It kind of fit, tunnel man and museumy woman's night out.
We've been before with our kids. Train spotting, bus spotting, collecting stamps as we went around, climbing on and off buses and trains, it's a kids dream and the museum is often very busy. It does cater brilliantly for kids.
We met in Covent Garden, the anorak was more train-spotting than London.
I couldn't help myself, I tweeted this photo.
I couldn't help myself, I tweeted this photo.
And was a little over excited to see my tweet on their Tweetwall.
So what would a night at the London Transport Museum have in store for us grown ups?
It had a bar, it was an over 18 event. We had Pimms.
It had a bar, it was an over 18 event. We had Pimms.
But more exciting than that, we got to play, be the kids, and notice things for ourselves. No earnest pointing things out to children.
We got to take #museumselfies (we're not very good at this yet),
...notice upholstery,
...and wooden floors. "Wood?"
"Actually look, the train is made of wood."
We noticed maps, the place where I grew up.
And got to chat to other people, who showed us their smart phones,
"that's were the line used to run".
Spotting the difference between then and now.
We saw that wood, for so many health and safety reasons, was replaced by metal,
...and steam replaced by
...by electricity.
More upholstery. This time I remember it.
We climbed on and off buses. "I don't remember them being quite so high. Perhaps I'm getting old." More evidence of yet a safer transport system, Routemasters didn't have doors,
...but they did have conductors and women in yellow trouser suits.
We saw an exhibition.
Then it was our turn for a bit of drawing. Inspired by the museum's amazing collection of transport posters, we got to make our own. Replacing the kids artwork, they're now on our fridge.
Building a tunnel. "Come on, you do this for a living."
Being a bus driver.
Just like every other family visiting a museum
(it is acknowledged in the museum literature!),
we went to the loo. And when it's quiet(er) you get to check out each cubicle.
Look what I found.
It wasn't fabric.
Don't wait until the next 'Museums at Night' in October to visit the London Transport Museum.
It's open every day. Not just for museum types and civil engineers.
Details on the London Transport Museum website here.
More about Museums at Night website here.
Old style train carriages with seats on one side of the train in compartments are the best
ReplyDeleteThat sounds like loads of fun. Brought back a few memories too. We had an old routemaster bus like that for our wedding.
ReplyDeleteI would love to visit this museum. I'm from New York and when I was very young there were still a few trains with really old cars still in use. I've seen some of them in a museum there too. Really fun to visit this museum with you, thanks!
ReplyDeleteHello Katharine, I recall reading about Enid Marx and the fabrics she designed for the London Underground. I wonder if any of the patterns you show from this exhibit are her work?
ReplyDelete--Jim
I love that museum. Second only to the Geffrye Museum of the smaller ones.
ReplyDeleteWe used to ride on trolleybuses and Routemasters frequently as we had no car.
how fantastic!
ReplyDeleteThis looks like a fab trip, and you both look so happy and enthusiastic! We had a very old, shabby, but much loved Transport Museum in Glasgow, where I spent many a rainy winter day when my two boys were toddlers, we all loved it. It has now been replaced by a very impressive new building down by the river Clyde, all clever exhibits and peculiar angles, which is great, and exciting, but I do rather miss the old place! X
ReplyDeleteHello, so nice to meet you. This is a great post and I have been enjoying your blog very much. My husband and I love to look around museums and we will have a week in London very soon. We will be heading for the gardens also. Thanks for stopping by and I look forward to returning.
ReplyDeleteGreat idea to have museums open at night, and just for the grown ups!! xx
ReplyDeleteWhat a great 'Night in a Museum' you had it looks like great fun withlots of happy memories. I love jumping on and off the different buses and trains and all the nostalgia that brings:)
ReplyDeleteLoved this. I've got a thing about LT seat fabric. Got a scarf in the Routemaster pattern.
ReplyDeleteLove that museum
ReplyDeleteLove this so much and I think i will go check out the Transport Museum when I treat myself to a day to myself London sight-seeing over the summer. My Grandad worked on the railways before the war started and then he returned to it afterwards, he was sadly killed on the railway so there is something especially nostalgic to me to see old trains. As a railway worker, he was entitled to free rail travel for himself and the family, so they went all over included all the way to Italy. Thanks for sharing your super pictures. Sam
ReplyDeleteSounds like a great trip, worth remembering for the next time I go to London.
ReplyDeleteWhat a nostalgia trip! And even I don't remember the first upholstery you picture. I come from a "railway family" with a train driver dad, so this would be really fun for me. Remember we have the National Railway Museum in York if you are ever up this way.
ReplyDeleteGreat date night! Anytime time alone with hubby, no matter where, can be a date. Thanks for taking us along!
ReplyDeletewww.queenbcreativeme.blogspot.com
I checked out local museums for an 'at night' event but there just weren't any convenient ones. I was a bit miffed!
ReplyDeleteWhat a fun idea, museum night out! Love the loos, and the yellow pantsuit. So much fun to compare the past and the present.
ReplyDeleteLove what they did with the loos!
ReplyDeleteWhat a fascinating place, unusual decor in the loos. Always a joy to see a Routemaster on the road in a preserved state for occasions. Thanks for the visit on my page.
ReplyDeleteWhat a fab night out. I've been wanting to visit this place for ages. I think it'll be one for me and G to do in years to come.
ReplyDeleteI really like the decoration in the loo!
Lisa x
What a fabulous post, thank you for sharing it. I remember the fabrics too :-)
ReplyDelete