Christmas at the London Transport Museum with #LTMChristmas

Vehicle-loving tiny man means we already know (and love) the London Transport Museum. In fact, despite its entry fee, I think it's one of the best kids' museum in London. So much interactivity, space to run around, two soft play-style areas, great food and coffee, and lots to learn about the Tube, trams, buses and more of London town.

But I digress - because we're just back from a very different-to-usual trip. Why? Because the museum is all decked out for Christmas - and it's brilliant. Here's why now is an amazing time to visit, on top of all the usual exhibits: 

1) There are lots of daily activities for kids: both of my children (three and one) were captivated by the story and song time session, which run daily at 11:30 and 13:30. Children of all ages were having fun - the area is covered with toys, books, musical instruments and decorations and the story-tellers are great at capturing their attention. Plus where else is ever going to be as good a setting for The Wheels on the Bus as when you're surrounded by loads of historic buses?!

2) You can meet Santa in his festive forest grotto (beautifully decorated) without paying the usual extortionate fees. In fact, it's included in the museum ticket. And it was a low-key meeting which both my kids loved: the grotto area is open, and full of light, so not 'scary'; the Santa had an excellent 'ho ho ho' and he roams around the museum as well as perching in his grotto. My kids loved the badges they got as presents too.

3) There's a spacious (and very cool!) room dedicated to arts and crafts, which is brilliant for when the kids are tired from exploring the exhibits. Mine loved sitting and colouring in winter bunting (although the sessions are listed as suitable for children 3-12, my 18m old had fun too colouring in); there are loads of resources, from ribbons to collage-making, and sessions run from 10:30-17:30 - all included in the ticket price.

4) The food. Most museum restaurants are ropey at best - captured market and all that. The London Transport Museum's is good. Really good! I had a delicious baked sweet potato stuffed with cheese and roasted veg; tiny man LOVED his train-shaped pasta, and the cakes were delicious too. 

  

* Thanks to the LT Museum for inviting us to visit; rest assured, though, that we're seriously gobby and only rave about things we really love. The museum costs £17.50 for an adult, kids go free, and the tickets last all year - plus its Covent Garden location makes it easy for Londoners to pop in loads of times throughout the 12 months.