London for 11th birthday... recommendations?

[IhearyouClemFandango]

We are taking ds to London for the weekend for his birthday as he has never been.

I have booked a slot at the Natural History museum and Science museum which I think he will love, but I was hoping someone could recommend somewhere nice for dinner (he's relatively adventurous), perhaps a route or company for a bus tour?

Plus any little extra places to visit or see to make the weekend special for him.

Tower of London & London Bridge are pretty good - see the river, lots of history, good views

Bear in mind how knackering it is to do NHM and science museum in one day. You might want to plan a quieter day ie less walking the next. What about the cable cars at Greenwich? An open top bus tour? Tower of London is brilliant- we really enjoyed it.

I’d take a river boat tour, I think it’s one of the best ways to see the city especially if you get one with live commentary like Thames River Sightseeing.

Gremio in Brixton is tapas in a crypt which he might enjoy; Attendant in Fitzrovia is fun to stop by for a drink or light lunch; it’s in a converted public toilet.

Rib boats are loads of fun.

Yes, we will do nhm on sat and science on Sunday. In terms of bus tours, is a tour company best or a standard bus?

Tower bridge. Not London Bridge as PP said. London Bridge is a concrete 1960s thing.

To be honest two museums and lunch is enough, let alone hiking over to Tower of London too. But not sure how much running around and travelling per day you fancy. How long are you planning to be there? I wouldn't pay for a bus tour. Buses no 11 and 9 take in the sights if I remember correctly. They pass through from Westminster to St Paul's etc.

My kids love dim sum in Chinatown. Also there's the M&M shop in Leicester Square loads of people (inexplicably) like to visit. It's super expensive.

Don’t over-schedule — children who aren’t used to moving around a big city on public transport and foot can often find it unexpectedly exhausting, especially if adults are dashing about to fit things in.

DS (11) likes grazing from the stalls at Borough Market for food, Camden Lock, going to the Emirates Stadium, the skateboarders on the South Bank.

Plan is we head up Sat morning, have lunch and the afternoon at NHM followed by dinner somewhere. Stay in hotel in Shepherds Bush, morning of Sunday in Science museum.

Afternoon try to look at a few sights perhaps, bus or Thames clipper maybe? Train home at 330.

I'd recommend a tour of Tower Bridge (not too expensive compared to other attractions) and walk over to Borough Market for pop up/street food. Thames Clipper is a good way to see some of the river views.

If he likes lego, especially Harry Potter, go to the lego store in Leicester Square. It's opposite the over priced M&M store that we always end up visiting.

There are so many options food wise. Which area are you staying in?

Oh cross post. TBH, both those museums take a while to get round - I don't think you'd have time for much after a museum/lunch before 3.30 depending on which train station you're leaving from.

Rib is great. It’s a speed boat on the Thames if you wanted an alternative boat trip

If he doesn’t scare easily, go on the Ghost bus tour. It’s right up their street at that age. DD was 11 when we went and she loved it. Great end to the day.

Horrible histories has a boat tour if that appeals

I took my son at that age, we went up the river from waterloo on the commuter boat (cheaper than the tourist boats) and then got the cable car across the Thames (with hot chocolates from Costa near the O2), the DLR and the Egyptian rooms at the BM. He didn't like the underground but did like the boat and cable car.

If you can book it the spirit collection tour at NHM is amazing. £25 each but worth every penny. It’s a behind the scenes tour and it is amazing.

Do you think he'll want to do 2 museums? It's his first trip to London, doesn't he want to see Buckingham Palace, changing of the guard, Downing Street, Trafalgar Square, have a go round the London Eye? Book the Skygarden for views and there's a cafe up there.

Get on the number 11 bus. As for food, Chinatown is always a hit with the kids.

We do want to do some sightseeing, just not sure which museum to ditch in that case 🤔

I’m sure it’s sacrilegious, but I don’t really rate the NHM. A lot of it is very old fashioned and a lot of it looks like a budget school project. I’m always surprised when I go for one of the special exhibitions like Wildlife Photographer how shabby some of it is and why it attracts such big crowds. If I had to pick one, I’d skip NHM.

I'd ditch one of the museums and go to the Tower of London instead - and get the boat there so you can enjoy the river and some sightseeing from the water. Then walk over Tower Bridge and along past Hays Galleria towards London Bridge / Borough Market. It's probably better to do this on the Sunday as it's slightly less hectic on Sundays but appreciate that you will run out of time easily with a 3.30pm train to catch.

Definitely does science and nhm in one day as well they are side by side went often turned up at 3pm and happily don't both

It will be extra treck to go back and do it again in same ea.

What about them restaurants in south Ken right by the musuem... Crepe or le comptoir lebonese.

Or... China Town?? Do musuems... One lunch the other... Then I'd head for China Town which is central... Eat.. Wander around Piccadilly Circus then walk up to Covent Garden... Meander around.. Street entertainers... Bed.

Next day...

If you have the cash, a speedboat tour (eg Thames Rocket) is amazing at that age!!

Agreed. DS was never that gone on it, either. To be honest, an 11 year old who has never or hardly ever been to London before is more likely to just like the random Londonishness of things than big-ticket stuff, unless they’re a special interest. DS loved riding around on top of buses, spotting film locations, shouting ‘Boo, Boris Johnson’ outside Downing St, wandering around Camden Market, and the various matching/horse riding soldiery stuff associated with the Household Cavalry, not even anything as formal as the Vhanging of the Guard.

Agree with a few comments on here.. ditch NHM and do the TowerBridge//Tower of London South Bank thing on the other day. Pop into the Terbine Hall at Tate Modern. See the buskers, maybe walk up to the London Eye and Big Ben. Lots of nice places for lunch. My kids love FiveGuys burgers -not particularly London or cheap, but best burgers ever- and hey it has a prime view of Tower Bridge! And second going on one of the speedboats. We've done the Thames RIB experience several times it's exhilarating,see lots of sights and they play James Bond music etc, lots of fun! More fun than boring and slow Thames Clipper cruise.

I recommend this to every I know - the immersive Guy Fawkes experience at Tower Hill is brilliant fun!

I'd do both museums together on Sunday as they're next to each other in South Kensington, you wont have go there twice. On Saturday go straight into town to see Picadilly Circus and Trafalgar Square. There is the National Gallery as well if you want a break from walking. Take a bus further East towards Big Ben then St Pauls Cathedral, a bit further East will be Tower of London. Then head down the river to take the cruise from Tower Hill towards Greenwich. Hang out about National Maritime Museum / Royal Observatory before going back to Shepherd Bush. Thats a lot for Saturday. Then you only have a relaxing Sunday seeing both museums before going home.