Advice for first trip to London with kids please

[wescarebecausewecare]

Hi, I've been searching through old posts on here trying to get ideas for a first trip to London with 2 dc (7 and 8) but I am struggling to plan as I don't know London at all - eg, where places are in relation to each other!
I am thinking of 5 days, 4 nights. The first 2 nights near Legoland Windsor, then we would make our way into London on the morning of our third day. I have booked the Harry Potter Studio tour for the afternoon of the third day. Then I plan on booking Matilda the Musical for the evening of the fourth day. Fly home on fifth day, not sure what time at yet.
Other things I am looking at are the Shrek adventure, the Aquarium, the Horrible histories boat tour, maybe a museum?
Have booked to stay in the Paddington area. I'm just wondering if anyone has any suggestions on what would be best to add into what I have already planned/advice on whether my plans are feasible or not?!
Thanks in advance.

@ChiselandBits

bloody hell *@seven7sisters* - Into London by 5, get to and check into hotel, eat and back to theatre for 7, after a day at legoland - they'll be fast asleep in very expensive seats. Won't be in bed before 10 then would need to be up at 7 to get to HP by 10. In theory that's all doable in an Anneka Rice Challenge kind of way but none of it will be fun. Honestly OP I think a big rethink of what to plan in and what do just make up as you go along is needed. There's so much brilliant stuff but none of it is going anywhere - pace yourselves.

It's was just a suggestion, pls chill

I depending on where you're visiting I probably wouldn't stay in Paddington. It isn't a very nice area, no vibe, not really any nice restaurants, and is a pain to get to and from. Would opt for somewhere more central like West end, south kensington or south bank so you can at least walk to some attractions.

Paddington is literally 10 minutes walk from Oxford St/Park Lane/Hyde Park, closer to the Princess Diana Playground than South Ken, although South Ken and the museums are hardly far from Paddington, just a stroll across the park?!! It's on 3 tube lines, 4 when the Elizabeth line opens. It's on the mainline to Windsor and much more convenient for Euston/Watford than South Ken. It's also nearer to the theatre OP is going to.

Praed St isn't the best street for restaurants but there are lots of great places in walking distance, and Paddington Basin on the canal behind the station has lots of family friendly places to eat.

The narrowboat from Paddington to the zoo is a good idea, they drop you at a jetty inside the zoo so you don't have to queue. The Princess Diana playground is fantastic, you could then walk through the park, feed the parakeets/ducks, have a go on the pedalos, and visit the museums in South Ken. The ice rink/bowling alley/diner on Queensway are good for evening entertainment.

Your DC would probably still enjoy the London Transport Museum at 7/8. You could combine that with Covent Garden Market, the James Bond exhibition, the Automaton museum in Holborn, M&M shop in Leicester Square. They are all nearish the theatre. Or you could head a bit further down to the river and do a boat trip past the riverside sites, Big Ben, HoP, Tower of London, Tower Bridge, St Pauls, London Eye etc

Oh no op , I wouldn't bother with LL at all on this occasion!

Stay around London, much better fun!

You definitely need to book the museum's if you want to visit them. I've just booked tickets for the Natural History Museum for Easter hols.

London Transport Museum is great for DC who are interested in buses etc - yours might be a bit old but otherwise it’s great and very doable and can combine with mooching about in Covent Garden

Cutty Sark?

The first 2 nights near Legoland Windsor, then we would make our way into London on the morning of our third day. I have booked the Harry Potter Studio tour for the afternoon of the third day.

Windsor to Watford is the same distance as Windsor to Paddington (and Paddington to Watford). You are travelling twice as far as you need to. It's a short hop around the M25 from Windsor to Watford. Have you considered hiring a car? It's a 30 minute car journey but it could take 3+ hours by public transport into London, across London, out to Watford, then the studios.

I would drive to Watford in the evening after the 2nd day at Legoland and stay there for the second night, then do HP first thing in the morning.

Or you could get a pre-booked fixed price taxi for £50ish if you shop around. The train tickets in and out of London won't be much less than that.

There's so much packed in here that's not actually in London, that with all the required travel you'll barely see the London sights at all (except maybe day 4). Legoland could be done in a day (if you arrive early and start at the back). Legoland, Harry Potter and a West end show in the one trip is a lot. I'd maybe take one of those out and leave more time just to wander and take advantage of the touristy sights and parks. Whatever you decide though hope you have fun!!

LL is fantastic, a day is enough if you plan to really go for it and stay to the end (remember, if you're in a queue at park "closing time" they still let you ride, you can often bag a short queue for a major ride if you time it right. Also note the food outlets close early, so do early lunch at the pizza place and then take a picnic tea).

HP is great, just over 3 hours was enough for my DD at age 9, but we could have spun it out to 4. I found it enough just for a day trip as getting there is quite a long journey, so whatever else you plan that day keep it low-key; maybe HP in the morning and then travel back to your hotel for a rest, then Hamleys just before closing time and dinner nearby?

In London, definitely skip the Aquarium unless you're a Merlin pass holder and can get in for free. Shrek is fun, don't bother with London Eye as it is slow and frankly gets dull after about 10 minutes plus terrible queues in peak times. Instead go to the great little playground/garden on the southbank as you walk from Waterloo up to Shrek; the riverside views on that walk are lovely and there's usually a few buskers. There is also a regular street food market near Waterloo station which could be useful to know.

My dd absolutely loves the science museum and Wonderlab, Natural History museum also a massive hit. In fact she enjoyed the British Museum too, although unless you have a special interest eg Egyptian mummies, it may not be top of your list.

Princess Diana Memorial gardens, big tick if you're nearby.

In summer hols usually August there's the Underbelly Festival, this year in Cavendish Sq. and Earl's court. In the evenings it is adult but they often do fab, quite cheap kids entertainment/shows in the daytime and sell street food - no events announced yet but worth looking out for.

London is exhausting and you will need to pace it a bit to avoid the kids getting the grump. I'd suggest try to just pick one big bookable thing per day and build a day around that. My dd loved going on buses and a river boat.

My dd did enjoy the Tower of London but I think it would have meant more age 10 or 11 and it is expensive and I wish I'd just taken her someplace else instead that day.

So much fantastic advice, thanks so much everyone. Need to write it all down on a page so I can see it all in front of me here!