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Vikings at British Museum!

April 16, 2014 //  by Uju//  2 Comments

Vikings sword

Swords, horns, amulets! Vikings are like the rock stars of ancient Europe and the brand new Vikings exhibition at British Museum is certainly pulling the crowds.

Vikings British Museum

We took our mini warriors along to the family press viewing last week and the babes were instantly drawn to the ornate axes, blades, helmets and shields on display.

This is a brilliant exhibition for kids with active imaginations, as practically every aspect of Viking history and their relics are what Ezra (rightfully, for once) describes as ‘epic’.

Vikings exhibition shop

We were fascinated to see the virtual map of Vikings on their travels – I didn’t know they settled in areas like Russia, the Middle East, even reaching parts of North Africa.

Vikings exhibition

And the boys loved getting a feel of some of the tactile showcases.

Vikings exhibition kids

One of the main attractions is the Vale of York hoard, shown for the first time since it was discovered by metal detectors near Harrogate in 2007. It’s an incredible stash — 617 coins, 6 arm rings and a quantity of bullion and hack-silver — gathered (or plundered) from across four continents.

But the real star of the show is a 37-metre-long Viking warship that had never been seen before in the UK. The surviving timbres, around 20% of the original ship, have been reconstructed around a stainless steel casing to make for an impressive centrepiece (it looks better in person, I couldn’t capture it properly with my camera phone)!

Vikings exhibition warship

We sat in the shadow of the warship to hear a storyteller recount Nordic legends: about how the Vikings came to be and about when Thor lost his hammer.

Then we went upstairs for breakfast and craft activities in the Great Court restaurant, where there’s also a ‘Vikings Feast menu’ on offer (guinea fowl, spelt risotto, roast plums and more).

There is so much to explore at British Museum and of course we couldn’t leave without making a quick trip to Ancient Egypt.

British Museum mummy

The boys also wanted to see some Nigerian treasures in the Africa section but the place was getting crammed with tourists so I promised we’d come back soon.

Here are some of the Family Events at British Museum coming up in April and May.

Vikings: Life and Legend is on at British Museum until Jun 22, 2014

British Museum is at Great Russell St, WC1B 3DG (Holborn/Tottenham Court Rd/Russell Sq/Goodge St tube). 10am-5.30pm (daily); 10am-8.30pm (Fri); adult £16.50/ages 16-18 £14/child under 16 FREE

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Category: Best Of, What's OnTag: activities, central London, events, family, kids

About Uju

Uju Asika is a writer and blogger, a digital consultant and author of Bringing Up Race: How to Raise a Kind Child in a Prejudiced World, published in September 2020 by Yellow Kite (Hachette UK). Available in hardback, ebook and audiobook formats on Amazon, Waterstones and other good bookshops. Follow Uju @babesabouttown on Twitter/Facebook/Instagram.

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Comments

  1. MsXpat

    April 16, 2014 at 4:24 pm

    Hey I’d like to see this. Can’t see myself totally enjoying it with my little one though. I didn’t know that the British Museum had family events. Good to know for the summer especially :0)

  2. Uju

    April 16, 2014 at 5:34 pm

    Hey MsXpat yes perhaps one for when the younger one’s snoozing in the stroller ;-) They do have lots of family events and activities all year round though so definitely a good spot to check out x

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