In praise of children’s galleries (and country houses)

Exploring Sudbury Hall.

Days out to a museum look a little different these days. Gone is the time when we could wheel a reasonably compliant baby around an exhibition and absorb the content. Today, Alfie is fascinated by, and wants to be into everything, so an ordinary exhibition is hard to concentrate on. Good children’s galleries in museums, though, are a new and hugely appreciated discovery.

Mudlarks at the Museum of London Docklands is a firm family favourite. For a small fee you can book a slot which means you know you’ll get a space. Alfie is always champing at the bit to get in, and loves the combination of soft play, wheelbarrows to fill and push around, model trains, buttons to press and, of course, water play. The 40-minute slot always goes much too quickly. While the different activities are linked to aspects of the museum’s stories, I can’t say this has much impact on us, but perhaps it will as he gets older. With a playground around the corner, step-free travel door-to-door from Croydon, and Market Halls around the corner for a relaxed parent lunch, it’s approaching a perfect day out!

I’ve been keen to diversify our options though, so was excited to see the announcement of the ArtPlay Pavilion opening at Dulwich Picture Gallery. While this doesn’t offer a step-free travel route for us, Dulwich is a similarly attractive day out with an excellent park and playground, nice cafes and shops as well as the Picture Gallery. The Pavilion also offers good value bookable slots of 40 minutes. It has an immediately cosy feel, with lots of soft colours and textures, and cushioned window seats for the grownups. The four spaces are themed to earth, sunlight, water and wind and inspired by the gallery’s collections. It’s very attractive and Alfie enjoyed the visit, although spent much of his time on the slide. I’ll be interested to see how it wears and how he enjoys repeat visits.

It is hugely enjoyable to watch Alfie explore these different spaces, and the subtle changes in what he does each time. However, they don’t offer that much stimulus to the parental brain beyond the chance to relax knowing he is in a safe space (which I don’t underestimate!). I was excited therefore to have the chance recently of a family visit to Sudbury Hall – the National Trust’s ‘Children’s Country House’ in Derbyshire. Advertised as ‘a place to have fun with history, for both the young and the young at heart’ this is a Trust property with a difference, designed for children.

For us it was the perfect balance. Like Mudlarks or ArtPlay, we could (mostly) relax knowing it was a safe space where we could let Alfie explore without injury to him or objects. There were spaces with lego, and build-your-own soft play, with dressing up, board games, and toys on wheels. The disco lights in the dining room were a huge sensory hit. But there were also aspects of each room that allowed the visiting adult quickly to absorb the history or enjoy the artwork or decorative scheme. In the kitchen we enjoyed exploring the larder together, and we all read books in the library. I also thought it was genius in the gardens to have small rakes to get the kids to help clear away fallen leaves! One disappointment was the mediocre outdoor playground, but the whole property is a playground here.

What appealed most about Sudbury Hall is that it will clearly repay many repeat visits, catering differently as Alfie grows and learns, but also offering different elements to speak to us adults. All hail the National Trust for this alternative approach to a family day out, which builds so well on all that they already offer with walks, cafes, facilities and play.