Battersea - things to do 26th/27th Dec with young children

JimmyTheWig

Hi,

As part of her Christmas present, I'm taking my wife away for the night of Boxing day to Battersea. We have three small children (nearly 5, 2 and a half, nearly 1).
Any ideas what we can do there?

The kids will be getting bikes for Christmas (subject to Father Christmas, of course!) and so I'm hoping for dry weather so we can go to Battersea Park. But what else?
Can we go to the cats and dogs home as visitors? I can't really tell from their website. Is so, can we do this on these days, does anyone know?
The other place I noticed on the map was the Heliport. Is this somewhere we can go as visitors to see the helicopters? Or is it just for pilots, etc.

The other possibility is going in to Waterloo as we have Merlin passes for the London Eye. Any thoughts on traffic / parking on these days? I'm thinking it might be quite quiet and we could avoid paying out for the train.

Anyone know the area? Just knowing a good library for kids that's open would be good, for example.

gairlochgal

https://www.batterseaparkzoo.co.uk

is nice small friendly zoo - great for young kids

sparky61

The Zoo is closed on Christmas day and Boxing day, the park is worth a visit though

The Dogs home is closed Boxing day too

Mariss

Try to get an Oyster Card for you and your wife and take one of the buses to central London.

There are also buses which go directly towards Chelsea and Kensington, so you can go to three great musea: The Natural History Museum, The Science Museum or Victoria and Albert Museum. The first two are great for children. The Science museum has a hands-on area for kids, in their basement. Really nice! Check their websites for opening times and dates; think the 27th these musea might be open.

JimmyTheWig

Mariss wrote: »

Try to get an Oyster Card for you and your wife and take one of the buses to central London.

There are also buses which go directly towards Chelsea and Kensington, so you can go to three great musea: The Natural History Museum, The Science Museum or Victoria and Albert Museum. The first two are great for children. The Science museum has a hands-on area for kids, in their basement. Really nice! Check their websites for opening times and dates; think the 27th these musea might be open.

We actually live in Greater London, so already have Oyster cards. Musea (what a great word!) is a good idea, if the busses are ok. Last time we went into town we got the bus from Chessington to Waterloo and it was really painful. Took hours.
Something to bear in mind, though. Thanks.

JimmyTheWig

sparky61 wrote: »

The Zoo is closed on Christmas day and Boxing day, the park is worth a visit though

The Dogs home is closed Boxing day too

Do you know if the cats and dogs home is open on the 27th? Is it open to the public to have a look with no intention of housing any animals?

Savvy_Sue

Traffic will be mega quiet, unless you hit traffic heading to the Sales! However transport may be on a reduced service, if not officially then just because.

JimmyTheWig

Thanks all. Had a lovely time, but actually didn't do much. Went to the park, but both girls fell asleep in the car so my wife took our eldest on his bike.
Highlights were relaxing in hotel room and the Woolworths sale in Clapham.