Weekend in London with Dd2...what to do?!

[SagaNorensLeatherTrousers]

DH has a conference in November and we're tagging along...it will be DD and me on our own during the days. Any tips on places I can go? Don't want to spend a fortune that close to Christmas. We're staying near Russell Square so would like to take her to the British Museum but will she be bored senseless there?! Also, I'm quite worried about using a pushchair on the tube so would like to mostly walk everywhere (so recs close-ish to RS would be great!) Any ideas?

[SagaNorensLeatherTrousers]

Sorry, meant to say DD(2). She's 2!

[mary21]

Coram fields
Convent garden
Trafalger sq national gallery sometimes has half term activities

[Idontknowhowtohelpher]

Museum of Childhood is good - www.vam.ac.uk/moc/ and children are encouraged to touch and play with some exhibits. Free entry too!

[whatsagoodusername]

You can take the number 14 bus down to the Science and Natural History Museums from Great Russell Street - it's about a 30 minute ride and get off at the Victoria and Albert Museum bus stop. It's fabulous - the Science Museum has a great interactive play area in the basement for little kids.

If you want to do stuff around Covent Garden, the Transport Museum is great. It's £16 for adults, children are free. Tickets are good for a year, so you can use it as a very handy base for toilets/nappy changing or just a few minutes of playing for DD. My DSs at 2 could spend all day there, for several days. The coffee shop by the play area isn't that great though - you can take in a picnic.

The British Museum isn't that great for 2 year olds in my experience - but the foyer area is great for running around as long as it's not too packed. If she'll sleep in the pushchair, that could be a lovely time for you to see it. My DC liked running, I don't actually get to see much in museums, so your DD may be happier to stop and look at things

Museum of Childhood is good too. Coram Fields playground is nearby to Russell Square and good as long as the weather is nice enough.

TfL's Journeyplanner is really good. You can choose accessibility options and use the step-free from street to platform for pushchair-friendly routes. And people are generally really helpful with stairs if you need to use them - just block the top/bottom of the staircase and you will have help in no time . Londoners are helpful, just a bit oblivious at times.

[SagaNorensLeatherTrousers]

Thanks for all the tips!

[tribpot]

I'd vote for the Museum of London, it's a mile and a half from Russell Square so walkable or there are plenty of buses that go that way. In general the City of London is quieter and thus more pleasant with a pushchair than further west.

[SagaNorensLeatherTrousers]

Thanks tripbot. I'm happy to walk all over the city! I've walked miles around it before in the past and found so many little gems and DD is quite good in the pushchair. I also have a fitbit so will be happy to clock up the steps! The one things I CAN'T do is spend loads while I'm there...so close to Christmas we just don't have the budget. So walking and browsing and finding free things for DD to do is my aim! Just hoping we miraculously get dry weather while I'm there cos I think Dd would love Coram Fields the most!

[SagaNorensLeatherTrousers]

Sorry, tribpot!!!

[tribpot]

That's okay don't worry :)

If you fancy walking, I would go to the Museum of London and then down past St Paul's, over the Millennium Footbridge and past the Globe and Tate Modern. You can then walk either round to the London Eye (nice playground there) or the other way past HMS Belfast and to Tower Bridge. However, I'm not certain whether there are any steps if you stay by the edge of the river, I think not until you want to go up to bridge level to cross back again.

However, that's all dependent on good weather, which in December might be pushing your luck.

For something fun (and not very expensive with an Oyster card) you could go on the pointless cable car, that's a lot of fun. You go out to it on the DLR, which is very pushchair friendly.

[tribpot]

Oh and btw you will crush your Fitbit daily goal in London!

[SagaNorensLeatherTrousers]

Now I'm researching good places to eat! I will definitely need those fitbit steps!

[alicemalice]

Science Museum is great for toddlers. They have their own area in the basement. Well worth a visit.

Nearby you can walk in Hyde Park and go for hot chocolate by the Serpentine.

[tribpot]

One of my fave eating places is Canteen although not cheap. With ds I normally stick to chains (Wagamama, Cafe Rouge).

[MNWestminsterCityEd]

You could also check out our MN Local site for Westminster & City, which has a talk board where you can ask locals for advice & recommendations, plus thousands of listings including a What's On guide, attractions, restaurants... local.mumsnet.com/westminster-and-city