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Unconventional Day Trips and Night Outs for Children: Exploring the Unusual in Museums and Beyond

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

The Natural History Museum in London has opened its Darwin Centre Explore tours to children, showcasing the massive 8.62m long giant squid, Archie, caught off the Falkland Islands. The museum has chosen to preserve the squid in its original, undisturbed state, allowing visitors to witness its impressive size and unique features. Meanwhile, other museums and attractions in the UK offer a range of unusual and educational experiences for children, from flying demonstrations by eagles and falcons to escape attempts by Allied servicemen during World War II.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Natural History Museum in London offers guided tours, including the Darwin Centre Explore tour, which features the massive giant squid Archie. Children must be aged over eight to participate, and the tour takes around 90 minutes.
  • The Imperial War Museum's Great Escapes exhibition allows children to try on disguises, forge identity passes, and crawl through an escape tunnel, providing an immersive and interactive experience.
  • The Imperial War Museum Duxford has introduced Action Afternoons in May and August, featuring historic aircraft demonstrations and military vehicle displays.
  • The British Museum and the Science Museum in London offer sleepovers for children, including the British Museum's themed nights and the Science Museum's Science Nights.
  • Other unusual day trip and night out options include Thorp Perrow Arboretum in Yorkshire, which offers flying demonstrations by bird of prey, and Cheshire Ice Cream Farm, where children can meet and greet llamas and pot-bellied pigs.

Statistics:

  • The giant squid Archie measures 8.62m in length.
  • The Darwin Centre Explore tour takes around 90 minutes to complete.
  • The Imperial War Museum's Great Escapes exhibition takes around an hour to visit.
  • The British Museum's themed nights have a limited capacity, with only four organised per year.
  • The Science Museum's Science Nights are available for groups of five to nine children aged 8-11, with at least one adult.
  • Admission to the Imperial War Museum Duxford's Action Afternoons is free for children under 16 and £13 for adults.
  • The cost of participating in the British Museum's sleepover is £27.50 for both adults and children, while the Science Museum's sleepover costs £30 for both children and adults.

Sources:

  • How, C. (No date available) "Squid's the Word," aboutbritain.com
  • [Thorp Perrow Arboretum] Information on website (No date available)
  • Cheshire Ice Cream Farm, Information on website (No date available)
  • British Museum website, (No date available)
  • Science Museum website, (No date available)
  • Imperial War Museum website, (No date available)

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