Best age to take kids to visit london?

[Shopperami]

Looking at taking DC to London. When is a good age would you say?

We have take. Ours to all don since they were babies, using various types of carriers over the years. We do, however, live about an hour away by train, which is probably easier than if you need to stay etc.

With little ones we have been to the Science museum, NHM and taken them to see things like Buckingham Palace and Big Ben. DS1 is now six and loves the museums, Lego store etc, and over Easter wants to go to St Paul’s and climb the Monument.

Depends what you’re doing really. I took my 6 month in for a KIT day and hated it as after 6 months of mat leave I really noticed the air pollution and found it hard going on my own with the buggy.

At 21/2 we took my toddler to the theatre and she loved the tube, the show etc. We didn’t take a stroller so my husband ended up doing quite a bit of carrying but it was a toss up between a bit of carrying versus carting the buggy on the tube.

Not sure when we’ll go again as I don’t fancy trying to do a toddler and a baby but once the baby is ok to be left with grandparents, I’d like to do the musesms with the older one.

Just before Christmas, Gdcs of 2 1/2 and 3 1/2 thoroughly enjoyed a trip to the Nat. Hist Museum, but it was kept quite short, and I gather they enjoyed the bus trip (front seats on top!) just as much.

We took ours recently (6.5yrs and 4yrs). They loved it but the 4 year old particularly found it exhausting! But they’re very keen to go again. We did Hamleys (will try to avoid this next time!), Buckingham Palace, Horse Guards Parade, St James Park, South Bank and had a play at the fountains behind Kings Cross. This was spread over a couple of days and was plenty!!! To be fair we were all knackered by the end but had a great time.

When they’re out of prams and comfortable with walking a fair distance because prams in London are a nightmare. I took mine for the first time when they were 5, 6 and 7. They loved it.

My 9 year old ds isn't so keen on trips to London because of the walking. Even if you try to minimise walking, we end up walking a lot. If your dc don't mind walking then you'll be fine. My dd' s on the other hand, love going to London. They're 11 and 13. We took them when they were still in buggies. I would always go with dh so we can negotiate stairs, etc.

I was 8 when I first went and hated it - I'd say 10.

Any age can be fine - we've taken DD several times at different ages. We had a surprisingly good trip to do the tour at Buckingham Palace with 2 6 year olds and a 4 year old. I worried they'd be bored but the audio for children was very good.

Don't try and squeeze too much in to one day and try to plan things in the same part of London. Museum of London has some good displays on Stone Age, Roman London as well as the Great Fire, and also a digital display that DD loved. You can combine that with a walk to see the Monument and a potter along the Thames.

We live in London so my daughter has been going since she was tiny.
It’s easier to get around during the week days (providing its term time) as the tourists do take a lot of space up- sorry!!
Lots of free activities for under 3s, a boat trip down the Thames starts at around £11.
Most museums are free and suitable for all ages; Docklands Museum, Curry Sark, Museum of Childhood, and Geffrye Museum are quieter than Natural History and Sciene Museum.
Hyde Park has a fantastic play area- free
Regents Park has a lovely playground- free
Little Angel Theatre- plays for children, typically around 30-40mins long.
You can get a canal boat from Camden that takes you into London zoo, under3s are free and I have a feeling you can hire buggy’s from the zoo, but I may be confusing that with somewhere else.

Wouldn’t recommend the rain forest cafe, expensive tourist trap and food is shite.
Wouldn’t suggest oxford street to anyone at anytime.
London eye is a massive waste of money also.

But generally as long as you are prepared, it’s a great place to visit for any age.

We took DS to nhm when he was 3 I think. He loves London and we go a couple of times a year (fairly close). Haven't braved it yet since dd arrived (4months) but planning on taking them both soon.

Not sure what some folks find so off putting. Plenty of people live in big cities with children