Where would you take DC in London?

[cheeseandcrackers]

I'm taking DS (8) to London for a day this week but because of train times will only be there for less than 5hrs. I was going to take him to the Science and/or Natural History Museums with a quick stop to see a landmark or two (big Ben?) but not sure what we'll have time for. He's never been before. How long are queues into museums? Is there anywhere else you would go? Thanks!

We spent a whole day in the science museum last week with a break for lunch. No queues but it was mobbed with school trips in the space section. It got quieter the higher you went. Of course half term will change things.

At that age, science museum trumped NH though because it's free do dash in to see dinosaurs. Dd got so bored of the other bits.
Open top bus tour if you want to see the big ticket bits?
The big stuff is more for adults than kids. We live in London and dd has never been very excited about them! You can easily do bloody ever in the science museum. If you have time, do go to Inamo for food.

I would love to go to inamo but don't think it's ds's thing. Thanks for the advice - we'll start off with science museum & pop in to see dinosaurs if we have time. I have memories of queuing for hours when I was a kid so glad to hear that isn't always the case but it is half-term..

Don’t bother with Big Ben - it’s under construction having essential repairs and it’s all covered up with scaffolding and plastic!
It’s going to take years apparently.
You can still see the Houses of Parliament and the London Eye from the Southbank though.
Or how about going down the Mall and seeing Buckingham Palace?
Piccadilly Circus / Leicester Square (the Lego shop and M&M world always seem to go down well)
China Town.
Trafalgar Square.