Visiting London with family newbie

[Newnamefor2021]

I haven't been to London for the best part of two decades and never with my husband and children. I'm at lost at how best to approach it.

1. On a budget
2. Family of six
3. We drive a van which makes parking a challenge due to height restrictions.

I don't mind staying outside if there is easy and not too expensive travel. How far does the tube spread out and how's the producing work? I looked it up and I'm really confused. Can I buy I pass for a day or two?

Any tips or tricks would be appreciated. Thanks so much.

You don't need to send off for the Zip photocards for the kids, that's for kids who live in London.

You can just get a young person's Oyster card at any station (those are for visitors).

An AirBnB with off street parking somewhere near a tube/Overground like Watford (or Morden or Ruislip or Dagenham or Hainault) is probably your best bet financially. Which direction are you coming in from?

@CrouchEndTiger12 it’s £99 a night with free parking. Although yes, can see it’s for a family of 6 so might not be as suitable.

[quote Chihuahuacat]@CrouchEndTiger12 it’s £99 a night with free parking. Although yes, can see it’s for a family of 6 so might not be as suitable.[/quote]
Oh wow. I live not far so I'd never need to stay there. I would have thought it was far more expensive!

Thanks everyone. You're amazing. Going to look into these ideas.

I am not skint skint but I probably by mumsnet standards I am as I have less than a grand in my savings account after the new van (have money in current account obviously). Worthwhile investment as our old van had done 124,000 and was starting to need work done.

As for the museums, yes I realise you pre-book, that's the appeal. My children struggle with crowds, noise etc, so while it will still be a challenge it's a lot less one than the usual. It's not so much waiting or standing in queues it's the while too much noise and people too close. Happy to wait for our allocated slots etc.

Thanks again everyone. Lots of ideas and recommendations. Major thanks to those suggesting car parks. I'll need to double check the height, 2.1 should be plenty but over 2 might work, but I'll measure it later. 😀

Going to look up rail cards and tube options outside London too. Again, thanks all, really helpful.

Richmond park seems a good shout, prices are good. Less than the train cost for us for a night anyway with breakfast and parking.

@CrouchEndTiger12 - yes I'm surprised, looks lovely and fairly inexpensive. Like I say less than the cost of the train for a night.

Where are you coming from op?

@Chimchar

We often go to London for a day trip. We have a van and park in Westfield shopping centre...height restriction is 2.1m. If you were staying somewhere overnight, you can leave your car for up to 72 hours there.

uk.westfield.com/london/access

You can get on the train or tube, or bus from there, or walk to Notting hill... you can get the kids Oyster cards at the station pretty easily.

Amazing. Thank you.