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!

@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.

The boat trip is only available at 2.45 and 4.45

I would definitely recommend getting lunch at the science museum unless you take packed lunch (which you are allowed to do and eat it in there, unless things have changed). Cafes in there were decent last time I went.

We did the TFL boat trip a few years ago and it was brilliant. If you can get on one of those instead it’s cheaper.

Lots of hate for Hamleys on here. I loved it as a kid and also loved taking my own DC there.

The boat trip is sold out @korawick12345 I cross posted. Never mind, the rest is still helpful, hopefully.

@chesirecat99

The boat trip is sold out *@korawick12345* I cross posted. Never mind, the rest is still helpful, hopefully.

No it isn’t. Don’t know where people are getting that idea. It was available at 2.45 and 4.45 and is now sold out at 2.45 but available at 4.45

I find it funny people say they don't like Hamleys for being dark and windowless when I feel that way about the Science Museum.

Hamleys is exactly what a 6 year old would want it to be, and has lots of toy demonstrations (again, more than the Science Museum..). The only irritation for me is the inflated prices, so their hard saved money doesn't go as far as it could, not that they would know aged 6.

South Ken Piccadilly line station is closed until March 2022, can’t remember why but it means that if you want to catch the Piccadilly line from the museums you need to go to the nearby Gloucester Road station.

If you go to the Diana playground, look out for the Elfin Oak while you’re queuing to get in. It’s like the Faraway Tree

@daisypond

Why don’t you just do a normal boat on the Thames run by TFL? They run really frequently. No need to pre-book. Just do a couple of stops. It won’t be a specialist trip but it’ll save you lots of money and you still get the “boat on the Thames experience” with good views of some sights.

The terrible Thames is a Horrible Histories production on the boat. It sounds incredible, aimed at children and adults and is only in London for a few weeks. I'm going next weekend with my DS7 and my friend with her DS7. Can't wait! The standard ones won't compare.

Looks like there are some tickets for the afternoon?

OP I’ve just checked and there is 1 adult and 1 child ticket for each of the 2.45, 3.45 and 4.45 boat trips

If you get the later ones it should be do able with Science museum and Hamleys (or ditch hamleys…)

2.45 and 4.45 only has one ticket but 3.45 has at least 2 left?

It's not letting me book 2 tickets for any of the times - but good point re cancellations, will keep checking!

No it isn’t. Don’t know where people are getting that idea. It was available at 2.45 and 4.45 and is now sold out at 2.45 but available at 4.45

The OP says she couldn't book two tickets, and if you try to do that for either time, it isn't possible using an adult and child combo.

Hamleys is hell for adults, heaven for 6 year olds. The demonstrators are fun to watch and it's exciting to take the escalator up to the top past floors and floors of toys then work your way down. Maybe you could treat her to a build a bear in a horse guards uniform as a souvenir if you are saving money on the boat trip? It's our go to gift for little visitors.

I would centre your trip around the parks/museums/playground if you can't take the boat, then Hamleys last of all when everything else has closed. You can walk through Kensington Gardens, Hyde Park, Green Park, St James Park between the museums, playground, Horseguards Parade & Buckingham Palace or hop on a bus if you get tired.

If the weather is nice, I would opt to eat in one of the park cafes rather than the museum. There are plenty of other diversions in the parks, Pelican feeding, parakeets, the Princess Diana fountain, Peter Pan statue, and pedalo boats.

I would centre your trip around the parks/museums/playground if you can't take the boat, then Hamleys last of all when everything else has closed. You can walk through Kensington Gardens, Hyde Park, Green Park, St James Park between the museums, playground, Horseguards Parade & Buckingham Palace or hop on a bus if you get tired.

If the weather is nice, I would opt to eat in one of the park cafes rather than the museum. There are plenty of other diversions in the parks, Pelican feeding, parakeets, the Princess Diana fountain, Peter Pan statue, and pedalo boats.

This all sounds lovely! I think (hope) it won't rain until much later in the day. Also maybe some people will have booked NHM spaces and not turned up, so could be worth a try as we're there anyway, I thought, depending on how long we spend at the Science Museum. All of the wonderland/ pattern thingys were sold out there except iMax, and my daughter does tend to steam through places quite quickly so really can't see us spending the day there

When I take DC1 into London, we usually arrive at Hamley's for the opening bell at 10am and spend 90 mins there. Then we walk down Regent Street and cut through Piccadilly to Fortnum & Mason to have lunch at the ice cream parlour at 12pm. Afterwards we catch the number 14 bus from outside F&M that takes us to South Kensington station. Then it's 10-min walk to the NHM or Science Museum for 2:15pm entry. We don't usually do both in one day though. You need at least 2.5 hours at either museum. Then we head back to the tube and grab a Pret for dinner and catch the train home.

Have fun. It's a great day out 😊

Where do you live? Could you do a trip another day?

I thought I was the only one who hates hamleys
It's been run down for years. Awful place

Buck palace is not that interesting for a 6 year old

The museums aren't that exciting either IMO. But natural history is beautiful building

Just do boat trip and something else on the south bank

Keep trying Wonderlab. It was sold out for Monday when I looked on Thursday and then had spaces when I looked again yesterday evening

(I’m taking my two DC there on Monday as it happens!!)

Hamleys is actually a bit grotty inside. It really isn't anything special

Science museum first, then hop on the tube over to Westminster to pick up the Thames Clipper. You’ll also see the Big Ben (bonus) and then get off at Embankment and jump on the Nakerloo line to Oxford Circus for Hamleys. Job done. You might even have time for a spot if lunch in Carnaby St/Soho

A hop on and off bus tour. Do Oxford Street when it goes near then a child's afternoon tea, the one at Kensington palace is very reasonably priced.

That sounds like you need to go to London for 4-5 days on a mini break like we did to squeeze in all that and arriving at 11am, it's nearly dinner time!!!

Love the idea of afternoon tea! Kensington Palace is fully booked though. Are any of these places near the Science Museum or Hamleys? She'd love the Willy Wonka one but £52 each 😬😬

www.thelondonmother.net/childrens-afternoon-tea-london/

I’d go on the boat trip, get lunch somewhere easy like Pret or Leon, then go to the Science Museum.

Canary Wharf (for the boat tour) and South Kensington (science museum) are opp sides of London so I would have lunch before you get on the tube if possible.

@Clymene

Cheaper tickets are usually any that arrive after 10am

Unfortunately on my train route, which also goes to London Victoria, so possibly same route as OP the cheaper, off peak trains are those which leave the local station after 10am, not arriving in London after 10am.

This is a bloody pain in the backside as obviously the further out you live, the later you arrive in London if you want/need to get cheaper ticket.