Trips and Outings in London by Annette Kingsley-Scott, Childminder
Working as a childminder I love taking children out and about on trips and outings. Sometimes these are in my immediate area including the library, park or common and others are further away. We live and work in a wonderful capital city with surrounding areas, where there are so many amazing museums and places to experience and by visiting and exploring these places we can learn first-hand rather than staying within the boundaries of our Early Years Setting. It also gives opportunities for children to access a wider range of resources than you could provide within any setting, including playground equipment.
Post pandemic especially as practitioners we don’t always know of children’s past experiences or their home learning environment and wider experiences with family and friends. Sometimes we can make assumptions about children’s prior experiences as I once did when I was surprised when a child said “Wow, is that Big Ben? I’ve never seen it before” as we were travelling on a bus over Westminster Bridge. This child was born and brought up in London and the parent later confirmed they hadn’t seen it before as they get in the car and drive out of London during spare time.
I’ve compiled a list of places to visit in the school summer holiday but many of these ideas would be suitable at any time of the year. Some of the places have free entrance and others have an entrance cost, however as a childminder it is often cheaper to buy an annual pass and visit multiple times before changing venues. Even if somewhere has free entrance you probably have incurred transport costs. Funding does not cover the cost of additional activities such as trips and arrangements can be made between the parent and provider / childminder on additional charges to cover these costs.
Healthy eating doesn’t stop for days out and getting a slow cooker revolutionised my picnics by cooking overnight and putting into a thermos means we still have a healthy hot home cooked lunch, just not served within the setting.
The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) Statutory Framework for Understanding of the world Childminders (page 9) and Group and School Based settings (page 11)
“Understanding the world involves guiding children to make sense of their physical world and their community. The frequency and range of children’s personal experiences increases their knowledge and sense of the world around them – from visiting parks, libraries and museums to meeting important members of society such as police officers, nurses and firefighters. In addition, listening to a broad selection of stories, non-fiction, rhymes and poems will foster their understanding of our culturally, socially, technologically and ecologically diverse world. As well as building important knowledge, this extends their familiarity with words that support understanding across domains. Enriching and widening children’s vocabulary will support later reading comprehension.”
In Development Matters 2023, The characteristics of effective teaching and learning in playing and learning states on page 15;
“Children will be learning to Respond to new experiences that you bring to their attention” and the example of how to support this “Introduce children to different styles of music and art. Give them the opportunity to observe changes in living things in the setting, and around the local environment. Take children to new places, like a local theatre, a museum, a National Trust heritage site, a fire station, a farm or an elderly people’s home.”
The Education Endowment Foundation’s Early Years Evidence Store, https://educationendowmentfoundation.org.uk/support-for-schools/evidence-for-the-early-years/early-years-evidence-store has approaches and practices to support children’s learning and development. Within the Communication and Language section there is an emphasis on teaching and modelling vocabulary and language, along with collaborative talk. These approaches include the explicit practices of naming and labelling, explaining and showing, repetition, sequencing, recapping, recalling of events and experiences and demonstrating social rules of communication with adjustments based on context.
As a practitioner I find the children take words we have learnt within the setting, often from books and then when out of the setting it provides a real-life context and purpose for using the word such as “gloomy” when the train goes through a tunnel. I also enjoy listening to children as they recall the events and experiences while they recount what they have done during the day. As a practitioner it also helps to inform my future planning for the child. This week I heard “This is fun, I want to come back here” and “We forgot to ride on the escalators, so we will have to go back!”
For every place mentioned I have included recommendations for children’s books to further extend the learning, build and reinforce on language both within your setting and before and after your visit.
As an adult I also enjoy learning alongside the children, when visiting one of the locations I learnt that frogs do not drink water through their mouths like we do, instead they absorb it through their skin.
Please refer to the EYFS regarding Safety on outings, do your own risk assessments, including consideration of adult to child ratios and if needed a research trip prior to taking children to any of these suggestions.
Please also check individual websites or social media to see if you need to pre book your entry tickets and if there are any special events or closures planned. Details correct June 2024
Library Many libraries take part in the https://summerreadingchallenge.org.uk/ often with a special under 5’s challenge including a sticker card. Also check with your library if you can get an Early Years Setting card, mine lets me borrow up to 100 books with no late fines or charges for requesting or reserving books. It also links to an app to borrow free audio books which we listen to in the car.
