A surprising tourist visit: foundling museum

[bend_gules]

While my mum was here Robert and I wanted to find something of interest to her to see, that was new to us too, and we settled on the Foundling Hospital, which dates from the 18th century. I hadn't realised that the organisation still existed as a modern charity called Coram, dedicated to vulnerable children, nor did I know the details of its

Comments

[ingaborg]

As a child, Coram Fields was one of my favourite places to go. I remember it as a big tree-ish park with lots of playground stuff, including the lethal "London" or "umbrella roundabout thingy". I can't find a photo of the thing, but we loved it!

[edith_hedingham]

I think that one of the reasons that it took so long for the foundling hospital to happen in London, is a combination of the decline of the powers of the London Guilds and the very quick growth of London in the early 18th century.

There was for a long time a feeling that the guilds would look after the poor children and the old (even after the dissolution), but the extreme expansion of London beyond the City and Westminster meant in the 17th century that the power of the guilds diminished alot and the numbers of people rose considerably.

This is not to excuse London government and society for not helping sooner and frankly Coran's hospital was just a drop in the ocean but still something.

[larmer]

Would this be a good outing for a 6 year old? We are planning on doing two weeks in London in March 2013. Already our list is too long but it would be nice to do somethings off the usual path.

[bend_gules]

There's certainly stuff geared for kids at the Foundling museum - they can try on period uniforms, play a couple of related games. It's perhaps an hour's visit, not a half-day.

The park outside called Coram's fields is a children's park - no adult allowed without a responsible child.

The Museum of London is a good bet, for something that will engage L and you, closer to the half-day mark.

If you can, you'll want to avoid the Easter holiday, and the week before and after it. Kids here get a long Easter break (2 weeks) and you won't be able to move for families, in the kid-friendly attractions (castles, stately homes, gardens, museums).