Top five Summer activities in Crystal Palace
Schools are out for Summer and the holidays are in full swing which means trying to find plenty of things to do over the coming weeks. With its iconic tower, rich history, parks and shops Crystal Palace offers the perfect destination for activities for all the family. We have hunted around to find our top five Summer activities for you to enjoy over the holidays:
Go wild in the park
Don’t miss out on the fun, free events for kids held in Crystal Palace Park this Summer. On the 14th August, join ‘Bug Hunt and Build a Bug Hotel’ where kids can paint wooden flowers and bugs to decorate the bug hotel. They can even make their very own bug to take home. You can also travel back in time on the 21st August to a Jurassic world as dinosaur court plays host to a ‘Dinosaur Egg Hunt’. Recommended for children aged 4-8 years, the kids will be in for a roaring good time!
To book and for more info visit here
A trip to the Museum
Make history come alive with a trip to the nearby Horniman Museum in Forest Hill. Discover the fascinating world of dinosaurs, the richness of Brazilian culture or view the beautiful and intriguing exhibition from artist Jane Edden, that depicts a space between human and avian forms. If you love the Brazilian Exhibition, make sure you go to special event Labirinto on July 28th for an evening of contemporary Brazilian dance, music and film.
For more information visit here
Fun at the farm
A hidden gem situated in Crystal Palace Park is its farm. Pop along to meet Peppa Pig and pals, the adorable Shetland ponies and barnyard favourites such as the sheep and chickens. And if you’re feeling especially daring, why not brave the creepy-crawly reptile house? Open every day from 12pm-4pm (except Wednesdays), the farm is completely free and although it’s not very big it’s ideal if you want to explore the rest of the park and facilities on offer for a family packed day out.
Going for Gold
With the Rio Olympics about to start, feel inspired and let your sporty side out at the renowned Crystal Palace National Sports Centre. For the little ones there is everything from Toddlers World, Tennis Camp to Trampolining. If you’re looking for something a little different, sign them up to ‘A Better Holiday Play Scheme’ where your kids can test their skills on the football pitch, make new friends on the basketball court, or get creative with arts and crafts. For adults the Olympic site offers a great range of racquet sports, fitness classes or put your stamina to the test by swimming an Olympic distance in the 50-metre pool.
Find out more here
Save Dino Island Exhibition
If you’re local to Crystal Palace, you’ll know all about the beloved park dinosaurs. But what you may not know, is these prehistoric pals are in danger of crumbling into extinction all over again.
Working in partnership with the Friends of Crystal Palace Dinosaurs, artistic photographer Nik Strangelove has unveiled his first exhibition in a collection of photographs that celebrate the beauty of the dinosaurs, which have stood their ground since 1854. Nik gained access to Dino island in a bid to help raise awareness and boost the fundraising, with a percentage of his photo sales going to the dino fund. You can see the exhibition until the 31st July at Domali Café, 38 Westow Street, SE19 3AH.
You can also help Nik by donating to the dino fund here
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