Lulu loves the library by Anna McQuinn & Rosalind Beardshaw
Charlie Cook’s Favourite Book by Julia Donaldson & Axel Scheffler
I like books by Anthony Browne
Parks & Green Spaces London apparently is the greenest capital city in Europe with 3000 parks and green spaces. Have a look on a map and find a park you haven’t visited; you might find a new favourite!
There are lots of ideas for things to do outside which don’t require expensive resources. Recently the children I work with enjoyed a whole morning of using chalk to make marks on bark chips on the woodland floor and the brown packaging paper from deliveries. We then ripped the paper into different sized pieces and scrunched to make balls which we could throw, roll and kick before bringing them home to recycle.
Other ideas and spotter sheets can be found on the https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/visiting-woods/things-to-do/children-and-families/ https://www.wildlifewatch.org.uk/activities
https://www.nhm.ac.uk/take-part/outdoor-activities-for-kids/all?category=all-activities https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/50-things#about-50-things
Some of our favourite parks and green spaces;
Crystal Palace Park for the dinosaur statues
Morden Hall Park including Deen City Farm
Battersea Park has a great playground
The Royal Parks including The Diana Playground in Kensington Gardens
Shark in the Park! By Nick Sharratt
Tap the Magic Tree by Christie Matheson
The Things That I Love about Trees by Chris Butterworth & Charlotte Voake
Stick! By Irene Dickson
Transport Inspired Places
Museum of London Docklands (Canary Wharf) FREE This museum is about the history of the docks on the River Thames and is one of my favourite museums to take children to. There is a car park near across the road as well as Canary Wharf station and the DLR trains. There is lots to see and I love how there are little hands on play areas in some of the galleries to bring the displays to life including a tool bench next to the Blacksmith display. Our personal favourites are making the bridge to walk over and lining the tunnel with bricks. Also look at their ‘Tots at the Docks’ dates on their website for under 5’s. We have also attended lots of free workshops including music performances. Mudlarks is their paid family gallery with soft play and water play which gets booked up in advance. Picnics allowed in the picnic room. If you need a green sensory quiet space away from the museum the Crossrail Roof Garden is a short walk away.
The Great Big Little Red Train by Benedict Blathwayt
Jack and the Flumflum Tree by Julia Donaldson & David Roberts
London Transport Museum, Covent Garden PAID however children under 16 go free and the adult ticket lasts for 12 months. This museum is all about transport in London, including the history of buses and the underground including horse drawn buses, called an Omnibus. You can see a steam train and in many of the train carriages you are allowed in to sit on the seats. There are 2 children’s play areas where you can have a turn driving a bus and fixing a tube train. We particularly enjoy watching and running alongside a small red underground train and watching a video of a bus falling down a mountain. There is a stamper card to punch holes in around the museum and I recommend getting a couple of spares as there is nothing worse than losing a nearly completed one just before your visit ends. There are often special events in the school holidays and they have a dedicated picnic area, with highchairs. Look out for the bus picture on the ceiling above the nappy changing area.
Please don’t chat to the bus driver by Shen Roddie & Jill Newton
Don’t let the pigeon drive the bus! By Mo Willems
Down by the Station by Jess Stockham
Greenwich Maritime Museum FREE The roof works have temporarily closed both the Great Map and Ahoy! Galleries in the Maritime Museum which I love for Early Years children. There is a newly opened playground called ‘The Cove’ at the rear of the museum and the museum has lots to see and the All Hand’s Children’s Gallery is open which includes a crane and cargo to move and ship’s galley (kitchen)
Sam who went to sea by Phyllis Root & Axel Sheffler
Rosa’s Big Boat Experiment by Jessica Spanyol
Different ways of travelling
Thames Clipper / Uber Boat PAID A boat ride along the River Thames seeing the sights and going under the bridges. Children aged 4 and under travel free per paying adult. Check out the Family River Roamer tickets for a hop on, hop off adventure along the river. (Wider double buggies may struggle on the boarding bridge)
Go Go Pirate Boat by Katrina Charman and Nick Sharratt
A Walk in London by Salvatore Rubbino
Londoner Bus / Heritage Route T15 PAID Ride on an old Routemaster bus between Waterloo Station or Trafalgar Square and The Tower of London (check their website for timetables). It’s a trip for compact folding buggies only, folded before boarding. An adult ticket costs £2.50 one way or £7.50 for the whole day, a group of any 4 people aged over 5 costs £20 for the day.
