WHAT TO DO THIS WEEKEND IN LONDON

Exploration Station

London Transport Museum, Covent Garden, London WC2 (0171-379 6344) 10am- 6pm daily, adults pounds 4.95, children pounds 2.95

Kids get the chance to experiment with electricity, including making a bus bell, when this popular hands-on museum (below) launches "", a free workshop for seven-to-11-year-olds, from today, three times daily throughout this week.

Other attractions over the school break include "Whatever the Weather Trail" and, later in the week, kite and halloween workshops.

Puppet Show

The Crypt, The Guildhall, King St, London EC2 (0181-997 8236) 2pm today, free

Every year for more than 40 years the British Puppet and Model Theatre Guild has been putting on a free performance. This year it's Rumpelstiltskin by the Treasure Trove Puppet Theatre. Everyone is welcome and it's suitable for all ages.

... AND BEYOND

Weald and Downland Museum

Singleton, Chichester, West Sussex (01243 811348) today and tomorrow, 10.30am-4pm, adults pounds 5.20, children pounds 2.50, family pounds 14

Twenty pairs of heavy horses, 15 vintage tractors, a steam engine and a threshing machine will be put to work at this award-winning rural heritage museum (below) this weekend.

Let's Build a Monster! Stourhead House, Stourton, near Warminster (01985 843601)

today 2pm, booking essential, pounds 6 including tea

Children from the age of six can help make a multi-headed creature in the cellars of this stately home this afternoon. The number of heads depends on the number of children taking part as they will all get a head to take home. A "monster" tea will follow.

Oddities at Oxburgh

Oxburgh Hall, Oxborough, King's Lynn, Norfolk (01366 38258) tomorrow from 1pm, adults pounds 4.80, children pounds 1.90

Everything is a bit muddled at this 15th-century moated manor house this weekend where you will find dining tables in the garden and garden tools in the house. Children have to spot 24 items which are in the wrong place for a chance to win a prize.

Mask Making

Lullingstone Roman Villa, near Eynsford, Kent (01322 863467) today and tomorrow, from noon, adults pounds 3, children pounds 1.50, workshops free

Ancient crafts expert Anni Watson will be showing young visitors how to make clay masks and mosaics. "Roman soldier" Lucius Octavius Sagitta will describe life in the 1st century. Phone for details on other workshops. NS