London day trip

[daffidazey]

We are taking the kids (7 & 4 yrs old) to London for the day. We are booked to go on the Eye. Any suggestions on what to do/see? We obviously want to fit in as much as possible. Not bothered about the museums etc as I don't think we will have time to go round them. Many thanks. daffi x

[Iamblue]

Try this link, daffi. It should give you instant access to a kids section of Time Out magazine. Have fun. http://info.timeout.com/pdf_supplement.php?s_i d=5&ss_id=5&jlnk=lsl0150

[daffidazey]

Thanks, Iamblue, but it takes me to a page where I have to order 13 copies of the magazine. We go on Sunday so don't think I will have time to get them x

[raysparx1]

Hi daffi, if you cross over the river after you have been on the eye, you should be able to get aboat trip along the thames, amazing going along the river or take them up to regents street and go into hamleys, they would love that, you can catch bus from near the westminster bridge, i know a number 12 goes that way, have great time, just make sure bus is going the right way, lol, in your case you need to be on Houses of parliament side. good luck, Ray

[sense4all]

Fancy anything on the free list

http://www.londonisfree.com/family/

http://www.londontown.com/tickets/SearchResult s;jsessionid=ajH_K1TVgt5a3CsYrL

You didn't say how you are getting there - if we go to London and are going to eat with wee ones we park in the car park at Denman Street trot around doing what we want come back and eat at the Rainforest Cafe ( you will need to book first ) then we get them to endorse our parking ticket and parking is greatly subsidised I cannot find a link to show you but I have rung them to establish that they still do it ... so here is their number.

http://www.londontown.com/LondonInformation/Ba rs_and_Clubs/The_Rainforest_Cafe/dc9b/

If you click on the A4 map you'll see how close it is.

Buy an Oyster card and take the kids on the bus up Regent
Street, travel around London on the tube. If you want to do a few things it might be worth buying a London Card

http://www.londonpass.com/

http://www.londontravelpass.com/prices.asp?gcl id=COaSxP393JICFRz41AodkEcq_A

[spudqueen]

Hamleys is a good idea, my kids still enjoyed it when we went to London in February and they are 16 and 13! They also enjoy having a wander round Covent Garden. There are interesting shops and market stalls and there's usually street entertainers about making it a really lively place. You can walk to Covent Garden from Hamleys by walking down Regent Street to Piccadilly Circus, through Leicester Square and Chinatown and into Covent Garden. I think it would make an interesting walk.

[daffidazey]

Thanks everyone x

[Buenchico]

Please don't rule out the museums. Just be selective in what you see. (All of the major national museums are free so you won't lose out if you only spend a short time in each one).

In particular, your youngsters will love the Pattern Pod at the Science Museum:
http://www.sciencemuseum.org.uk/visitmuseum/ga lleries/pattern_pod.aspx
Spend a short time exploring the highlights of the rest of the museum and then head to the Natural History Museum, which is just around the corner. Go straight to the far end of the Dinosaur's gallery, where you'll find the moving (and roaring) dinosaurs. Kids just love them.

(South Kensington tube station serves both museums).

If the weather's good, you could call in at the courtyard of Somerset House. Mum and Dad can enjoy a drink while the kids have fun dodging between jets of water that shoot up from the ground:
http://www.somersethouse.org.uk/whats_on/107.a sp

(Temple station is the nearest to Somerset House).

A lovely way to see the main sites is from the river. If you buy One Day Travelcards, you'll get a third off all scheduled riverboat services. I recommend the trip between Tower Pier (served by Tower Hill underground station) and Westminster Pier (served by Westminster station or you can just walk over the bridge from the Eye). It only takes about 40 minutes (so the kids won't have time to get bored) but you get to see lots of interesting places.
http://www.tfl.gov.uk/assets/downloads/river-t imetable-leisure.pdf

Chris

[chazza]

Do an open top bus tour! I was taken on one of these around London as I child and I loved it! Remember to wrap up warm though!

[daffidazey]

Thanks Chris!

We are planning on doing an open top bus tour, chazza.

We have been doing some research last night and we have just about sorted out where to go and what to do. First stop definitely has to be Hamleys! Then a wander through Covent garden and surrounding area, booked on the Eye at 2, so after some lunch will head across there. Then check into our hotel (we are going to stay overnight now)and go and explore a bit more, my daughter wants to see Trafalgar square so we will wander around that way for a bit before getting some dinner. Then it'll be about bedtime I think! Monday morning we are going to see Buckingham palace and the changing of the guard. Then a bus tour and then that should do us I think! Lol!
Thanks for all your help. daffi x

[Jenga]

I always think Trafalgar Square is fun. Well used to be! Until Ken Livingston banned feeding pigeons. It was funny to see them sitting on people's heads & arms. You can still see them but you will have to take your own food if you want to get some funny photos. Also go to St James Park. You can do London Eye, St.James Park, Buckingham Palace and Trafalgar Square all within walking distance of each other.

[mayankgates]

Check out this website it has information on how to travel London in 1 day.
http://www.easydestination.net/1london.html