The Wheels on the Bus go round and round by Annie Kubler
IFS Cloud Cable Car (Greenwich) PAID A great experience to ‘fly’ over the river and see what you can spot from being up high. On the Greenwich side there are large benches where you can watch the cable cars arrive and depart and a small play area.
Choo choo clickety – clack! By Margaret Mayo & Alex Ayliffe
London City Airport Catch a DLR train, which is exciting sitting at the front of the train being the driver to Royal Albert Station and stand or sit next to the dock with a great view of the airport and runway with all the planes landing and taking off. There are railings so no one falls in the dock, benches, picnic tables and bins, no toilets though and nowhere to shelter if it rains. (There are toilets at Custom House Elizabeth line station)
Amazing Aeroplanes by Tony Mitton & Ant Parker
I wish I were a pilot by Stella Blackstone & Max Grover
Art Galleries
The National Gallery FREE Using the book ‘Katie and the British Artists’ by James Mayhew as a starting point really opened up the National Gallery to the older EYFS children as they looked for the paintings featured in the story. Select a picture and take turns making up and developing a story about what you see in the painting. You could write your own stories with pictures as the prompt in the gallery or back at your setting using either an image from the website or postcard from the shop.
The Katie series of books by James Mayhew including Katie and the British Artists and Katie’s Picture Show
Laurence Anholt’s series of Anholt’s Artists books including Degas and the Little Dancer
Tate Modern FREE The ramp into the turbine hall is as much loved as looking at the art! We found a picture of a scary monster and enjoyed watching a video about cars. The free sketchbook produced by Tate’s Early Years and Family team (take your own crayons and pencils) is also a great resource too to use in the gallery as well as back at the setting or for the children to take home. We particularly enjoyed looking at what colours are in our socks and matching them to colour page in the sketchbook.
Snail Trail by Jo Saxton
Miffy at the Gallery or Miffy the Artist by Dick Bruna
Mix it up! By Herve Tullet
Sculpture Trails FREE Finding different statues and sculptures in different street art trails around London makes a walk more interesting. Many of the sculptures are made by Wild in Art and in Summer 2024 Owls are going to be in North London. There are Elephants to find in Spitalfields and a Heritage Trail running too this summer. Maps are mentioned in Understanding of the World for reception aged children but younger children too can be introduced to new vocabulary.
A Walk in London by Salvatore Rubbino
Elmer the Elephant by David McKee
What the Ladybird heard on holiday by Julia Donaldson & Lydia Monks
Museums We are spoilt for choice with the number and range of museums in London, but these are our favourites.
Science Museum FREE So many galleries to choose from, ‘The Garden’ and ‘Pattern Pod’ are the favourite hands on activity areas for young children. The ‘Model Walkway’ in the ‘Making of the modern world’ gallery has buttons to press to make some of the models move. The flight gallery is often a quieter space. Wonderlab is the paid interactive gallery recommended for ages 7+. We love to look at our many reflections in the mirror just outside the entrance to Wonderlab.
Zoom Rocket Zoom by Margaret Mayo and Alex Ayliffe
Questions and Answers about Science by Katie Daynes & Marie-Eve Tremblay
Natural History Museum FREE The Dinosaur Gallery is always popular and often crowded. Visiting without a buggy means you can catch the escalator up into the centre of the earth and at the top (there are also lifts) experience what an earthquake fells like in a shop. We find The Darwin Centre is often quieter than the rest of the museum. The investigate centre by the lunch room is sometimes open for drop in activities and we are looking forward to seeing what the new gardens are like when they open in July.
