The Clangers, Bagpuss & Co, V&A Museum of Childhood

Step back in time to the world of 70s animation with the V&A's Museum of Childhood's latest exhibition, The Clangers, Bagpuss & Co this Easter holidays.

This weird and wonderful nostalgia trip invites families of all ages to go behind the scenes to the making of some 70s classics, from The Clangers - tiny pink creatures who communicate only in whistles - to Bagpuss, the mournful threadbare cat.

These button-cute, original puppets are arranged in little scenes. Archive footage, sets, storyboards, photos, scripts and filming equipment, playfully recreate the film studio of Oliver Postgate and Peter Firmin, whose respective voices and artwork formed the company Smallfirm which created the programmes.

Visitors can admire Postgate’s stop-motion film camera and we were particularly impressed by the use of modern technology (iPads...) that allowed visitors to take a series of photographs of sketches and cutouts in different positions to make their own animated short film.

Although the entire exhibition only takes up a very small area and can be breezed through in thirty seconds should you wish, its a surprisingly engaging trip down memory lane for adults and a chance for little ones to discover the childhoods of their parents, or just explore the basics of cartoon making whilst enjoying brightly coloured toys and breath-taking, colourful original sketches.

Little-known bits of of trivia about the shows are available for hardcore fans. Younger kids exploring the 70s for the first time will get to learn why Bagpuss changed from orange to pink and what Major Clanger was really saying from the original shooting scripts. (We presume something profound.) There will even be the opportunity to learn to speak ‘Clanger’ yourself.

Just like the V&A Museum's of Childhood itself, this is a hugely endearing walk down memory lane.

Suitable for kids aged 4+