We awoke eager to get down to breakfast. Overnight my wife had picked up some more work for her contract so we decided I would take my dad and the kids to to the Imperial War Museum. I had been there previously and was really impressed.

Imperial War Museum

The kids insisted we take a bus so we could ride up top. Checking google maps it was going to take about the same amount of time as the tube and we could take a single bus line to get there.

The museum hadn’t quite opened when we arrived which gave the boys some time to look at the decommissioned guns and ammunition on display. Once it opened we began exploring the exhibits and displays. There were a lot of multimedia displays and movies that held the kids’ interests.

One of the areas that made an impression on be was a corner that modeled the experience in bunkers during WWI, minus the live ammunition and gas of course. It was immersive and enlightening as to what life would have been like with sound effects and lighting that really drew you in.

There were many planes and vehicles from various time periods. Seeing a V1 missile and a Sherman tank were really interesting for someone who has followed WWII history. The inner teacher came out in my dad and he was fascinated by all the history surrounding him. The kids were engaged and interested for much longer than I expected as well.

We purposefully avoided the floor dedicated to the holocaust. We weren’t sure the kids were quite ready for that yet. It will have to wait for the next trip when they are older.

Back at the Hotel

The kids’ interest eventually waned and we took a bus back to the hotel. It was still a bit early for lunch so I took the kids to the pool for a few minutes while by dad rested in his room and my wife finished up her work.

After the pool we decided to split up for lunch a gain. I took my dad to get some authentic fish and chips at a nearby restaurant. It was busy so we decided to get takeaway to eat in our room while we waited for everyone else. The boys got Indian again with my wife. We were going to regroup before figuring out what to do for the rest of the afternoon.

The Globe Theater

We had several options for the afternoon, but my dad was particularly interested in the Globe Theater. My wife really wanted to go to the the Tate Modern art museum located next door so it all worked out. Tomatico decided he wanted to join us for the tour of the Globe Theater and learn about Shakespeare while our youngest wanted to go with my wife.

We took the tube to the stop near St Paul’s Cathedral. From there it was a 10 minute walk over a pedestrian bridge across the Thames. It was a beautiful day and we had great views of the river and skylines on both sides. We split up on the far side of the bridge with my wife and youngest heading to the Tate Modern museum while the rest of us headed the opposite direction to the Globe Theater right next door.

The Globe Theater is a authentic reproduction of the original theater where many of Shakespeare’s plays were originally performed. It’s attached to a museum of sorts highlighting the history of his works and the theater.

Admission also included a guided tour. There was a group of about 20 people, but Tomatico made sure he was always up front to get the best view and be the first to ask any questions. He loves guided tours!

The guide told us the history of the theater and described how it was built. The theater is an active theater and many different types of performances are held there, not just Shakespeare plays.

While we were there, there was a rehearsal going on. We had to be quiet while we watched from the stands for a few minutes. The shows are done in a very low-tech manner like they were performed originally. Minus the modern safety requirements like emergency lighting, it seemed quite authentic. There was no sound system or sophisticated lighting system. The actress in the scene we watched was being even hoisted into the air using ropes. Luckily female actresses can perform unlike in the original plays.

Tomatico loved every second of it. He loves food, but “show” is his second favorite four letter word!

Tate Modern Museum

After the tour I texted my wife to see how they were doing. They had found an interactive display in the museum that our youngest was really getting in to. Since it was next door we headed that way to find them.

The Tate Modern is one of my wife’s favorite museums. She loves modern art and there are several iconic and world famous pieces to see there. We found them at an interactive exhibit where you could make your own art on the computer and it would display on the large projection screens. Tomatico took his turn as well.

Dinner

The museum was closing for a private event so we headed back across the river to find a place to eat. My dad had a craving for chicken parmesan so we looked for an Italian place on google maps. We found one that was located in a nearby mall and decided to go there for dinner.

While they didn’t end up having what my dad was craving, he got some excellent lasagne instead. We all left feeling pretty full and headed back to the hotel on the tube.

Back at the hotel stop we all decided to get dessert at the gelato shops which was becoming our regular stop. My dad really enjoyed the flavor he had gotten the first night.

After eating we saw a Ferarri park on the street just outside the shop. To our horror, my dad thought it would be neat to go stand next to it so we could get a picture of him “pretending” it was his. Luckily the owner was out of sight by this time and no alarms went off. It just goes to prove that parents are never to old to embarrass their children. It’s a lesson I’ll remember for my own kids!

We quickly took the picture and headed back to the hotel for the night. Only two more fully days left before we’d be heading home. We had so much left to do!