Ripleys or tower of london

happycamper3

Taking my children in a few weeks to London for 2 nights.

They want to go to Tower of London or Ripley's, been looking at reviews on trip advisor and ripleys gets mixed reviews.
my son is 11 and dd is 8 (but gets bored really easily)

Was also thinking of churchhill war museum as they both love this type of place, and the science musuem.

any other hints/tips etc.
was also thinking of getting the vist london pass but not sure if its worth it.

bebewoo

Just my opinion, but I founds Ripleys extraordinarily boring, just a bunch if tired old looking exhibits.
The science museum is way more fun, lots of interactive stuff, my 10 year old loves it, and it's free! (Don't eat there though - expensive)

NicolacM

I wouldn't go with ripleys I found it overpriced and as the other poster said boring. I would also recommend the science museum although I have also been to the tower of London and enjoyed it. Hope you have a good trip

happycamper3

wow thanks for your speedy replies,
just planning the trip now with the kids.
not going to go to churchill war museum as reviews are all dire, but we are looking into the war room/bunker.

so on our hit list is
tour the famous sights... Big Ben, houses of parliament, Buckingham palace, Trafalger Square. Covent Gardens. Thames river cruise.

Musuems: Science museum, Tower of London, ? HMS Belfast.

That is as far as we have got.
going for 2 nights, arrive around 1pm and leave about 3pm.

also kids want to go to either Hamleys or the Disney shop... not sure which one yet, but suspect Hamleys will be expensive,but then is the disney shop just any other disney store??

Stompa

happycamper3 wrote: »

Was also thinking of churchhill war museum as they both love this type of place..

Alternatives might be the Imperial War Museum:

http://www.iwm.org.uk/

or the National Maritime Museum:

http://www.nmm.ac.uk/

(which if you're taking a river trip, is conveniently situated right next to Greenwich pier).

Weird_Nev

Having seen this, I'd definately go for the Tower of London:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DeiW_bWZ2Is
(Also useful to see if you think it's suitable for the young 'uns!)


Avoid the "tourist trap" Ripleys/Madame Taussauds attractions. Expensive and the queues are horrific. Kids will get bored waiting. There's plenty to do in London on less money, as mentioned the museums are amazing and free. I'd recommend the Natural History Museum and Science Museums. Loads to see and do.
You can walk around Big ben, pariliament and over the bridge to trafalgar square so long as the kids are up to it, and it puts it in context and you get great views as you cross the river.

newgirly

Hi, my 3 kids were a bit bored at the tower of london (they were 9,9,12 at the time), we did HMS belfast and they loved that.

The science museum is good, but the natural history is the best in my opinion, we also have been to the Imperial war museum and they all enjoyed that.

I would do hamleys and the disney store, hamleys is the best though!

susancs

My children loved the Tower Of London when a similar age to yours. Have not been to Ripleys in the UK but went to the one in Niagra, Canada and we were not overly impressed. The Natural History Museum and Science Museums are beside one another so easy to either or both.