ReallyKidFreindly.com – The guide to how good places really are for your family

March 15th 2010

The Natural History Museum

This museum is a good space for little ones to have a run around on a rainy day. While not especially pitched for young toddlers, but it does have some areas that will be fun for you all to visit. Some Highlights include: The dinosaur exhibit is the focal point for the under fives. If you have a buggy, you need to go up a flight of stairs to enter the exhibit, or use a small lift. You then walk along a cat walk, looking at dinosaur bones while approaching a life sized, mechanical, growling T-Rex!! This part is great fun, but lots of children do get frightened. The mini-beast room is by far the best toddler room as many of the buttons and displays are within arms reach for them. The room only has one entrance, so you can let them have a bit of a wander. The Investigate room is by far the coolest room for the older toddlers. This room is booked ahead by schools in the mornings during term time. The best time to use the Investigate room is after 2:30, weekdays, during school hours. There are dozens of specimen trays holding assortments of insects, bones, shells and animal skins. These are wonderful treasure trays for the little ones to touch and explore. The room has microscopes that small children can access by kneeling on the counter and looking through the lenses. There are trays filled with pond dippings, plastic skulls, a skeleton, large fossils and live insects for children to interact with. All over the room there are magnifying glasses, pencils and paper to record and amuse busy children. The bird gallery is really interesting. It’s a long hall with near floor to ceiling cases of different species for birds. As the cases are accessible for the little ones, they are able to get a close-up view of the stuffed Victorian bird collection. There is also an amazing humming bird display. I would not let two toddlers wander around in this room as it is basically a hallway with two doors at each end. Come read more reviews on www.London-baby.com

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Best for: Pre-school, School children, Impaired mobility, Large groups