The Cartoon Museum in London

Because we're lucky enough to live in London, we're blessed with so many places to visit. We like to think we’re pretty well travelled, but we had not visited The Cartoon Museum in Bloomsbury until just a few weeks ago.

The reason for our visit was a cartoon workshop which was being run for kids. This appealed to Robert, who signed up for a two-hour long workshop on jokes. As I was taking him anyway, I decided to spend some time looking around the museum itself. After all, it recently celebrated its 10^th anniversary, so I felt really rather late to this one...

The Cartoon Museum looks pretty unimpressive from the outside (it’s a small building situated in a quiet backstreet not far from Tottenham Court Road), but it has the most fantastic shop which you come to as you walk in. This is full of comic books, posters (all very good value) and the most wonderful array of greetings cards. I had to stop myself from buying more and more as so many of them made me laugh out loud.

However, I soon realised that I couldn’t spend two hours in a shop, so I paid £7 to enter the actual museum (under 18s are free).

It’s a small space, with a downstairs that’s often dedicated to an exhibition. You aren’t allowed to take specific pictures of cartoons, only general views, but suffice to say that there were some brilliant cartoons on show.

[caption id="attachment_2429" align="alignnone" width="1200"] View of the Honeysett exhibition from the Mel Calman gallery[/caption]

When I visited, earlier this month, the exhibition was of cartoons by Martin Honeysett, whose work often featured in Private Eye and The Oldie, and they were fantastic – clever and funny. It wasn’t very busy, which is a shame, but I don’t think this is a place you would come up on by chance.

I also looked in at the Mel Calman gallery which contained a potted history of cartoons through the ages, from political satire onwards, and dating back hundreds of years. There are many original cartoons and caricatures (lots of them brilliant) and including some by George Du Maurier and John Tenniel. William Heath Robinson is there too, of course, as are some very recognisable names – Steve Bell, Gerald Scarfe and Ronald Searle.

It was lovely to walk around and I did learn something, but also didn’t take too long and I think it could have been a bit more interactive or innovative, as it was basically lots of words on a billboard and then the cartoons on the wall (though they were great). I wonder if there could have been something cleverer done with the presentation, or more contributions/thoughts from the cartoonists themselves.

I don’t think this would really entertain children, although the huge pile of comics on a table just outside this gallery certainly would (Robert didn’t want to leave after his workshop, as he just wanted to stay and read old copies of The Beano).

[caption id="attachment_2430" align="alignnone" width="1200"] View of the upstairs gallery[/caption]

I then went upstairs (past a huge cutout of Rupert Bear!) where there was a display containing a real mixture of cartoons, comics and graphic writing. I enjoyed going round here, but actually would have liked to have seen more. For example, there was one framed picture from the comic Bunty, which I really liked many, many years ago. It would have been great if there had been the space to have a while section on comics like these, but the space isn’t huge and there is so much to fit in – including original artwork showing Dennis the Menace, Minnie the Minx and Dan Dare. There are also some American interlopers, with cartoons from Garry Trudeau and Charles Schulz, and a space for children (and maybe adults!) to draw, as well as more contemporary comics to read.

[caption id="attachment_2431" align="alignnone" width="1200"] Robert shows off his cartoons[/caption]

And what of Robert’s workshop? He enjoyed it but didn’t love it – I think he wanted to do more jokes and drawings of his own, rather than be led by the instructors. But it was certainly something different to do in the holidays and it was most enjoyable to discover yet another asset to London.

Robert’s workshop cost £10. There are more workshops on in May half-term, so take a look. You are welcome to leave your child while they are there, so you could have two hours to go for a coffee/shopping etc!

I thought £7 was a little steep for adults as my visit didn't take very long, but I understand that the Museum needs to make money and appreciate that children are free. But it was a fun place to visit, good to get away from the hustle and bustle of London for a couple of hours. And I did laugh a lot!

The Museum runs regular exhibitions and talks, for adults as well as kids.

More days out in London

Robert's top pick of the Capital's museums

Shrek's Adventure, London

 

Taking a Tour Up Big Ben!

Robert, aged 10 says: Last week I had one of the best experiences that I’ve ever had in London and, if you’ve read the name of this post, you’ll know that it was having a tour of Big Ben. We were in the iconic clock tower for around an hour and the 60 minute tour included walking up 334 steps, watching all the machinery move in order to ring the bells, plus standing less that a metre away from the Big Ben when it rang for ten o’clock.

