Our PAs have put together a diary of their top picks for a fun-filled half term with the kids
Day 1
Morning
County Hall, Westminster Bridge Road, London SE1 7PB
What is it? Far far away has come to London! Join Donkey on his magical 4D flying bus ride before journeying through 10 interactive live shows in a 75 minute walk and ride adventure. A mirror maze, crystal ball and Shrek’s Swamp are just some of the many madcap attractions.
Ages: 6-12
Tickets: From £18.72 – £23.40
Arrive by Tube: 5 minutes’ walk from Waterloo Tube Station
Opening times: 10am – 5pm daily over half term, except Thursday when it opens at 11am
Lunch: Book in advance for a stress free time with the kids. Your Buy Time assistant can take care of bookings for you.
Pizza Express – Classic Italian, can’t go wrong pizza and pasta – including a three course children’s menu.
Giraffe – Family orientated chain, serving international favourites at breakfast, lunch and dinner.
The River Front Café – This child friendly restaurant serves up classic British and international meals.
Afternoon
County Hall, Westminster Bridge Rd, London SE1 7PB
Discover this vast London home to sharks, turtles, sea dragons, and many more. Think you might have a budding marine biologist on your hands? For a day not to forget, team up with the experts for a behind the scenes tour or take part in a VIP turtle (or shark) feeding experience.
Tickets: Adults £23.50, £16.95 under 16’s and under 3’s go in for FREE – it’s cheaper to book ahead online.
Opening times: Daily 10am – 7pm
Day 2
Morning
Tea and Crafting, Second Floor, 30b Camden Lock Place, London, NW1 8AL
Sign-up your fashion-forward nippers for this workshop led by design duo Louise Scott-Smith and Georgia Vaux. These half term sessions will get little ones sewing and pattern cutting, with each participant creating a show-stopping new outfit for their doll. Classes are suitable for children between 7-12 years old and should be booked in advance.
Opening hours: Workshop timings vary over half term.
Nearest Tube: Camden Town
Price: £25
Afternoon/ Evening
Magical Lantern Festival at Chiswick House
Chiswick House and Gardens, London, W4 2RP.
What is it? The UK Premier of the world famous Magical Lantern Festival comes to Chiswick House & Gardens in London for the first time in its long and elaborate history. The festival is a spectacular artistic installation of beautifully sculpted lanterns taking various forms from animals and birds to buildings and abstract lantern designs of all shapes and sizes.
Opening times: Ticketed entry every 15 minutes from 5.00pm to 8.45pm.
Tickets: Family tickets £10.71. Your Buy Time PA can purchase tickets in advance.
Day 3
Morning
Just the right size for little legs! Time it just right and you can help to feed the animals – feeding times start with the Otters at 11am. Mini-keeper experiences are available and if you really don’t want to part with them, you can adopt an animal too.
Tickets: Children £6.95, Adults £8.95, Family £29
Getting there: A short bus ride away from Sloane Square Tube station.
Lunch:
The Latchmere, 503 Battersea Park Road
A child friendly pub with a great kids’ menu, a short walk from the zoo.
L’Antipasto, 511 Battersea Park Rd
“Best Italian Pasta restaurant in this part of town. With no frills but always serving perfectly cooked pasta’s.” – Time Out London
Afternoon
Tree Top Junior Adventure for Mini Tarzans. Release your little monkeys onto a Go Ape course designed especially for them.
Tickets: £36 for 2 children (Minimum height 1 metre). It is not advised that adults book themselves onto the Tree Top Junior adventure but are welcome to watch from the ground.
Opening times: Monday to Friday 8:00am – 9:00 pm, Saturday and bank holidays 8:00 am – 7:00pm, Sundays 9:00am – 7:00pm
Getting there: a 15 minute drive from Battersea Park, or 16 minutes via public transport.
