Budget days out in London

[Pocketmonstie]

I have a 9 & 6 year old. We are going to London for a couple of days for half term. What can we do that won’t break the bank? Other than the usual museums which we plan to visit.

Cable car -www.visitlondon.com/things-to-do/place/25549367-london-cable-car

head up to Tate modern and head to the viewing gallery which is free and a wander along the river is fun as you can take in the sites.

you can also use your Oyster card and jump on a river bus

my nieces loved hanging out in Covent Garden watching the performers and also Trafalgar Square

Watching the buskers in Covent Garden, especially the seated area in the covered market area, just a couple of quid for a tip needed. A walk around Leicester Square - pop into the Lego shop to check out the enormous Lego models. If you have Tesco vouchers I found that exchanging these for a river boat pass was excellent value. If Harry Potter fans getting a picture outside the shop in Kings X where the trolley disappears into the wall then a walk up to Coal Drops Yard.

The tour of Tower Bridge was very reasonable. You get to walk across the top including glass floor!

If you wander along the South Bank make sure you wander across the Millennium Bridge and watch boats going up and down the river.

If it's not all booked up the free Sky Garden is fab, especially if you can do it when you can watch the sunset.

Kensington Gardens Diana Memorial playground is fantastic. You can also wander past the Palace.

The Maritime museum in Greenwich is free and there's an amazing adventure playground in Greenwich park.

Mudlarking on the south bank when the tide's out?
Hanging out at Granary Square, Kings Cross (bring table tennis stuff), Camley St Nature Reserve, visiting the Book Boat there?
Regent's Park playgrounds?
Climbing trees on Hampstead Heath?
Art galleries (might be pushing it).

The Science Museum, though you have to pay for the top floor, the Wonderland, which is the best bit.

Would second Greenwich as parts of the observatory/planetarium museum are free too.

Thanks for all the great ideas. We are going to go on a boat from Westminster to Greenwich, so the Maritime Museum and the Adventure Park there will fit in well. Thanks.

Will have a look at Tower Bridge too. And definitely going to the Science and Natural History Museum.

Greenwich market food stalls make a good lunch stop.

If you had an extra day I would recommend Kidzania - there are often reduced tickets on Groupon. It's a great day out for kids.

Treasure Trails are good walks. The Westminster one was a nice one recently.

The viewing gallery at tate modern is closed at the moment

Geocaching

Bit further out but Battersea Park has a fantastic playground, combine with the power station, and if you have more time in the area Latchmere Leisure Centre has a good swimming pool for kids; not sure if the family swim session will be on next week still but under 8s are free with an adult if so and there is a wave machine. Also a soft play in the cafe area but your kids might be a bit too old (6 year old is probably ok).

Ride on top of an ordinary red double decker. The No.11 and No.15 take in quite a lot of the sights. Best done west-east, rather than east-west. (No need ever to bother with a tourist bus, imo.)

The Tower Bridge website will tell you when it's due to open. You can go down to the riverside in front of the Tower to watch. It's public, you can get there without paying to go into the Tower.

Walk from Traf Sq along the Mall or through St James's Park to the Palace.

Ride on the Tube, if you're not already planning to, for the experience.

Science Museum is the best for kids.
V&A
Nat History
Bristish Museum
tate Modern and Britain
National gallery
Maritime Museum

all free!

Buskers in Covent Garden and along South Bank
Clipper (not tourist) boat from Westminster to Greenwich - they get to see Westminster, the Eye,. Tower of london, Tower Bridge, Cutty Sark. There's a discount if you have a travel card.
Same with the cable car - travel card discount.
You can walk in the amazing foot tunnel under the Thames at Greenwich for free iirc.
The DLR train that goes past Billingsgate is like a mini roller coaster. Get DC to sit right at the front so they can 'drive' the train (no driver)
The Mithraeum temple is also free - only a quick visit but quite cool. it's the ruins of an old temple but they create the rest with mist and lighting in the dark so it sort of flashes before your eyes. You have to book, I think. You can also book the Sky garden (OK) and/or the roofgarden at 120 Fenchurch which is less busy and imo nicer.
Monument is very cheap. Climb all those stairs inside and then great views from the top.

Try the Petrie museum. We find the science museum a bit overwhelming and the wonderland overrated.

Second a wander round the South Bank

Go to St James Park to see the pelicans. They are very cheeky. You can walk right up to them.

Postal Museum - I was a bit dubious but it was great and kids will love it!

Oh I hadn’t realised the viewing gallery was closed- is that due to the recent court case about the neighbours privacy?

This will fit in with a good day of multiple transport options, we did similar a few years ago. Boat to Greenwich, bus to cable car, cable car and then DLR back into town.

Sky garden is also fab and free. If you're willing to go up the shard early that's not too expensive, or didn't used to be anyway.

www.leakestreetarches.london/

Cool.graffiti tunel not far from london eye southbank
Leake street tunnel

The usual tricks buy sandwich meal deals from boots or tesco and save eating in for hot chocolates

@Pocketmonstie -
I want to do this at May half term. where are you staying?

The British Museum is great and at half term/ weekends families can use the schools room for a picnic/ loos. Corams Fields is just around the corner for a runabout afterwards.

There are also 2 for 1 deals with train tickets and Kellogg’s cereals. Sea Life, London Zoo, etc.