Any tips for going to London with young kids?

[CastMeAdrift]

Going to London for a couple of days with DH and a 5 and 3 year old. I’m a bit nervous, especially as I’ve just read about the extinction rebellion protests starting today.

Any tips for traveling around London with kids? I’m terrified of us losing one or both of them!

We used the HOHO tour buses instead of the Tube when ours were little. Meant less walking, we learned a bit of history and the little ones got a rest whilst travelling around!

I think I used reins on the smallest and wrist straps on the other 2 for safety reasons. Kids had a little backpack each with their own drink and waterproof in.

What exactly are you worried about?

I guess I’m just worried about crowds and our concentration slipping and getting separated. Neither of mine would tolerate a wrist strap and I don’t have any. My youngest is a bit of a nightmare for wandering off and wanting his independence. Though obviously hand holding will be non negotiable. But it’s easy to get distracted. I was planning to write my mobile on their arms. It just seems that if you lose sight of them it would be like looking for a needle in a hay stack.

Also just looking for tips on getting around and maybe good places to eat around Covent Garden and southbank. Thanks for the tour bus idea blobby I’ll look into that

A lot of the tube stops have lifts which are better than escalators with young children. Always use the toilet when there is one, as you can end up walking around looking for them which isn't fun with children. If there are protests stay away from Trafalgar Square and Westminster. The parks are great but take a towel and a chain of clothes because most have water and sandpits.

In Covent Garden, eat at Maxwells, Bills, Big Easy or Wahaca. At Wahaca, kids can build their own tacos www.wahaca.co.uk/propeller/uploads/2021/05/KidsMenu_General_241120_WEB.pdf
There’s another branch on Southbank, along with Strada and Las Iguanas which are my other two choices for dining with small kids.

Brilliant. Really helpful tips. Thank you

Make sure you use the luggage/family gates on the train/underground. I've seen people try and take small children through the turnstiles and then have them close on the child.

We just had a lovely day in London with 5 & 4 year old on Thursday! No strategies as such, but I did make a loose plan that if anything were to happen DH takes 5 YO and I would take 4 Yo, (no reason other than he is stronger in case they needed carrying), and to meet back at the car if we got split up. But it was actually surprisingly quiet.
We drove to a Zone 7 tube (From Midlands), as it was cheaper, and meant we could put their pyjamas in, so they could fall asleep in the car, rather than on the train home.
We went to Hamleys and then mooched at Covent Garden, (They loved the street entertainers) and Shrek's adventure Tour (which was brilliant), then mooched at South bank (again, lots to see for kids and a great park) before tea at Westminster Grillhouse (great for kids, big tables, space from other diners and ok menu) before getting the tube back and them falling asleep in the car to make an easy evening for us to!

My advice would be, don't try to cram too much in we only booked Shrek, we would have liked to do a boat tour, but that would have meant rushing from one to another, and that's not ideal. There was so much for the children to see/do during our mooches, and being in Westminster and Covent garden we still felt like we 'did' London. Whilst we pointed out the HoP, and Big Ben, they weren't really interested they preferred the park!
Good luck and have a great day!

Don't do too much and try and keep it close together. Don't take the tube too much - one return journey to a central destination and walking from there is much more preferable. The bus is also preferable to the tube, although they are busy at peak times.

Just chill about it. If it's not going to plan, find something easy and relaxed and make do.

Take a folding pram for 3 year old. It’s generally easier and quicker to walk places so as the day goes in they likely very tired

write your mobile phone number on the arms of both children, in permanent ink

( it will be visible for a week or 10 days, fading away- it would actually be permanent)

Ping pong on the south bank. It’s Dim sum, so fun to eat and was a hit with my kids, surprisingly. (Perhaps because food is actually very sweet!)

Underground is fun - they will love the escalators and seeing the trains come in. You won’t lose concentration because you just won’t. Front seat of the DLR is fun too is you can bag it!!

River boat maybe?

A tiny bit of the natural history museum- just a tiny bit as you can spend years in there. Head straight for the main hall of the old building- ignore the escalator at the entrance- and then go up the grand stairs and round the gallery level. Mine loved that bit.

The Garden at the Science Museum is great at that age. I'm assuming you are already planning to go to the London Transport Museum in Covent Garden? This place is nearby, quiet and fun:

www.novelty-automation.com/

Gabriel's Wharf on the Southbank has a few restaurants and is a good spot with little ones as there is room to run around. The Tate Modern is surprisingly good with little DC too, both to eat and for activities.

In Covent Garden, Neals Yard has some good options, as does Seven Dials. The Petersham Nurseries cafe has a nice quiet courtyard too. They are a bit quieter and less touristy than the market itself. They all have outside dining, which is often easier with little ones.

southbanklondon.com/node/13300
secretldn.com/neals-yard-covent-garden/
www.rockandsoleplaice.com/
www.sevendials.co.uk/food-drink/restaurants/
petershamnurseries.com/covent-garden/

I wouldn't bother with the expensive HOHO buses. Normal red buses are easy to navigate with TFL journey planner and the routes/bus stops are shown on all the bus stops so you can easily find which bus you need and where to catch it.