Day 4
Morning
Decorate your afternoon tea at the Biscuiteers Boutique and Icing Café
194 Kensington Park Rd, London W11 2ES
Opening times: Monday – Friday 10.00am – 6.00pm, Sunday 11.00am – 5.00pm
Lessons last an hour and they provide all the biscuits, icing and edible decorations needed to teach your kids how to ice like a Biscuiteer! At the end of the lesson they receive a certificate of excellence as well as a Biscuiteers Apron and all of their iced creations to show off to friends and family. There is a minimum of four children for each icing lesson and bookings are subject to availability.
Lunch: On Kensington Park Road
Numero 28, 184a Kensington Park Road– Casual chain restaurant specialising in wood fired Neapolitan pizza and other classic Italian dishes.
There are a whole host of Mediterranean restaurants along this stretch, so we suggest taking a stroll and just see what takes your fancy.
Afternoon/Evening
Roald Dahl’s Matilda the Musical
The Cambridge Theatre, Earlham St, WC2H 9HU
Winner of a record-breaking seven Olivier Awards, Matilda the Musical at the Cambridge Theatre is the captivating new musical masterpiece from the Royal Shakespeare Company. Revelling in the anarchy of childhood and the power of imagination, it tells the inspiring story of a girl who dares to change her destiny.
Tickets: from £24 – Though worth noting the price is slightly higher for half term performances.
Show Times: Tuesday to Sunday 7PM, Wed, Sat & Sun 2:30PM
Performance lasts 2 hours & 40 minutes!
Day 5
Morning
Make your own comic book at The Cartoon Museum
35 Little Russell St, London WC1A 2HH
Arrive by Tube: 5 minutes’ walk from Tottenham Court Road or Holborn Tube stations.
Open to all ages but children under the age of 12 must be accompanied by an adult.
Tickets: Adults £7 (£5 if booked in advance), Under 18’s FREE. Have your Buy Time PA book ahead to avoid disappointment.
Afternoon
All Star Bowling on Brick Lane
Opening times: Open from 11am every day over half term.
Tickets: Kids £5.95, Adults (12+) from £6.95, Half term kids deal £15 to eat, drink and bowl
Getting there: 5 minutes’ walk from Shoreditch High Street Tube station.
Day 6
Morning
Mark 60 years since the launch of ‘Play-doh’ and et the kids stuck into a variety of Play-doh based activities led by illustrator Amy Brown and artist Helen Rousseau.
V &A Museum of Childhood, Cambridge Heath Rd, London E2 9PA
Cost: £5 per child (with parent/carer)
Suitable for: Ages 5-12
Closest tube: a stone’s throw from Bethnal Green Tube station.
Lunch: Take a 10 minute stroll to Broadway Market where you can sample the delights of the fashionista East-end, with bountiful organic restaurants and food stalls to choose from.
Afternoon
For little treasures that enjoy crafty activity, take them to nearby Wonderland Ceramics. This café-studio offers ready-made ceramic bisque that can be painted on the spot, then glazed as a permanent reminder of your child’s early creativity
237 Victoria Park Road, London E9
Cost: Ceramics range from £8 to £40 to pain
Day 7
Morning
Learn how to survive in Space Sunday 21st Feb only
The Royal Institution of Great Britain, 21 Albemarle St, London, W1S 4BS
Drop in with the family anytime between 11am-4pm to take part in activities and learn more about the future of space travel at this fun day out. Space enthusiasts can hear about exciting missions from Dr Kevin Fong and watch demonstrations exploring human survival in hostile environments.
Nearest Tube: Green Park
Tickets: £14, £7 under-18s, member discount available
Lunch: Bodeans. 10 Poland St, W1F 8PZ
This Soho restaurant offering pulled pork sandwiches, chicken wings, ribs, burgers and mac ‘n’ cheese will ensure neither adult or child leave hungry. Kids eat for FREE until 3pm on weekdays and 5pm on weekends.
For further ideas (our PAs are full of them) or to book any of the above, get in touch with your dedicated Buy Time PA or contact us on info@buy-time.co.uk or 0203 292 0566 to find out more.