January 10, 2013 If you're unable to do justice to the Imperial War Museum, don't forget that HMS Belfast and the Cabinet War Rooms are also part of the IWM group. Of course, if you're not absolutely insistent on London, IWM Duxford is well worth a visit too. I'd suggest you add the British Museum at Great Russell Street to the list too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snowberry Posted January 10, 2013 Share Posted January 10, 2013 Also the Royal Courts of Justice & The Spreme Court (I preferrred the latter!) Weekdays too... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluekarin Posted January 10, 2013 Share Posted January 10, 2013 I'd suggest you add the British Museum at Great Russell Street to the list too. That is my all time fave museum. Mind, I haven't been to many, but it is amazing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheGirlsMum Posted January 10, 2013 Share Posted January 10, 2013 Thanks Looney, eldest is 13 and taller than me so can hold her own. Good tip about getting there early, our hotel is yards away Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted January 10, 2013 Share Posted January 10, 2013 We are Museuming this year too,starting with the Bowie exhibition at the V&A this spring - can't wait Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sadietoo Posted January 11, 2013 Share Posted January 11, 2013 What a great idea PatsyLabrador. I love the Natural History Museum - the building is amazing and those are great photos. I hadn't heard of Dennis Severs house so looked at the website...hmmmm not sure I understood it, it looks interesting but perhaps a bit pretentious for me. I love The Wallace Collection http://www.wallacecollection.org/ and the V&A (although was very disappointed that their fashion bit was closed the last time I visited there. ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patsylabrador Posted January 11, 2013 Author Share Posted January 11, 2013 Thank you so much for all the suggestions everybody. Even more would be great. I love small museums too. I went into the prison museum in Buckingham, full of interesting stuff but loved the displays by local schoolkids especially. Natural History Museum in Tring is great by the way. I would welcome more suggestions, I'm very excited about year ahead. Going to Glastonbury Tor tomorrow, not a museum as such but very interesting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ms Marple Posted January 12, 2013 Share Posted January 12, 2013 THe National Gallery in Trafalgar Square. Go and stand in front of the Ambassadors by Hans Holbein!! It's free too. I love coming to London I think you are so lucky with what is on your doorstep, but then we often ignore what is right next to us - well I am guilty of this. We Drove down to London on Boxing Day night as OS had to be back in work the next morning and there were no trains. We had three days doing the tourist trail and meeting up with him int he evening for dinner somewhere. It was great. There is also a good art exhibition in the Royal Mews (back of Buck House). We also did Hampton Court- brilliant day and Kew Gardens- cold different obviously to in the spring and summer but still amazing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patsylabrador Posted February 2, 2013 Author Share Posted February 2, 2013 Not exactly a museum but visited Baddesley Clinton. Moated and with priest holes. Interesting history of a Catholic family when that was a very dangerous thing to be. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlottechicken Posted February 2, 2013 Share Posted February 2, 2013 I love Baddesley Clinton! It is really near to me so we have been three times in the past six months, most recently just after Christmas, see ***here*** (linky to my blog) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
welovemarmite Posted February 4, 2013 Share Posted February 4, 2013 has anyone been to the transport museum in london lately? I havent been since i was a little girl. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patsylabrador Posted February 4, 2013 Author Share Posted February 4, 2013 I went there a year or so ago, I can't remember exactly. I like it but I think it's quite expensive really for what it is. All the children I saw there seemed to be having a great time and I thought the exhibitions were very interesting. I like the atmosphere. It didn't take me long to go round it but I was on my own and it's very different if you're with family. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