Rumble, Rumble Dinosaur by Katrina Charman & Nick Sharratt
Harry and the Dinosaurs at the Museum by Ian Whybrow & Adrian Reynolds
Stomp, Dinosaur, Stomp! by Margaret Mayo and Alex Ayliffe
Dinosaur Roar! Paul & Henrietta Stickland
V&A FREE As well as enjoying the museum, take spare clothes and a towel as the pool in the courtyard is irresistible to have a paddle!
Wendy and the Wallpaper Cat by Jason Hook & Ilaria Demonti
Jim’s Spectacular Christmas by Emma Thompson & Axel Scheffler
Peepo! By Janet & Allan Ahlberg
Horniman Museum FREE The Natural History Galley with the iconic walrus is currently closed, but there is still lots to see, including the music gallery where you can listen to all the instruments on display being played on the touch screen tables. The PAID galleries of the Butterfly House and Aquarium are always enjoyed. In the galleries there are spaces for children’s hands on activities, including feeling real objects or books to look at. There are large gardens, including a music area and The Horniman Triangle Playground is opposite the museum.
Tiddler by Julia Donaldson & Axel Scheffler
My Granny went to Market by Stella Blackstone & Christopher Corr
Plinka plinka shake shake by Emma Garcia
National Army Museum FREE This museum has a helicopter in the entrance atrium. We enjoy trying out our marching, crawling under vehicles and going in a tank. There are also uniforms to try on and we always have a turn banging the drum. Play Base PAID is the children’s gallery with an army theme including soft play.
Where the Poppies now grow by Hilary Robinson & Martin Impey
Bank of England Museum FREE A museum about money, including bank notes and what the Bank of England does. Try and lift a real gold bar!
Shopping! By Jess Stockham
The Great Pet Sale by Mick Inkpen
Postal Museum PAID The postal museum is all about the history of post and letter boxes. They have a ‘Sort it’ play area and also a mail rail ride which is a small train. There are so many different ways of using this visit as a prompt for learning within your setting, including writing letters, matching, sorting and capacity and role play of deliveries and being a postal worker.
Dear Zoo by Rod Campbell
Dear Mother Goose by Michael Rosen & Nick Sharratt
The day the crayons quit by Drew Daywalt & Oliver Jeffers
Postman Bear by Julia Donaldson & Axel Scheffler
Outside & Nature
Kew Gardens PAID The gardens are huge, it has a great children’s garden for all ages with water splash area (spare clothes!). They also have a Log Trail and Giant Badger Sett which we love climbing and balancing as well as the Giant’s table and chairs which is great for a picnic. Looking in the glasshouses at different plants, including bananas growing and finding out more about plants, habitats and life cycles.
Grow it! By Georgie Birkett
The Tiny Seed by Eric Carle
Ten Seeds by Ruth Brown
How does my fruit grow by Gerda Muller
London Wetland Centre PAID This is great place to find out more about birds and conservation, without them always flying away. The otter talk is not to be missed and the ‘Wild Walk’ including a bridge over a pond and balancing along different surfaces is great fun. They also have an adventure playground with splash area.
Hello Birds what do you say? Loes Botman
My first book of Garden Birds by Mike Unwin, Sarah Whittley & Rachel Lockwood
Bird builds a Nest by Martin Jenkins & Richard Jones
The Go-away bird by Julia Donaldson & Catherine Rayner
City Farms London has many city farms which are often free to enter or with a donation.
Let’s go to the farm by Caryl Hart & Lauren Tobia
Who’s Hiding on the Farm? By Axel Scheffler
I haven’t listed any National Trust or English Heritage sites separately as membership of these organisations come with a handbook listing all the places and features. Historic Royal Palaces is another membership worth exploring, especially The Magic Garden at Hampton Court Palace.
Other recommendations for just outside of London
RHS Wisley
Wakehurst
Brooklands Museum, entrance includes The London Bus Museum
Hever Castle playground and water maze
Bluebell Steam Railway, direct train from East Croydon to the Steam trains.
Godstone Farm, they also have the largest indoor soft play area in Surrey
Coolings Garden centre Nature Trail – this is a recommendation that I’ve not been too yet.
Please tag us on social media, X @LondonSouthEY & Instagram @londonsoutheysph to share the places you enjoy visiting with the children you work with or if you visit any of these suggestions, we would love to see your photos!