London on a budget

inkie · 26 March 2005 at 9:53AM

We are a family of 4 (2 ad & 8yrs & 5 yrs) having a few days in London next week . Can anyone advise of the best way to spend our time - we will have two full days available. I'd like to be able to do this on £50 total - we already have accom booked and paid for, same with travel, and will be taking packed lunches with us rather than paying city prices to eat out. Any advice welcomed!

Pooky · 26 March 2005 at 11:17AM

Hi there - take a trip to the Natural History and Science Museums - both within walking distance of each other and both free entry. You'll be hard pushed to do both of them in 2 days there's just so much to see and do.....just make sure you're in comfy walking shoes and lots of layers cos it gets really hot in there.

A lot of the art galleries are free too....we visited the National Portrait Gallery near Trafalgar Square last year during half term and they were running childrens art workshops, we got to go with the kids while they went round the gallery sketching with one of the art directors, then went to their studios and had a modeling session with pipecleaners and pompoms....took about 4 hours and was great fun...and all free!! They run these sessions during school hols at different times during the day so well worth a look.

Have fun!!

inkie · 26 March 2005 at 2:29PM

Thanks for that Pooky - we'll try those out!

brownkk · 13 April 2005 at 5:10PM

HMS Belfast is great for a couple of hours. Its not just a ship, its like a museum inside. Very interesting. £7 for adults (2 for 1 ) with a train ticket and voucher from station or web, and free for kids. Good Value.

pandas66 · 13 April 2005 at 6:05PM

If your there on a Sunday the travel is free for the kids so make the most of the tube. Mine loved these, up and down the escalators and the whoooooooosh throught the tunnels, BRILLIANT. Feed the pigeons with any spare crusts from packed lunch. Go see Queens house and walk through the Parks, Ride on the proper London Buses and try to time it so you see the London Bridge go up. It doesn't happen as much as it used to GOOD LUCK

oramgepekoe · 13 April 2005 at 6:13PM

HMS Belfast has put up its prices to £8, but it's still free for kids. Took two 9 year old boys this week and they loved it.

sleepy · 13 April 2005 at 6:18PM

I grew up in london and there's tons of fun stuff you can do with kids that's free or cheap.
As Pooky said definately go to the Natural History Museum and the Science Museum, they are both free and great. As a child the natural history museum was my favourite place in the whole of london.
If the weather is good, take your sandwiches and picnic in a park, so much nicer than the picnic area of an attraction or museum.
Check out https://www.london2for1.com which gives 2 for the price of 1 entrance to london attractions with a rail ticket. You can print as many vouchers off as you want. Out of all the attractions you can use it for, I'd reccomend London Zoo and the London Dungeon.
Just walking around london you can see lots of intersting sites or find fun things you've never considered doing.
https://www.londonfreelist.com lists all the things you can do in london for free or less than £3, so might be worth a look for more ideas.

paulherts · 13 April 2005 at 7:32PM

Somerset House is worth a visit if it is a nice day, kids will love the fountains.

End of the Strand close to Aldwych.

Paul

slonik · 14 April 2005 at 11:00AM

A bit of an obvious one, but Covent Garden's a good bet, with lots of street performers for kids to stare at. There is also the transport museum there (£6 for adults, free for kids), which young boys seem to love (https://www.ltmuseum.co.uk). I think the Bistro 1 restaurant there (33 Southampton Street) is great - they do 2 course dinner for £9 and 3 courses for £10 (cheaper at lunch, I think). But with a family to feed, I guess that still adds up to too much.
Another nice opton is the river-side walk from Blackfirars bridge (on the south side of the river) to Waterloo. There are free exhibitions at the bottom of the Oxo Tower, often performers on the way too, and frequent free foyer events (such as music) in the Royal Festival Hall (which you will pass). You could then picnic on the grass by the London Eye.
Hope you have a lovely time!

London on a budget

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