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A few weeks ago, I wrote about my favourite books about Paris to read while stuck at home. I lived in Paris for six years, so I have a pretty good idea of the books which realistically portray the city (and those that don’t but are enjoyable anyway).

I’m not, and nor have I ever been, a Londoner. So I’m not the person to ask about whether the books about London offer a realistic picture of their setting.

But I do read a lot, and I have read a decent handful of books set in London over the years. So, if you’re dreaming of a trip to London while stuck in lockdown (or indeed stuck in lockdown in London, dreaming of going outside), read on for a few of my favourites.

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Posted on May 6, 2020 by Annie Caley-Renn

London, THATMuse Musings

Before Your Trip, Fun at Home, THATMuse on Lockdown

In the last 15 years, the Percy Jackson series has become one of the most popular book and movie franchises of our time. Fans of the series will know that Percy’s adventures mirror many of the deeds of the Greek hero Perseus, the inspiration for his character. But how well do you know the real story of Perseus and his nemesis, Medusa? In this blog post, we’ll delve into the real mythological story of Perseus and Medusa. So, take a seat and get ready to learn about gods and demi-gods, love, drama, monsters and heroes!

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Posted on May 1, 2020 by Anna Verde

Art History 101, Art History for Kids

Ancient Greece, Greek Mythology, Greek Sculpture, Mythology, THATMuse on Lockdown

Have you been following our #PortraitParty series? If so, you’ll know that by way of just reading this, you may be the lucky recipient of a PDF that will rock your world. WHO doesn’t want the challenge of deciphering a da Vinci decoding exercise? Who doesn’t want to spot 10 (yes, ten!) differences between an original Botticelli and a mocked-up version? Art History Word Search? We got you covered!

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Posted on April 29, 2020 by Daisy de Plume

Art History for Kids

#portraitparty, Art at home, art history games, homeschool activities

With just a few days left before I go on furlough, I’ve been reflecting on all the exciting things I have worked on in the past 7 months at THATMuse. I know I’m not the only one in this situation. Numbers speak clearly: this is a terrible time for many people out there, and companies working in tourism, like ours, are currently on hold. While I’m sad to leave THATMuse for the next few weeks (or months, who knows?), I’m excited to get back to all the wonderful projects that I’ve been working on once museums open again and we can go back to our normal lives! While tidying up my work, I couldn’t help but think about how much THATMuse has taught me, and how much fun I’ve had working here.

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Posted on April 24, 2020 by Anna Verde

THATMuse Musings

THATMuse, THATMuse on Lockdown

Anyone who has studied Greek mythology will have come face-to-face with the centaurs at some point. If you’ve never heard of these half-human, half-horse creatures of Ancient Greek mythology, or would like to know more about them, read on…

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Posted on July 17, 2020 by Anna Verde

Art History 101, Art History for Kids, Uncategorized

Ancient Greece, Ancient Greek mythology, Mythology

The Natural History Museum seems beautiful and perfect from the outside. The museum is inarguably a force for good in the world, increasing our understanding of nature and how we can protect and preserve the living world.

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Posted on April 22, 2020 by Craig Methven

Natural History Museum

London Museums, natural history museum collection, Natural History Museum Dinosaurs and Extinct Beasts, natural history museum history

When we think of the Greek diet, we immediately think of tomatoes, aubergines and Moussaka. However, this dish actually didn’t appear until quite recently (relatively speaking, anyway!). What did the Ancient Greeks eat before then? Well, in short, their diet was very simple, varied and healthy. It was mostly composed of vegetables, oil, fish, grains and cereals, fruits, legumes… and of course, LOTS of wine.

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Posted on July 24, 2020 by Anna Verde

Art History 101, Art History for Kids

Ancient Greece, Ancient Greek society, Greek History

In Greek mythology, the Amazons were a tribe of strong lady warriors. In some versions of the myth, they lived in isolation, at the edge of the civilised world, and only communicated with men in order to reproduce. Proud to live in their own community, the Amazons didn’t allow men to enter their country, and would only meet them once a year to prevent their community from dying out. After giving birth, they only kept their female babies, leaving the boys with the neighbouring tribe.

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Posted on April 18, 2020 by Anna Verde

Art History 101, Art History for Kids

Ancient Greece, Greek Mythology, Mythology, THATMuse on Lockdown

This week the boys and I made a general mess, moving furniture about to convert our dining room into an avant-garde, everyone-wants-to-be-there ‘PP GALLERY’. As you know from my last blog post, this is the beginning of my homeschool art project with the kids. We’re going to PARTY with hip artists & snazzy characters from history (fictional and otherwise) whose portraits we’re sticking on the walls. The installation of this #PortraitParty will be laid out over several weeks, and involves a covert operation with which to surprise Daddy (Hernan), our guest of honor. Our secrets will be unveiled at the opening, or vernissage of the PP GALLERY (PP stands for Portrait Party, and of course has the unreasonably sophisticated reference to our refined toilet humor).

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Posted on April 15, 2020 by Daisy de Plume

Art History 101, Art History for Kids

#portraitparty, Fun at Home, homeschool activities, Parenting, THATMuse on Lockdown

Are you itching to explore but stuck at home? Maybe your trip to London has been cancelled, or you just need to get your brain out exploring beyond your own four walls? Let me lead you on a walking tour of London from the safety of your own home!

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Posted on April 11, 2020 by Craig Methven

London, THATMuse Musings

British Museum Collection, Fun at Home, London Museums, THATMuse on Lockdown

After a few weeks of self-isolation, I realized my edge on getting the kids into art history wasn’t cutting it with wonderful museum virtual tours. Even the naughtiness of Beyoncé & JayZ’s Louvre music video, ApeSh**t, had lost its luster for Storsh (aged 9) and Balthazar (aged 4). Moreover, art at home with Balthazar (making a police bus out of a cherry tomato carton (clad with criminals), or becoming a pressed flower card-making factory for Easter) wasn’t replacing the in-person drip of art history games that the boys are used to.

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Posted on April 8, 2020 by Daisy de Plume

Art History 101, Art History for Kids

#portraitparty, Fun at Home, homeschool activities, Parenting, THATMuse on Lockdown

Is the lockdown giving you the urge to travel? We may have to stay put for a while, but that shouldn’t stop up dreaming and planning our next trips. And there’s nothing wrong with enjoying whatever movies, TV shows and documentaries it takes to scratch that travel itch. Here’s our list of the best travel movies on Netflix to enjoy while you’re at home (and give those itchy feet some relief). We’ve even thrown in a few TV shows and documentaries for good measure.

Nine Books About London to Read in Lockdown

The Real Percy Jackson: The Story of Perseus and Medusa

Free Giveaway: Play with Art at Home

Looking Back on Seven Months at THATMuse

Half-Human Monsters: Centaurs in Greek Mythology

6 Stories of Scientific Subterfuge at the Natural History Museum

What Did the Ancient Greeks Eat?

Ancient Warriors: The Amazons in Greek Mythology

#PortraitParty Part 2: Setting Up the Homeschool Art Gallery

London in Lockdown: Exploring the Streets From Home

#PortraitParty Part 1: Introducing Daisy’s Homeschool Activity

The Best Travel Movies on Netflix to Soothe Those Itchy Feet

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