Day trip to London

[Okbutnotgreat]

Just that really, is now a good time to take a 10yr old to London for a day out. Mainly walking around though obviously train and tube to get there. Face masks definitely to be worn inside everywhere. She wants to see Buckingham Palace, the London Eye even though it’s closed and maybe have a wander on Oxford Street. Lunch out too if we find something in budget. Want to have a treat, we’d planned a couple of days in London pre Covid so this is a compromise.

Absolutely do it! London has zero tourists at the moment. It's really sad for the companies who own the attractions but as a tourist in your own city / country it is lovely.

We went to London Zoo last week. It was empty, so bad in terms of income for ZSL but ace as a visitor. We got back on the tube at5.15 on a weeks day and I was anxious about being caught in rush hour but got a seat on the tube with seats between us and other passengers. The London Eye reopens this weekend as well.

Oh really wow that makes me feel much better. I used to work in London and remember it as so so busy but have been a country bumpkin for years now and find it all a little overwhelming never mind the extra stress of covid. I’d love to take her on the London eye too so will look it up.

Yes, go now, it's so empty. We did Oxford Street, covent garden, soho etc. Some shops are open and cafes are very grateful for trade. National gallery is open but not sure what else. We enjoyed and empty DLR ride to Greenwich, walked to the park and had a drink overlooking the Thames.
There were far fewer people milling aorund than in the suburb where I live.

Something on TV yesterday re London Eye, Dungeons and Madame Tussauds re-opening, so you may like to check.

Apparently the London Eye reopens tomorrow though we won’t be doing it until we can use clubcard vouchers.

Would you all be ok with using the underground? That’s the only thing I’m unsure of but we would need to.

I think now is the perfect time to go to be honest. A friend went in at rush hour yesterday, she said it was empty. Quite a few not wearing masks but as long as you wear a mask, distance, carry sanitiser etc. I’m sure you’ll be fine. It will be the quietest you’ll ever see it! Remember as well a lot of places will be doing the Eat Out to Help Out scheme mon-wed throughout August.

The underground was the big thing for me.

I was scrupulous about sanitising my hands, tried not to touch the bars in the carriage and not touching my face. Obviously I also wore a mask. I still felt a bit uneasy about the tube but consoled myself that I was being as careful as I could.

definitely, i would
are the buses are good for what you want to do?

It’s amazing at the moment, I’ve lived in London for 25 years & I've never seen it so clean & quiet. Most of soho is pedestrianised too which is lovely. I think it’s a once in a lifetime opportunity to see London when it’s not full to the rafters. We took the tube at rush hour this week & train was still half empty. Enjoy!

Do you need to use the tube? Most trains go into Central London and you could walk to most central places from say, Euston. Or get a black cab if you have bags and the budget allows it.

I was worried about getting the tube and have only used it once, but there seemed little to worry about it. Have been to a few shops and the tube was far more distanced than them. There might be some busy times still but me and all London friends haven't found them yet.

Have you seen the walking tube map? It shows you the walking distance between tube stations .... very interesting as everything is much closer than most people realise!

I felt uneasy using the tube when it was dead empty. Couldn't wait to get home and change my clothes.

Now that it is busier again (last night the all seats were full, lots standing but not rush hour squashed, 7.30pm zone two) I'm even less keen.
But everyone is wearing masks and are mostly socially distancing on the platforms. Not so much at the barriers or on the escalators

Come to London! Virtually no tourists so this is the perfect time.

The tube is fine. Just wear your mask and have hand sanitiser in your bag. I manage to travel without touching the polls etc.

A Treasure Trail might be good as a contact free activity?

www.treasuretrails.co.uk/things-to-do/london

We've only been to Greenwich as it's within a driving distance for us but it was quiet and we enjoyed it. Very quiet.

This is all great thank you. We would be going to a kings Cross I think so would ideally need to use the tube otherwise we will run out of time. We have decided to go on the London Eye and just book online as it’s the ideal opportunity, fingers crossed it’s not too busy, might even add the river cruise. We’d like to visit maybe Hamleys and have a wander down Oxford Street then Trafalgar Square and Buckingham Palace. We will be walking lots but I don’t want to have to be dragging a knackered child as that’s not fun for anyone. Shame all our photos will be of us in face masks but I guess that’s break.

My advice is to go to the London Eye early in the day.

I would but I'd plan it to avoid using too much public transport, Buckingham Palace/South Bank is all very walkable but I'd probably give Oxford Street a miss this time. You could do something like this: walkli.com/guides/places/united-kingdom/london/1-day-london-itinerary/ but if you wanted something shorter you could start at Green Park and finish at BlackFriars with a short tube/train journey to Kings X at each end.

What about taking an open top bus rather than the tube?
www.bigbustours.com/en/london/social-distancing/

I work near Buckingham Palace.
I would start at Victoria station 10 minutes walk to BP then through Green Park to Picadilly circus, then down Regent Street to Oxford Street.

Meant to say i sometimes do that wslk after work

My friends worked throughout the worst of COVID and travelled on the tube, making a point of touching NOTHING, so getting up without touching the arm rest, avoiding poles etc. None have been ill.

I think it's a really good time to visit. London Eye is closed, as are alot of the attractions, but there aren't any crowds anywhere meaning you'll be able to get a really good look at Buckingham Palace, for example. We went for food and later for drinks in a bar. The staff were really welcoming. Felt lovely. And we got fab seats in the bar we were in (would not have expected them normally).

Definitely coming. Public transport is still very quiet so I wouldn't even worry too much about using the tube. Interesting article here that might reassure you for this period while it's still empty:
www.nytimes.com/2020/08/02/nyregion/nyc-subway-coronavirus-safety.html