[caption id="attachment_2410" align="alignnone" width="900"] Standing in front of Big Ben[/caption]

Jess, aged 14, writes: We walked into the building at around quarter to nine, and had to go through security before we could get inside. This was an experience in itself, as I felt strangely important! Soon, a man named Tim gathered the group together, gave us lanyards, and outlined what was going to happen in the tour. The tour was comprised of around six groups, and there were about fifteen of us altogether. We would walk up the Elizabeth Tower to the Belfry (stopping to catch our breath on the way), learn how the clock works, and eventually see Big Ben being rung at 10am.

We were escorted to the base of the tower, and began by walking up around 100 steps. The spiral staircase was relatively steep, but the journey only took a few minutes, so we sat down to regain our energy in the first room, while Tim told us the history of the tower. Every single room in the tower is "U" shaped, as there are three large weights running through a shaft in the centre of the tower. These weights control the clock and the bells, and it was pretty cool to know that these were right behind us!

We learnt that Big Ben was built after a fire in the Palace of Westminster in 1834, and a competition was held to find the best design for the new building. Architect Charles Barry's entry (which included a prominent clock tower) won, leading onto a competition to find a design for a really accurate clock. The best clocks in those times were accurate to one minute, and the architects wanted it to be accurate to one second, which caused a lot of problems. The stories Tim told us were fascinating, and there were many more than the ones I've written here...

[caption id="attachment_2411" align="alignnone" width="1175"] The faces of the clock were so big when we were up close to them.[/caption]

Robert says: After another, shorter journey up the spiral staircase we opened a second door and what we saw when we walked inside was breathtaking. We were looking directly at one of the giant white clock faces near to the top of the tower. The whole circle was nearly three times my height and as it was a sunny day, we could clearly see the minute hand moving slowly every two seconds. We looked at all four clock faces but you can’t see through them and we were also told about the giant light bulbs suspended on all of the walls to light the clock faces up in the night time. Some parts of the clock face were an orange colour as they were quite new and in each clock face there was one part that could open and you could see outside.

Jess writes: Next, we made our way up to the machinery room. For someone interested in robotics and mechanics, I was utterly enthralled - the giant gears were arranged in a complex way and I really wanted to find out how they worked. Luckily, Tim was there to explain. We were shown the pendulum, which swings every two seconds to affect the minute hand on the clock. We were all amazed by the stack of coins above the pendulum, which help to regulate the speed at which it is swinging. Adding or removing one coin will change the speed of the hand by 0.4 seconds in a day.

Soon, it was quarter to ten, so we got to be inside the room while the bells were going off. This was a brilliant sight, and we loved hearing the weights drop and seeing parts of the machinery spinning right in front of us!

Robert says: For the final part of the tour we walked up the last few steps and entered the belfry. The wind was blowing in our faces, we could see a beautiful view of the London skyline, and right in the middle of the room was a massive bell, Big Ben itself. It was surrounded by four smaller bells which are needed as Big Ben only rings every hour. We were told that the bell we were looking at was actually the second Big Ben. The government wanted the bell to be exactly 14 stone and make a E natural note when rung. Unfortunately, when the first bell was created, it weighed the right amount but made the wrong note. The size of the hammer hitting the bell affects the sound, so to make an E natural they kept on increasing the hammer. Eventually the hammer was so big that it cracked the bell in half so they had to make a new one.

[caption id="attachment_2415" align="alignnone" width="900"] Big Ben seen from across Parliament Square[/caption]

The second Big Ben was paraded through the streets of London by horses to get to the tower where it was then hauled up by six men, which took over 35 hours. When hit, the new Big Ben made an E natural note, but just three months after it started being used it got a crack. Luckily, the crack didn't go all the way around so they put a hole on either side to stop the crack spreading. This meant that the bell still didn't make the right sound.

After the explanation we put on our ear plugs and waited for ten o’clock. What we heard next was the amazing but also the loudest thing I've ever heard. After the four smaller bells rung we saw the big black hammer hit Big Ben and we heard the noise which thousands of other people heard, a massive ringing sound just we heard it a hundred times louder. After the bell was hit ten times everything was vibrating, we took one last look at the scene that surrounded us then started the tiresome journey back down.

Jess writes: Soon, our tour was over. We had all had such a fantastic time, and it was such an intriguing and unique opportunity to learn all about the Big Ben. Not only had I really enjoyed the tour, I also felt as though I had been a part of something really special. I definitely recommend going on a tour of this building.

