Visiting London with dd (3.10) in aug

[osospecial]

Hi, we are gng to London for an appointment with DK in August.
Just wanted a bit of advice on places to stay/visit as the appointment is on a friday we have decided to stay the whole weekend as a mini break.
I would rather drive up with dd but not drive into london so looking for a hotel on the outskirts that we can just catch the train into the centre from. I can google hotels but just wondering where I want to be close to and what we can do. Dd is very active, loves swimming pool+ being outside, climbing running etc no long queues, and hasn't been bothered by any zoos we have visited in the past. So basically somewhere she can run around+i don't have to keep her strapped in buggy, any ideas please?

[proudmum74]

Hi, there are plenty of lovely parks in the centre of London, see here

Alternatively walking down the south bank and/or getting a boat to Greenwich is always a good day out.

Enjoy!

[sis]

If the appt is in or near Harley Street, Regents Park is very close and has some lovely children's playgrounds that don't seem to get too crowded. Lodon zoo is more a short bus ride away.

[canadawater]

Where in London is the appointment? In Tooting or more central?

[osospecial]

Yes the appointment is in harley st so regents park sounds good to visit on the friday thanks, thinking of staying in windsor+catching train into centre for the appointmnt but then sat/sun can be anywhere else
A boat to grenwich sounds nice thanks proudmum, ill hav a look at the link to parks now thanks

[sis]

The playground that we have visited is just inside the entrance at Park Square West which is also the nearest entrance from Harley street. if you walk towards the York entrance there are lovely walks in that area too.

[osospecial]

Thanks sis that sounds nice. I'm also thinking she would love somewhere like lego land or somewhere with rides but think lego land would be too big with lots of queues etc, is there something similar that's less popular or on a smaller scale that anyone knows of pls?

[Grey24]

For a lovely park with trees, a Japanese Garden, a great tea-room, lots of space to run around but also lots of flower-areas (sorry, not sure how to describe it), I highly recommend Holland Park. It's small enough to feel personal and has enough different styles within it to not feel vast or 'all the same' in the way many of the other London parks do.

It's only a few tube stops along from Hyde Park etc (just along the red Central Line, get off at Holland Park station, cross the road and you'll see a sign - it's very nearby, the entrance is on a residential road). There are also lots of buses run along that route from Oxford St/Marble Arch in the direction of Holland Park - they drop you almost outside, just near the tube station.
It's quiet and relaxing and very family-focused. If you're at Harley Street and using the tubes on the Central Line side, then bear it in mind.
Good luck with your trip.

[proudmum74]

Not sure if there is something similar, but have you tried getting in touch with merlins magic wand? As they're the charity arm of Lego land and often give out free tickets and may even have a quick queue pass for children with SN.

Windsor castle is also a great day out.

[sis]

Is Gullivar's land still around? I think it is supposed to be more suitable for younger children (disclaimer: we have never been!). If she likes trains and you are in the area, then she may enjoys bekonscot model train village www.bekonscot.co.uk.

[osospecial]

hi, been googling everything this evening and it looks like we are going to stay in bedford (as train only 30 min into Centre of London and found nice but reasonably priced hotel) and visit a few of the parks mentioned on the friday, then maybe drive over to gullivars land in milton keynes on the sat (thanks to sis for that recommendation, it looks fab, right up dd's street, loads of rides she can go on, a splash park, carousel etc) really looking forward to it now

[bialystockandbloom]

South bank great, has loads outside ( sandy 'beach', bouncy castle, plus indoor stuff, aquarium etc, the Hayward gallery can be fun, and if all else fails we have whiled away many a rainy hour in the main hall of the Tate Modern running up and down the slope (watching the kids do it anyway!) and putting coppers in the donation boxes watching the coins flip around.

Also Kensington gardens nice, the Diana fountain is fun if its hot, they can paddle in it.

My favourite actually is Greenwich park, has the most beautiful rose garden, deer, squirrels, planetarium, and maritime museum which has another fun fountain to splash in. But bit of a trek from where you'll be.

[SingySongy]

It sounds as though you have a really lovely weekend planned.
Just wanted to say, we saw DK recently with our son, and she was incredibly helpful. Hope your appointment is equally useful. A good idea too to plan some nice things afterwards. I was very prepared for the diagnosis my son ended up getting, but was still surprised to feel a bit wobbly afterwards. Really good idea to have some lovely distractions planned.

[sis]

Do trains from Bedford come in at kings cross or euston? If so, you may be better off getting a bus to the appointment rather than try multiple tube changes to get to regents park station. I can't remember which 'end' of Harley street DK is at but it isn't a hugely long walk from one end to the other.

[osospecial]

Thanks bialy dd would love splashing around in a fountain,south bank sounds great too.
Glad you found DK usefull singy songy, we have been given such different opinions on dd recently re asd and I hope she can just clear things up for me so I can move forward and help dd one way or another. It is going to be nice to have the distractions before and after though.
I have not looked at where the trains get in from Bedford, I was hoping to get to paddington station as I thought that it was close to Harley st, thanks sis ill check that out now

[Davros]

Coram's fields is not far from Harley street, look at //www.coramsfields.org

[sis]

nearest mainline station to Harley street is marlebone - then euston followed by kings cross & st pancras.