Looking for half term London destination suggestions

[BarkandCheese]

I want to take DD aged 11 for a day out in London over half term, but I'm stumped for somewhere new to go. We live in Kent an hour away from London by train, so over the years we've done many day trips and a short break. To date we've done-

All the big museums (NHM and SM many times)
London eye
Tate
National gallery
Kew Gardens
Welcome collection
Diana playground
Harrods
Ripleys believe it or not
Museum of London
Sea life centre

She's not really animal mad and I'm not zoo mad so I don't think I want to bother with London zoo, I've vetoed the London dungeons up to now because of her age and I'm still not sure she'd like it (and frankly neither would I) and I doubt she'd know who 95% of the people in Madam Tusards (sp?) are so that's not really worth the entrance fee. She's also a bit over things aimed specifically at primary aged children as they seem mostly too young for her now.

Wise mumsnetters, all suggestions would be gratefully received.

Greenwich:

The park. The observatory. The Meridian Line. The Royal Naval College (Museum.) The Cutty Sark.

The Tower of London
Tower of London Museum
St Paul's and the Whispering Gallery
Hampton Court (can get a boat up the river to it and train back)

Boat up the Thames to Greenwich : Royal Observatory and the Maritime Museum, also the Old Royal Naval college have recently opened their restored painted hall/ceiling to the public, Greenwich market, Cutty Sark, a fan musuem, cable car.

Camden market

Matinee performance of a musical?

Canary Wharf is good to see on weekends - lots of bars, pubs, cafes, restaurants, kids activities (outdoor and indoor), and of course the skyscrapers. You could take the ferry from London Bridge to make it a bit more special.

Base the day around the City:
Climb The Monument
Visit Brick Lane/markets
Bank of England Museum
Book up Sky Gardens
Boat trip along Thanes

I echo suggestions for the Tower of London - you can get a boat from the London Eye to the Tower. If you go to Greenwich there is a tunnel that goes under the Thames from close to the Curry Sark that you can walk through

*Cutty Sark! Thanks autocorrect

Greenwich/Canary Wharf. Cable car at North Greenwich. Thames clipper from central London. If you want somewhere else head onto Stratford to the Olympic park. That should keep you busy!

Canary Wharf is good to see on weekends

This seems like a bizarre suggestion (I'm writing this as someone who works in Canary Wharf). It's two underground shopping centres and some office buildings. Is this what 11 year olds are into?? Surely there are much more fun/interesting places to go in London?

If you haven't been to the Tower of London, that's a must see surely. Make sure you get there early and go to the Crown Jewels first (as the queues for this get VERY long during the day). Then have a walk over to St Katherine's Dock, then walk over Tower Bridge towards Butler's Wharf and walk West along to Borough Market, Shakespeare's Globe and the South Bank. Tons of decent places to eat/drink along here although everywhere will be busy during half term so be prepared for some crowds.

Greenwich, as already mentioned, is a fun day out. Standing with one foot on each side of the Greenwich Meridian line never gets old.

There's also a ton of free activities happening in Victoria Park that week as part of the All Points East festival. It will be huge:
www.allpointseastfestival.com/info/nbhd/

Thanks for the suggestions, I’m particularly liking the idea of the boat to the Tower of London or doing the city. The cable car is unfortunately a no go, DD is terrified of them.

Forgot to say we’ve seen almost all of the musicals suitable for her. We usually do one for her birthday.

@HundredMilesAnHour - you ever been there on a weekend? It’s when the families come out in force. The fountains, the ferry terminal, Thomsons Reuters Plaza, Canada Square, and Jubilee Square are all transformed. There’s also the part of Canary Wharf across the water Morgan Stanley where people live all the way to Mudchute — there’s often quite a lot going on in terms of festivals, fairs, kids activities.

Greenwich - take river bus (not tour boat) from by Tate, there's the maritime museum and the observatory

There's a museum at the Bank of England which gets good reviews. Also going up the Monument if you're both fit. The Sky Garden is free to visit but has to be booked.
I'd take an 11 year old for a spot of retail therapy as well. I was very impressed by the H and M in Regent Street when I was in recently and then you can have a stroll down to Piccadilly Circus and Trafalgar Square.

Get the DLR to or from Greenwich, driverless train, sit at the front.

tower of london has horrible histories show on over half term - would definitely recommend that. You can make a whole day of it.