Does anybody know London and can help me?

[cloudyrainbow]

I'm taking my 6yo to London on Monday - there are a few things I want to do but I don't know the best order to do them in and can't work out timings etc. So stressful! Everything needs booking because of COVID so can't just go with the flow.

I have ADHD and dyspraxia and I'm bloody terrible at organising things, working out directions and how long things take, so would really appreciate some help if possible!

We'll arrive at London Victoria at 11am.

I've promised we'll go to:

The Science Museum
Terrible Thames boat trip, at Tower Bridge Quay
Hamleys

If there's time and fits in location-wise with the above, we'd be interested in going to any of the following:

Natural History Museum
Diana Memorial Playground
Buckingham Palace (to see the guards)

Would anybody in the know be able to write out a rough itinerary for me, please, so I know what times to book, in which order? Never been to any of the museums so I don't know how much time you'd normally spend there. I have a train ticket that includes both tubes and buses. Also, any recs for lunch? I might need to book this in advance too.

Thanks so much in advance!

[cloudyrainbow]

I'd much rather visit Harrods, tbh. Let me see if I can find some grim looking pictures of Hamleys and some amazing ones of Harrods (hopefully they sell Trolls/ LOL Dolls there, though I'm guessing it'll all be a bit more naice), and see what she says

[cloudyrainbow]

And thank you everybody for your brilliant advice & well wishes! I'm sure we will have a lovely day. Hope you all have a great start to the summer holidays also much appreciated.

[Katekarate]

Does Harrods still have the pet store? It’s cruel and cute at the same time

No they closed this down a few years back.

OP Science museum and Hamleys will be plenty, because that gives you time for lunch/travel and just have a look around

[Clymene]

Oh that's a shame but it does mean you're a bit less pressured. You can walk up to Kensington Road and go to the Diana Playground and have lunch there then go back to Kensington Rowd and get the number 9 all the way to Piccadilly Circus. And you can stop off at Harrods on the way and go to their much superior toy department and look at the windows in Harvey Nicks and then get back on the bus to go to hamleys.

[Katekarate]

Harrods toy department is fun. You can easily do science museum then walk through Hyde park to harrods and that would be a nice day out.

[Getoutofbed25]

We have just done most of these places, I’d do both museums, we were there this week and they were very quiet, they were letting people in without tickets, we walked to Hyde park between the 2 for lunch, I’d PE able have an early lunch and be ready to do both. You could then go to Buckingham Palace, but there was no changing of the guard this week, to be honest we found the London Eye the highlight of our trip. Ticked 2 for 1 with a train ticket, if you go to National Rail big days out. Queues were small and fast moving. If you use the underground it’s fairly quick to get places, under 11s free and adults just tap debit card.

[Clymene]

And then you can get the Victoria line straight back from Oxford Circus to get your train home

[LIZS]

Do boat trip first, then to South Kensington for museums, walk to the playground and then bus along to Oxford Circus and Hamleys. Agree it is a lot in one day though.

[rose69]

Hi, I think you can do those things. From Victoria - district and circle tube to South Ken for the museum. Then Back to south Ken tube onto the picadilly line for picadilly circus. Walk up regent street for Hamleys. Turn right out of Hamleys and walk up to Oxford Circus tube and go eastbound to bank. You could then change There onto district and circle for tower gateway which is nearest the boat stop.

[MayflowerMaisie]

The boat trip is only 45 minutes, but you need to allow yourself a decent amount of time to get to and from the Tube station.
We arrived in London at the same time as you for 1.45 sailing.
We had lunch on the quays. By the time we’d been to the show and walked back to the tube we ready to get back on the train at 4.
We’ve done those other things, so didn’t feel the need to cram everything in, and it was far too hot for schlepping around.
If I had to fit one more small thing I’d probably do Buckingham Palace.

[VerySmallPears]

If you do go for the Diana playground, factor in waking time at tired 6yo pace. It’s not a long walk for an adult, but at that age I took scooters for the DC as it was a very slow walk back to the tube afterwards, otherwise.

[rose69]

Or if Hamleys first. Victoria line to Oxford Circus. After Hamleys Picadilly line to South Ken. After museum district and circle lone from South Ken to Tower Gateway.
Hope you have a great day

[bonbonours]

Another one here who would easily spend a whole day in the science museum! The boat trip looks great but it seems too much to do as well as the museum.

[MayflowerMaisie]

Agree about Hamleys, I always overheat and feel
Incredibly claustrophobic in there… it feels so tall and narrow. Plus, really overpriced.
Harrods is much more spread out, and so much more to see even for children. Plus, the ice cream sundae bar there is amazing!
Staff are always so good there too! You expect them to be snooty, and they’re not - just really friendly and welcoming.

