10 of the best MUSEUMS FOR KIDS
Broaden their minds with these temples to learning which have fun in spades, says Blossom Green
1 EXPLORATORIUM SAN FRANCISCO
The whole family is catered for at this diverse San Francisco institution. Interaction is the name of the game, criss-crossing the worlds of science, art and culture to feed kids’ natural curiosity as well as entertaining parents. There are 600 handson exhibits to discover: step inside a tornado, build electrical circuits, get trippy in a camera obscura and count the rings on an ancient tree. Under eights will love the Tinkering gallery, where they can make intricate cardboard toys with cams and levers. Your pre-teens will be giddy after the Tactile Dome, a pitchblack room you crawl, slide and bump your way through, while everyone will enjoy the ephemeral Fog Bridge which spans Piers 15 and 17 that make up the museum. It’s shrouded in mist created by 800 nozzles that line the 45m path. Well worth the ticket price for what’s on offer, we say. Adults £23.40, under 12s £15.60, under 3s free. exploratorium.edu
2 MUSEUM OF SCOTLAND EDINBURGH
Mini zoologists meet mini Darwins in this grand and accessible site. With collections spanning dinosaurs and animal behaviour to meteorites and Dolly the sheep, there’s something for everyone. The Adventure Planet lets them uncover skeletons, traverse the roots of a giant oak to reveal the species living there or play dress-up. An open-plan design means they won’t be able to stop their eyes dashing to the next thing they have to see. It also means that you don’t miss anything either. The hanging aircraft and walls of motorbikes, unicycles and trikes will be a surefire hit. For toddlers and babes, Wednesdays and Thursdays mean Magic Carpet ‘rides’ that introduce them to special objects in the galleries through 25 minutes of song, stories and play. If Lego is their thing, visit before 30 July to catch the 90,000-brick model of the museum. It’ll get their creative juices flowing and keep them busy when you get home. Entry free. nms.ac.uk
3 STADE DE FRANCE PARIS
If your ankle-biter’s got their sights set on becoming the next Cristiano Ronaldo, then an insider’s tour of Paris’s iconic Stade de France will be the talk of the dinner table for months to come. You start in the stands, then go behind the scenes and experience the special atmosphere in the changing rooms before walking out of the players’ tunnel and on to the pitch. Kids will hardly be able to contain themselves as they imagine the crowd’s roar. As well as learning the history of the stadium, you’ll be left to discover the museum’s rich collection of jerseys, videos and memorabilia. Adults £12.50, under 18s £8.35. stadefrance.com
4 WARWICK CASTLE WARWICK
A great option for families that span age groups, this is the place for active kids. Laden with history, it has something for everyone. You’ll be able to amble through the castle’s grand interiors, while younger ones will enjoy interactive experiences such as solving the riddle at the Princess Tower and racing among the landscaped gardens. Pageant Playground is shaped like a mini-fortress, so don’t be surprised to find them donning a crown to play king or queen for the day. Elsewhere, the Castle Dungeon tour offers a ghoulish trip into the depths of history that will thrill bolder teens as actors bring the 14th century to life. The Horrible Histories Maze is our pick for family time – unite as one to overcome the obstacles of each era as you pass through. Adults £26.40, under 12s £23.40. warwick-castle.com
5 AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL MARITIME MUSEUM SYDNEY
A visit to Sydney’s National Maritime Museum is just the ticket for salty seadogs in training. As well as wandering along the waterfront to see the historic Cape Bowling Green Lighthouse, buccaneers will enjoy discovering the inner workings of submarines and Navy vessels in an engaging space that offers 360-degree virtual reality experiences. They’ll also see what life was like on board some of the world’s most glamorous ocean liners and how Kay Cottee single-handedly circumnavigated the globe. It’s worth paying to see the 3D underwater movie: you’ll think you’re swimming alongside the sharks. A Mini Mariners play space lets your tinier brood go ‘under the sea’ to make paintings and sailor hats. Entry free. anmm.gov.au
6 SCIENCE MUSEUM LONDON
