Tipped

Museum or Playground?

January 31, 2008

Okay, so no one warned me that the London Transport Museum was in actuality a playground for hordes of screaming kiddies. Maybe I should have predicted this, what with the train and bus theme. Take it from me: don't go on a weekend unless you don't mind tantrums and kids darting through your legs as you try to read about the history of the Metropolitan Line and the Thames Tunnel. The museum knows where their bread is buttered and caters to the kids: almost all exhibits can be climbed on, most include supposedly whimsical but actually creepy fake people, and inside the museum there isn't as much as a biscuit to be purchased (you have to exit the museum area to get food), but there are picnic tables on the main floor packed with people who brought food for their kids.

Despite this, I did enjoy the exhibits, and they do a decent job blending the kid-friendly silliness with some real historical information that can be quite interesting. They also get high marks for including fake horse dung in their carriage exhibits. The art from the Underground posters is remarkable - some you can buy as posters in the store, and everything in their archive, including posters and photographs, can be purchased on their website as photographic reproductions (well worth a look).

The museum layout could have been better thought out, food for adults would be nice, and some bits like the wonky red neon entry hall and the time machine lift are highly questionable, but there is still much to recommend. Even if you are a parent yourself, go on a weekday, go early, avoid the pandemonium of weekends. Unfortunately admission isn't free, but if you like transportation history the price is worth it.

Tags: trains, buses, museum, kids

In time it will be great

December 04, 2007

The London Transport Museum has just reopened after a two year hiatus, during which it has undergone a £22million renovation. It stands to become an impressive place for a visit in the centre of Covent Garden.

My partner-in-crime this time was a new TfL employee on a busman's holiday, eager for (more) knowledge, we were not disappointed.

The collections cover every aspect of public transport in London from the 1800s, from horses and rivers through underground steam trains (!) to today's electric underground trains. There's loads of interesting stuff to look at, plenty of full size vehicles to climb around in and a whole lot to learn. The amount of text to read around exhibits is spot on, though the signing and directions are at best confusing.

At the moment it is of course hugely popular given the publicity of the re-opening, especially with the parents-and-kids-and-pushchairs. There are a fair few teething problems with the interactive parts of the collections which are sure to be ironed out. It's well worth a visit, though perhaps leave it until the buzz has died a little to get the most out of it.

Tags: museum