London for a beginner....

[gingajewel]

I need some help please mumsnetters! I have never been to London before and so me and the OH (who has also never been) are planning to take two DC (3 and 9) in October overnight. Please can i have some planning help! We are coming from the Midlands, would train be better/more cost efficient than driving? Are there any cheapish travelodge type places in the centre that would be worth staying in? Or is it better to stay in a hotel a bit further out of London with parking and catch the tube in? Once i get my head round this i can start planning our actual trip! Oh also money is extremely tight so the cheapest way to do this would be brilliant!

Transport museum in Covent Garden good for kids
Sky garden free but needs to be booked
Driving would be a mistake

We drive and park at Stanmore (top of Jubilee (grey) line) tube station. We're East Midlands. Parking is really cheap - £6 a day. Not sure if they still do it but used to do an extra day as an add on if you car didn't leave - think was something like £7.50 for the weekend. You can buy a visitors Oyster card online to take with you and It's about 40 mins from Stanmore to South Kensington.

I learned fairly quickly to stand the fuck out of the way or risk being at the sharp end of an annoyed commuter's tongue!

I found them all to be huffers and puffers. Where ever you were they were pushing and shoving without an “excuse me/please/thank you.” Manners cost nothing.

Just a few more thoughts:

• if you want a funky market then go to Camden market (Camden Town tube). It's close to King's Cross and Euston if you are getting back to the Midlands by train
• the suggested walking route from Buckingham Palace and then down along the Thames so you see so many of the iconic buildings
• given you're only here for a night, try to sleep as close the centre as possible. Of the places suggested: Covent Garden, Aldgate, King's Cross or Euston would all suit (as would lots of others)

- on the tube, go through the big gate with your children. They go free, you and DH will need a debit card each to get through.

• again, because of your quick trip, do lots of little things and outsides of places. So London Zoo is great - but I wouldn't do it this time, ditto a long boat ride to Kew Gardens, abut a quick boat trip down to Greenwich would be great.

Have a fab time and Stand on the Right!

With little ones, the trick is to pace yourself unless they are used to lots of activity and walking.

We loved the National History Museum and the British Museum.

We went to a (cheap ish) less popular show on evening.

And used tesco vouchers where possible. One year you could use them to pay towards the Tower, but I don't think you can now.

Mine also liked this book.

Teen and I have just come back from a day trip, so I found some of these hints very helpful. One thing I would add is to take a power pack for your phone as using map apps seems to use a lot of battery.
Can recommend a walk through Regents Park from Camden Market.

The transport museum in Covent Garden is great for that age range

One thing I would add is to take a power pack for your phone as using map apps seems to use a lot of battery.

It’s worth carrying a charger too, a lot of coffee shops will have sockets.