Meet Santa at London Transport Museum

The London Transport Museum is one of our favorite museum in London. This is a heaven for children that love buses, trains and every means of transport. Located in Covent Garden, this museum a must-see especially for families. We have been coming since my children were little ones, you can read the full review of the museum with top tips for visit in this post.

Entrance to London Transport Museum

View from the top of London Transport Museum

This December you can visit the museum all sparkly and bright, with a beautiful special programme for Christmas season!

We have been told Santa will be visiting the London Transport Museum this year, so here we are to meet him! The only question to ask, is have you been naughty or nice?

The corner of the museum dedicated to festive activities

If it’s your first time in London with kids, you might be interested in reading First time in London with kids what to do.

WHAT TO SEE AT THE LONDON TRANSPORT MUSEUM

With the elevator from the present day you get to…

The visit begins: The second floor brings us into the nineteenth century

We started our visit from the top floor, which will take you back in time, and precisely in the nineteenth century. At the entrance to the museum you will be given a map on which children will have to collect stamps around the museum. A way to make them actively participating in the visit while being sure not to miss anything to see.

Collecting stamps on the museum map

The second floor of the museum brings you back among carriages and old trains. My children were very surprised to see horse-drawn carriages, in fact it must be strange for them to imagine that once people used to have these means of transport!

Interior of a vintage carriage

On the ground floor of the museum, various buses, trains, carts, tubes and taxis, from the 19th century to the present day. My children’s favourite activity was climbing in and out of the various means of transport.

There are buses of all sizes, old and modern, you can even pretend to drive turn on the lights. Or you can get in a vintage trams! Obviously on two levels!

A double decker tram

There is also a play area designed for children up to 7 that was great to keep kids entertained for a while.

FESTIVE SEASON AT THE LONDON TRANSPORT MUSEUM: MEET SANTA

We were getting around the museum, while my children shouted “Look mum! Father Christmas is there!”. So we went to meet him and my children were so happy to talk to him. We took a picture and they were given a nice badge as a gift.

The beautiful festive corner of the museum

We continued the visit, but then we met Santa again on the ground floor, in the special festive corner of the museum, a magical forest, with twinkling lights and trees. We took a second picture of course!

We didn’t wait for more than 5 minutes and I am happy we have a photo with Father Christmas, the three of us together! You probably know how can be crazy to book and meet Santa in London. I found this visit perfect, and special also for this.

FESTIVE SEASON AT THE LONDON TRANSPORT MUSEUM: ARTS AND CRAFT SESSIONS AND STORYTELLING

Some of the Christmas decorations that can be created in the Museum laboratory

Then we had our craft session: we created some Christmas decorations using London’s iconic roundel, bus, tree and jumper shapes with a variety of crafty and sparkly materials. We spent there a lot of time as my children were enthusiastic to be able to create buses as special bunting to take home. Just outside the craft area, we then enjoyed a nice storytime.

WHAT TO SEE AT THE LONDON TRANSPORT MUSEUM: VINTAGE CHRISTMAS THEMED POSTERS

When you visit the museum, you can’t notice the beautiful vintage London transport posters everywhere. During the festive season, you can cherish some fabulous vintage posters celebrating Christmas displayed:

The final stop of the visit was the shop of the museum: i really suggest to take a look as it is well stocked with  nice gift ideas. There are many transport themed toys, which can also be a great souvenir to take home.

On the second floor of the shop there is also the cafe. The prices are very cheap considering that we are in Covent Garden, also there is a children’s menu full of 3 different proposals.

The cafe on the second floor of the museum shop

If you are in London during Christmas season, you might be interested in 10 top things to do in London with kids during Christmas, and our review of Christmas at Kew Gardens.

ALL ABOARD | FESTIVE FAMILY ACTIVITIES AT LONDON TRANSPORT MUSEUM:

Dates: 1 December 2018 – 6 January 2019
Times: 11:00-15:00

Meet Santa | Dates: 1 to 23 December 11:00 to 15:00

Storytime and Singalong – for all ages, most suitable for children under 7
Dates: Everyday, 11:30 and 13:30 (for approximately 30 minutes)

Winter Bunting Making – for children aged 3 to 12 | Dates: Everyday, 10:30 to 17:30

A FAMILY FRIENDLY MUSEUM:

• The museum is easy accessible with lifts
• There is a cloakroom and a buggy parking area
• There are highchairs, baby changing facilities, a baby feeding room and a picnic area as well

IF YOU LIKED THIS POST, SHARE IT OR PIN IT FOR LATER

I was a guest of London Transport Museum, but as always, all views are my opinionated own.