I will actually have time to return to Ciao soon :-)
I will actually have time to return to Ciao soon :-)
Member since:12.08.2006
Reviews:16
Members who trust:33
Me and my girlfriend took a trip on Wednesday to Syon Park (based in Brentford, Middlesex) and decided to pay a visit to the London Butterfly House which is on the grounds of Syon Park close to the car park.
It cost us £5.25 each to get in which I dont think is bad at all! and they give you a ticket which is valid for the whole day so you can come and go as many times as you like for the day.
I wasn't sure what to expect but was amazed upon entry, It seemed sort of like a bird avary, and looked like a little jungle. There were small bridges with little streams running beneath and had several little twist's and turns leading to different area's. As we walked in the butterfly were flying everywhere, hundred's maybe even thousands it truely looked like a mini rainforest.
The colours of the butterfly were vibrant and the species were plentiful - I don't know why, but I wasn't expecting them to be just flying around us.
There were sign's from entry and all around asking people not to touch them, but then as usual you will always see someone trying to grab for them. There were also rest stands for the butterfly to rest when they are dieing..your also asked not to touch them for good reasons.
The Butterfly House it very hot and stuffy inside, I guess it has to be for them to live in their proper climate.
A couple did land on me, as did on others but in certain places where there was big crowds of them, I did find it a bit daunting and it was also uncomfortable walking around making sure not to tread on any of them.
At the End of the butterfly "room" you enter into an Avery full of birds, All different Kinds and colours - again the avary was very well designed and carried on the look of the mini rainforest. I didn't stay in there for very long as I didn't like it too much though my girlfriend loved it.
Then the final door before the exit took us into a room that look like an aquarium, but was actually tanks of insect etc..... I remember seeing large Millepede's, Some small black Scorpions, Tarantula's and some bright green coloured Fruit Beetles, though there was more.
Then upon Exit there was the gift shop where as usual my girlfriend spends a load of money on silly things that will be tossed to one side when we get home.....though she did buy a glass butterfly windchime that was quite ok.
Then we see that the London Butterfly House is to be closed and crushed by 2007 when their lease runs out, to be replaced by an hotel.......disgusted.
The London Butterfly house is not something we have many of in the UK and they aint getting their lease renewed. I'm not an environmentalist or anything but after our visit and the experience I think it would be a shame to lose it to an hotel.
There was a pettiton on the counter to support their plea to stay open and we both signed it. So if anyone is planning a trip to Syon Park why not pop in to the butterfly house and sign their petition, you dont have to pay to get in if you just want to sign as its on the counter in the gift shop.
All in all The London Butterfly House was awesome and I highly reccomend it.....I moaned for 10 minutes about going in but actually really enjoyed it.
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I used to love butterflies but now find them as creepy/scary as I do most fluttery insect type things! There's no explanation for it - just a phobia that's got worse over the years! It's a shame as they really are such beautiful creatures! Mil x
Bollinger28 17.09.2006 20:38
Such a shame....London must have thousands of hotels, but I bet there's only one butterfly house. Lexy
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