Ideas for cheap but fun day out in London with 6 yo?

[DuarPorte]

I’ve got a meeting in London at midday next month at the start of school hols and spouse and I have decided to take 6 up with us into London (half hour train ride away) but at a loss what to do!

we need to be back to pick up DD from nursery in home town by 530.

last time we took him to Nat hist museum and science museum. Any other ideas for this time round?

trying to keep costs low but still have fun. Have Tesco Clubcard vouchers to use in case that’s any use!

this would be 25th July - and any ideas most welcome!

Would the vouchers work at London Zoo? DD loved it and Regents Park which is right next to it too.

Just noticed you're going on the train. If you use the train to get to London, you get 2 for 1 on lots of activities and places out. I've used this site lots of times. Would really really recommend shreks adventure.

www.daysoutguide.co.uk/

Could you get into the Skygarden? It's free but you need to book tickets. Our dc when younger really loved HMS Belfast which is moored next to Tower Bridge and the Tower of London. I think it's free for children. You can look online and see Tower bridge opening times - it opens at various times each day, so you could watch it from the ship.

At 6yo most of the fun comes from just being with your parents. I have 3 sons, all big lads now, but they loved Big Ben-never been inside just looking at it from the outside was enough for them. They loved all the stalls selling London tat, they bought wee bits. They saw a Chelsea pensioner collecting for charity and were very impressed.
Buckingham palace, seeing the sentry tootle about.
The park opposite Buckingham palace is lovely to walk/lie in. Have an ice cream. Watch the squirrels.
There is a wee museum at Horseguards. Not sure if it's free but you can try on their kit and see the horses and soldiers getting ready in the stables. Not free though.
Never known a young lad that didn't love to sit upstairs, in front row of a bus for a jaunt.
My advice is more pottering about than set-in-stone stuff.

DLR to Greenwich- maritime museum free and great for that age -then boat back up the Thames

Just go to decent garden and watch the street theatre, then walk to tradalgar square and up the mall to see Buckingham palace. Read
Paddington in London beforehand.

Most 6-year-olds love being on the top deck of a London bus especially if they can get one of the front seats. Some go past some key London sites (in July there will definitely be other parents doing the same thing...) tfl.gov.uk/travel-information/visiting-london/experience-london/bus-leisure-routes?intcmp=53128

Greenwich is good for a day out, the museums are free and the park there is lovely. There's also a nice market and plenty of good places to eat.

Otherwise watch The Changing of the Guards at Buckingham Palance (I think it's every other day so check online), and from there go to St James Park (loads of wildlife and a great playground) then depending on time and energy levels you can either cross Westminster Bridge and stroll along the Southbank, plenty to see and do there; walk to Trafalgar Square and into the West End (you sgould see plenty of street performers en route); or get the Thames Clipper from Westminster (same route as the tourist boats but without the commentary and loads cheaper) to wherever you need to head back to.

I would love to go sea life centre I not think it is cheap but I would be very happy to spend a day there

Walk along the south bank and see the street performers and the sights.

London Zoo 2 for one with an overground ticket and Regents Park right next door.

I agree with this.
We did this sort of thing when we were small, my children did it when they were small and I'm just waiting for dgd to be old enough to be able to take her to do it

Splendid splendid ideas thank you all!

London Transport Museum or the Postal Museum, both are smaller than the big South Kensington museums, easy to do in a couple of hours, and have special exhibitions on over the school holidays.

This thread is making me miss London, love it so much.

Transport museum in Covent Garden

if you want an excellent playground, go to Coram's fields. it is 10 mins walk from Kings Cross & 15 mins from Euston, and is a big lovely playground.

Or look here for all the playgrounds in central London and find one near your meeting

londonist.com/london/maps/central-london-playgrounds-map

My DD loved the millennium bridge. You have to look down as well as up at the views. It has hundreds of tiny artworks painted on chewing gum and she absolutely loved spotting them and counting them. Fun free activity.

Also did kids activities at Tate Modern which were free. And went to Sky Garden, free to visit but we bought food there.

Had an excellent day!

Plus there are fountains at Granary Square to play in, and they're showing films on the canal throughout the summer.

I think the perfect place for 6yo is the London transport museum in Covent Garden.

The Corgi trail, 19 Corgis to find scattered round Victoria, Northbank , Buckingham Palace etc

here is the Corgi map

Do a treasure trail - they are about £10 to download (or have posted to you). My DS really enjoy them, and it's a good way to spend an hour or so.

Yes I was going to say that! They used to have tables for you to eat your picnic and there’s a M&S nearby where you could pick up some lunch.

Transport Museum isn't cheap, but your ticket will let you go back in there for the next year.
I would recommend the massive Diana Memorial Playground in Kensington Gardens, I have a 6yo DS and he loves going
www.royalparks.org.uk/parks/kensington-gardens/things-to-see-and-do/diana-memorial-playground

You can also pay about £8 to go up the glass walkway of Tower Bridge - it's fun if you're not scared of heights

Walking along the Southbank + Jubilee playground right next to the London Eye