Anyone up for helping me plan a weekend in London with kids as the family Christmas stand present?

[Banjaxx]

I’m just getting over surgery and lying in bed thinking of nice things to take my mind off the pain and thought now’s the time to plan the family Christmas trip!

we’re not buying physical presents this year as the kids honestly don’t want anything. We’ve asked them endlessly but they either say nothing or just offer up some tat which on questioning for further details admit that they don’t really want it, they just wanted us to give over hassling them for ideas! So I’m going to plan a wonderful weekend for us in January, fly to London (we’re in Ireland) on the Friday morning, and fly home on the Monday.

im thinking Harry Potter tour and maybe tickets to see Matilda which I’ve been dying to see for ages. It’d be me, DH and 2 kids both 8 (yes twins… and no I ’m not a twin troll 😂)

budget can be flexible, I know it’ll be expensive but the kids have never been to London and never been on a plane so happy to splurge. it’s been a really hard year for lots of reasons so I want this to be special.

does anyone have any suggestions? Hotels that would be good for getting between those locations? Other shows that are on I might not have considered? Tips on how to get the moneys worth out of the Harry Potter tour etc?

all suggestions and distraction most welcome and apppreciated

Harrods!

@NorthFaceofthelaundrypile thats looks great! I love getting event presents and time spent together presents, I’ve done it for years with my mum aunt and cousin, so lovely to have something to just do as a treat for us to spent time together and look for ward to instead of stuff, especially when we really don’t need anything

We stayed in the Travelodge Covent Garden it was great walkable to the theatres and great value.

You can get the river bus from Tower Bridge to Westminster and then you get to see a lot of the sights (houses of Parliament, London Eye, Tower Bridge, Tower, Belfast etc) from the river. Get off at Westminster and walk past Big Ben and Westminster Abbey and through St James's Park to Buckingham Palace and go to the Mews (behind the Palace) to see the carriages and horses (they'll then be able to say they've seen the State Coach in real life when they see it on TV for the coronation next year).

You can also do guided walking tours of the various HP locations in London which are about £15 a head and get lunch in the cafe in Borough Market that was frequented by Daniel Radcliffe when they were filming there.

The Sky Garden is fab and free. You do need to book in advance though. It's much better than the London Eye as it is so very much higher and the views are incredible. The cafe at the top is pretty reasonably priced too to get a drink and a snack and to take in the views.

If you will be getting the train from the airport then check out the London 2 for 1 website which is run by National Rail. There are loads of 2 for 1 offers for attractions such as the tour buses which are great as you can hop on and off, Tower of London, Tower Bridge, Thames boat trips, Westminster Abbey, St Paul's, the London Dungeon and many more. London 2 for 1 You can print off the vouchers or save them to your phone. Some venues ask to see your train tickets so do to take them with you, but most don't.

I also recommend Premier Inn. We visit London fairly frequently and stay at the one on Borough High Street. It's very quiet and a five-minute walk to Borough Market itself - amazing food - and London Bridge tube station. It has a restaurant and there is also Tesco Extra next door.

Also free but fabulous is the Riblat gallery at the British Library, which has some of the most important documents in its collection on display. From Beatles handwritten lyrics, Mozart's manuscripts, original manuscripts from Dickens, Jane Austen and the Bronte sisters etc. I appreciate that your DC might be a little young for this but I thought I would mention it. British Library

My first tip would be to check if you can get HP tickets - weekends especially get booked a few months in advanced for decent day times.

Also today tix for tickets - I have been to the theatre 5 times this year and not paid more than £25. I am sure they do £25 Matilda tickets. (Generally middle royal circle or back of stalls tickets so decent views) they also do a cursed child lottery but you wouldn't know if you got it till that week.

b-bakery.com/london/bus-tours/paddington-christmas-bus-tour might be nice for your twins?

Theatre tickets go on sale 6th December for January so you might get. Very good reduced Matilda theatre tickets.

I took mine to tate modern and they were desperate to leave, you are also quite far out from central London although it's still a very nice place to base yourself.

Harry potter is no where near London it's quite far out.

I would concertrate on central London eg regents street/ bond Street...walk through at Christopher place to marybebone.

Walk to fortnums then Jerymn street to Soho/ China town/ wall throughout seven dial's to covent garden, and around there Trafalgar Square... bucks house... parliament. Sounds a lot but easily done in an afternoon.

Next part at Paul's,city..go up sky garden for views,it's free....the. Over bridge for Tate modern , viewing gallery...walk up that side of River.