Wow! What a Bank Holiday weekend, and I don’t mean that in a good way. My poor Baba had flu and the other half had food poisoning. It all got very messy and miserable (hence no blog). I think we could all do with a quiet weekend now and with the weather looking distinctly British I think we’ll stick to pottering around locally.

Design a Poster

I’m lucky that quite local to us is The William Morris Gallery. The last Saturday of each month is a family activity day. This weekend you can design a poster inspired by Frank Brangwyn. The event is free, no need to book, just drop in between 1pm-4pm with your little ones and enjoy designing and making a poster to take home with you.

Also this weekend Yinka Shonibare MBE is preparing his next exhibition for the gallery and you can get involved. No previous experience is necessary, just interest and commitment. Visit the gallery between 2pm-4pm to meet him and discuss his new exciting project. Maybe you can be part of an amazing new piece of artwork.

Queen Elizabeth’s Hunting Lodge, Chingford

Live like a Queen

Also local is Queen Elizabeth’s Hunting Lodge. This is a great little piece of history. Built almost 500 years ago the timber framed hunting lodge is in a great position on the edge of Epping Forest. Visitors can enjoy the views from the top of the lodge, dress in Tudor costumes and experience the sights and sounds of a Tudor kitchen.

Next to the Hunting Lodge is The View visitors centre. There is a really lovely shop with wooden toys, pretty stationery and local maps, an area for educational workshops and interactive displays showing the history and secrets of Epping Forest. At the moment there are two exhibitions running, Summer Art show, showing work from local artists, and British Archaeology.

If the weather is nice there are two marked out routes through an area of the forest both taking about an hour to complete. For refreshments there is Butlers Retreat, a great place for a coffee and a cake after a good walk.

I last visited in the Spring on an unseasonably warm day. There is plenty to do, rain or shine, with little ones or without.

Discover a Masterpiece

On Sunday get your bits and bobs down from the loft and head along to Walthamstow Town Hall where they will be filming an episode of Antiques Roadshow. Maybe you have an old family heirloom, a piece of memorabilia or maybe you could be in the background of a shot when someone hears their Monet is actually a fake or the teapot that they use as a plant pot is actually a priceless antique. The event is free but expect queues. There will be refreshments available on site so you can make a day of it.