London in one day with 2 kids

barkinglama

Hi

We are taking the kids to Harry Potter world in may and will have an extra days to sight see in London, kids are 5 and 8.

Anyone have money saving tips for tour buses and attractions etc?

Cheers

tanith

Kids love the Science Museum and its free as is the Natural History Museum which is next door. They'll love Harry Potter World we've been twice but do live pretty close .

horsechestnut

Whatever you do, make the Harry Potter visit the last thing that you do, as the children love it and nothing else lives up to it for children. This can mean that if you go there first then anything else might be a disappointment.
Make some excuse such as "it is easier to get home from there etc." We did it a few years ago with my grandson and I deliberately did it second and it worked very well.

tanith

We spent about 4 hrs at the Studio Tour and if the kids want to experience everything you might need longer if you include a stop for lunch in the Cafe or a picnic lunch you can take your own food.

sandsy

Natural History Museum is fantastic and free. There's an area for eating picnics in the basement if you want to save money by not using the cafes.

ThinkingOutLoud_2

As regards tour buses - it depends if your kids will sit on a bus for hours ... an alternative is forget the paid Bus tours which are pricey IMHO >> get Oyster cards for you and partner - kids are free on bus and tube (use the manned exit with kids).

Use the TFL website and you can see where buses head - e.g. get on a regular new route master bus and sit up top at the front and take a tube (at 5 & 8 that is cool enough if they never have).

The 74 bus will take you from near the excellent museums mentioned past Harrods where you could hop on a 9 that takes you past a few more things and to Trafalgar square. There are several playgrounds in Hyde Park including the Lady Diana one and you can always feed the ducks, etc.

Guess it depends a bit what the kids like.

pollyanna24

Is the Harry Potter thing the one in Watford?

That's nowhere near Central London really.

susancs

pollyanna24 wrote: »

Is the Harry Potter thing the one in Watford?

That's nowhere near Central London really.

It is 20 mins on the fast train from Watford Junction (nearest train station from HP studios and where the shuttle bus operates to and from) to Euston.

susancs

Op, I would agree with the Science and NH Museums at South Kensington for children and both are free. It is about a 10-15 minute walk from there to Kensington Gardens for the Peter Pan play ground. You also have the Elfin Oak there.
https://www.royalparks.org.uk/parks/kensington-gardens/things-to-see-and-do/memorials,-fountains-and-statues/elfin-oak

Your children might enjoy M&M world in Leicester Square plus the street entertainers at nearby Covent Garden (few mins walk away) and maybe a toy shop like Hamleys (not cheap but Build a bear is usually something children enjoy).

rach_k

My kids are 5 and 7 so fairly similar in age. Their favourite thing to do in London when the weather isn't bad is to walk along the South Bank - they love to watch the boats and the skateboarding and there are usually people blowing huge bubbles, putting on shows, playing music etc. There's a carousel and Foyles, which is nice for a quick look-but-don't-touch, and for lunch you can either take some food and sit on the steps or there are some nice enough places right there - Giraffe, Wagamama and a sandwich place I think.

We go into London fairly often as OH works there, so we've done quite a few of the attractions but, to be completely honest, the kids lose interest very quickly and I feel like I'm trying to make them enjoy themselves against their will! They aren't little tearaways either - both very into books, learning etc - but they really just prefer watching somebody blow bubbles to walking round a museum or gallery.

The London Eye is on the South Bank but I wouldn't bother paying to go on it - there's only so much 'oooh look at that tall building' kids will enjoy. Same goes for the other paid-for tourist attractions there. What is good is to walk south from the London Eye and cross the bridge to look at Big Ben. Then the kids can tell people they saw it so it feels like you 'did London'.

barkinglama

pollyanna24 wrote: »

Is the Harry Potter thing the one in Watford?

That's nowhere near Central London really.

I know, we are doing Harry Potter on the Saturday and have Sunday free to go sightsee in London