There is more to Chelsea than Flowers and Pensioners! Think of Chelsea, think of Sloane Rangers, the fashionable Kings Road or even Stamford Bridge, yet a family can still have a fun day out in Chelsea, without breaking the bank.
We arrived at Sloane Square Station (District Line) and headed straight down Lower Sloane Street, turned right into Royal Hospital Road for the Royal Hospital, home to the army veterans, known as the Chelsea Pensioners. This beautiful building, founded in 1682 by Charles II and designed by Sir Christopher Wren became a fine example of ‘public’ building that was to inspire other architects around the world. Annually in May, the grounds become the home of the Chelsea Flower Show. Next to the Hospital is the National Army Museum – definitely worth a visit. We weren’t sure what to expect from our visit but all the age groups in our platoon (6 – 67!) enjoyed themselves. At the moment, the ground floor Exhibition Gallery houses ‘War Boy: The Michael Foreman Exhibition’. As soon as we walked in, my children realised who Michael Foreman is... his illustrations are in many of the books we have on our shelves, including some Roal Dahl novels too. This thoroughly entertaining exhibition, illustrated by Michael Foreman, starts with meeting one of the Norfolk locals in the Anderson shelter, who proceeds to tell us, playing the part of ‘evacuees’, what we’ll need to keep us safe. We then got a chance to meet a GI in the sweet shop, who was impressing all the kids with his supply of gags, sweets and even the possibility of a pair of stockings for the ladies! Although not large, this exhibition was great fun and also a chance for the children to ask questions and see World War II through the eyes of children. The Kids’ Zone, an interactive soft play area is also on this floor but numbers are restricted – so book a time slot upon arrival at the museum.
The other galleries chart the Army’s role in creating the state of Great Britain, starting with 1066 and we particularly liked the Changing the World gallery on level 1. Full of quirky little exhibits, such as Florence Nightingale’s lamp and the skeleton of Napoleon’s horse, you could easily wile away half an hour just looking at the vast model of the Battle of Waterloo and listening to the commentary.
Entrance to the National Army Museum is free and at weekends and holidays there are family events and hands on activities. Check out their web site to plan your visit and check with reception for times of any other activities. www.national-army-museum.ac.uk
Upon leaving the museum turn left past Tite Street, (home at one time or another to Bertrand Russell, James Whistler and Oscar Wilde) and continue along Royal Hospital Road to the Chelsea Physic Garden. The Royal Society of Apothecaries founded the garden in 1673 and in 1732 the garden sent the first cotton seeds to the American colonies and also houses Britain’s oldest olive tree. The garden is only open in summer. Check their website for details - www.chelseaphysicgarden.co.uk. The garden marks the beginning of Cheyne Walk, the home of artists and ‘bohemians’ since the nineteenth century. George Eliot, Henry James, Dante Gabriel Rossetti and more recently Mick Jagger and Keith Richards have all made this beautiful little street their home. From Cheyne Walk, turn left and walk across Albert Bridge. For those in your group who are still in ‘Army’ mode, make sure you observe the sign at the start of the bridge – ‘All troops must break step when marching over this bridge’! At the end of the bridge, you will be in Battersea (or South Chelsea, as some residents like to call it!) and then turn left through The Albert Gate into the pretty and tranquil Battersea Park. Walk away from the river, towards the Sun Gate and find the adventure playground and play area and let the children run off some energy. If it’s not too cold, a nice place for a picnic is the fountain lake in the middle of the park. Between mid March and mid November you can watch a spectacular hourly water display, but even in the winter, when the display is not on, it is a pretty place to sit and watch the world go by. Take time to appreciate the Buddhist Peace Pagoda, situated equidistant from Albert Bridge and Chelsea Bridge and visible from the river. A Buddhist monk, Gyoro Nagese first arrived in England from Japan in 1978 to assist in the construction of a peace pagoda in Milton Keynes and through a series of strange coincidences, moved to London in 1984 to assist in building the peace pagoda in Battersea Park.
‘It is a very spiritual place. It is peaceful, there is no confrontation. People don’t even need to pray, they just find peace here’ - Rev Gyoro Nagese
It’s no surprise, to early morning joggers and dog-walkers, to see the saffron-robed Buddhist monk, gently beating a drum as he does a daily perambulation at sunrise from his temple to the Peace Pagoda. More details of the peace pagoda and the unusual circumstances surrounding the construction can be found at www.batterseapark.org/html/pagoda.htmlIf you still have some energy left, the park also houses the small Battersea Park Children’s Zoo (Admission fee applies.), with monkeys, lemurs, otters, meerkats and mynah birds, as well as a play area and café. Check out their website for details of holiday events including visits from Father Christmas. www.batterseaparkzoo.co.uk
Finally, head across the river on Chelsea Bridge and head up Chelsea Bridge Road to Sloane Square Station to take the troops home for some tasty ‘rations’ after their manoeuvres around the capital!