Places We Loved, October 2024
London Street
By Ryoko, mom of one
The impressive Bangkok Big Ben stands outside London Street ready to welcome you in and set that London scene. Located near Wonder Woods Kids Cafe, London Street has a lovely free, well-maintained, and air conditioned playground. There are also toys available for children to play with. The most exciting thing for my kids is the London bus, which the kids can climb on and pretend to drive. Hours of fun playing at being a bus driver! For older kids there are classic cars to admire, but not touch.
Inside London Street there are also loads of great child-friendly restaurants offering international cuisines, so once you can drag the kids off the bus, you're spoiled for dining choices. I went for a delicious Italian meal. Finally, there was just time to pop into Lotus’s to grab the last few ingredients for dinner.
So next time you're thinking what to do after BAMBI’s Wonderkids playgroup, feeling nostalgic for London, or just need a trip to Lotus’s, you should pop into London Street.
It's worth going!
Roller Dome
By Nick, dad of two
We lived in Romania before moving to Bangkok. One of the big winter treats was ice skating on the frozen lakes and outside ice rinks around the city. When we moved to Bangkok we wanted to continue to skate, but we had sold our ice skates and didn’t bring any warm clothes. After some looking around we found another option: Roller Dome. It’s perfect for that skating fix, but on wheels rather than ice.
Access to Roller Dome is from Emporium Mall. The equipment rental—roller skates, roller blades, skateboards, scooters—and cost of entry are relatively cheap. You can also bring your own wheels. Safety equipment is free to borrow, with elbow pads, knee pads, wrist guards and helmets available, but remember to bring a pair of long socks if you are renting skates. It’s fun for kids of all ages so there is really no excuse for parents not to get on the track and join in the fun.
There are lessons to be had, with instructors available for both rollerblading and skateboarding. Both my children (ages 9 and 7) have done lessons and enjoyed them. Even though some of the instructors speak very little English, the lessons were fun and effective.
The only downside to Rollerdome is its position at the top of the building. With only a thin roof above, it can get very hot. It’s best on a day with a little wind or cloud cover. Going earlier in the morning also helps, as it is cooler and quieter.
So get your skates on!
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