The Big Egg Hunt (Part One)

You can probably remember, a couple of posts back, how I mentioned Faberge's Big Egg Hunt and how excited we all were at the prospect of traipsing around London looking for the elusive ova.  Well last Sunday was the day that our hunt was to begin.  We had printed out some of the twelve zone maps from the website, packed a picnic and ensured that we were all wearing comfortable footwear.  If I'm honest, despite the fact that the children had been begging to go on this egg hunt since before it had even begun, I was dubious as to how long their interest would hold out and was expecting the usual cries of 'Our feet hurt', and 'Can we stop now?' to begin after the first hour.  But I was to be pleasantly surprised.

We'd decided to opt for the Convent Garden zone first, thinking that we could combine a bit of egg hunting with some street entertainment.  Walking up from the Strand and entering the piazza, we were immediately confronted with our first egg.  I cannot describe the thrill of pure pleasure that seized us when we saw that decorated oval of loveliness.  The hunt had begun in earnest.  The children were almost hysterical as they darted around Convent Garden ticking off the eggs on the map and duly having their photograph taken.  

Once the Convent Garden zone was completed, we decided to walk down to St. James' Park for our picnic and for some further egg hunting.  The park is beautiful on a sunny Spring-like day and there really is nothing nicer than having a picnic whilst partaking in a bit of people watching and squirrel counting.  The park is itself a zone in the egg hunt, so we took a slow stroll around the area before visiting the small children's playground at the end nearest Buckingham Palace.  The playground has a nice assortment of see-saws, swings, slide and a landscaped sandpit and there is a small kiosk next door for drinks and snacks.  

Once we had rested our feet and filled our stomachs we resumed the hunt with gusto.  Green Park, Picadilly and finally Trafalgar Square were the zones we crossed through.  I had not expected the children to be quite so enthralled with the egg hunting and we were eventually forced to go 'off-map' as  I hadn't printed off enough to sate their eggy appetite.  The eggs themselves are really quite breathtaking; the designs are intricate, clever and often quite humorous, so there is always an element of novelty even when it's your thirtieth egg that day.  The hunt is also made more interesting by the assortment of locations the eggs are hidden in; shop windows, parks, suspended above walkways and marooned on islands in a lake, were some of the places we discovered eggs.  For the hardcore egg hunters there is the 'Wally egg'.  This is an egg decorated like the character from the popular children's book series 'Where's Wally?' who moves location on a daily basis and for whom you must check the Facebook page to get a clue as to his whereabouts.  What more could an egg hunter ask for?

The zones are much larger than I expected and the precise location of each egg is not identified on the map, although there is a street reference for each one.  As a result, there really is an element of difficulty in finding some of the eggs and you may want to consult the cheatsheet (available online) if your intrepid egg hunters are starting to feel disillusioned.  There is however a crossover element between the zones, meaning that you are always relatively close to an egg and don't have to wander for miles in between each one.

We started our hunt at 11am and we eventually called it a day at 5.30pm.  The children did not complain once about being bored or tired, despite the fact that we had been on the move almost constantly.  When the sun had almost disappeared behind the skyline and we finally called an end to the day's hunting, the children were on the verge of tears that there would be no more eggs to be found that day and as we half-dragged, half-carried our tired children back to the car they declared that it had been 'the best day of their lives.'  Even as we pulled away, they were still craning their necks out of the car window to see if they could spy one final egg.  What more recommendation do you need?


Zone maps and all other information regarding The Big Egg Hunt can be found at:
http://thebigegghunt.co.uk/

The Big Egg Hunt

OK, so technically this is not one of our Sunday-bound destinations, but it is something that me and the small people are hugely excited about (what self-control I exhibited there, I was dying to write eggcited). It is the Faberge Big Egg Hunt!  It begins on the 21st February and for forty day and forty nights, 200 fibreglass eggs will be hidden amongst the streets and attractions of the capital.  Many of them have been designed by famous artists,designers, architects and jewellers such as Vivienne Westwood and Zandra Rhodes and the proceeds all go to charity.

The 'hunt' lasts until 8th April, so plenty of time to obtain a map or alternatively download the app, and get eggbusting whilst seeing more of the wondrous city.  What better way to discover the sights of London, whilst putting your detective skills to the test?  And just think of the photo opportunities.  I am making it my mission to get a photograph in front of each of the 200 eggs.  Should you wish to rise to the challenge and embark on your own egg hunt eggsperience (snigger, snigger) feel free to send me your own photographs of your good selves posing in front of your discovered yolky treasures (keep it clean and keep it nice and if you can't manage that, then at least make it funny).


For more details check out:
http://www.thebigegghunt.co.uk/the-hunt/eggsplore-the-streets-of-london/

"When a man is tired of London, he is tired of life; for there is in London all that life can afford.” Samuel Johnson

I love London and it's a frequent destination for our weekly ventures.  I'm always surprised by how many people never consider the city as an option for their family day out, when it's right on our Essex doorstep.  Many people bemoan the cost of travel, the high entrance prices to attractions, the extortionate food prices as excuses against going, but these are the complaints of the amateur London visitor.  Obviously, the main tourist attractions are expensive but they're just the tip of the iceberg of what you can do in London, and even if you should opt for one of these time-honoured favourites you can usually procure some kind of discount voucher online, in a supermarket or indeed last minute at the train station (check the leaflets on display for current deals).

London has a wealth of things to do for a family that needn't cost a penny; museums, galleries,   parks, a stroll through Convent garden or along the South Bank are all completely inexpensive  and yet thoroughly absorbing for the whole family.  And, if you're a competent driver, then why not drive there on a Sunday, when parking restrictions on single yellow lines are lifted? As for food, you're in a city, take a picnic and enjoy some people watching on a park bench or along the Embankment or hunt down a fast food outlet or sandwich bar if you're more the 'fly by the seat of your pants' kind of visitors.  Whatever you choose to do, you're assured of a great day out in a part of the country that changes daily and which always, ALWAYS, has something going on.  We once took a stroll around Westminster and upon turning the corner into St. James' Park, was confronted with a parade of military regiments complete with banging drums and pipers.  That's not your average encounter on a Sunday stroll.

Recently, we discovered a book that I would like to recommend for all my fellow London loving families; London Unlocked (A Guide Book For Kids) by Emily Kerr and Joshua Perry.   It features 66,  yes that's right, 66 attractions and places of interest for the intrepid family to visit and explore.  Obviously there are the die-hard, typical tourist favourites such as the Tower of London and Madam Tussauds, but there are some real hidden gems in here as well; exploring the biggest rooftop gardens in Europe, nestling just above Kensington High Street; defending a castle at the National Army Museum or flying a kite on Primrose Hill.  I was genuinely impressed with the novelty of some of the suggestions, definitely suited for those of you who like to wander a little bit off of the usual tourist track.  The information about each attraction/activity is fairly brief and concise but it provides you with all the essential information you could need.  The guide is great for the sheer diversity and breadth of its suggestions and its layout is easy and accessible for children; my son has already read through it and highlighted all of the attractions he wants to visit in the forthcoming months.  For a measley £8.99  it's a book that is well worth its place on your book shelf and which I guarantee you'll be pulling down again and again.

I'll finish as I started, as Samuel Johnson seems to capture my feeling so well:

'By seeing London, I have seen as much of life as the world can show.'

So what are you waiting for?