Monster hit

There's a chance for the younger members of the family to dress up and inspect themselves in a mirror cleverly labelled 'Little Monsters' and some of the not-so-young visitors had taken the opportunity to draw and colour in their own scary beasts - I liked the flying eye by Peter, aged 36!

The story competition runs until the end of the show and although you have to pay to get in, prices are very reasonable (£12 for a family of five). I imagine it's going to be pretty popular, so booking tickets (it can be done online) is advisable. Go to www.bmag.org to find out more.

You'll have to go back in to the main museum to sample the joys of the Edwardian Tea Room before or after your visit, although we dropped in at Café Uno just round the corner - and thanks to our server for sorting out our lapsed loyalty card. It was her last day and now she's off to practise business law. Historic day all round.

As a PS I feel I ought to flag up a show just opened at The Barber Institute, Mysterious Depths: Dreams, Mortality and the Subconscious. Not exactly child-friendly, but ties in nicely as a double-header. We couldn't be arsed to move the car in the teeming rain, but you could, on Wednesday (28th - Galleries Night), walk down to catch the Art Bus from outside the Ikon. Full details from http://www.barber.org.uk.

Pictures: Family snap of Cyclops and, bottom, the Burne-Jones take on Theseus and the Minotaur.