London day out with 2 and 3 year old

[frillseeking]

DH is taking a last minute half day tomorrow and I was going to take kids into london to meet him. They're nearly 2 and 3. Any ideas what we could do? Thanks

Transport museum?

Tate Modern is very child friendly.

Where’s he going to be? The museum of London in the city is good for small children

Do you want to spend money? The south bank is nice for kids, there’s a little playground, the Tate, Sealife centre (£££) and some child friendly places for lunch like Wagamama and Wahaca.

It's half term so everywhere is really busy at the moment and lots of free museums are mainly aimed at older kids this week. Maybe just a playpark or something if the weather is OK

You can take the cable car over the river and go to the Museum of London in Canary Wharf.

At that age we enjoyed the transport museum and the downstairs of the science museum where there was a toddler play area & bubble show.

I was thinking of maybe the southbank as the weather looks good for tomorrow. It's our only day out this week so don't spending. Thought it would suit my little one as he likes to run around.

I did also look at the museum of transport as have heard it's good for little ones or museum of childhood in Bethnal green.

@Bugbeau

At that age we enjoyed the transport museum and the downstairs of the science museum where there was a toddler play area & bubble show.

I wondered about the science museum but thought it might be for slightly older kids. I'll have a look

I found the Museum of Childhood had some fun things for children but a lot was about toys/games of ages past and I was more interested than the kids.

RIding around on a double decker is always a big hit with the tiny kids in my experience. Also the river taxi - huge excitement! And yes, the transport museum as already mentioned. Obviously the Zoo is excellent. Diana Memorial playground is amazing but we've only been from Spring onwards.

I'd avoid the big museums at South Kensington - they are absolutely rammed at half term and it's overwhelming for little kids.

Transport museum is fully booked. The south bank might be the best bet. Tate modern still has tickets available, would you recommend for toddlers?

The postal museum also looks quite good for little ones, anyone been? Thank you

Postal museum has a nice bit for younger ones, mine loved it.

The Museum of London Docklands is quite interactive and you can have a walk around the area.

Tate Modern is brilliant for toddlers- loads of space to run around, great facilities, so much to look at.

Couldn’t book for the transport museum either for us it was fully booked and you can’t just turn up anymore.

Museum of childhood is closed for refurbishment

Maybe meet in South Bank then get clipper up to Greenwich (boat journey fun in itself). The maritime museum is good for little kids, you may be too late to book a slot for their ahoy gallery but there's still lots to see in there and if not the playground in the park is massive and has lots of things that would be suitable for them.

Just checked and it looks like there are slots available for the ahoy gallery tomorrow pm so that could be an option for you.

I’d avoid the science museum in half term given you don’t have school age children. It will be bedlam.

Is it half term for all London schools this week?

@Tree543 it is for every child and teacher I know in London

Thanks. Thats good news.My kids are on half term next week, so hopefully the museums might be quieter.

As your kids are 2 and 3 if they like trains, buses, tubes, etc then find a mode of public transport they haven't travelled on and take them on that.

Make sure you sit so they can see out of the windows.

You don't have to take them anywhere interesting.

I’m not sure you’ll find much specific to do on the Southbank, other than just general pottering around and climbing on stuff. (You’ve not mentioned the London Eye or the aquarium which are possibilities of course).

I’ve not managed to take mine to the Postal Museum yet but people say it’s lovely.

More generally, here are two really good resources for finding playgrounds wherever you are in London:

bablands.com/2020/06/15/londons-coolest-playgrounds-by-area/

www.google.com/local/userlists/list/sxqhbfV_ZEKlHTwtExlq9rHAce8p-w (This ones got a map view, which is handy)

Southbank centre has the children's festival

www.southbankcentre.co.uk/whats-on?

Tomorrow is unlikely to be the best day. There were loads of announcements on the trains about likely disruption to services etc. London zoo is shut and I suspect other things will be too. I’d honestly rethink.