Nothing to do all bank holiday? London & toddler

[HighRiseMum]

My family is just me, DP and toddler DD. We do have other family but they are essentially rather toxic sadly. I never know what to do on bank holidays in the absence of those big happy family get togethers and BBQ's everyone else seems to have, and this next bank holiday is extra long!

Any ideas please? There are no street parties where we live in East London (live in a 8th floor flat). I've got one day arranged which has a toddler show happening in a park, but there's a surprising lack of suitable stuff to do given there's a big bank holiday. A lot of the London events such as changing of the guard, procession etc will be rammed with crowds and not appealing for us with a 2 year old. Normal stuff we do at weekends like natural history museum etc will probably also be extra busy and worth avoiding, as will the tube.

I don't want to be a party pooper but I'm struggling to fill our bank holiday at the moment. (It would be easier if it wasn't for the 2 year old I think). Any ideas?

We run away. The last thing I want to do is being anywhere near central London. 20 years ago we went abroad and 10 years ago we stayed at home and just did two day trips.

Can you jump on a train and go either north or south? If you have a car, just go out for the day?

We decided. to spend £150 for 2 nights in a Premier Inn in Derbyshire, 3.5 hours drive and hopefully no huge celebrations at all.

I have a two year old and I think we'll watch Paw Patrol for a lot of the long weekend. If we do go out, it will just be to local parks. I'm definitely avoiding central London - I was around Westminster today and it's already insane

I sympathise OP. When DC1 was between the ages of approx 6 & 18 months DH was away every Saturday. I really struggled to fill the day each week as all my friends with kids were busy with their own families. We lived in London so there was no shortage of stuff 'on', but it wasn't necessarily fun stuff to do on your own at the weekend with a 18-month-old.

I'd head out somewhere. A daytrip to Richmond Park? A daytrip to the beach? Peppa Pig world (hideous as it is)?

Thanks everyone. I think the running away advice, or at least day trips sounds sensible!