A trip to the world-renowned Science Museum in the heart of the capital will be one they remember. An assault to all of the senses, displays are geared at teaching as well as entertaining. Sit back and let them take control of their own jet in the Fly 360˚ flight simulator and discover replicas of spacecrafts before travelling through the Earth’s core on an escalator. ‘Explainers’ (the guys in the red shirts) will put it in context for them and you’ll likely learn a bit yourself. Wonderlab is aimed at ages six to 14 and offers 50 marvels of science to get stuck in to. Expect Einstein-worthy hair after witnessing lightening displays and go all-out Newton with a rocket show that reveals the laws of motion. Entry free, Wonderlab £6. sciencemuseum.org.uk
7 MACHMIT! BERLIN
Best suited to under tens, this museum is not as overwhelming as some of the larger ones on our list – think of it as an educational play centre. As with much of Berlin, the entrance belies what’s within. A shabby, grafitti-adorned old church door gives way to an attraction that’s ideal for letting them run wild. The lofty central room is bedecked in a huge, simple wooden climbing structure that’s great for imaginative play, while underneath are cubbies for reading and painting. Retro exhibitions are themed around story books, fairy tales and baby names, while a mirror labyrinth and Chinese shadow games bring in the fun. You’ll find it in the gentrified Prenzlauer Berg area. Over 3s £4.60, under 3s £2.90. machmitmuseum.de
8 AMERICAN MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY NEW YORK
Are your lot fans of the movie Night at the Museum? If so, take them to the inspiration behind it. The American Museum of Natural History stands head and shoulders above its counterparts and its Central Park address makes it great for city break stopoffs. Mini historians will beg you to linger until closing in the hope the displays will spring to life. It’s a haven for older kids; its strength lying in its historic and anthropological displays. A special self-guided tour means you won’t miss any of their mostloved figures from the film. Watch in wonder as they discover colossal Moai heads and American bison before getting up close to a millennia-old T-Rex. Adults £17, under 12s £9.80. amnh.org
9 HORNIMAN MUSEUM & GARDENS LONDON
Nature-lovers of all ages will adore this south London stalwart with its treasure trove of more than 350,000 objects. It opened as a museum in 1890 and the original collection of natural history is as awe-inspring today as it was then. Your little ones will love flitting between the towering specimen cases of animals, comparing the wild cats to characters in their favourite Disney movies, and having staring competitions with the portly Victorian walrus that takes centre stage. As informative as it is fun, they’ll also learn about birds and bugs from around the world and be introduced a large collection of masks and costumes from across the ages. The gardens provide a large play area, an urban farm that’s home to lop-eared rabbits, goats and alpacas and the oldest nature trail in the city. It’s ripe for exploration and guaranteed to tire them out, giving you a chance to stock the larder at the Saturday morning farmers’ market. On rainy days, family activities at the Hands on Base include immersive storytelling and sessions on the likes of fossils and beekeeping. You’ll recognise the building from its towering totem pole. Entry free; aquarium, adults £4, under 16s £2. horniman.ac.uk
10 LOUISIANA MUSEUM OF MODERN ART HUMLEBAEK, COPENHAGEN
Budding Barbara Hepworths and pint-sized Picassos will get a kick out of this beautiful Danish art gallery with its three-storey Children’s Wing dedicated to kids aged four through 16. A wonderful place to introduce your nippers to some of the world’s most revered modern artists such as Louise Bourgeois and David Hockney, it offers painting, sculpting and drawing workshops as well as quiet reading nooks. The architectural design is the epitome of Nordic chic: effortlessly cool light wood, clean lines and full-length windows. Yayoi Kusama’s Gleaming
Lights of the Souls installation may well become known as the ‘sparkle room’ in your house. It will wow the whole family with its a psychedelic display of 100 ping pong ball-like lamps that bounce ever-changing colour from the mirrored walls and ceiling. Outside, a sculpture park is made for adventure as youngsters are encouraged to hunt for hidden pieces in the 60-strong collection. Flanked by forest, the surrounding area makes a fabulous picnic spot. Alternatively, opt for a Danish buffet at the restaurant. It’s easily accessible for day trips from Copenhagen, 43km south. Adults £14, under 18s free. en.louisiana.dk