Natural history/science museum.

iammumtoone

I took my 5 year old he loved it we went to both but didn't see everything, you would need a whole day just to see all of one! How much time will you have? I suggest rather than picking just one you do what we did and visit the websites first and see what you want to do. We saw the dinosaurs and creepy crawlies in the natural history and spent the rest of the time in the science. They are next door to each other so no need to take travel time into consideration. We were in London for the day and also managed to fit in a couple of other things as well.

tinkerbell28

8 hours give or take. So I think I'm going to do the science. Walk into the natural history, see the big dinosaur then go.

Split the party, older kids to the top of the museum, younger ones to the play basement then do the other stuff!

z.n

I vote for science museum too- absolutely fantastic. Make sure you look properly as the basement has sections for littles and bigs- and also loads of interactive stuff as you go round. Easy to spend a whole day there even as an adult.

Mr_Toad

You could spend every day for months in either museum and still not see all the great stuff.

I regularly have a museum day in London. I book myself a cheap train ticket on-line travelling down day before, my last one was Notts to London 1st Class £28 out and £31 return, also 1st class, the standard class return fair is £140+ if you buy at the station!!

I book into a hotel then come back the following day on a late train after spending all day in the museum or gallery of choice.

tyllwyd

tinkerbell28 wrote: »

... Walk into the natural history, see the big dinosaur then go. ...

Watch out for the queues to get in though - in the middle of summer, you might find that a plan to quickly pop in and out again isn't practical!

I went to the science museum with a 10 year old and 14 year old. I loved the space exploration exhibits and the industrial revolution exhibits, and the 10 year old and her dad went mad for the aeroplanes (which was also more airy and quieter than other areas). I didn't like the ecological type exhibition on one floor - I found it very claustrophobic.

notanewuser

Science museum is rubbish for under 3s (they also tend to close the exhibits for under 5s early - around 5pm outside school hols).

So Natural History Museum every time for me.

[Deleted User]

My son wants to go to London for his birthday in November, I think to experience the underground again and he doesn't remember me taking them before (they were 2&3 and on reins/wrist straps, I was terrified of losing them).

I was thinking of the science museum for him, he'll be 7 and his sister approaching 6, but maybe we could do the natural history one on the same day. His birthday is a sunday and in the winter i'm assuming it will be a tad quieter?

notanewuser

Deleted_User wrote: »

My son wants to go to London for his birthday in November, I think to experience the underground again and he doesn't remember me taking them before (they were 2&3 and on reins/wrist straps, I was terrified of losing them).

I was thinking of the science museum for him, he'll be 7 and his sister approaching 6, but maybe we could do the natural history one on the same day. His birthday is a sunday and in the winter i'm assuming it will be a tad quieter?

Nope. Weekends always a nightmare.

maman

notanewuser wrote: »

Science museum is rubbish for under 3s (they also tend to close the exhibits for under 5s early - around 5pm outside school hols).

So Natural History Museum every time for me.

In the school holidays, queues are likely to be horrendous at both. I'd go for the Natural History and just stick to the dinosaur gallery. It's true there are loads of buttons to press at the Science museum but I find that unless you're prepared to spend time explaining the science behind it that's all it is: random button pressing.

Even as an adult, I find it's better to just visit museums for an hour or two then move on otherwise it's overwhelming an you can't take it in.

ETA: forgot the London Eye, children enjoy that but always pre-book.

A trip I did with an 8 year old was: Tube to South Kensington, Natural History for dinosaurs, packed lunch outside (look at glorious building) on to British Museum (Egyptian galleries) then onto Hamleys then early dinner (we like Garfunkels at Oxford Circus). Catch buses as much as you can because you see more that way.

Another good idea is Greenwich by riverboat, passing lots of sights and then walk up to the meridian.

notanewuser

I prefer Harrods' toy dept to Hamleys. And you can walk there from the Natural History or Science Museum.