Natural History Museum - Darwin Centre cocoon building
The Natural History Museum seems more popular than I ever remember it. We visited at about 3pm on Sunday and there was a queue from the door right down the ramp to the gates on Cromwell Road. Fortunately the queue was fast moving (no ticket desk after all) so it only took about 10 minutes to get to the entrance.
Just like the Science Museum next door, the Natural History Museum has been updating its layout. Old favourites like the blue whale are still gathering dust but they’ve added a massive concrete cocoon exhibit which features bugs on pins and real live scientists that you can verbally poke as you tour.
What I remember most about the museum from visting as a child, apart from the dinosaur in the main entrance, and the whale, is all the buttons that you could push. These exhibits still exist but of course seem tame by today’s standards. This new exhibit has a host of up to date interactive features, plus if you have ‘lively’ children with you, you’ll be glad of the unclutted outside space they can run around in afterwards.
Wandsworth council has a £5,000 eco fund to help environmental projects get started. I my idea to cover the entire roof space of our block of flats in solar cells would be a bit too pricey but if you’ve got a low-budget idea, take a look.
Slightly less busy than last year, and the route was improved, yesterdays London Skyride was a big success with us. Thomas (4) cycled the whole day, including the ride back to Battersea without any complaint.
Not many Boris bikes around, I’d have thought they’d be more. Mind you at £35 for 6 hours you wouldn’t get many takers.
I only realised at the very end of the day that the ‘sky’ in ‘skyride’ referred to the satellite TV broadcaster. What a dolt!
On a recent visit to Battersea Park Zoo, we decided we’d buy an annual family ticket. However we soon changed our minds when we discovered the annual zoo ticket price was £240.00 – around 10 times the family entrance fee. This prompted me to do a bit of research into what other similar places charged for annual entrance, and the results were quite amazing.
Two adults & their children or grandchildren under 18.
One-off admission price varies. Basildon Park picked as example.
Comparison of Annual Entry Fees for London Attractions
Not only was Battersea Park Zoo the highest I found, they were highest by a considerable margin. London Zoo was the only one that came close for an annual membership, but as their daily admission charge is about double that of Battersea Park Zoo, it still comes out as excellent value.
One of the venues in the table above said that their pricing was based on a number of factors including competition, a wish to attract local people who would benefit the most, balance the admission fees with the increase in income from secondary onsite sources and that research had shown that a typical member would visit 2 and a half times.
Many London attractions use their cafe, restuarants and shops to provide revenue. The National History Museum subsidies its activities to the tune of £2.7million. When the competition is fierce it’s a classic marketing technique.
Research has shown a correlation between admission price and visitor numbers so I would be interested to add this data to the venues in my table.
Battersea High Street transformed for the Big Lunch
Battersea High Street was transformed for this years ‘Big Lunch’ street party. We saw bouncy castles, wine tasting, local beer tasting, face painting, chalk drawings on the street, salsa dancing, and delicious barbeques and picnic lunches.
Every trader in Battersea High Street participated (with the exception of bookmakers William Hill) and the layout was double the length of last years.
It was inspiring to see all the hard work that had gone into it, and I expect to see many more street parties springing up next year.
When I’m boss I’m going to make my family obey me and tidy my room. I will make my class listen to me make a throne and take me to mcdonalds
When I'm Boss - page 2
to have every meal [,] let me have a birthday every satarday and get to stay up as long as I want to. get me the whole football kit and make dad go to sleep at 6 oc[lock].
The Northcote Road Festival took place on Sunday and looked to be very successful. There were a lot of people, but as the road was closed for the day it didn’t cause any problems. There was the usual street market, plus fairground rides, two stages for music and entertainment and lots of stalls for local businesses and charities.
The kids enjoyed the bouncy castle and Jeanette and I were checking out the Battersea face painters.
