Any Londoners / natural history museum buffs about ?

[dizzycatdance2]

Going to London tomorrow.

Arrive Euston at noon.

Plan
Tube to Covent garden to see street performers for a bit.

Tube to natural history museum.

Stay till it closes at 5:50

Tube to shad thames for a wander round ( unless anyone can suggest something better) then walk across tower bridge, we have tickets for the tower ww2 exhibition at 8:20.

Then back to Euston for 9;45 train.

Do you think we'll have time to do Covent garden before nat hist ?

If we book for "life in the dark" exhibit at the nat hist , what might be a good time ?
Last one at 5pm or
In the middle 3;15 or some other time ??

Advice very welcome !

Not many street performers in Covent Garden first thing in the morning. Get to NHM early before queue is epic. Do dinos first, then mammals. Then anything else you fancy. Especially the basement with the hands on investigating. Boat to tower bridge is fun and fills a bit of time if you want to go there anyway (tube from south ken to Westminster, boat to tower bridge).

Covent Garden/Leicester Square is perfect between 5-7pm. Street performers, look round Lego store, china town etc.

Thanks for the tip off Corlan, love the Xmas market on the Southbank!

So there will still be street performers in Covent garden in the early Eve ? That's good to know , thanks ,

We only arrive at Euston at noon so can't get to nhm early to beat the queues :-(

Don't worry about the queues, OP, you'll have an amazing day regardless!

Peak street performing time is early evening. I think there is an nhm queue update twitter account, which could be useful on the day. It may be a long wait, so wrap up warm. Queue is usually shorter at one of the alternative entrances. The big one by the tube tunnel is worst, so walk around the building.

The Darwin centre at the back of the museum is also excellent and uncrowded and has the nicest caff. If you are picnicking, use the schools area in the basement (where you can buy hot drinks and sandwiches). We go a lot, as ds likes rocks (which is also not too busy!)

Body works at Piccadilly might be of interest ?

Re Tower of London display. I walked past the Tower earlier this week as they were getting ready to start and the pavement was packed with people which made it painfully slow for pedestrians to get past. The entrance to the display is on the west side of the Tower (the side furthest from Tower Bridge) and they had closed off the riverside walkway in front of the Tower so the only route was via the road. If you are approaching from the Tower Bridge direction, consider walking on the pavement on the other side of the road (ie not the railings side) and cross over close to the entrance.

@plexie. We have tickets to walk through the torches at 8:20 pm, would your advice still hold for that ?

In case you missed it.
Pre book the life in the dark exhibition and you can queue jump at the front I think using the member entrance.

You'll be able to see how busy the pavement is when you get there. It might be quieter by 8pm. I walked past well before 5pm and the pavement on the north side was already 3 people deep which only left a narrow strip for pedestrians to shuffle past.

So if the pavement looks congested just cross to the other side and cross back further along. And make sure to go in the ticket holders' entrance and not the long snakey line for non ticket holders.

Thanks

Best room at the NHM is the "treasures" room just above the grand staircase
dinosaurs is looking very tired
in the dark was good (but we got in free)
The exhibits about explorers and collectors around the balcony of the great hall are well worth a read (and not crowded)

Thank you mumsnet !

Your advice made for a much better day than I could have planned.

Managed

Outside of st Paul's / exhibition of "techy" cars.

Walk through the giant HP wands and melinium bridge.

Tate modern

Tail end of a procession at the end of black friars bridge.

NHM, into the dark.

Covent garden street performers , I even got to "star" in one and was the recipient, to the delight / horror of my boys , of 5 pelvic thrusts , 3 hugs and a kiss ! (Result)

And finally Flaming torches at the tower.

A great (exhausting) day for all !!

Thank you to the power of mumsnet !

Yeay! Glad you had a fun day. Was the into the dark exhibition good? Was it suitable for younger children do you think?

Blimey, you packed in loads! Glad you had a great day, OP.