We all loved our tour of Big Ben and would highly recommend it. It is only available for UK residents, and you need to apply via your local MP (we just emailed). There are tours three times a day, at 9am, 11am and 2pm and it really is a fantastic experience, especially being inside the tower and seeing the back side of the clock, and then hearing bells ring from inside the belfry. Tours are free, but you have to be over 11 (Robert is very nearly 11 and we told them this in advance!)  and be able to walk up and down the 334 steps. However, you need to hurry as Big Ben is being closed for three to four years at the end of this year for renovations!

More on us walking up famous buildings:

The Monument to the Fire of London (by Robert)

The Eiffel Tower – with our tips for visiting with kids

Visiting Falkirk Wheel and Helix Park in Scotland

Jess, aged 14, writes: As someone who is interested in technology and engineering, I was very excited to visit Falkirk with my Grandma, her friend, and my uncle. Falkirk is a town in the Central Lowlands of Scotland and is just over 20 miles north-east of Glasgow, making it perfect for a day trip. We had two things we wanted to do in the day: visit the Kelpies (the world's largest equine sculptures) and the Falkirk Wheel, the world's only rotating boat lift. For someone interested in mechanics, the day was a treat - both attractions were incredible, and there was lots to do nearby.

[caption id="attachment_2388" align="alignnone" width="1200"] The wheel is a real marvel of engineering[/caption]

The first place we visited on our trip was the Falkirk Wheel. This is a giant boat lift that connects the Forth and Clyde Canal with the Union Canal in the most spectacular way - the wheel's gondolas rotate, lifting boats 35 metres up in the air. I was amazed by how quiet the machine was, and how simple it seemed (obviously, this is not the case: the wheel cost £84.5m, and took years to finish).

[caption id="attachment_2387" align="alignnone" width="1200"] We took a boat trip up the wheel and through the canals[/caption]

It was all good and well to admire the wheel, but I wanted to try it out for myself. My uncle and I took a fifty minute boat trip from the Visitor Centre, up the Wheel, and onto the Union Canal, which was a really cool experience. The boat was spacious, had large windows, and had a very nice man who was telling us about the wheel. It was amazing for the boat to be slowly lifted into the air, and the views underneath us were gorgeous. I found it fascinating to see such a marvel of engineering in action.

[caption id="attachment_2389" align="alignnone" width="1200"] The trip was really interesting, and I learnt a lot[/caption]

Next, we were shown a video about the history of the two canals we had been travelling on. We went through a dark tunnel, but I hardly noticed as I was engrossed in learning about the Wheel. I was amazed that the Wheel carries over 600 tonnes of water at a time, and that it can hold up eight boats!

Even though it was fifty minutes long, the tour seemed to go really quickly. Soon, my uncle and I departed the boat, just in time for a quick picnic and a trip to the gift shop. There were loads of activities for the children and space to run around, and I liked running on some interactive gears to make them spin.

[caption id="attachment_2392" align="alignnone" width="1200"] I utterly loved going zorbing![/caption]

However, the highlight of our trip to the wheel had to be going zorbing on the lake. I stood inside a giant inflatable bubble, was pushed into the water, and had to try to stand up. Needless to say, most of the time I spent in the ball was on the floor, but I really enjoyed it and must have spent at least ten minutes in there.

[caption id="attachment_2393" align="alignnone" width="1200"] The Kelpies were absolutely massive and magnificent[/caption]

Next, it was time to visit the Kelpies in Helix Park. We drove for about five minutes, parked, and then walked for about ten minutes to get there, and I was astounded. The Kelpies are two gigantic horse-head sculptures, and are absolutely stunning. They were so big and beautiful, and I couldn't comprehend how they had been built! Later, I discovered that they are the largest art pieces in Scotland.

[caption id="attachment_2394" align="alignnone" width="1200"] The playground was gigantic, with lots to do[/caption]

We opted out of taking a guided tour around the Kelpies, and instead decided to have a walk around the park. It is absolutely massive, with lots to see and do. I spent ages on the kids' playground with climbing frames and slides (it's not so often I do this as I usually tower over all of the other children), enjoyed a walk through the vast expanses of grass, and bought a delicious (and well-priced) cake from the cafe. There was more we could have done too - there were lots of gorgeous cycling routes, pedalo boats, kayaks, canoes, and fountains to wade around in.

Overall, I had a really great day discovering Falkirk. Both the Wheel and the Kelpies were absolutely incredible, and there was a lot to do. The area was gorgeous, and it would be great for adults and kids alike. If you are in Glasgow or Edinburgh with time to spare, I definitely recommend visiting.

More by us:

Also in Scotland - Blair Drummond Safari Park

Top museums in London – for kids! (by Robert)

What to do in Norwich (by all of us!)