London trip advice

[Itsamess8456]

I'm a country bumpkin and haven't been to London as a tourist since I was a young child. I've been over a couple of times for work conferences but have just been in and out.

I've got some leave next week and we've decided to visit as tourists.

I have no idea on what areas to stay in, what to see/do. We are staying for 4 days and need to book an Airbnb - but not sure even where to look.

Family consists of dh (he's already bagged the war museum) and 3 dc. Dd14, dd12, ds9

We want to see some classic touristy stuff but also some stuff off the tourist track.

If there is anything great you enjoyed - can you let me know?

Ah! Just seen someone post a similar question at the same time!

One tip is, go down the Thames on the Thames Clipper but don't bother with the tourist boats. They are way way pricier and the clipper is great! You can just tap in using contactless payment and if you sit out back you can see all the sights. You can get a coffee or a beer onboard and there's WiFi. Go from/to Embankmemt Pier to Greenwich.
You will see all the big sights including London Eye, Parliament, Globe, Tate Modern, Harry Potter bridge, St Paul's, Shard, Tower Bridge etc.

At Greenwich you can visit the Cutty Sark, Royal Naval Museum and the Royal Observatory in Greenwich Park from where you will get the most fabulous view of London. All are next to each other. Greenwich village has a great market and tonnes of family friendly eateries like Nando's, Honest Burger, Bills etc etc.
You could do most of a day there and then come back on the clipper to Embankment to go on London Eye, walk along the south bank which is great, or a short 10 minute walk across the jubilee bridges to Covent Garden and theatreland for dinner and evening.

Hope that helps plan one day!

I have DCs a similar age and we often go. Big things they like to do are: London Zoo, which is really spacious and has playgrounds and things. It always takes us the whole day. We also like the aquarium but it's only a couple of hours max but you can then walk down the South Bank see or go on The eye, see the Houses if Parliament etc. At the far end of the South Bank is The Golden Hind galleon you can visit. Lots of pretty kid friendly restaurants just past the South Bank Centre. That's another Day.

Boat down to Grenwhich and a wander round there with Cutty Sark and Planetarium is good.
Next time We're going to travel out to Harry Potter World.

I find Natural History Museum ok at best.

I always insist we visit the Sutton Hoo treasure but the kids are underwhelmed tbh. I'm not.

Museum of London, Science Museum and The London Transport Museum are supposed to be good.

They hated Covent Garden and The Lego Shop and Platform 93/4. Just too overwhelmingly crowded for not much payback.

The off the beaten track stuff we do tends to be based around stuff our family does I'm afraid.

If you do go to London Zoo, take lots of food and drink. The cafés are terrible. We usually have two small picnics during the day because it's nice to have a sit down and a drink

So much to choose from and lots of good ideas above.

Check out Time Out for inspiration.

Other ideas - a walking tour (there are good historical ones) , science museum, v & a, if you book via airbnb then try one of the "experiences", China Town... Look too ata website called Secret London for slightly off the beaten track stuff.

We went last week (lived there until very recently so not new "tourists" visiting friends etc) in terms of accommodation Airbnb was very expensive, especially with short notice so we stayed at the Premier Inn at Angel Islington which was great. Good central location, interconnecting rooms for the kids and the staff were lovely. We paid £240 for two rooms for two nights. If you have breakfast for a tenner the kids eat free which set them up for a busy day.

Went to the Tower of London last week and it was brilliant. No queues at all

Walk round the City, see the Shard, Sky Garden/Walkie Talkie, Gherkin and St Pauls. Stop off in Spitalfields, your DDs might like that.

The number 11 bus is great for sightseeing.

Love a Premier Inn me. I've just booked myself in at the one in Hampstead. Nice area, near tubes, nice shops and cinemas, quick trip into Central London on the Northern Line.

I think whilst there are fewer foreign tourists it would be good to do some mainstream touristy things like The Tower of London. We visited last year and it was blissfully quiet. Terrible for tourist revenue of course but great for us.

Also places like Harrods and the area around Westminster. Usually packed but much quieter at the moment.

Definitely the clipper it was fab. I always stay in one of the imperial hotels, really good value, really good big breakfast is included, around Russell Square. They are basic and a bit dated but always very clean. They tend to cater towards groups touring England from Europe and America. Sometimes there are school groups so the hotels will probably be quite quiet now.

I’m thinking of going for a few days soon as well, we love London as tourists!

I always recommend the premier inn at Putney, sooo cheap and the tube is jst across the rd

One of the cheapest ways to see London is at the top of a number 11 bus. It covers all the central London tourist spots which are easier to see from the top of the bus than n a crowd.

Children under 11 travel free and you can get a free Oyster zip for the older one

The cable car across the Thames, the Thames barrier and the aquarium are really good. Avoid planetarium and Madame taussauds

Natural History Museum is my daughter's favourite

Science Museum also good.

Museum of London and British Museum. Tower of London..

Take the boat (regular commuter boat) to Greenwich, the planetarium is great and has great views across to canary wharf. Take the DLR back (although last time i went we couldn't sit at the front and pretend to drive)

Wherever you plan to go check their website first - lots of the museums are free but want you to book in advance. Your itinerary for the trip may be dictated by when you can get tickets for things you really want to do. I would book those first & then plan the rest of the day around it. Eg if you’re doing the big museums do Harrods that day or if it’s Tower of London do the boat trip that day. You’ll see a lot more if you’re not spending everyday travelling across the whole city.
Download city mapper app. London is a lot more walkable than people think, you get to see unexpected stuff & avoid the tube (I’m a Londoner who hates the tube & always walk if I possibly can)

Do have a browse in the topic

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/london

(and consider asking idc if MNHQ would move this thread there, so that it can easily be found by others planning a visit)

If you think you might be going to the British Museum, in that part of town there is also the Postal Museum (inc the underground mail rail),

www.postalmuseum.org

and the Charles Dickens museum (if any of you have a literary bent) and the various UCL museums (unfortunately the Petrie is closed until September)

www.ucl.ac.uk/culture/

If you think you might like to explore by walking, I recommend this book:

www.amazon.co.uk/Andrew-Duncans-Favourite-London-Walks/dp/1847735398?tag=mumsnetforu03-21

The postal museum is more interesting/ fun than you might expect.

We went last week. One of the things I loved was going for a walk through the West End and Westminster after dinner. Saw all the main sights and it was lovely and quiet.

The sky garden is fun and free - you have to book though. I think the premier in at county hall is pretty reasonable for being on the south bank. Have a fun trip!

I'd get your accommodation sorted first and plan from there.

If you like Turkish food head up to Green Lanes in north london. Portions are huge, great atmosphere and it’s really good value. The best restaurants are on the stretch between Haringey Green Lanes overground and Turnpike Lane tube.

Hampstead Heath is lovely and makes a change from the city centre. You can walk up
parliament hill for a brilliant view of London.

Thanks All for the great advice. I found it difficult to book a hotel as we have 3 children but managed to get a lovely apartment with great reviews in Covent garden (also with an underground parking in the next street for £10 per day).

Thanks for all the great suggestions for visiting - I am planning my itinerary tonight!

So envious - love London . Enjoy!

My kids love a lot of the ideas above and going for Chinese food - China town is really fun