Barnes summer play school

BSPS 8 to 12 years old

Big Top Adventures is an excursion-based school catering for 8 – 12 year olds. Every day the children are taken somewhere different in and around London. Public transport is used as well as the riverboats and a coach with an experienced driver is hired for longer journeys. Big Toppers will go all over London on

  • Museum trips
  • art galleries
  • pottery cafés
  • the National Portrait Gallery for a workshop
  • Regents Park Open Air Theatre
  • Imax 3D cinema
  • London Zoo
  • Hampton Court Palace
  • Madame Tussauds
  • Football Training with Fulham and to visit Chelsea’s ground.
  • Windsor Castle
  • Biking in Richmond Park.
  • London Eye
  • River trips
  • BBC behind the scenes

The adventures progress and develop each year, with huge emphasise on stimulating the children and educating them without losing their attention!
The maximum amount of children taken out each day is 12 and there are ALWAYS three members of staff to accompany them. The ratio of staff is 4: 1
Packed lunch is required. Children may only bring healthy food. Chocolates, sweets, crisps, cakes, fizzy drinks are not allowed to be consumed. The children and the staff all enjoy lunch together.

Bottled water, Organic fruit, vegetables and juice are provided throughout the day. Bottled water is given to the children on Big Top excursions.

schedule 2008

Schedule for Week One 19th July – 23rd July 2010

Monday 19th July
The Imperial War Museum is unique in its coverage of conflicts, especially those involving Britain and the Commonwealth, from the First World War to the present day. Great child centred learning areas.

Tuesday 20th July
Cookery Workshop - Cooking Spanish Tortilla and Biscuits to bring home (parents get to taste)

Wednesday 21st July
Changing the Guard at Buckingham Palace. Followed by a picnic lunch on the lawn in Green Park with some ball games –bring a camera!

Thursday 22nd July
TOY STORY 3 at the IMAX in 3D. Performance is at 12.00pm so we may be back a little later than usual.

Friday 23rd July
Football Fun! Full kit needed (the team you support is fine). Tough training session and then a match to win!

Schedule for Week Two 26th July – 30th July 2010

Monday 26th July
Hampton Court Palace. Take part in Henry VIII and Kathryn Parr’s wedding!

Tuesday 27th July
Coral Reef – Bracknell's Water World Snake River Flumes and Rapids!

Wednesday 28th July
Black Park, Bucks. A Film Walk in the morning and a Mini Beast workshop after a picnic lunch. This beautiful park offers hundreds of acres of woodland, lakes and rivers, and also is location to lots of famous films from James Bond to Harry Potter. Bring a camera! (please note – this trip is still not confirmed! Sorry)

Thursday 29th July
Toy Boats exhibition at the National Maritime Museum in Greenwich. Miniature ships, submarines, and battleships to see. In collaboration with the Musée national de la Marine, Paris. Quite a trip to get there! But great fun once you arrive!

Friday 30th July
Drama Workshop – Celebrating this years very successful musical ‘The Wizard of Oz’ Dancing, Singing, and Acting.

Schedule for Week Three 2nd August – 6th August 2010

Monday 02nd August
HMS Belfast and The Golden Hind – Visiting firstly London’s floating Naval Museum. (the ship was active during World War II. You can explore all 9 decks) then climb aboard The Golden Hind – a replica of Sir Francis Drake’s ship and explore.

Tuesday 03rd August
World of Golf at New Malden A 60-bay driving range with Power Tee Mats over a floodlit course, Jurassic Encounter Adventure Golf, putting green, and more…

Wednesday 04th August
Cookery Workshop Smoothies and Yvonne’s special Carrot Cake recipe (parents will get to try it!).

Thursday 05th August
Pools on the Park - Swimming and picnic around this lovely outdoor pool. Richmond

Friday 06th August
Drama Workshop – Celebrating this years very successful musical ‘The Wizard of Oz’ Dancing, Singing, and Acting

Schedule for Week Four 9th August – 13th August 2010

Monday 9th August
Sneak Peek The Olympic 2012 site. 2012 Games walking tour around the Olympic site. Bring a camera!

Tuesday 10th August
Tate to Tate River Service. Fast Catamaran. The Exterior was designed by Damien Hirst – Spotty Boat! The children will visit either Tate Britain, or Tate Modern (they will choose!) Picnic lunch on the river.

Wednesday 11th August
Beckonscot Model Village and Railway. It is the oldest original model village in the world! It portrays aspects of England dating from the 1930s. Everybody loves it here!

Thursday 12th August
Roald Dahl Museum and story centre in the village of Great Missenden. Our own Animation Workshop by Chris Tichbourne (is a co-creator of Postman Pat).

Friday 13th August
Peter Pan Adventure Playground. Everyone loves this imaginative play area. Nestled between the trees in Kensington Gardens, it's inspired by J M Barrie's novel, Peter Pan.

Schedule for Week Five 16th August – 20th August 2010

Monday 16th August
Sneak Peek The Olympic 2012 site. 2012 Games walking tour around the Olympic site. Bring a camera!

Tuesday 17th August
Serpentine Boating Lake – Pedalo and rowing boats. You must be a good swimmer for this. We stay on the river for at least an hour. Followed by picnic and games in Hyde Park.

Wednesday 18th August
Woburn Safari Park Come and see the big animals on the Road Safari, and enjoy the smaller animals that you can meet on the Foot Safari. Enjoy Swan Lake and the inside soft play jungle area. Bring a Camera!

Thursday 19th August
Kew Bridge Steam Museum. Interactive and the best fun! Built in the 19th Century to supply London with Water. The museum is one of the most important historic sites of the water supply industry in Britain! Marvel at the world's largest collection of steam pumping engines!

Friday 20th August
Sports Day in Richmond Park Games, Races, Egg and Spoon, bean bag races and Ice Creams if nobody gets eaten by the deer! Sports shoes a MUST.

Find out about our favourite magician Gilbert Giggles »

Gilbert Giggles
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