London hidden gems for tourist newbies

[30not13]

Can I please get some of your must haves, hidden gems, can't miss ideas for things to do/see/eat at/tips for a family of 4 (pre teenagers) we haven't been before and are keen to get an itinerary together :)

Thanks in advance!

Do have a browse in the topic

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Some of the threads are a little bit older, but there's still a lot of good advice in them.

What sort of things do you like doing?

Greenwich is a good day - exhaust them running u the hill to the Observatory and take the obligatory photos with one foot in each hemisphere. The Maritime Museum is lovely, and there's a market and lots of places to eat. And you can get there on the Thames Clipper (the regular boat service, not a tourist boat) which is fun in itself

If you haven't been before hit the classics! Thames riverboat,
Tower of London,
St James Park/Parliament Square/Whitehall/Horse Guards/Buckingham Palace/trafalgar Square.
Covent Garden.
Monument/Bank/St Paul's crossing over to Tate Modern, Globe, Borough Market.

Old Operating Theatre is great (near London Bridge)

Cabinet War Rooms, Mithraeum, British Museum, London Transport Museum, young V&A

There’s no ‘standard London’, though — it will depend on what you like doing, collectively and individually. My unmissable London stuff is art and classical music and Wren churches, DS’s used to be various playgrounds, the Natural History museum earthquake room, the Transport Museum, falafel at Borough Market and riding on the top duck of buses and the DLR. These days it’s bonding with his father at Arsenal games and buying crap in Camden.

Also, how old are the children? Smallies get tired very quickly, even if you’re busing or tubing everywhere.

Have something to eat in the Crypt at St Martins in the Field church right by the National Gallery.

My kids loved walking on the graves and just being in such a different space, they still talk about it.

We went because it was cheap, it was back then for central.

Thames Rib Boats, Sky Garden, South Bank walk and over Westminster Bridge, past Big Ben, Houses of Parliament, Downing St, and up to Trafalgar Sq. Picnic and boats in Regents Park. Climb Monument. Climb over the O2. Cable Cars to O2

Museum of the Home. Lovely gardens too!

best day for pre-teens is Greenwich and then Canary Wharf for the docklands museum in my opinion
Take the boat to Greenwich from centre of town for extra fun!

Greenwich park is awesome - includes great play park,

royal museums at Greenwich website and take out probably the family membership ticket as it will cover a years worth for 2 adults plus 1 guest adult and 4 kids - is around £80 - covers all exhibition including planetarium shows.

planetarium is brilliant (they have special kids showings for under 7s and 7-12+), observatory fascinating if you have older kids (maybe from 8*)- it’s about the history of navigation and time, maritime is great with lots for under 5s in particular (ahoy, great Map, play gallery) but also lots of interactive things for older children and usually a few special events during holidays
Lunch at Franco Manca/Bills if you want a cheap kids menu or sticks and Sushi if you want to splurge

royal naval collage is quite interesting- now a university has an interesting “painted ceiling” room which you can get a tour of (inc in ticket price) and the building is regularly used as a film set. (NB the painted ceiling room is paid entry and not part of the royal museums)

Cutty sark is ok - not amazing but ok - worth popping in if you purchased the membership ticket

then over to Canary Wharf via DLR for the museum of London docklands, something nice for supper (ippudo noodles is pretty good). Canary Wharf also have lots of free family events - worth checking the website. Includes a family friendly music festival which was all free last year.

or you could take the cable car instead if the DLR from North Greenwich which could be great fun for views etc!

have fun!

Greenwich Park
The British museum
Camden Market
Hyde Park

Highgate Cemetery guided tour.
The Wallace collection, especially the armoury with afternoon tea in the garden restaurant. Admission is free.

We had time to kill recently around Liverpool St Station and visited the Bank of England museum about ten minutes walk away. It was free, it was interesting (for an 11.5 yo), and he got to hold a real bar of gold!

Natural History Museum was absolutely rammed, on a Monday during term-time. It was horrible and I think we managed twenty minutes before leaving for the Science Museum - much quieter.

I love the Tower of London but some people find it boring!

The tour of Tower Bridge is good. You get to walk along the top walkway which has a glass floor. My kids loved it.

You are not Alone

I love the Tower as well.

All hallows by the tower is worth a visit. It's a church right by the Tower of London and has a crypt museum. Beautiful building with a rich history.

We went for a behind the scenes tour at the Royal Opera House recently. It was about £16 iirc and it was well worth every penny.

Thank you so much, I'll check out all the places mentioned!
We are not going in the school hols so should be a lot quieter I hope?!

Tomorrow's task is to watch YouTube and learn how to use tube and buses 🤔🫣

Greenwich! The maritime museum is great. Lots of other things to do - The Cutty Sark, the observatory etc. It also has a villagey feel.

If your children are ‘young’ pre-teens then Shrek Adventures is always good. If they are a bit older, London Dungeons. Book anything you can ahead as it is nearly impossible to be spontaneous in London since covid. Download a free tube app on your phone before you go. If your children are U11 they travel free on the tube, just go through the wide barriers with them in hand. If your children like history then the Tower of London is a must! You can hire audio for £14 for a family of four and it is worth doing, or wait for a free tour which are usually on the hour.
Just a warning, just because you are going before schools break up, it is not quiet at all. We went to London for two days last Monday/Tuesday and there are already so many tourists everywhere!!!
Best of luck and have fun, we love visiting!!

Head to Kings Cross. Explore Coal Drops yard, there’s a hidden old school bw photo booth. Eat at Dishoom, see David Hockney at Lightroom. Take a look at the UAL building, play in the fountains. Walk along the canal to Camden afterwards - if you go even further you will hit London zoo.

My pre-teens loved Tower of London, especially since we took a Yeoman tour after recommendation here on Mumsnet. The tours depart every 30 minutes from the main entrance. "Our" Yeoman paid extra attention to the children (we made sure to keep close to him) and it was unforgettable. We gave the crown jewels a miss, the line was bonkers. Afterwards we ate at Wagamama Tower Hill, the children's menu was perfect. There's also a Burger King close but it's in a basement and not v nice.

One thing about the tube, it's easy to just blip yourself in (and out) with your debit/credit card, but you can't use the same card for all the family members. So DH and I each gave one of our (two) cards to the kids and they blip themselves in, if you see what I mean. My kids loved learning to navigate the tube.

Camden market and a walk along Regents canal to Regent's Park and the zoo.

Kew Gardens - glasshouses, treetops and the rabbit warren are great fun.

The Uber clipper is a cheaper way to get along the river and is great between Battersea power station (glass elevator to the roof is fun) plus a walk round Battersea Park and then past Westminster down river. If you get off at embankment a wander round south bank is cool with pizza at Gabriel's wharf, or there's often fun stuff going on in Somerset house.

Hampstead Heath is great - maybe starting in Hampstead village getting a crepe from the stand in the High Street and then through Well walk to the Heath and then across to Parliament hill with a fabulous view across London.

I've not watched her videos for a while, but look for Sunny In London on TikTok. She's an American living in London and has found some real hidden gems.