Things to do in Central London during dark evenings with small kids

[CrimboLimbo]

Just this really. Down in london for a few days’ break and we’re a bit stumped by how to fill the wee bit of space between dinner and bedtime. Kids are 8 and 5. Any ideas?

Winter Wonderland

Hamley’s shuts at 8.00pm so visit there in the warm? Lots to see and they usually have you demonstrations.

Which bit of central are you staying?

Where are you staying? Cinema always an option. Some museums open late, although usually Friday. If dry, walk around to see Christmas lights in the evening.

Not Winter Wonderland! Depending on where you're staying, you could go to Battersea Powerstation? Recently opened and lots of buzz about it.

Thanks. Staying at Kings Cross.

don’t know london really - where are the best Christmas lights? Is the Christmas thing at Hyde park ok for kids at night?

Pub?

Near Kings Cross, I'd walk around the upstairs of St Pancras station where there are a few artworks but it is not crowded. Also bird cage swing between King's Cross and St Pancras and then nice walking up to coal drops yard. All good for a potter and seeing the area.

Also a small branch of Hamleys in St Pancras and the Harry Potter shop in King's Cross.

Covent Garden is nice and Christmassy for a wander.

Lots of the museums do late night opening until 9/10 pm on certain days each month. I think the transport museum is until 10pm some Fridays

There's a Curling rink in Coal Drops yard - think kids are free. It's nicely lit in the evenings.

An late afternoon jaunt down to Regents Street and Oxford Street to see the Christmas lights should tire them out. It's just a few stops on the Victoria line from Kings Cross. The lights do look really good this year.

If you go to Regent street pop round the corner in to Carnaby street for their lights too - they are usually very good.
Covent Garden lights always lovely

Leicester square has a Christmas market (it's the usual tat but it looks nice with all the lights up) it also has a lego store and M&M world

Or head for Marylebone Village if you want a smaller area of Christmas lights (and you could stop in at Daunt Books which is soooo pretty and choose a bedtime read).

Or do the lights along Bond Street and New Bond Street because the high end shops there really go to town, e.g. wrapping the building up and lovely window displays. Ooh, and you could pop into Fortnums to look at the Christmas treats. All nice early evening treats.

The London Transport museum

Carnaby St, Regent St and New Bond St lights are excellent this year, Oxford st not so exciting.

There's a nice pizza restaurant called Happy Face in Kings Cross, and next door is an Everyman cinema. I wouldn't go to Winter Wonderland (Hyde Park) in the evening with small children, everyone will be drunk. Look up Toot Bus they are doing a Christmas lights bus tour (open top bus). Or you can get on the bus number 139 which is a regular bus but happens to go past a lot of the Christmas lights.