London with 7 yo

[MamaEs]

Hello

I'll be taking my 7 year old to London for a day trip. Any recommendations?

Thank you

[Oasis1975]

Natural history or the science museum

[Canoo]

We went last week for a few days and a highlight was Tower Bridge. You can walk across the top and it has a glass floor which was great fun. We used the Thames Clipper boats to get around.

[RainingZen]

If you are visiting at the weekend, don't forget many attractions have to be booked - the Natural History museum is booked at weekends until 11 July at the moment,.for example.

My DD loved the British Museum at this age. Also worth getting a bus through London, there are lots of threads with recommended routes.

If you are heading to London in late summer, check out Underbelly Festival's Family events on the south bank. There's a fantastic atmosphere and also you can combine with some other things I'm the south bank area (maybe wonder up to Tate Britain, or book up the London aquarium. Don't bother with the London eye, it is boring).

[MojoJojo71]

My 8yo DD and I used to visit London regularly as her brother is at uni there but we haven’t been for ages. I asked her the other day what she’d like to do when we go back. She wants to go to the Princess Diana memorial playground in Hyde park then for a walk through the park to exhibition road for the science museum and Wonderlab on the top floor which is great. Then we’ll go to a really cheap Chinese cafe we like in South Kensington and then for a really expensive ice cream round the corner at Snowflake gelato.

[alexdgr8]

go on the river.

[avamiah]

Hi
I’m in London and it is a great city to visit so here are my recommendations but it does all depend on the weather and were you will be starting from as will you becoming on the train?
1)London Eye ( SouthBank)
2)Tower of London
3)jump on a clipper boat or book a I hour mini cruise up the Thames and see the sights .
4)Kew Gardens is beautiful but it takes a while to get around.
5)Covent Garden is a great place for lunch and shopping and check out the world famous Pineapple Dance Studios.
6)Hyde park, hire a little boat or have a little picnic ( weather permitting)
7)Buckingham Palace or jump on one of the tour buses
8)China Town is a great place if you fancy dim sum or just for a wander
9)British Museum,my daughter loves it there as they have a great gift shop and lots of cafes.
Hope I’ve helped
Enjoy your visit.
Xx

[MamaEs]

Thank you all so much, this is so helpful)l!


It looks like the weather will be good when we visit. Does this change anyone's recommendations?

Can anyone tell me more about the clipper boats

[Canoo]

I downloaded the clipper boat app (they’re also called Uber boats). They run about every 20 minutes and you can check live departures and timetables on the app. I bought a day ticket so we could hop on and off and just show the ticket on my phone. They’re big boats so always plenty of seats. You get a good view of all the sights.

[museummumblog]

Hi there, I blog about London culture for families over on instagram.com/museummum and at museummum.com. I have a 6 and 8 year old (+18 year old!) and have done lots of visits post lockdown (70+ since last July?)

I would recommend doing some of London's most famous landmarks as they are so much quieter than usual. You need to book ahead. Our favourites in the last year have been Tower Bridge (had the glass walkway to ourselves www.instagram.com/p/CDGbzF4n3hZ), Tower of London (beefeaters, crown jewels, Ravens), Wonderlab at Science Museum (www.instagram.com/p/CEBg_cyH-eV) and Natural History Museum (www.instagram.com/p/CDizJ_VHWto). You can't do all those in a day, but you could do either South Ken - Science Museum, NHM and walk up to Kensington Gardens afterwards for playground (although be prepared not to get in at busy times); or the city - Tower of London, Tower Bridge, play fountains at More London, food from Borough Market, walk along the South Bank. Be warned London's play fountains are very tempremental and often switched off, but packing a change of clothes just in case is a good idea. Have a fun time!

[Ilovemaisie]

Depends what your child is interested in. Do they understand what London is and what makes it different to most places- if that makes sense. As in this is where the government works and the Queen lives. If they like the history side of the city then Tower of London is an interesting place to visit. The Tube is exciting if you are from a town that doesn't have anything similar - the concept of travelling underground and a ride on a London bus passing famous sites. I wouldn't bother with the Science or Natural History musuems unless there is something very specific there you want to see. They don't say 'London' to me. Are you arriving by train? Which station? Because you don't want to be going from here and there and all over - you will be exhausted.

[Sauvignonblanket]

I've just done this and all these suggestions are spot on - we also went to Hamleys and the Waterstone's on Piccadilly, and the V&A - the garden and pool in the centre were lovely