Going to London on saturday

benjus

spartacusthe1st wrote: »

Where can I get a travel card from?

Don't get a day travelcard (either paper or Oyster-based) - they are now more expensive than PAYG. Use a contactless card if you have one. If not get an Oyster card (any tube station with a ticket office, or some have vending machines for the cards) and put some PAYG credit on it.

maman

OP, small children tend to have a shortish attention span so I'd take in two museums and just visit a gallery in each. I'd do the dinosaurs in the Natural History and the Egyptian mummies in British Museum. Unfortunately Natural History can be very crowded so perhaps not unless you really want to spend time queueing.


Clipper tour down the river to Greenwich is good and you could point out sights as you go (Globe, St Paul's etc.). They're very comfortable and I like just having a rest but you could go to Greenwich Park for a run around or walk the tunnel under the Thames, all things children find exciting.


London Eye is great, bookable in advance but maybe more than you want to pay.


Definitely take ordinary buses not the open top ones and I would venture on to the tube as the kids will love it especially the massive escalators.


If you go to look at Buckingham Palace do go to St James's park and see the pelicans. It's good to get in some greenery as well as the streets. Peter Pan playground in Kensington Gardens is good too.


I'd definitely recommend taking some picnic food even if it's snacks and drinks and then having one main meal somewhere.


Loads to do, try not to do too much in one day and then keep coming back:).

spartacusthe1st

Thanks maman
I'm intrigued by this tunnel under the river?

benjus

spartacusthe1st wrote: »

Thanks maman
I'm intrigued by this tunnel under the river?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greenwich_foot_tunnel

There's not much to see on the northern end, although you could pick up the DLR at Island Gardens and head back towards the City or the Tower of London.

Armchair23

I'd sort of say whether you're an overseas visitor or not, try not to plan too much.

You might turn up at something and the queue is too long, or go somewhere and hate it. Or stay somewhere for a long time because you just love it.

Some major attractions are really expensive and not all that when you get there. I just don't get Madam Tussauds at all, that's just me.Tom Cruise in wax, actually anyone in wax !

Some of the nicest times are when you're not 'doing' something but when you're sitting and watching or just in a different playground, cafe or whatever.

It's a busy working city and not always the most friendly. Very vibrant very culturally mixed ( I think that's a great thing).

Oxford Street is just like the main shopping street in any city so it's not that big a deal.

Search out your passions whether it's a magic shop, make up, books,walking sticks or stuffed animals we have them all.

Buses and the tube are good ways of moving around the city. Tubes are quick(ish) and from a top deck on the bus you get to see everywhere you're going.

Food is everywhere from cheep and cheerful to world class.
if you find a chain you like whether it's Cote or McDonalds there's always a branch you can find .

Mostly just have a good time.

JasX

GalaxyStar wrote: »

Natural History Museum is free and awesome

add to that the science museum next door and my favourite

http://www.britishmuseum.org/

For the rosetta stone, elgin marbles, a raft of ancient greek, egyptian, assyrian statues etc (both free)

Corelli

Gosh yes, but the NHM and the SciM need at least a day in Kensington, the BM is a fair way away. This family is going to be EXHAUSTED if they try and do a tenth of what we've been suggesting as possibilities.The Victoria & Albert also in Kensington is good too, but perhaps a bit more specialised.

dandelion_jimmy

good luck for all

charlie-chan

I would like to suggest the chain of Sam Smith pubs as they offer cheap food and cheap drinks (all drinks are made by them/brewed at their own Tadcaster brewery).

If you fancy it, there is always the Emirates Airline which goes from Greenwich to the other side of the Thames.. it is a cable car

bylromarha

If you do go to British/NH museum, I can highly recommend the free hire of a kids activity backpack in either. Kept my littlies amused for a good couple of hours as they hunted for clues and followed the trail round the galleries.