h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

This is, as the obtuse title suggests a thread for discussing the main afternoon activity for the H2G2 Autum London meet....

The options I have considered so far are:

Child friendly activities:

Kew Gardens
http://www.rbgkew.org.uk/

London Wetland Centre
http://www.wwt.org.uk/visit/wetlandcentre/


Geffrye Museum
http://www.geffrye-museum.org.uk/

Horniman Museum
http://www.horniman.ac.uk/

Museum of Childhood
http://www.vam.ac.uk/moc/

The following could be considered child friendly:

Imperial War Museum
http://www.iwm.org.uk/

National Army Museum
http://www.national-army-museum.ac.uk/

Royal Air Force Museum, Hendon
http://www.rafmuseum.org.uk/

However if there are any other venues or events people would like to see, please ask as I'll be happy to look into other venues.

Hi Fiddler,

I think that the Wetland s sound wonderful but I do not know if they are wheelchair friendly. In any case I wonder if it is open in Oxtober.

How about the Oceanarium which is near the Big wheel? I have not been there, but I love the sea and watching fish!!.

thank you for arranging this. anything I can do - very little I am afraid, I would be only too happy to do.

Would there be any concerts on in the Festival Hall? I wonder

Good luck

Christiane AlsoRan1

The Wetlands is completely Wheelchair friendly, even to the extent that the two storey Peacock Tower has a lift and the hides are designed to allow wheelchair users to get close to the

There is no problem. Some of it is tarmaced, and some is gritted. The hide areas are definitely Tarmaced.

Hope that helps!!!

Hi Mad Fiddler,

Well that gets my vote! and then my son can come and push me. The Railway is very good if one warns them. And maybe the bus to the #WEtlands does take wheelchairs. Allthe new buses do.

It sounds great fun and I would suggest early October so that the nights to not overtkae us too soon. In fact we should probably meet in the morning!!

Thanks so much

Christiane AR1 >schooloffish>

As I missed Kew before I might be inclined to go as it wouldn't be too hot/cold , escpecally if its the style of structured this or straight to pub afternoon event we used to have and a good turn out. Would Kew mind being decended on by a (hopefully very)large group though?

Kew is three hundred acres small, so we might just squeeze in, and would be good for Autumn colours, while it is also the best time to visit the Wetlands Centre (but then I can do either anytime).

Both of which I may be able to get a small number in free.

Personally I'd prefer kew , might be nice to have a picnic there too.

We'll have to see what everyone else thinks

I

would love Kew as well - so there is no problem. If the weather is fine that is marvellous. I wonder if they rent out electric wheelchairs as they do at Wisley? that would be great. The picnic idea sou ds great. Also the Autumn colours.

Christiane AR1

I'd really like to be able to attend an 'afternoon event' rahter than the just sitting in the pub doobry... though it'l depend on weather we need some bods to get to the pub and 'secure' our place if not, either the wetlands or Q with a bite to eat sounds grand

If people don't want to go all the way to Kew, maybe because their trains come in that day and they are knackered then there are lots of birds and greenery at St James Park. Just as an alternative meeting area for those who won't arrive in time to get to Kew, perhaps.

Any foodies interested in Borough Market? http://www.boroughmarket.org.uk/aboutus.html
Its the home of Monmouth Coffee, where you can get get the best coffee I have ever tasted in this country, its like the coffee you get in France or Belgium. The buyer goes to individual plantations and buys direct. Also the Garlic Farm from the Isle of Wight is there and Utobeer, who do a very wide range of real ales, foreign beers etc, and New Forest Cider who sell mulled cider at the market to drink there and then.

Ooo might be a tadge interested in teh markte; is it a particular type of market or generalised all foods or specialised in E.G., Asian food or somethingn?

All types of food and drink, if you can click on the website then there is a list of the people who go.

that'l teach me to read posts properly I think the description of the coffee alone might be sufficent to temp me

Then again that website doesn't give you much beyond a list, so for more info there is Utobeer http://www.utobeer.co.uk/ - very very good!

The garlic farm http://www.thegarlicfarm.co.uk/ - I got some garlic in honey from there and now I don't know what to do with it!

Details about coffees from Monmouth Coffee http://www.monmouthcoffee.co.uk/ourcoffees.htm

Loads of cakes stalls, meat, veggies, chocs, olive oil stall, few cheese stalls, and loads more. I do think it could be a nice visit for the aftrenoon for foodies. Its very close to London Bridge station and I am happy to meet people there and show them where to go. Its also right by Southwark Cathedral, we all get food and eat it in the grounds. The cathedral is very interesting architecture-wise and has a good gift shop if you promised pressies for anyone. Then again, with the food and beer available in the market, any gifts should be sorted.

Their coffee is fantastic and really worth the journey. We came back from Belgium missing the coffee, and found this place and it really made up for it. You can buy the beans in three different roasts, whole or ground. Of course you can also try everything and get very wired as well!

My natural state is wired! cheese! I'll defaintely be considering this, though as I said earlier I think it'l depend on weather I need to go and set meself up in the pub ready so theres someone there when the others begin arriving

Well if doesn't work out for the meet, you can always visit the market another time. I maybe wrong but I thought you lived in or near London?

Yeh, I'm not relaly* that* far away; when the trains are working proeprly its a 48 or 50 minute trip from Cambridge wehre I am into Kings Cross Notice its open on the friday and Saturday, so might be a possibility of having a mini meet on the Friday for those there and doing the market beforehand; depends how many are down or about on the Friday and saturday afternoons