Natural history/science museum.

neverdespairgirl

My son has just turned 8, and we've been taking him to the London museums regularly since he was 2 or 3 years old. It's a rare weekend when we don't visit one, and he sometimes goes during school holidays with his nanny, too.

He loves all of them - Museum of London (which is a few minutes' walk from where we live), the British Museum, and all the Kensington ones; he's not as keen on the V & A as the others.

They are all absolutely massive and you can visit hundreds of times without being bored.

When he was younger, he adored the London Transport Museum in Covent Garden, to the point where the rest of us were groaning with the idea of going there, and security greeted him by saying, "hello Isaac!"

barbiedoll

I personally wouldn't bother with Hamleys, they don't have anything much there that you can't get in any other toy shop, and their prices are on the hefty side. It's quite small and can get very cramped and hot during the holidays. The last time I was there, I found their boys section to be very mediocre, unless your kids are into model making, there was a huge selection of Airfix-type models.

I do agree with the poster who recommended the Transport Museum in Covent Garden. There's loads for kids to do there and they can climb into lots of the vehicles.

The Science Museum is ok if you have kids that are into science, it can be a little boring for those who aren't. The Natural History Museum is much more diverse and there's not a kid alive who hasn't gasped at their first glimpse of the famous "Blue Whale" exhibit!

maman

barbiedoll wrote: »

I personally wouldn't bother with Hamleys, they don't have anything much there that you can't get in any other toy shop, and their prices are on the hefty side. It's quite small and can get very cramped and hot during the holidays. The last time I was there, I found their boys section to be very mediocre, unless your kids are into model making, there was a huge selection of Airfix-type models.

I agree with you about Hamleys, especially for boys, but I find children have a different view. They just love the idea of a whole shop devoted to toys. Admittedly I've only taken girls but they would spend all day in the soft toy department!

Tiddlywinks

Whenever we have family visiting we go on a Duck Tour... it's just so much fun as it takes in some of the sights by road and then drives down to the MI6 building to enter the Thames for a cruise along Parliament.

The guides are always good fun to listen to and kids always find the splash into the Thames to be the highlight of their day.

http://www.londonducktours.co.uk/tours

Also, have you thought about the London Dungeons?

http://www.thedungeons.com/london/en/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_term=london%20dungeon&utm_campaign=London%20-%20Brand%20-%20Pure&KEYWORD=london%20dungeon&MATCHTYPE=Search&AD_ID_G=21027336034&gclid=CPKticO64bgCFVMetAod7HAAWQ

Both have offers on at the moment and both can be booked in advance... which I'd recommend to save queuing.

As to Hamleys... it is always heaving in the holidays and is spread over loads of floors - it really isn't anything special. You get the same effect with a trip to a Toys R Us to be honest.

CupOfChai

I've not got kids so I'm not sure, but I'd guess around school age for both Science and Natural History. I've been to both and they are huge, to do the entire museum takes more than the full day (and is knackering! But it was great), so plan in advance which bits you especially want to see and pick up a map at the entrance.

For the Natural History museum, the side entrance is often quieter with shorter queues than the main front entrance (front being the one which opens on to the main hall with the big dinosaur skeleton).

fluffnutter

The Van der Graaf generator at the science museum scared the tits off me as a child

Great fun though. Love the place.

Person_one

Seems I'm in a minority because I always preferred the Natural History Museum as a kid. Evolution, plate tectonics, great stuff! I think it depends on the particular child's interests, are either of them really into animals/like finding pretty rocks?

bestpud

I prefer the Natural History Museum, as does my 11 year old.

Personally I think there is more variety so you will almost certainly find something for everyone in there.

We enjoy the science museum but not as much.

tinkerbell28

My kids are split. I've got budding scientists on one hand...and one who's in to his nature.....

I'm thinking the science museum.....and go later, later on as it is open a bit later for school holidays. Hopefully avoiding the bad queues? So do the other stuff first and see where that takes us, with time.

Then I'm not far really from where I need to be to get out of London.

I've been to Hamleys before, I know what it is like, hell on earth and surprisingly small, but the kids are fascinated!

tootallulah

Hi, the trick with the Science Museum is either to get there at 10 or after 4. It is incredibly busy from 11.30 onwards and really too crowded for real enjoyment. The kids gallery Launchpad is wonderful - head to the 3rd floor.