Tips for doing London with little ones!

[Mummyof287]

Planning to go to London for my birthday weekend 5th/6th November (something I used to do often but haven't done since 2016 before we had DD1, but desperate to go back and to take her!) She is now 5.5 and we also have baby DD2 who will have just turned 1.
I'm excited but also apprehensive about taking them and the stress of the practical and logistical stuff! So welcome any tips which will make the whole thing easier.
We have 2 full days Sat & Sun as we are travelling up late afternoon/early evening on the Friday and returning sunday late afternoon/early evening. Planning on incorporating Buckingham Palace, Big Ben, Hamleys, The London Eye (when did the cost of THAT get so expensive?!) and The science museum.

Also, due to train costs/length of journey/practicality of transporting luggage, we are planning on driving up to the outskirts of London then getting the train/tube into central london for the days out, and using the underground/busses to get about whilst there.So any recommendations about where outside London would be best to stay to fairly easily and quickly link up to central london would be good, thanks! (Coming from the East of England)

Take a baby carrier for the 1 year old for the tube! And def avoid rush hour on the tube. Take a bus too - 5.5 yr old will love it! Maybe even book a hop on/off tour?

Happy birthday!!!

Thanks for the tips @beonmywaythen will probably take the pushchair to be able to dump bags etc in, allow her to have a good sleep, and as she is quite heavy in the carrier now for any length of time. The bus idea sounds great, was thinking of something similar as DD loves things like that (and hates walking, haha!) Thinking we might stay in Croydon area and get the train into london, as I have family there we may visit on the Sunday.

We’ve managed to watch Changing the Guard with young children many times, with varying degrees of success. It gets very crowded, there’s lots of waiting and they don’t get to see much at their height. However, you can still see the Guards, hear the bands play and avoid most of the crowds by following this suggestion:
Make your way to Wellington Barracks, at the Buckingham Palace end of Birdcage Walk, for about 10:50. There you will see the guards being inspected, and then while they are waiting the band plays a selection of music. Just before 11 they march out of Wellington Barracks, and turn left for Buckingham Palace.
You can then follow them to the Palace, but to be fair it is difficult to see the troops, inside the railings surrounding the Palace forecourt, and not much happens for the next 30 minutes.
Personally, with children, I would skip the huge crowds at the Palace and head across St James's Park, over the bridge towards The Mall. There are toilets and a refreshment kiosk, just over the bridge, if a comfort break is needed on the way! You might even manage 15 mins in the brilliant St James Park playground if you can walk quickly!
Then at about 11:30 pick a spot on The Mall, close to the junction with Marlbourgh Road, because in the next 15 minutes, both the Household Cavalry and some marching guards plus the band will go past.
Changing The Guard doesn’t take place on Saturday, so you’ll have to do this on the Sunday.

Sounds like a great idea but I think you are trying to do too much in the time you have. It would certainly be too much for my family and we visit London frequently.

You have to account for travel time to and from your accommodation, navigating and travelling around London, waiting in queues, sitting down for rests/lunch/snacks, perhaps some spontaneity. And a couple of the attractions you've chosen involve a lot of walking themselves ie Buckingham Palace, Science Museum - and Hamleys actually. So maybe consider trimming down your itinerary so you're not knackered and constantly rushing. If the weather is nice perhaps you could allow time for a chilled play/stroll around one of the parks?

I have been with my son last year in april. He was 7 at the time. For him it was very important to spend every day in park for three or four hours. My favorite memory is drinking coffee with a view to buckingham palace in st. James’s Park while he was playing in the sand.
He liked: riding the bus top floor, cruise down the Thames, parks (we visited at least five), dinosaurs in national history museum, big bus tour (for first half an hour), DLR to greenwich and back, street performers at covent garden and trafalgar Square, eating in pubs
He hated: London Eye, every other museum, walking more than half an hour
We had great time, but it was his trip, not mine. We had a hotel right next to underground station, we had picnics in the park and were out every day from 9am till 9 pm

We stayed at Travelodge Manor House because it was cheap, clean, had underground station and shop in front of the hotel, piccadilly line took uš from heatrow right in front of the hotel and had park across the road

Just check that changing of the guard is definitely on - I think they do alternative weekends in winter? We went this summer with our 12 and 5 yos - 12yo was born in London when we lived there so just remembered all the tricks but I agree with pp, don't try to fit too much in.

Big Ben - walk down the west side of Westminster Bridge, not the east, to get a good view. The crowds are awful.

We actually really enjoyed the Museum of London and it has so much for kids,. We also spent a whole day in Greenwich at the museums and boating lake.

Best really is to see what your 5yo is most interested in and go to places for them. Ours is insanely into Nelson so we did Trafalgar Square, Greenwich and the Trafalgar Tavern but that's just his odd little obsession! Have fun. London is a lot more accessible than it used to be.

They’ve just opened a family lounge at Kings Cross station. Like a waiting room with train tables and a slide. Looks cute!

If you have links to Croydon, that's a reasonable place to stay. West Croydon will go to Victoria for tube to museums or change at Clapham Junction for Waterloo. Or East Croydon to London Bridge and walk along the river or take a boat. The Thames Clippers/Uber boats are one way to see some of the sights.