[CoronaPeroni]

I would suck up the cost and get to London with the commuters, so Hamley's when they open and get to the Science Museum for 11.30. Then lunch on the go or by the Thames if nice then afternoon at Kensington Gardens for Diana Memorial. I think everywhere will be rammed so best not to try to do too much.

[rose69]

If you succeed in Harrods over Hamleys you can cut out a lot of tube travel. I wasn't overly impressed by the Diana playground and it's over the other side of the park so quite a long walk from the museums.

[Nanasueathome]

@KittenKong

I don’t like Hamleys at all - I think it’s the lack of windows (I feel disorientated, and it’s often crowded) so do bear that in mind! Is it really the worlds biggest toystore?

I feel the same about Hamleys
No windows, very dark inside
Not always a good selection of toys. Tends to have bits of everything but not much choice per brand
Harrods is much better

[Stuffragette]

You don't need to go on a posh boat trip. Get the Thames clipper which will take you along the Thames for half the price

www.thamesclippers.com

[anastasiakrupnik]

The Science museum can swallow time (we went yesterday, kids 4 & 7), and lots of it can be dull and tiring, so it's a good idea to plan what she really wants to see and head straight to it. The ground floor alone is more than enough. Wonderlab (top floor) is best bit for kids but needs prebooking with an admission fee - we spend 2 hrs in that bit. The pattern pod is nice if you don't do Wonderlab or IMAX (20min free pre-book session) - not amazing but annoying to NOT have a ticket if they see it and want to go in, iyswim. The cafe and gift shop is also excellent!

Then depending how much time you have, you could either catch a no 9 bus (a standard bus but known to be a good sightseeing route!) to hamleys (30mins door to door)
or
break your journey by getting off the no. 9 at hyde park corner, walking to buckingham palace, maybe relax in st James Park (the nicest park thanks to the lake and Pelicans with a small playground) then walk back up to Green Park station to get back on the bus.

That's a sensible amount of walking and travelling age 6, with plenty of time for museum, lunch and Hamleys (my kids would
LOVE hamleys, and not be impressed if i tried to sell them something else!).

Enjoy!

[Clymene]

the boat trip is sold out

[NuzzleandScratch]

Honestly the Harrods toy dept is rubbish, not sure if those mentioning it have been recently, but it's really small and disappointing. Agree Hamley's doesn't live up to the hype, but I took my dds there not too long ago, and they did enjoy the visit. There was someone dressed as a teddy dancing in the doorway, and various toy demonstrations in the shop, albeit for things that were way overpriced, but still! It was also nearly empty, so no overcrowding issues.

[HunkyPunk]

Have a lovely day, op. Also I'd keep trying the boat trip, there might be cancellations due to the pingdemic!

[korawick12345]

No it isnt

[korawick12345]

@Clymene

the boat trip is sold out

No it isn’t

[chesirecat99]

Geographically, everything is quite close apart from the boat trip.

I would start with the boat trip (20 mins on the District line from Victoria). Then head to the Science Museum (20 mins on the district line). Hamleys is open until 8pm so I would go there last (District line to Victoria, Victoria line to Oxford Circus).

I don't think you will have time for any more than that. Your options to slot in one or more of the other things if you have time are:

The NHM is next to the Science Museum.

The playground is 20 mins walk across Kensington Gardens from the museums (it is no quicker by public transport), past the Royal Albert Hall and Albert Memorial, Kensington Palace. You could also stop off and feed the parakeets in the park that eat from your hand. After the park, it's a few stops on the Central line from Queensway to Oxford Circus for Hamleys.

You will be too late for the changing of the guard but you could watch the dismount ceremony at 4pm at Horseguards Parade (10 mins tube from Tower Hill to Embankment on the District line again and a 10 minute walk). It would make more sense to do the Science Museum then boat, in that case, as you would be doubling back on yourself otherwise. It would be very tight though. You could walk to Hamleys afterwards or hop on a bus. Alternatively, you might catch them en route from their barracks at Hyde Park Corner/Wellington Arch, (around 3.30/5pm ish). The pedestrian crossings have a special "horse crossing" light Hyde Park/Kensington Gardens are next to each other so you could go after the museums/playground.

If you just want to see the guards and Buckingham Palace, you can walk from Victoria (10 mins) when you arrive in the morning, then walk to St James Park station (10 mins) to get the District line to the boat trip.