[Travel] Day out in London with 6 and 2 year old

[South Stand Bonfire]

Considering it for tomorrow.

Anyone taken small children to London for the day in recent years?

Advice? Tips? Reasons not to do it? Reasons TO do it?

Was thinking we’d go Science Museum, maybe a bit of sightseeing - the 6 year old is very interested in going. Not got a HUUUGE budget.

Any advice gratefully welcomed.

Go early and definitely the Science museum. Eating out in London is expensive but if you don’t mind Weatherspoons, they are good value. Look for 2 for 1 deals and I think the tube is free for young children but best check that before you go. Do they still do kids travel for £1 offers on Southern?

 

[clapham_gull]

Watch out for the streets they are paved with gold up here.

 

[South Stand Bonfire]

If you don’t go tomorrow but are planning to go in the future, try and book up the Sky Gardens in the City. It’s free but you need to reserve a time slot which gets booked up well in advance. It does give great views looking South from the North side of the Thames and overlooks the Tower of London.

 

[tedebear]

Our son loved the transport museum in covent garden, driving undersground trains on the simulator was fab! But I just looked up the ticket cost, thats gone up a bit!!

 

[AmexRuislip]

I take my kids to London quite frequently. Although they are older than yours (12 and 14), we’ve been doing it since they were a similar age to yours now.

Many of the things they really enjoy about London, fortunately, are the things that are either free or relatively cheap. A picnic in St James’ park; ice cream in Trafalgar Square; strolling down the Mall, riding on a London bus or the tube; watching the street entertainers in Covent Garden. You can also go to the top of the Walkie Talkie building (1Fenchurch) FOC, to their Sky Garden but you do need to book tickets in advance but easily done.

We’ve never done Science Museum but we did the Natural History museum once and that was boring as f***. Just loads of dead stuff in glass cabinets from the days when the Victorians shot and stuffed anything that moved.

Hope you have a great day; I’m sure your kids will love it.

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If your children are into nature, etc.....
This is free.
We're going next week.

Considering it for tomorrow.

Anyone taken small children to London for the day in recent years?

Advice? Tips? Reasons not to do it? Reasons TO do it?

Was thinking we’d go Science Museum, maybe a bit of sightseeing - the 6 year old is very interested in going. Not got a HUUUGE budget.

Any advice gratefully welcomed.

Secret London • The Quirkiest Things To Do In London

Your ultimate guide to brilliant and unusual events in the city, plus hidden gems and cute places to visit, from restaurants and bars to arts and culture.

secretldn.com

Maybe worth taking a look at.

 

[clapham_gull]

Eating out in London is expensive

In the centre of course like any major city, but where I live I get charged the same or more in Brighton.

 

[el punal]

Why not visit the Royal Bank of Brighton, on the Fulham Road very close to Fulham Broadway tube station. Part of the tour involves seeing the special vault that contains millions of pounds. If you look closely you might spot a sign with the words ‘To Be Collected By Mr.A.G.Bloom’.

 

[zefarelly]

I've been to London, it's shithouse

NHM - Eastbourne . . .
zoo - Drucillas . . . . . .

Stop at MIddle farm on the way home, job done!

 

[mejonaNO12 aka riskit]

We went with our 6 and 3 year old last month for 2 days. Absolutely loved it. Did loads of walking but paid for the Uber boat from Tower of London to Parliament and back again later in the day as our only real transport apart from the day 1 tube to the museums. Was a lovely leisurely ride and the kids loved the commentary which was basically a quirky tour. Really good.

Did the museums. PLEASE book the tickets. I find it mad people don't and then join the HUGE queues whilst we walk straight to the front.

Find the statues of characters in Leicester Sq. China town was also great as they had all the Chinese new year stuff up.

Timing to see some activity outside buckingham palace is always worth it. See the guards along Whitehall. Bit of lion spotting at Trafalgar Sq.

Hamleys was also fun but you will obviously come out with something!

 

[BN9 BHA]

We’ve never done Science Museum but we did the Natural History museum once and that was boring as f***. Just loads of dead stuff in glass cabinets from the days when the Victorians shot and stuffed anything that moved.

Great review

 

[Stat Brother]

Probably not for now but worth remembering in the years to come, doing a walking tour.
T'was recommended to me when I asked a similar question back in the day.

It really is amazing the visible history that's 'just round the corner'.

 

[Barnet Seagull]

Honestly? Double decker bus, at the front, with snacks. Boat ride on the Thames. Covent Garden for street entertainment.

Museums are crazy busy and too much when they are that little IMO

 

[clapham_gull]

I've been to London, it's shithouse

This is very true. I've never understood why you country bumpkins venture into the centre to hawk your vegetables and cattle.

I've avoided it for years.

 

[Ooh it’s a corner]

Not at all - this is why I posted the thread. We’re not set on London tomorrow, have other decent options for a family day out.

You still haven’t explained why you’re denying them all a day out in Burnley!

 

[Wrong-Direction]

Terrible idea

 

[Blue&WhiteSea]

Honestly? Double decker bus, at the front, with snacks. Boat ride on the Thames. Covent Garden for street entertainment.

Museums are crazy busy and too much when they are that little IMO

This.

Try and see how many different forms of transport you can use kids love it:
Train, tube, bus, DLR, cable car, boat, taxi?

 

[Blue&WhiteSea]

This.

Try and see how many different forms of transport you can use kids love it:
Train, tube, bus, DLR, cable car, boat, taxi?

If using the bus, look here for ideas https://tfl.gov.uk/travel-informati...ence-london/bus-leisure-routes#on-this-page-4

 

[The Optimist]

This.

Try and see how many different forms of transport you can use kids love it:
Train, tube, bus, DLR, cable car, boat, taxi?

And top it off with a trip to the transport museum!

Edit: actually a surprisingly good place to take children.

 

[The Optimist]

Battersea Children’s Zoo is good. Cheaper than London Zoo (I assume) and has some really good play areas.

 

[Ⓩ-Ⓐ-Ⓜ-Ⓞ-Ⓡ-Ⓐ]

Have similar age kids and this place in Gabriel’s Wharf is great for lunch if the weathers good. It’s a Caribbean place and you’re basically sitting in a giant sand pit!

https://maps.app.goo.gl/PnnSfegciysktFri9?g_st=ic

Our two loved the interactive part of the science museum in the basement