You have 7 hours in London with a six year old...

[itslondontime]

What would your plans look like?

We arrive and leave from kings cross, I've been to London but not with kids, 6 year old has never been.

Extra points for step by step plans. We arrive at just after 10am, we'll probably get a picnic for the train home, so just lunch to cater for in London.

The big museums are my idea of hell on busy days - but YMMV.

Number 9 bus is almost always still a routemaster with an upstairs deck if that appeals (and goes along past the gates of Kensington Gardens, opposite the Royal Albert Hall, if you are headed down there). I love it and much prefer it to the South Kensington underground tunnels.

Depending on where else you go, I also find the Emirates Airline interesting. Not as good as the proper 'up high' views but still a great experience.

It may be worth looking up some of the normal playgrounds where you can divert to have a quick swing or slide, nothing very unusual but appreciated. Here, for example: www.royalparks.org.uk/parks/victoria-tower-gardens/things-to-see-and-do/horseferry-playground
I have a feeling this one has a fantastic river view as well, a friend had a little one in the buggy who wanted to go just to stand on a bench and watch boats (even with the lure of swings behind)!

Most efficient walking tour:

secretldn.com/sightseeing-london-map-walking-route/

[quote StrictlyAFemaleFemale]Most efficient walking tour:

secretldn.com/sightseeing-london-map-walking-route/[/quote]
Bookmarking this for my next child-free trip. Not sure it would appeal to a 6yo though

And depending on many things (weather, where else you want to go, and the numbers in at once, that may make this much less fun) there is a very small attraction that has some things in it they may talk about for weeks (and some that you may have to steer 6 year olds past, in slightly worse taste) - see 'Current Machines' for what I mean.
novelty-automation.com/10_current-machines.htm
The're all based on old arcade machines. Minibreak and the pachinko machine winding around the room that allows you to win a Nobel Prize, as well as a '£1m dollar bill', are classic and loved by 6 year olds.

One museum only, some of the walls being suggested are huge for a 6 year old particularly the Thames tunnel.

Slightly different but you could go into the City, climb the fire of London monument, go to Museum of London, walk down over the 'wobbly bridge' to Tate. Always
Good fun in the turbine hall for kids.

6 hours really isn't very long!!!

Oh, 7 hours but assuming you need to build in travel back to KK.

At that age mine loved the natural history museum and a ride on a bus. Lunch at a chain as well. They loved the idea ofHamleys but we all found it a bit stressful. My second choice would be the Museum of London and a trip up the Moniment, wander about and see bridges across the Thames, St Pail's etc

I would second the Aquarium then a walk to St James Park too see the pelicans that live there and maybe a spot of lunch (there are cafes). The squirrels will eat out of your hand if you let them.

Maybe a stroll up to Buckingham Palace for a picture and to see the guards.

I would go with Tower of London / Tower Bridge then Thames Clipper to Westminster. Walk up from Parliament Sq along Whitehall past Downing St and Horseguards to Trafalgar Sq. There’s a big pizza express near TS opposite Charing X station as a lunch option or usual takeaways in the station itself.
Then through Admiralty Arch and down the Mall to the Palace.
That would be plenty to do.

Mine could have easily spent 7 hours in Hamleys at that age!

We arrive at 10, leave at 6.45. I'd like to be back at Kings Cross for 6, to give time for lateness and to buy dinner for the train home.

Natural History museum then science museum and then to Hyde park up the road all minutes away from each other.

Hamleys isn't worth it. They mostly sell branded toys that can be bought at any toy shop or Argos for usually cheaper the price or 'novelty' toys you can get at any temporary stand at the average shopping mall.
If you wanted to get a London specific toy - a model of a London Bus for example just go to any souvenir shop.

I guess they don't do this now for obvious reasons but they used to have a kids pack at the Natural History museum which comprised of a backpack, explorers hat, note pad, pencils. My DS when he was about 5/6 loved it and would sit and draw whatever took his fancy. It was the cutest thing.

