Going to London on saturday

spartacusthe1st

Hi I know I should put this in the travel section but I thought I would get more answers on this board.
So booked a national express coach and will get into Victoria at 9:45 ish.
We are looking to do the free stuff so the palace/Big Ben/Trafalgar Square.
Can anyone give advice on an itinerary please?
Where to start/and tips on good places to eat?
I'm really not confident about getting the tube it all sounds very very confusing! So we will be doing lots of walking!
Thanks all:D

Oh there will be two adults and two kids aged 6 and 9

Reggie_Rebel

Westminster is walk-able from Victoria. Then Trafalgar Square is a twenty minute walk up Whitehall, you'll probably take half an hour looking at the sights. If the tube doesn't appeal try one of the open top bus tours.

dirty_magic

I don't know if you'd prefer a sit down meal, but I love all the street food stands at Borough Market. It does get very busy though. It's pretty close to the south bank area if you're going to see the eye.

missbiggles1

So far, all the things you have planned are very much within walking distance of each other anyway, plus you could go to the National Gallery in Trafalgar Square which is fantastic and the general exhibitions are free.

http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/visiting/opening-hours

You'll be walking past both Westminster Cathedral and Abbey - they're both marvellous in their different ways but, unfortunately, the Abbey is quite expensive these days.

http://www.westminster-abbey.org/archive/visit-us/entry-charges

bouicca21

The Palace is most definitely not free, except to look at from outside.

National Portrait Gallery and National Gallery (near Trafalgar Square) are free but special exhibitions cost, and possibly not the right sort of thing for younger children anyway. British Museum also free but that's another 20 minute walk north from Trafalgar Square (or a bus to Tottenham Court Road). Head east for Covent Garden where there are usually street entertainers outside St Paul's church. If you go south instead across Hungerford Bridge you'll get to the south Bank where there is sometimes free entertainment.

The children might just be old enough to appreciate Camden market; the adults probably will.

If you can get up enough bravery to get on the tube (it really isn't complicated at all), for children that age the Science Museum is great.

Grumpelstiltskin

Close to Westminster Abbey is St Margarets church.


http://www.westminster-abbey.org/st-margarets-church


The big advantage over Westminster Abbey is it is free to enter, watch the early closing on Saturday though.

skattykatty

If you walk to Victoria train station, not far from the coach station, and turn up Victoria street, you will be walking towards Westminster. Along the way, you could take in Westminster Cathedral which is set back from the pavement to your right. Stunning mosaic ceilings and free (if you like churches) You could also turn off to the left and visit St James' park or keep going until you get to Westminster to see Abbey, Big Ben, Houses of Parliament...

You could bus your way up to Trafalgar square from Victoria, which will take you past Westminster (as above). Buses 11 and 24 will do this. You can stay on 24 up to Camden Town. At Trafalgar square you have the National Gallery and the National Portrait galleries (both free permanent exhibitions) and Covent Garden isn't far either for a look around the market and watch the buskers.

Once there, the British museum isn't too far away for lots to see for free.

From Trafalgar Square you can walk to the South Bank (either go through Charing Cross station until you get to the Hungerford Bridge or go down Villiers St which will lead you through Embankment Station and then you can go up stairs and across the Hungerford Bridge) were there will probably be some freebie entertainment somewhere, usually is. Look up the South Bank Centre online and you can find out. There will also be a foodie market at the back, behind the Royal Festival Hall. You can walk along the South Bank towards the Tate Modern, passing gabriel's wharf (more food) coin street retail/arty shops...

I don't blame you for not taking the tube, BUT you could bus it and actually see a lot of London too. The tourist buses are ridiculous prices, as I found out when friends came to visit, so I just popped on and off buses with them for the total price of a one day bus pass (I imagine you may have to have an Oyster card to do this)

Eating? Hmmm...All my old haunts have shut down, so it's a bit of a lottery really, but you can eat more cheaply than you may think. Hopefully, someone will be along with recommendations.

Armchair23

Jaded of London here !

Trafalgar Square is erm a square, pretty dull on it's own. Westminster is as dull as ditchwater for two kids it's just a building and a clock.

Head for the South Bank http://www.southbankcentre.co.uk, loads of free stuff on usually at weekends then you can walk along the river to Tate Modern http://www.tate.org.uk/visit/tate-modern/kids-and-families lots to see free and amazing views over the Thames .
You can even have a look at The Globe if you need a bit more culture http://www.shakespearesglobe.com/

Those are all on the way to Borough Market which is lovely if you like a stunningly overpriced and overcrowded foodie market. You'll find the Shoreditch Hipsters here on a day out.

The three museums at South Ken are a kids dream, frocks,science,dinosaurs,fossils,jewellery,swords . You name it they've got it. But maybe you've done them already!

Tubes and buses you need to get an Oyster card or pay by contactless card. Millions of us use it every week and we're by no means capable of knowing what we're up too !

https://tfl.gov.uk/ helps you plan your journey.

http://www.timeout.com/london/kids is worth a look.

It takes time to get around and kids can get really exhausted so try and keep what you're doing to a sensible sized area.

Have a lovely time whatever you do.

VfM4meplse

Best paces to eat? Either bring your own picnic or stick with a chain. It should be warm on Saturday so I'd recommend a supermarket-bought lunch in a park, much cheaper for you and the kids will eat something they like!

Again I'd highly recommend the Sth Kensington museums - walkable from Victoria and you can take in Buckingham Palace and Pall Mall at the same time.

Louk

If you're arriving at 9.45 that means you'd be able to get to Buckingham Palace in time for the guard change which I'm sure the kids would love.

Then you could walk along the Mall to Trafalgar Square and down Whitehall to Big Ben and the Abbey. Covent Garden will be awash with street performers and there is usually some pretty good food on offer there too.

apple_muncher

We do a similar thing with dd - 7 years old. Train to Victoria then tube - Victoria line - to Westminster. Cross the bridge and wander along past the Eye. Just after the Eye there is a good playground which we always use! There is also a carousel just after some street performers. We then cross back over the river and go straight on to Traf Square. Then down the Mall and into St James Park towards the Palace. There is a nice samdpit play area near the Palace end and we usually feed the ducks on the way. There are loos in the park - always useful. After gawping at the Palace we head down the main road to the station again - it seems really noisy after the rest of the day!

Whatever you end up doing, have a lovely day!