London with a 5 year old girl

[pollylocketpickedapocket]

Planning 3 days in London with my dd who will be 5.
Looking for ideas to make it amazing. We are staying on the circle line but prepared to go anywhere for something great.
I’m already thinking a museum, diana memorial playground and a child friendly show, west end or otherwise, the later is a bit iffy at the mo.
Hit me with hidden gems and unique experiences!

Olympic park at Stratford was always a great hit with our two. There are several park areas, a climbing wall, lots to see. It's right next to the shopping centre too so lots of places to eat.

The fountains are great if it’s warm and if they’re open. Kings Cross Granary Square, Somerset House, More London by Tower Bridge and Appearing Rooms at the South Bank are the ones my DC enjoyed.

When you’re planning, use tfl.gov.uk or the Citymapper app to check what’s where & don’t try to pack too much in.

These ideas are brilliant, fancy battersea park snd the south bank

Remember it's often quicker to bus (or even walk) than it is to take the tube. If you are going in summer especially you do not want to be going down a couple of escalators into a deep level tunnel with a lot of walking through to get on a hot train for a few minutes before walking half a mile (slight exaggeration, but some of these underground's do have a lot of walking) at the other end to get out!!

@activitythree

Remember it's often quicker to bus (or even walk) than it is to take the tube. If you are going in summer especially you do not want to be going down a couple of escalators into a deep level tunnel with a lot of walking through to get on a hot train for a few minutes before walking half a mile (slight exaggeration, but some of these underground's do have a lot of walking) at the other end to get out!!

Yes! Great tip!

Science museum/British Museum
Sky Garden
Cable cars, fantastic at night too
Boat to Greenwich

Loads more but they're the ones that strike me straight away

@PseuDenim

Covent Garden is fun if the street performers are back (take some money to donate, she can put it in their hat!); also the South Bank, street performers there too plus carousel etc; Trafalgar Square; Definitely a ride on an open topped bus; what kind of food does she like? Could go for dim sum in Chinatown?

We do tend to favour Italian food- my dd has a peanut allergy so we’ve avoided Chinese food so far.

@Dozycuntlaters

Science museum/British Museum Sky Garden Cable cars, fantastic at night too Boat to Greenwich

Loads more but they're the ones that strike me straight away

I’ve heard of the sky garden, is that fenchurch? Where are the cable cars!?!

The Sky Garden is great and free if you book in advance.

Ooh cross post!

Depending on your budget, a kid friendly afternoon tea can be so much fun too.
www.thelondonmother.net/childrens-afternoon-tea-london/

As others have said, plan, but don’t put too much in it. Have a contingency plan for wet weather. Mine at that age enjoyed the South Bank, and the street food market, if it is open, is good for lunch. On the way back, instead of rushing for the train, we would eat at Euston station - the American diner is good - and went for a later train, when it was less busy. This made the difference between tired and hangry kids, and ones who were full, tired and happy, and chatted quietly about their day on the way home.

Closest tube to The Sky Garden is Monument.

The cable cars are near the O2 in North Greenwich - not far from Stratford, where the Olympic Park is. If you were out that way you could also have a ride on the DLR.

You might find this useful for planning walking routes round Central London, & look out for the big black & yellow maps all over the place. They’re a big help.
content.tfl.gov.uk/walking-times-and-steps-shops-attractions-west-end.pdf

[quote AdriannaP]Depending on your budget, a kid friendly afternoon tea can be so much fun too.
www.thelondonmother.net/childrens-afternoon-tea-london/[/quote]
I was actually looking at the peppa pig one, although she’s outgrown peppa it still looked good although £££££
I’ll have a look at the others as reviews were mixed.

South Bank buskers/jugglers (near the National Theatre and London Eye) probably more fun for a five year old than the Covent Garden ones because the ones at CG put on a full half hour show which she might get bored by and are surrounded by a crowd of tall adults, whereas the ones on the South Bank it’s easier to just look at their act for as long as she wants, drop a coin in the hat if wanted and walk on by.
Street food market behind the Royal Festival Hall is good, because you can eat inside if you want to and there are lots of clean loos to use and wash your hands afterwards.

These have already been mentioned, but at that age my DD used to love the Science Museum, especially the bubble show, and the Transport Museum in Covent Garden.

She may be a bit young for staying up so late but when dd and I last went (last Jan), I booked a table for us at Hutong in the Shard. You may wish to avoid if you have a peanut allergy but see what else you can book for dinner or lunch in the Shard. It is a bit pricey but you don’t have to go overboard. Dd loved the view and the lights and the lift and the loos are amazing.

A few years back I took three 5year olds to London they loved - walking along the river, boat ride, open top bus rides (meant we could see a lot more of London and can be used for 24 hours - I used tesco vouchers for this), natural history museum, science museum, they loved all the parks, two of them loved the tube. Buckingham Palace was very underwhelming for them.

@mindutopia

She may be a bit young for staying up so late but when dd and I last went (last Jan), I booked a table for us at Hutong in the Shard. You may wish to avoid if you have a peanut allergy but see what else you can book for dinner or lunch in the Shard. It is a bit pricey but you don’t have to go overboard. Dd loved the view and the lights and the lift and the loos are amazing.

Oh I love the shard, went when it first opened!!