Weekend in London with 3 year old and 8 year old

[Fruitteatime]

Having a slightly bigger age gap, I am struggling to think of activities to do that will keep them both happy. 8 year old would love museums, shows and seeing all the landmarks and 3 year old loves transport and loves to climb and run. He won't sit down for long! Please could I have recommendations for activities for early spring time as we will spending a weekend there. We are happy to stay out until the evening. Any restaurant recommendations suitable for children would be great too. Thank you.

Museums are fine for both ages. The NHM and Science are suitable for both ages. The 3 yo whilst he cant obvs treat a museum like a playground, he can run around a little.

Or maybe if he loves transport the London Transport Museum. There are lots of old tubes and buses and you can get on them and climb upstairs on the buses.

London has every restaurant imaginable, all the chains and anything you already know the children will eat is there.

I was thinking the science museum might be good for both, thank you. I suppose for restaurants I was wondering if there were any which have play areas, but perhaps if we go for somewhere with fast service that won't be a problem.

I'd keep the museum visits short and sweet and mix it up with visits to the diana playground and Holland Park adventure playground if weather is OK. Walkable for the 8 year old and presume the 3 year old will be in a buggy - if not, short taxi ride from the museum quarter.

I'd try and combine both of their interests into a day.

A park in the morning to run all the energy out and then museum in the afternoon. The Diana playground is great and loads for an 8 year old to do too. Then NHM or Science Museum is also good for both ages. Holland Park is also good for both ages. Transport Museum another good shout.

Open top bus tour could be a good way to see the sights and keep the 3 year old entertained. Or a boat trip.

If there are two adults going I would take the 8 year old to a show, but leave the 3 year old at the hotel with the other adult.

Southbank is also a great area for kids. Lots to see and do. If you're coming in Spring you might catch the Imagination festival, which will have daytime shows suitable for both. Or one take the older one to a show and the little one can play in the playground nearby.

If you’re on the east side of town the Museum of London docklands has a brilliant area for little kids called ‘mudlarks’.

The V and A is way less busy than the other big ones and has the best paddling pool in London in the middle.

Tower Bridge exhibition with the glass floor would be good for both those ages, and the Tower itself.
The Transport Museum would suit them both, and the Postal Museum is great. Museum of London Docklands is good and has a special area for children up to 8.
The various bits at Greenwich are good- the maritime museum, the Cutty Sark, and there the planetarium which does shows for under 7/ 7+ but both could go to the younger one.
A trip on the DLR, over the river in the cable cars then back on the boat is also good fun (although sitting down you’d walk between each leg of the journey)

How many adults are going? The science museum has a great interactive area designed for younger children , so if there are two adults you could take one child each. Dinosaurs in the Natural .history are age appropriate however old /young you are.

Corams Fields is a great place to run and let off steam, no adults admitted without a child. They used to have giant tortoises there but I don’t think they do any more! Close to the BM so could fit in some mummies.

If you are rich the aquarium in the old GLC building is great. You could also walk along Southbank which is always busy on the weekend. There is always an old fashioned roundabout , costs, but fun.

If you fancy a trip on the river then take a normal riverboat. If you go from embankment pier down to Greenwich you will see lots and if you are lucky nice people (me!) will wave to your kids from bridges and other viewpoints.

The Bethnal Green Museum of Childhood is closed atm. But according to its website it is planning to re jig itself as a place which is child friendly, which is a huge relief, as for years it has been luring innocent children through its doors to show them things in glass boxes that they can’t touch!

Personally, I love it, but then I am not a child. I will probably hate the new revamped version, but I hope it encourages young people to enjoy museums. Not sure when it is re opening, so worth keeping an eye out.

There are two adults going, it may be a bit cold for too much time in a park but we will see on the day. I might book a museum for a morning though, as I think there's more chance of the three year old behaving when they're not tired and cranky. I've been researching everyone's suggestions, there are some lovely ideas here and we will have plenty to do and plenty to save for when the 3 year old is older!