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Original poster

What to do in London with a 6yo

30 replies

Lelliebellieboo · 08/10/2021 11:18

I've booked a hotel to go to London for a night in October half term, so we have two days to explore. It's been ages since I've been to London, so any recommendations?

I was hoping to see a matinee show but I'm absolutely staggered by the price now. I would be paying for 3 tickets (me, DD and my mum) so it's immediately priced me out as they all seem to be about £150 each!!!

I want to take her to see Buckingham Palace - would the changing of the guard be on, on a Thursday or Friday? If so, where do you go to see it?

OP posts:

Milkbottlelegs · 08/10/2021 11:21

Transport museum.
London eye
Natural history museum
Afternoon tea or ice cream parlour at fortnums

I personally think that age is too young for a musical. It’s a long time for them to sit still.

Plutothedog · 08/10/2021 11:22

Which shows are you looking at? It’s possible to get cheaper tickets in the less premier seats. TodayTix app also has deals/last minute seats but I never manage to get any last minute ones on there!

EdgeOfTheSky · 08/10/2021 11:24

www.householddivision.org.uk/queen-life-guard

Original poster

Lelliebellieboo · 08/10/2021 11:27

@Milkbottlelegs

Transport museum. London eye Natural history museum Afternoon tea or ice cream parlour at fortnums

I personally think that age is too young for a musical. It’s a long time for them to sit still.

I like the idea of a kids afternoon tea, she'd definitely love that!

I definitely want to take her to Hamleys - that will blow her mind!

She's been to a panto a few times at our local theatre which she loved which is why I wanted to consider a west end show. I could get tickets to Cindereella for the three of us, but it was "very restricted view" so I don't know what to do really.

OP posts:

Ameanstreakamilewide · 08/10/2021 11:30

@Lelliebellieboo

I've booked a hotel to go to London for a night in October half term, so we have two days to explore. It's been ages since I've been to London, so any recommendations?

I want to take her to see Buckingham Palace - would the changing of the guard be on, on a Thursday or Friday? If so, where do you go to see it?

The open topped bus is always a winner...providing its not pissing down, of course!

EdithGrantham · 08/10/2021 11:31

My mum took me to London when I was a similar age and one of the best bits for me was the hotel room because we'd never been to one before that I could remember! We went to the Natural History Museum, The Science Museum, and a trip to Hamley's where I was allowed to choose one toy. I still have really fond memories of it!

scully29 · 08/10/2021 11:32

This play park is amazing, in Hyde Park and theres the Peter Pan statue etc, its an awesome place for a 6 year old
www.royalparks.org.uk/parks/kensington-gardens/things-to-see-and-do/diana-memorial-playground

Also Natural History Museam especially if she likes Andys Dinosaurs on cebebbies.

Bear2014 · 08/10/2021 11:33

A nice day out is to get the river boat to Greenwich (from London Bridge or Tower Bridge etc). The Cutty Sark is fun and not too expensive and the Maritime Museum I think is free. Walk through Greenwich Park and up to the Observatory for an amazing view over London.

London Zoo is great and it's handy for Oxford Circus if you wanted to tie it in with Hamleys or something. There is a bus from Regent Street to the Zoo entrance. Or if you went straight to Regents Park station, you could walk through the park to the Zoo, which is lovely.

Natural History/Science Museum, free but need to book now, could tie in with a walk through Hyde Park/ trip to Harrods.

Walk down South Bank from Tower Bridge to Waterloo or vice versa. Tate Modern is free (book in advance) and has great river views. Borough Market lovely for food, plenty of entertainment on the South Bank itself, things to see on the river. HMS Belfast et al near Tower Bridge, or you could go to the Tower itself or walk across the top of the bridge.

We live here and have never done changing of the guard. Not sure how interested a 6 year old would be in seeing Buckingham Palace, it's not that exciting really.

WhatIsThisPlease · 08/10/2021 11:34

Open top bus tour! You'll see so many sights and you can hop on and off to suit you.

My two loved it at that age

Branleuse · 08/10/2021 11:36

I think the natural history museum is a must. Its such a wonderful place

DigOlBick · 08/10/2021 11:38

I took my 6 year old last year and tbh she just enjoyed walking around seeing the sights!
We started at the natural history museum, then walked around Covent garden, China town, Piccadilly Circus. We got the tube to hamleys, had some dinner. Watch some street performers in Covent garden. The next day we got the clipper on the Thames to Greenwich market, she had a ball!

DanceToTheMusicInMyHead · 08/10/2021 11:44

My 6 year old loved the open top bus tour. You can use tesco club card vouchers to book one (but need to arrange it a few days in advance) and you can get deals with a boat trip included.

We also did the Horrible Histories Terrible Thames boat trip, which was FANTASTIC (although not cheap).