Buggies are fine. A pain on the transport but with 2 of you you can carry where there are no lifts and saves you carrying all day. Tfl have maps for step-free stations. There won't be such a rush hour at weekends.

If you just want a base and you're coming from the East of England, you could stay in the Premier Inn in Waltham Abbey, its 10 minutes from Loughton tube station, which is on the central line. Or you could stay at the Southgate Premier Inn, which is a couple of minutes stroll to Southgate tube station for the piccadilly line.

Buses. Not the rip off tour. The no 9 is a great route. Also buses up regent street. Borough market. Chafing of the guard. Harrods food hall if you get there early enough

Kew Gardens is great and there is a play area for your older child

Hillingdon station has a car park and you can get directly into central London, so consider looking round there?

I'd also consider a hop on hop off bus tour. You'll be able to see the sights without the crowds, and get around and if you time it right LOs can have a fairly comfy nap on the bus while you still get to see everything!

Agree re Kew being brilliant. Great value for money, loads to do, away from the main hustle and bustle. I'd be putting that on my list l.

Book the wonder lab at the science museum- it’s by far the best bit for a 5YO! The playground in Kensington gardens is good too. I don’t know how into the eye you are but mine hated it and was really bored, it’s so expensive too, so I’d personally give it a hard pass.

You’ll be absolutely fine with the pram if there are 2 of you! It’s only a struggle if you’re on your own.

We stay at the Premier Inn at Stratford when we go, also from the East, the Olympic Park has three amazing play parks, which are great for arrival or departure day.

Princess Diana Park is a must, go at lunchtime, eat lunch in the queue, take a splash suit and wellies as there is water play.

Kidzania at Shepherds Bush was a hit with my DD.

I would keep it child focused as you'll all have a better time, lots of downtime, don't try and do too much other wise you'll be rushing from A to B and it'll be too overwhelming for them. If you travel by train lots of tourist places are 241 or they were last time we went.

I wouldn't bother with the eye, it's slow and boring for little ones, keep that for a return journey in a few years.

The postal museum has the old mail rail which our kids loved as well as sort it - their role play bit.

If you are at the London Eye there is a decent playground on the South Bank beside and behind the old County Hall building. Not worth a detour but if you’re there it’s nice enough to let off steam.

By the Sunday you will have full Crossrail which may open up accommodation options in Essex.

Cut out some of the list so you can take it easy!!

Big Ben, Buckingham Palace and the Eye is a huge long day. Personally, I'd save the Eye for another trip.

The science museum is HUGE so I'd let that take a full day.

Lots of rest breaks / mess around in a park time.

Don't really have any advice as to where to stay etc but just want to say its very doable. We took a 5,3 and 1 year old in the summer and had a great time. Some of the tube stations with involved multiple lifts with big walks between so set up to carry the buggy or allow a long time for travel. There's some great play areas too (one right by the London Eye) to get a bit of downtime for the kids between walking. Just have a route planned but limit a definite schedule and she how it goes.

With that age group I would skip the London Eye, and replace it with the Transport museum or the Post museum. Neither are cheap, but the transport museum tickets last a year, so you could go again if you happen to be in London.

Also ours loved the Eye, we don't live anywhere near London so it gave them a chance to see everything they had seen on the TV in real life.

Was going to suggest you drive! We live a 40 min train away but last time we did a weekend in London we stayed at an air bnb and parked on Edgware Road round the corner from hyde park. Just WAY prefer being in our own vehicle and not having to wrangle kids in public ha.

We visit London with my DD a couple of times a year. My DD at 4 loved the London eye, just to add counter position and still talks about it now. At 5 she also loved the open top boat tour you can book alongside it, although that might be nippy in November. At the Science museum, we enjoyed a rest watching one of the 3D films in their IMAX, think ours was about the artic. The garden (construction, waterplay etc) downstairs is great too with lots to do and doesn't need to be booked.

Couple of people have mentioned Kew Gardens - I love Kew, but it’s way out of the centre of London, and would take a whole day of your trip to do it (it’s v big when you get there), so I wouldn’t include it on a weekend away.

Someone suggested staying over in Waltham Forest - we used to stay with relatives near there when we visited London for days out, it’s an easy trip in and the central line is quite fun because it starts off overground then goes under, so as a little kid you can get what’s going on with how the tube works, which is nice.

Not sure if this is useful or not but one of my top tips for parents of young kids in London on a damp day is the Royal Festival Hall on the south bank, near the eye etc. It’s a huge indoor space, very open etc, and it’s a great space for your kids to get out of pushchair / run around a bit without getting in anyones way. There’s a cafe, loos, gigantic atrium etc, never crowded. We used to dip in there every now and again to escape the crowds.

Horrible Histories cruise might be good for your 5 year old - depends, she might be on the young side. My 6 year old loved the content but hated the boat aspect 😄

Aquarium is a swizz IMO as £££ and same as every other aquarium.

Tate Modern is good for kids.

Covent garden always fun but very obvious. Bens Cookies, sweet shop, street performers and transport museum.