London with a toddler

[CleverQuacks]

Hi,
I am going for a three night break in London. I will have an 18 month old with me so looking for family friendly activities. We are going in November so weather is probably going to be cold/wet. I have never been to London so don’t know where to start!

Thanks

Mudlarks at the Museum of London Docklands has a soft play section for under 5s.
The Science Museum has sections specifically for preschool children. The Garden and The Pattern Pod would be the best.
Coram's Fields is a free 7-acre playground and park with a Pet's Corner, sandpit and cafe onsite. Coram's Fieldsis close to the British Museum and other attractions such as the Foundling Museum, so you could head there when he’s napping.
Kew Gardens is worth a little trip out from the centre. The paths around the gardens are smooth for buggies and most of the buildings have ramped access. There’s a good playground and child friendly cafe.
The pelicans in St. James's Park are fed fish at 2:30 p.m. each day. The park is quite big so you need to head for the opposite end to Buckingham Palace and they are fed from behind Duck Island Cottage, near Horse Guard's Parade. The pelicans know when it's time as they wait there and keep watch for the man with the fish. Throwing the fish out takes just 10 minutes or so, but it's fun to watch, and you're in a park so the kids can have some run around time too.
If you fancy a trip on a bus without paying for an open top bus tour, the RV1 bus from Tower Gateway to Covent Garden goes past many of the big sites taking about 30 minutes. It’s a great alternative if you think your toddler would like a trip on a bus but you don’t think they will sit still through a long tour.
There are loads of street performers at Southbank as well as restaurants and cafes with good views across the river. Just behind the Southbank is the Jubilee Gardens where toddlers can let off a bit of steam. There is a great adventure playground and lots of grass for a picnic and play.

If it is still there my DS loved the Rainforest Cafe. It is quite expensive but it might be good for dinner?

He also loved the Millenium Bridge because it felt wobbly. And trotting around Spittlefields Market just to look at things.

I think the risk is overdoing structured activity and child being overwhelmed.

For three days, I think I’d make sure I visited a good play area/park each day - Diana playground, Bishops Palace Gardens, Coram’s fields.

I’d probably centre myself in one area each day and do lots of free activities so I didn’t feel disappointed if I had to leave. Time enough for the big London attractions when a child is old enough to appreciate them.

Food Hall at Harrods or Hamleys.

St Paul’s Cathedral or another grand church, Synagogue, mosque or Gurdwara where little ones are very welcome.

Natural History museum to see dinosaurs ( although ours were frightened when very young). Science museum.

A Thames clipper trip to somewhere like Hayes Galleria for lunch and to look at the clock. The London eye.

I’d consciously avoid most paid for attractions.

Horniman museum and the London Aquarium are great.