We also did lots of walking around- they loved seeing Buckingham Palace, Downing Street, Houses of Parliament etc and walking along the river in the evening when it was all lit up

minipie · 08/10/2021 11:48

Natural History Museum - the Fantastic Beasts exhibition is great if she likes Harry Potter.
Science Museum - Wonderlab
Both these have to be booked and paid for though. The main museums, you have to book for NHM but not Science museum. I think!!

Tower of London is good, lots of child friendly exhibits.

Sky garden - free, great view. You need to book 2 weeks ahead iirc. Would choose that rather than the Eye which I think a 6 yr old may find boring.

River boat trip or walk along the South Bank - gets you a good view of many landmarks.

If you want to do the theatre I would ditch west end and look at the more child friendly theatres which also have lower prices. Unicorn theatre in southwark, Little Angel Islington, Rose Kingston, Polka Wimbledon, for example. Most of these will have kids shows in the Oct half term. Or have a look at Stick Man which is at the Leicester Square theatre - much cheaper and at 6 she’s not too old I think.

Ylvamoon · 08/10/2021 11:52

Besides the museums Covent Garden is always fun. My DC loved the street performers at that age.

Comefromaway · 08/10/2021 12:02

Cinderella isn't £150. On the Thursday matinee of half term you can get excellent seats for £90 though even the £55 in the back of the circle are good. Avoid the £25 ones though or the circle ones with the safety rail warning.

urbanbuddha · 08/10/2021 12:11

Strictly speaking the Princess Diana playground and Peter Pan are in Kensington Gardens. In Hyde Park the Princess Diana Memorial Fountain is good. Take a small towel.
The Royal Parks have reversed their draconian instructions and you can now feed the ducks and the squirrels again. Take wholemeal bread (them's the rules - nothing less will do) for the ducks, nuts for the squirrels and cut up fruit or shelled nuts for the parakeets (they hang out close to Peter Pan). The museums are just to the south of the road which runs through the parks - you should book now if you want to go.
You'll get information about the changing of the guard on the Palace website.
Personally I wouldn't bother with an open-top bus close to the end of October. You can see just as well from an ordinary bus and it's a bit warmer. And cheaper.

scully29 · 08/10/2021 12:13

Ah thanks for correcting me Urban Buddha, thats lucky! I thought it was all the same place as am a proper tourist and have only been once and walked through it, kids loved it all defo worth a visit!

languagelover96 · 08/10/2021 12:18

You must see the River Thames on a boat. Also if it is possible do the London Eye. Go visit China town, the museums and make for Covent Garden as well. A theater trip is a good idea too.

claracluck1978 · 08/10/2021 12:19

NHM is a must, we rarely visit London for aw weekend without at least popping in for an hour or two!

I second the Tower or a good old fashioned open top bus/ boat tour.

At 6 my kids loved just the excitement of getting on the Tube or the DLR. Greenwich is fun - the Maritime Museum is often overlooked but we love it there. Then get a boat up to Westminster and head to the Eye or a walk down the Southbank.

A warning, though, we were in Hamleys last weekend for the first time in years. I remember so much excitement from when I was a child but it just seems the higher in the store you go the tattier is gets. It's also expensive - presents I bought in Smyths/local toy shop in Sept were about 30% more expensive in Hamleys.

Enjoy. I miss London!!!

LIZS · 08/10/2021 12:22

Check out the TKTS booth in Leicester Square for discounted theatre seats. Southbank usually has street entertainers and food vans. Bus tour or riverboat.

JassyRadlett · 08/10/2021 12:23

Take wholemeal bread (them's the rules - nothing less will do) for the ducks, nuts for the squirrels and cut up fruit or shelled nuts for the parakeets (they hang out close to Peter Pan).

Please not bread for the ducks - they like porridge oats just as much and it’s so much better for them.

Greenwich is a lovely day out - we generally go by boat and back by DLR or vice versa.

Book ahead wherever you can even for free stuff.

That age group do love the Transport Museum and it’s so central.

Science and NHM both brilliant as others have said and Wonderlab is well worth the money. If you go there, Ampersand Hotel in South Kensington does a lovely science themed afternoon tea - the kids’ version is brilliant.

Original poster

Lelliebellieboo · 08/10/2021 12:32

We did the science museum pre-covid. I just looked at the NHM unfortunately, there's no tickets available for the days we are there, other than 6pm entry which is a bit late I think

Thanks for the recommendation about Stick Man though - that looks ace. SHe loves stick man, I'll definitely have a look at that.

I'm definitely going to do a bus tour. Has anyone done the kids tootbus tour. Its 45 mins long, or is it better to do the hop on hop off?

OP posts:

drpaddington · 08/10/2021 13:26

We're doing a day in London in half term too, we've booked tickets for the NHM. Can anyone tell me how long it takes to see everything? Just so I know what else we can fit in afterwards!

JassyRadlett · 08/10/2021 21:58

We’ve seen Stick Man three times across two children, it’s outstanding.

JamieNorthlife · 08/10/2021 22:02

skygarden.london

www.tate.org.uk/kids

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