5 days in London - recommendations 9&6 year old boys!

[ReelTears]

We are planning a trip to London next week with our boys and I'd love some ideas for an itinerary! I was thinking Natural History Museum (they love dinosaurs and fossils) and looking at the Horrible Histories show but that's a far as I've gotten so far!

We'll spend some time in the centre, et them run around the squares and visit Hamleys and M&M World. I'd really love some suggestions that you've enjoyed or heard of that would be suitable - that includes places to eat.

Thanks 😊

Toy museum

Get a riverboat and go to Greenwich to see the cutty sark and then have a go on the cable car across the Thames. Or the London eye.

My kids loved the rainforest cafe even though it’s overpriced and tacky , and my old Dutch pancake house was a favourite when they were younger too.

We are there for a few nights next week. Booked the planetarium at Greenwich, seeing Matilda the musical, Jurassic Park Exhibition at the Excel and Horrible Histories boat tour by Tower Bridge. Will fit in some swimming at the hotel and the obligatory visit to the Lego shop too x

I really like the Science museum, you can book hands on activities amongst other things.

Take the emirates sky ride thingy. Out over the dock lands and then the dlr back k to the city. That's good fun
We have been to an aqua obstacle assault course at the Olympic pool around there too. Not sure it's there every year though
Princess Diana playground is very cool and lets them use up lots of energy-& free!

Horrible Histories river tour is fun. Southbank in general is fun. Haven’t done it but have Mail Rail on the list for when mine are your kids’ ages - might be a bit scary? Looks cool though.

Visit the Changing Rooms fountains installation on the South Bank (take spare dry clothing!).
Greenwich: Cutty Sark, Maritime Musem, walk up the hill in the park for good views, planetarium and International Date Line.

Hampton Court is good. Palace, gardens, performances, maze, deer park. Have a look at the website. You could go part way by boat, Richmond to Hampton court.

Definitely do some sort of river trip. Clipper to Greenwich maybe.

Look at the Time Out website for one off and festival events.

Tower of London is great.

If you are down in Greenwich/docklands area, the Docklands museum at Canary Wharf is great. You could do a whole day- start at docklands museum, then dlr to Royal Victoria to catch the cable car over the river. Wander (or get the boat) down into central Greenwich to visit the cutty sark/maritime museum, walk up through the park to the top of the hill and the time line, then down to take advantage of the brilliant playground. Then boat or DLR back into central London.

Done that a few times with my boys (similar age). They love it, and are shattered at the end of the day- always a win!!

Viktor Wynd Museum of Curiosities
Small is Beautiful Exhibition
Dopamine Land Exhibition
Fountains by King's Cross and Canal Screening (depending what is on for the screening)
Grant Museum of Zoology
Emirates Cable Car
River trip - you could do Kew and book the climbing area, plus walk to the Tree Top Walk as well (it can get very hot on the boats though so perhaps a shorter trip)
Postal Museum
Camden Town Market and a Canal trip to Little Venice
Fountains in V and A
Kidzania
Homerton Adventure Play Ground Walk to Tumbling Bay Playground (there's a few stops on the way)

Paying things: Tower of London, HMS Belfast, river trip ( normal river trip, not tourist)zoo,Shard.

free things: Museum of London, Docklands Museum, Greenwich, Postman’s Park, walk along Southbank, changing of the guard at horseguards, science and Natural History museums, city farms,corams fields , Elizabeth Park (Olympic site),walking and looking at sights, Sky Garden

cheapish things: swimming at the Olympic swimming pool, bus rides, trip on the Elizabeth Line, trip on DLR. meal in China town.

Also - highly recommend these - www.remarkabletours.org/london-tours

Transport museum in Coventry garden, then hang around watching Street performers for a while. Lots of places to eat for different budgets in Covent garden, or if the weather is good you can pick up sandwiches in the tesco metro there and eat in the church courtyard behind the square / opposite punch and Judy pub. Close enough to walk to trafalgar Square too and finish up with a walk along the embankment.

HMS Belfast (usually much less crowded than transport museum). Lunch in Borough Market. I wouldn’t bother with M&Ms and Hamleys. We live here and avoid both like the plague.
If you’re into art then make up your own ‘Spotting’ list and go in Tate Modern (free). Eg (off the top of my head) Find the scariest picture, the one you’d buy Grandma, one with animals/ a fancy house/ something scary/ the most yellow one, the funniest sculpture etc etc.

Kids Audio Tour at Buckingham Palace is v good. I did it at age 5/6 with each of mine and went down v well. Double it up with Royal Mews and see Coronation coach which might be in use for real pretty soon.

Postal museum! I went yesterday with my 8 and 6 year olds and they had a great time

Would also recommend the Horrible Histories boat tour and Cutty Sark.

Free stuff - Science Museum and Imperial War Museum - in addition to the Natural History Museum.

We went to the Superheroes Unlimited exhibition at the Institute of Physics. It’s great. So much hands on stuff and it’s free.
it’s in kings cross so lots of food options nearby and the playground at corams field or the fountains in granary square

Mine loved the natural history museum.
We also enjoyed;
catching buses
Monument
Imperial war museum
Museum of London
Tower of London
Covent Garden street entertainers
Eating out eg China town

Agree when Thames clipper down the river and then a trip over the river on the airline.

Science museum, especially the wonder lab - very hands on interactive exhibits.
Princess Diana memorial playground on the northern side of Kensington ton Gardens.
Aquarium
The usual tourist spots if they're interested- Buckingham Palace, Tower of London.
Restaurants along the southbank like giraffe, wagamama etc. Usually lots of buskers and things about.
Have a great time!

The Postal Museum is a little gem and well worth a visit!!

I'm so grateful to you all for your recommendations! I've never heard of some of these attractions but they're just what we're after. Boat/ river options are definitely in, and there are so many other exciting activities mentioned! Time for me to start researching and planning logistics. Thank you 😊💐

We’ve just got back, DD 8 loved wonderlab at the science museum, Kidzania and the Tower of London.
Boat trip was a big hit and we did an evening bus tour as well which was good fun.
Covent garden is brilliant to visit on an evening, DD really enjoyed the street performers and the atmosphere