Express visit to London with dd. What are the Most Dos?

[BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz]

Dd is nine and we are going up to London next week arriving 11am day one and leaving 7pm day two. It's her first trip, and while I have been a couple of times before I've never gone with dc in mind.

I'm thinking natural history museum, she will want to see Buckingham Palace. Any great parks we can have lunch in/with stuff to do? Want to keep fairly central so didn't fancy going out to say Camden Market etc unless it's recommended. She isn't a shopper.

Must not most!!

If you're happy to do some walking...

Start on South Bank. Do the London Eye so that you get a feel for the landmarks. Then walk across the bridge to see the Houses of Parliament and Westminster Abbey. Up to Buckingham Palace and then to Piccadilly Circus/Trafalgar Square and Downing Street etc.

You have parks to stop at on the way and can stop for drinks/snacks. Depending on budget we have also taken DC in a black cab to see some of the sights. Hop On Hop Off bus could also be an option.

Lots of shows for the evening if you're interested in that sort of thing - Matilda, School of Rock etc.

I would use the second day to do one or two things well. So you could do the Natural History Museum, Science Museum, HMS Belfast, Tower of London etc.

Where are you arriving in to?

Kings Cross.

Kings x in itself is great. Walk up to Granary sq, lovely water fountains to run through. There’s usually something going on in Coal Drops yard too.
www.kingscross.co.uk/

Here’s lovely
www.royalparks.org.uk/parks/the-regents-park/things-to-see-and-do/gardens-and-landscapes/queen-marys-gardens

Where are you staying?

If you’re only going to one market stick to borough market (have lunch there if you want). It’s between tower bridge and london bridge so you’ll cross those off too.

Camden market is actually walking distance from kings cross, but not worth it for a child.

This is brilliant thanks! Staying near Tower Bridge.

Borough market is fab! You can also see the
www.goldenhinde.co.uk/ There.

Walking from borough market to the London Eye is lovely on a warm day - really nice views across the river.

After you’ve been to the Natural history museum walk down to the V&A, if it’s a warm day have a paddle in their pools with a picnic from Pret. Then walk to Harrods food halls, my kids love it.

The most beautiful library here, just up from kings x
www.google.co.uk/search?q=wellcome+museum+library&client=safari&hl=en-gb&prmd=imnv&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwi4y43NvN3iAhXOQxUIHYSRAswQ_AUIEygB&biw=414&bih=622#imgrc=NLkStriAyXZW-M

Info on Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace is here.
changing-guard.com/visit-with-children.html

Look online of 2 for 1 offers that you can use with your rail tickets.

Don't fall into the trap of going everywhere by tube. The tube map isn't to scale and some of the stations in Central London are very close to each other and it can be quicker to walk between them.
content.tfl.gov.uk/walking-tube-map.pdf

Imho you can't take a 9 year old to visit London without stopping off at Hamleys. 🙂

This is a bit further out so a back up idea.

Take a Thames clipper to Greenwich from near the Globe. There's the park, Naval Museum, Queens House and Royal Observetory. North Greenwich is the next stop on the clipper and you could take the cable car to Excel.

The science museum followed by a science afternoon tea near by was a big hit with my 8 year old as was the Lion King

Greenwich can be done the other way round. Do the South Bank walk and cross the Millennium Bridge from the Globe. Take the DLR from Bank so DD can "drive" the train and enjoy the views, then take the clipper back to the Eye.

Sorry to jump on to a thread but doing similar in a few weeks. I’m a wheelchair user though so some of these things won’t work. I plan a day for purely sightseeing but haven’t quite sorted out how best to do it. Was thinking of a hop on bus and would also like to get a boat. Any ideas of the best way to structure this? Do these buses go to borough market?
Again apologies for jumping on this but means I don’t need a separate thread about the same thing.
We are going for 3 full days so am also seeing Matilda and lion king. (Dd is 9) and science or transport museum. Am I missing anything memorable. Is there a cable car somewhere?

If you value your sanity and your relationship DO NOT go the the worlds biggest Lego shop or the FOUR STOREY DEPARTMENT STORE dedicated to M&Ms.

I'm still in counselling. Don't be me.

I would recommend getting the CityMapper app on your phone, it makes buses a doddle as it has live routes, times, bus stop info etc, you see so much more than on the tube.

If you go to Hamleys lock up your credit card, its amazing but a hard sell going on with lots of staff out on the floor demonstrating the toys.

Just placemarking as we are going later this year and I need ideas!

Thanks for the warning about Lego shop- was thinking of going! My lo won’t be interested in hamleys. She has autism and not into toys that much really so I can steer clear of that. Think she would like the rainforest cafe though. Are there any other experiences that you think are must dos?

I don't think dd would be able to handle Hamlets- she spent 40 mins just trying to choose a toy from the toy shelf in Home Bargains! She would be totally overwhelmed.