Advice on travelling around London next weekend - public transport or car?

[coffeerevelsrock]

I'm travelling from the Midlands to London next Saturday and staying overnight in Battersea. We will be going to a play at the Globe on Saturday afternoon and then probably walking along the river to find somewhere to eat before going back to the hotel. On Sunday we're going to Greenwich. It's me and dc aged 12 and 14.

I was planning on driving as I think there's an NCP near the hotel that'll be about £15 and then I understand that parking is free/there's no congestion charge on Sunday for the Greenwich bit? However, I would quite like to try the train and can get tickets for about £90. My petrol + car park would be about £45ish I expect so half the price but I am happy to pay more to be more ecologically sound. However, I can't work out what my public transport costs would be once in London. I'd need train to hotel, then hotel to theatre and back again, plus hotel to Greenwich the next day (I see there's a boat, which would be great), then Greenwich to train.

I can't get my head around what kids would cost! I've always done travel cards before but I'm getting the sense they're not necessarily best value at the ages the kids are now, Any help would be great.

Definitely public transport for the weekend. Your kids are also old enough to carry their own bags
Also you will get a huge discount if you book your return train tickets to London with a 'Family & Friends Railcar'. It's £30 for a year or if you have Tesco Clubcard vouchers it costs £10. Good luck.

Just to add to what others have said:
You WILL need to pay for the bus for them but is 75p so not expensive. Tube etc half price or less. Young visitor oyster is easy.

You could drive to outskirts and tube in, but it’ll be a pain.

Finally, if you DO drive then watch road signs like a hawk as sat navs will can route you along forbidden routes at £130 a time…

As a Londoner I would not drive between those locations. It would be a royal pain in the arse. You'll be quicker on the tube/bus/boat.

I'd just take the train if I were you. from the bottom of the M1, if that's where you're coming in from, it will take you about an hour and 20 mins to drive to Battersea through London. Its 20mph limit most of the way, plus you need to watch out for 24 hour bus lanes.