Lambeth - What's on for the family - September 29th -30th 2012

Well, I hope you've all got the hats and gloves out of your cupboards because boy, is it getting a bit nippy! But me personally I love this time of year. It's a chance to swish my feet through a big pile of red, orange and brown fallen leaves.

So what can we do and where shall we go?

SATURDAY (29th September)

The current forecast for Saturday suggests the sun has still got his hat on and we will be seeing lots or rays of sunshine! So we can still do outside things! Hoorah!

Today sees a central Brixton event - something called Brixton Come Together (what a nice title). It will be held at St Matthews Church from 10am to 7pm. The facebook page and website mention activities for kids but what those are it doesn't say. I'm hoping for face paints and bouncy castle! For grown up, there will be music, poetry reading, cinema and discussion.If you are in the area, check it out! There is lots of transport into Central Brixton including the following buses: 2, 3, 196, 159, 118,  35,  37, 345, 45, 333, P4, 133 and 59.

It is also Lambeth Archives annual open day. Now I know it's not the first place I'd think of taking a child along to but it does say that there will be "fun children's activities" I can't imagine they are going to be able to squash a bouncy castle in Minet Library so I'm don't know what it'll be!

The archives and this event certainly is interesting for adults. For those with pushchairs, I'm sure you can manoeuvre your way around the stalls of Lambeth's different societies whilst the baby sleeps. There is not really any changing or eating facilities here but Myatt's Field Park, just a few minutes walk away, has a baby change in the toilet and a kiosk cafe (which does great cakes)!

The archives is located at the Minet Library, 52 Knatchbull Road, SE5 9QY. The event runs from 10am til 5pm. To get to the library, you'll want to catch one of the following buses along Brixton Road: 3, 59, 159  and 133.

And it seems we are having a special Lambeth themed Saturday as we have an event at the Oasis Adventure Playground in Stockwell, to celebrate 60 years of the Stockwell Bus Garage. A bus garage? I hear you say. Well, yes, this is a rather amazing and not so well known piece of architecture. At the time of building, it was the largest unsupported area under one roof in the whole of Europe!

 This event is part of the 'All aboard for Stockwell' project. It runs from 1 to 4pm and involves junk model making, sketching and fabric painting. The Oasis Adventure Playground is located at Larkhall Lane, Stockwell, SW8 2PD. Buses near by are the 2, 196, 88 or 155.

SUNDAY (30th September) 

The weather today isn't looking so good so lets look at what's indoors in South London. I would recommend hopping on a bus to the Horniman Museum which is located on the route of the P4.

This museum is a wonderful collection of objects from stuffed animals including the rather well known walrus (who has a twitter account) to puppets to masks to musical instruments; lots to keep big and little minds occupied. Most of the museum is free. They do have a paying aquarium which means lots of time playing spot the creature in the tank. The tickets cost £2.50 for adults and £1 for kids - sounds reasonable to me!

Alternatively, if you can bare the long bus ride, take a journey to South Kensington and the museums on the number 345. A chance to see how easy it is to get there by bus! This Sunday is the Big Draw, Big Make event at the Victoria and Albert Museum from 11am to 5pm. There will be talks, pop-up studios, famous children's illustrators to hand and lots of drawing sketching fun to be had.

 And just in case the sun is out, one more out of the area event is the Pearly Kings and Queen Harvest Festival located in Guildhall Yard. Someone has made a map early for you folks to get there! Catch the 133 to Moorgate and walk from there. The event starts at 1pm. There will be Morris dancers, a maypole dancing and a marching band. Try explaining pearly kings and queens to a small child -enjoy!

Whatever you do and where ever you head to, have a good one!