SIX HOT PICKS

SIX THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW, AS TOLD BY US

1 BRITISH LIBRARY

I was really impressed with the way Britain’s national library engages with the public. From the open, sculptured-filled space in front of the library through to the exhibitions on display and the many public events. There is something for everyone and some great lanyards in the gift shop (don’t we all love a good lanyard?). Well worth a visit if you are in London, it’s just a short walk from King’s Cross St Pancras tube station.

2 MUDLARKING ON THE THAMES

The Thames is one big muddy museum and urban archeology at its finest! My daughter and I spent a couple of very happy hours searching through the muddy foreshore of the Thames at low tide. We found pieces of Medieval, Stuart, Georgian and Victorian pottery; Delftware and heaps of broken clay pipes from the 1600-1800s. You need a permit to mudlark so the easiest thing to do if you are only visiting is to join a walking tour like this one run by the Thames Explorer Trust.

3 THE FASHION MUSEUM, BATH

If you are looking for something a little different,

Bath’s Fashion Museum is a gorgeous trip back through time via clothes. The museum holds a world-class collection of contemporary and historic dress. There are some amazing dresses made of sumptuous fabrics and some beautiful accessories also. Some of the detailed embroidery and handcraft is breath-taking.

4 THE RICHELIEULOUVOIS LIBRARY

You can pay for a tour of this

beautiful working library, or can view the famous Salle Ovale (oval reading room) free of charge. The library collections date back to the 1300s.the Richelieulouvois site is the historic birthplace of the Bibliothèque Nationale de France. The library houses manuscripts (from the remains of ancient writings to manuscripts of modern writers); prints and photographs; stage music and art; letters and plans; coins, medals and antiques. Worth it for the reading room alone.

5

ROTTERDAM’S

CENTRAL LIBRARY

If you are interested in

architecture, Rotterdam’s

Central Library is worth a visit.

In 1983, the library moved into

this new modern building on

Hoogstraat road. It’s a striking

construction with bright yellow

steel tubing running from the

roof down the glass frontage.

It was designed by architects

Van den Broek & Bakema

and is often compared to the

Centre Pompidou in Paris. The

library is two minutes’ walk

from Blaak metro and train

station.

6 ROTTERDAM’S KUNSTHAL

is famous for its eclectic and eccentric range of exhibitions. When we visited there was an impressive retrospective exhibition featuring the work of the famous Portuguese artist Joana Vasconcelos – Joana Vasconcelos: I’m Your Mirror. Big, colourful, quirky, conceptual pieces from an activist and feminist with Portuguese traditions.

The kids also really liked an exhibition about hip-hop and its influence on fashion and lifestyle – Street Dreams: How Hiphop Took Over Fashion.