which is best - Natural History Museum or Science Museum

minerva_windsong

melb wrote: »

thanks for the tip about the London Museum and the fire of london exibition - I don't think we'll bother on this occasion if there's not much else of interest in the surrounding area. I fancy going to Covent Garden but I think we won't have anough time - we're doing one of the above museums plus tower of london plus london zoo and we're only there 2 full days and 2 half days. We're also wondering what to do in the evenings - most of the attractions seem to finish about 5 ish - I know we could go to a show but I don't know which one and don't want to blow the budget. If it was warm we'd be able to just have a wander round which I enjoy but if it's cold or rainly won't be much fun. Do you know if the river boats are on in the evening as everything would look pretty all lit up but there again they'd have to be enclosed.

London Eye? I've been on it at night and in the day and it's definitely better at night.

Lastminute.com often has cheap(er) show tickets and show and meal deals. Might also be worth checking out the 2 for 1 deals with train tickets to see if they have anything. Good shows would probably be Grease, Wicked, Lion King, Joseph (if that's still going), Hairspray, Oliver, Stomp and War Horse.

p00hsticks

melb wrote: »

We're also wondering what to do in the evenings - most of the attractions seem to finish about 5 ish - I know we could go to a show but I don't know which one and don't want to blow the budget. If it was warm we'd be able to just have a wander round which I enjoy but if it's cold or rainly won't be much fun. Do you know if the river boats are on in the evening as everything would look pretty all lit up but there again they'd have to be enclosed.

The Thames Clippers (commuter service) run until at least 10pm I think. (they'll have a timetable on their website) and are enclosed. I'd suggest taking one from Embankment to the O2 and back. There are plenty of things to see lit up at night - the laser marking the Greenwich meridian in the sky over Greenwich, Canary Wharf, the Gherkin, Tower of Lonsdon, Tower Bridge, Houses of Parliament, St Pauls etc. Plus, the O2 is also quite a good place to get something to eat as there are loads of different food places there, and there is also a multi-screen cinema. Last winter there was also an ice-rink - not sure if they are have anything similar at the moment.

Edit: I've just checked the details of the clippers, and the last one returns from the 02 after 11pm. However, if you are doing a return trip, then for slightly more you can get one of their 'all day river roamers' whcih allows multiple journeys, but only until 10pm. (And I think the river roamer tickets may be part of the 2-for-1 great days out offer with train tickets, which makes a roamer almost as cheap as a standard single journey! Even if not, you get a discount if you have a tube travelcard)

Timetable and details below;
http://www.thamesclippers.com/routes-times-prices-booking/timetables-prices.html

Liz_the_Whizz

If you have been to any other interactive science museum, you may find the Science Museum disappointing - we did. And it was incredibly overcrowded. Much prefer the one at NEWI near Wrexham or MOSI in Manchester.

The Natural History Museum is at least more of an original.

We actually enjoyed the Tower of London far more than either, much more a living museum, and the boat ride there from Houses of Parliament is great for sightseeing.

Have a good trip.

melb

thanks all so much for your suggestions. My mind is buzzing now. We set off this sunday arriving lunchtime and come back wednesday mid afternoon. We have decided to try and do both natural history and science museums and we're also going to go to London Zoo (kids want to do this and have never been to any zoo before) and tower of london and HMS Belfast (OH's choice). Now I just have to put my thinking cap on and try to work out routes and which travel card to get. We've got the above on 2 for 1 using out train tickets to London - I'd heard that you couldn't used our advance single tickets for the 2 for 1s but in the terms and conditions it says I can unless I'm reading them incorrectly. We arrive in london on sunday about 1 pm and need to get to premier inn olympia kensington so after we've had lunch and checked in we might do the river cruise as we were wondering what to do on the sunday afternoon although I see that Harrods is open til 6 on sundays so were thinking of going there. Oh decisons decisions - this trip has taken more research than our summer holidays but I think it's because we want to see as much as we can without getting too tired and hoping to have a good mix. thanks again for all suggestions I'm going to look at the 2 for 1 river cruises now. Ta ta!

melb

p00hsticks - I don't suppose you know how long it would take to get from Embankment to O2 would you? sorry if I'm being lazy I looked on the website quickly and didn't notice timings?

bylromarha

Sorry to be a party pooper, but think you're trying to do too much.

London Zoo is a day

Tower of London and HMS belfast is a day.

Museums easily a day together.

If I were you, I'd drop the zoo- you can take the kids to one closer to home, but the Tower and those museums aren't replicated anywhere in the country IMO.

melb

I was saying that to OH myself but out of all the things we said to the kids the zoo was the one thing they both really fancied but if the weather is bad we might be able to persude them otherwise with an ice-cream!

bylromarha

That would work.

London zoo if dry, museums if wet.

Have a fab time.

p00hsticks

melb wrote: »

p00hsticks - I don't suppose you know how long it would take to get from Embankment to O2 would you? sorry if I'm being lazy I looked on the website quickly and didn't notice timings?

It takes 50 minutes from the Embankment to the O2 on the standard commuter service, and services are every 20-30 minutes . There is an occasional express service that I think runs direct from Embankment to the 02 with no intermediate stops but I think that only runs when there is a concert on ......

Timetable is here

http://www.thamesclippers.com/images/pdf/commuter-timetable-oct09.pdf