London with 4 year old

[kidsinlondon]

I have a few questions!

What to do near Buckingham Palace waiting for the changing of the Guards?

Our plan for a day is

Buckingham Palace to see the changing of guards
Then to London Eye/ Westminster
Take the boat to Tower Bridge/Tower of london- maybe a tour?
Mooch about and see if there's anything else

I don't know how long these might take so should I book the boats/tour/London eye before or on the day?

Finally suggestions to fill two days with 4 year old who's already done all the usual stuff such as museums etc

We are going to see a show and shopping

Thanks in advance!

Dont know if ive imagined it but I dont think you can book the london eye in advance I thought that's really something you're meant to pay for on the day at the actual london eye

It sounds quite a lot for a four year old in one day. Maybe just have a chilled morning before the changing of the guard? Let them run around in St James Park.

London eye usually has a long queue, so book in advance of you can. Aquarium is along there too. Southbank centre often has stuff for kids worth looking at. There is also a playground along there if they need a break (rest of the stuff is quite stuffy for a four year old I think).

I went a few years ago with my then 5 year old and we went to the shrek show that's next to the London eye. It was brilliant! Really recommend it if it's still there.

Get the boat all the way to Greenwich and do the maritime museum if you haven't already. They have a good soft play

You can and should book London eye tickets in advance, but it's overrated for a 4 year old, IMO. It has long queues, moves slowly and there isn't much of interest for children to see, especially if it's cloudy. The aquarium next door is better. As PP have said, run around St James Park, hire a boat in Hyde park, street entertainment and rides on the south bank, ride the front of the DLR if you fancy venturing further.

Definitely book London Eye in advance. Are you going on a week day? At this time of year the queue on a weekday won't be long (you have to queue even if you already have a ticket)

Cadbury have a2 for 1 deal on London Eye tickets on certain multipacks. Its something like £25 a ticket so definitely worth getting a free one.

There is a nice play area in the park next to the London Eye, so they might like to do that. I know my 4 year old probably wouldn't be entertained that much by sightseeing all day and would probably want to have a bit of a run around.

• massive playground in St James Park close to Buckingham palace
• four year olds can go to the same museums regularly - far preferable to the London eye.

We went to London last year with our 4 and 7 yo and had to make sure any attractions we did were preceded/followed by a playground trip! As well as the ones already mentioned (by the London Eye and near Buckingham palace) the Diana playground in Kensington palace gardens was also great. Enjoy!

Look online for the lifting schedule for Tower Bridge to see if you can see it going up. (My favourite thing to see in London....my kids less so!) I wouldn't do the Tower Bridge experience with a 4 year old as a) they are too small to see outnthe windows - which is half the fun of being up high and b) I just think the info is better suited to older kids.

Tower of London is great. You can easily spend a good few hours there (nearly all day). Look out fir the storytelling/live acts if they are still doing them during covid.

With a 4 year old I would do changing guard - if they are into Soldiers marching etc, then go get the river taxi down to O2 - going under Tower Bridge (missed out the London Eye) - then get the cable car over the Thames. Then pop to the Museum of Docklands - great area for kids called Mudlarks. (Book tickets online the day before for this).

Alternatively the Army museum is near Buckingham Palace. They also have a soft play area in it - chargeable.

Id scrap the buck palace thing and go straight to the eye

Hang out round south bank, then boat to
Tower and back

Thanks for the suggestions
She asked to see the cable cars soldiers , to go on a boat and London eye
I think I'll keep the changing of the guard and go st James park before
Still go to London Eye but I'll add in shrek as it looks fantastic
Take the boats to the cable cars then go to the maritime museum
If she's got energy we'll go to the o2 and get a build a bear as she loves them and it's near it if I'm not mistaken
We may have to do some of this another day
More suggestions would be welcome