Advice on family trip to London please

trickster

Afternoon all. Wondering if anybody has any advice for our weekend trip to London.

We are a family of 4, our boys are 5 and 7. On Saturday, we are going by train to London and staying in a hotel at Swiss-Cottage. In the afternoon we are off to the Emirates cup at the Emirates Stadium.

Firstly, where would be best for us to eat? Looking for something that the whole family will enjoy and there is a bit of life. Wondered if the West End will be too busy, too grown up for the boys at that time on a Saturday night (7.30/8.00ish I guess)

Also, we will be doing a bit of sightseeing on the Sunday and Monday morning before we get train back. I'm guessing a London bus sightseeing tour would be best. Can you get on and off the sightseeing buses or do you have to stay on them.

Any other advice? Want to minimize the stress levels as much as possible.

Ta.

lynzpower

What about something like HarD Rock Cafe or rainforest cafe for food? or are you looking for something a bit more "dining" than that?

yep, you can certainly get on and off, and you only pay for one day the second day is free.

Tip from me- haggle on them open top buses, I got ours for half the initial quaotd prices

trickster

Thanks Lynzpower. I'd be OK with The Hard Rock or similar, but her indoors might want something a bit more 'dining'.

Been googling Tour companies. Are they pretty much the same? Or are there some to avoid?

lynzpower

have a look at lastminute.com where they have some good deals on set menus and the like ( 3% cashback on quidco as well) otherwise square meal is quite a good bet. theres pizza on the park a well that is a pizza resturaunt at hyde park corner usually has jazz entertainment on but it is later evening.

In terms of the buses Ive been on a couple, big bus company is one of them adn cant remember the other. Honestly? they are much of a muchness but very good. I never tire of them - but do make sure you get one with a river cruise included. theres one tho where people just have headsets, with the commentary. personally i preffer one with an actual human being as a guide, and i think thats nicer as a family than you all sitting there with headphones on not speaking to each other!

lynzpower

About the west end. No I dont think its too busy or "adult" at that time.

You might want to avoid the deeps of soho tho some bits of that are quite adult of course. But theres chinatown you coudld go around, close to Picc Circus and Shaftesbury Ave, and not that far from regent st or oxford st.

Put it this way, all the shops will be closing around 7.30 so it wont be proper "nighttime" if you see what i mean.

buyitall

www.toptable.co.uk will give you some ideas for child-friendly restaurants, special offers and booking options.

mks_2

There are many smaller restaurants on Rathbone Place and Charlotte Street (just off Oxford Street) in the west end.

sweetsoul

There's loads to do in London that will cost you loads! So remember that the Science Museum and Natural History Museums are free. Most little boys love gadgets and dinosaurs!

Hope it helps, have fun!

Zinger549

lynzpower wrote: »

cruise included. theres one tho where people just have headsets, with the commentary. personally i preffer one with an actual human being as a guide, and i think thats nicer as a family than you all sitting there with headphones on not speaking to each other!

The headset ones are the language tour ones. You just click the leaver to the language you want the tour in.

kaggy

Rather than a bus have you thought about the Duck Tours - it's an amphibious tank that goes on the road and then on the river. We took out children (3 and 8) and we all really enjoyed it. The guide really made the trip but you must book as it gets really busy.
http://www.londonducktours.co.uk/

Karen

ITFCNUT

trickster wrote: »

Afternoon all. Wondering if anybody has any advice for our weekend trip to London.

We are a family of 4, our boys are 5 and 7. On Saturday, we are going by train to London and staying in a hotel at Swiss-Cottage. In the afternoon we are off to the Emirates cup at the Emirates Stadium.

Firstly, where would be best for us to eat? Looking for something that the whole family will enjoy and there is a bit of life. Wondered if the West End will be too busy, too grown up for the boys at that time on a Saturday night (7.30/8.00ish I guess)

Also, we will be doing a bit of sightseeing on the Sunday and Monday morning before we get train back. I'm guessing a London bus sightseeing tour would be best. Can you get on and off the sightseeing buses or do you have to stay on them.

Any other advice? Want to minimize the stress levels as much as possible.

Ta.

www.thelondonvisitor.com

This site has a booklet that they produce with lots of money off codes maps opening hours etc etc

I hope this is of some use to you