Help me plan my day trip to London

[BigRedBoat]

Main purpose of the trip is to go to the natural History Museum but looking for suggestions of the best way to get around, where to have lunch and any other things to fit in if we have time. Me, my mum 4 year old dd and baby dd (with pram). Arriving into Waterloo mid morning (weekday), leaving from Victoria around 3.30. I was thinking it might be easier to walk to the museum from the nearest underground with step free access to avoid taking the pram on the escalator but not sure if it's a bit far?

I can't manage all day with a sling and carrying all the stuff we need so the pram is an essential.

Is there no way you can get both trains to and from Victoria? It's not such a walk from there .

Actually - it's still 30 min walk - excuse me! I think I'd just get an uber to minimise wasted travel time.

We walked from Victoria, can you get the train to victoria?

Another alternative is if your train to Waterloo stops at Vauxhall (stop before) change there, pick up the Victoria line to Victoria then change there for district and circle.

I've already booked the ticket, it was much cheaper to go into Waterloo and out from Victoria. Waterloo is the only stop in London so cant get off at an earlier stop as a pp suggested. I don't think I'd feel comfortable taking the baby in a cab without a car seat, I might take the sling then at least baby can be safe on the stairs/escalator and I could fold the base of the pushchair and carry that with one hand and get my mum to hold the empty carrycot, I just can't carry her all day in the sling without my shoulders hurting, especially as my changing bag is a backpack and will be well stocked!

I'm guessing you probably have a stroller type buggy around from your 4 year old.. I would dig that out and the sling. Fold and carry if easier on tube stairs or likely someone will offer to help and you'll be sorted anyway. I found with a maclaren people always offered to help me

The cafe in the nhm is nice, there's also a packed lunch area - if it's nice there's outside space too. If you have time the science museum and v&a are right there. There's a bus to Victoria if that helps, the tube is hit or miss with a pram, getting better so check out the latest accessible map on the tfl website, but bus may be easier (and free for your mum if she's older)

Is your train time from Victoria fixed? It’s not very long at all if your train leaves at 3.30pm.

Assuming you arrive into Waterloo around 10-10.30 it will take you over half an hour and at least one change of tube line to get to the museum.

anniehm she's 63, not sure if that's old enough? We can splash out on bus fair if need be thought

We've done nhm with a 2.5 year old, he absolutely loved it (another dino fan) and will be going again in April when he is 4.5. He wasn't interested in the science museum last time but might be this time. We always stay in a hotel near Earl's court tube for the step free access and the walk to nhm is perfectly doable. You'll have a great time!

Just use the bus!

211 from Waterloo to Sloane Square, change there on to the C1 which will take you to the museums.

C1 from the museums takes you all the way to Victoria

Or, if your ticket lets you use an earlier stop, get off at Clapham Junction and 345 bus to South Kensington tube station

You can get the Jubilee line from Waterloo to Green Park (lifts at both stations), then a 14 bus from outside Green Park station to South Kensington.

We used to go to the dinosaurs regularly when ds was small, you can take a buggy on the tube, I’ve never been stuck, there is always someone to help with steps etc . Go straight to the dinosaurs, then head next door to the science museum and go to the basement where there is an area for prep schoolers with water play etc. I would take a packed lunch to save time, you can always go for coffee and cake if you find you have enough time.

Are the Green Park lifts definitely back in action? (They've been closed for maintenance)

I didn’t see any lifts in operation at Green Park when I was there last week. Best to check.

However according to TFL the works should be complete by now.

I took my kids to the nhm at those ages and they loved it (my eldest was a big dinosaur fan). We took a buggy on the tube with little effort, just carried it on the few steps, generally people offered to help if I was alone.

I would take a packed lunch. If it's a nice day then there are some play fountains at the V&A which are close and a nice spot for lunch (but take a change of clothes for your 4yo as they will get wet).

15 minutes to walk from South Ken tube to the NHM? Err, only if you walk very slowly.

More like 5, I'd have said. And I walked that route every day for years when I worked locally.

However, the TFL journey planner gives Jubilee Line to Green Park then no. 14 bus to South Ken as the best step-free option. That sounds reasonable to me.

As ByeByeTrain pointed out 👆upthread, I've just realised!