@AsCoolAsKimDeal

For a six year old, a whizz round the animatronic dinosaurs at the Natural History Museum, lunch and the interactive bits at the Science Museum, then a walk through Hyde Park to the pirate ship ( the Diana Memorial playground - it's ace).

This! Add in Covent Garden (lego store or transport museum) if you need. This thread is making me miss living in London a bit

If you want to include Greenwich, remember there's a great Thameslink train service that runs direct from St Pancras to Greenwich (2 per hour I think) and only takes 25 minutes!

Last time we were in London we couldn't get near the Diana Playground. The queue was insane.

Also I queued for almost 40 minutes to get into Lego Store the other day. Although this is mostly due to them letting in smaller amounts of people at a time because of covid rules - but this makes it a much much nicer shopping experience and I am kinda hoping they keep this rule

If he's been sitting on the train for 2.5 hours I wouldn't do a bus tour, fun as they are. My itinerary would be

10am - into KX

Find tube, take Victoria line (cooler than most others!) to Green Park.

Walk through Green Park to see Buckingham Palace.

From Buckingham Palace, walk through St James Park admiring the pelicans to see Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament.

Walk over Westminster Bridge, and instead of going straight onto the South Bank, turn left into Belvedere Road, where there are lunch options from the cheaper end which is Ned's Noodles to the naicer pasta places and so on. There's also a Gail's bakery if you just want a coffee and a sausage roll. Belvedere Road is much quieter / less queueing than the South Bank options.

From there it is a stone's throw to the London Eye, which is worth a ride if finances and time allow. If not, keep walking down the South Bank to have a go on the carousel, watch the street performers, browse the book stalls, maybe get an ice cream. Depending on whether you did the Eye after lunch or not, you then have a short or long option back to KX.

Short option Walk along the South Bank to Waterloo Bridge, then up and over Waterloo Bridge, and spend the rest of the afternoon in Covent Garden, where there are more street performers, some great shops / market, and the London Transport Museum (pricey after the Eye though). Take the Piccadilly line back to Kings Cross when you've had enough.

Long option Walk further along the South Bank to the Millennium Bridge, where you can see the Tate Modern and Shakespeare's Globe. Walk over the Millennium Bridge for a superb view of St Paul's. From St Paul's, walk up to the Museum of London and go in if you have time - it's free and very child-friendly - which is right by Barbican station, from which you can get the Circle, Hammersmith & City, or Metropolitan line straight back to Kings Cross.

The Thames river cruise is absolutely fantastic - both kids loved it and so did we. Definitely one of the highlights of our trip and surprisingly the cheapest activity we did! You can also get tickets that offer joint entry to it and the London eye with a bit of discount, so that’s certainly something to consider. Other things the kids loved were a walk along Southbank - if the tide is low then there are little beaches you can get on and also a trip to Hamley’s was a big bit.

I think Covent Garden for transport museum followed by pizza in general square for lunch. Then the south bank to see Big Ben, London eye, the Thames. There’s always stuff going on, performers and stuff on the south bank. You could get an ice cream. Then a quick hamleys stop before home?
OR natural history museum, then a picnic in Diana playground and the play fountain in Hyde park, and then home.

Really can't see what a six year old would get out of seeing Buckingham Palace. We live in London and we've never been.

@AsCoolAsKimDeal

Really can't see what a six year old would get out of seeing Buckingham Palace. We live in London and we've never been.

My dd enjoyed seeing it as they had been doing "places of interest/landmarks" in her class so was happy to see one in the flesh. Also enjoyed chucking some coins in the fountain opposite, seeing the guards in their fuzzy hats. We didnt spend long there but it's well placed to see on the way to and from places.

Lunch at one of the many places in Granary Square/Coal Drops Yard, walk along the canal to London Zoo (if it’s not too far), double decker bus back?