London with a 5 year old

[BigDogEnergy]

Hello

We are going to London tomorrow - arriving Friday afternoon, leaving Sunday afternoon. We are staying fairly centrally, near Waterloo. Travelling by train so limited to public transport.

What would be your must-dos with a 5 year old? He's autistic but we're well versed in scouting out accessibility options, have a sunflower lanyard, access card etc.

Is the London Eye worth it? Will it be horrifically busy?
Is the science museum age appropriate for a 5 year old with the attention span of a flea?
Any lesser known must do activities, parks etc.?

Beginning to have second thoughts 😬

If you go to the Diana memorial playground, look out for the Elfin Oak while queuing. It’s one of my favourite things in London.
https://www.london-walking-tours.co.uk/secret-london/elfin-oak.htm

The basement of the Science Museum is geared at younger children with hands-on exhibits, but the rest of it can be a sensory overload, so you might want to read up first to skip bits and just see the things he's interested in. I'd definitely consider a hop-on-hop-off open-top bus ride so you can see where the mood takes you, weather permitting. The Diana Memorial Playground in Kensington Palace Gardens is absolutely amazing, with a full size pirate ship kids can clamber over. I'd make it a must-visit.

Air line Greenwich is like a mini London eye experience it’s a cable car over the Thames with cool views. If you tell the person at the window DS is autistic you’ll be put straight through with no queue and only pay for one child’s ticket, you’ll be free.
the o2 is great to wander through in the evening and maybe let him choose where to eat. There’s a wicked little fun pool with slides and stuff on Woolwich high street and the cafe on the corner there is bloody excellent.
the museums (NH and science ) are great even when they’re busy but the fun interactive stuff can be a pain to wait for. Wonderlab tickets are worthwhile.

conservatory at the Barbican is a well kept secret so see if any tickets are there.
Tate modern has some really intriguing weird and wonderful stuff at the moment ! it’s fun to walk over London Bridge and take photos
does little chap have his own camera?
my experience of lads on the spectrum is that photography projects are well recieved especially if they’re interested in architecture and engineering and you take him along the walkways under the famous bridges. I’m not autistic or a little boy but I’m always intrigued too!

I second/third not trying to do too many things. Especially things you pay for. To tire him out: The monument, loads of steps and a view from the top. A walk along the South Bank and the climbing frames by the Eye. Pop into the Tate Modern as little kids love the turbine hall; it's something about the large space and the hushed acoustics I think. Don't bother with the eye itself. At that age they don't really know what they're looking for.

Walk from the Houses of Parliament up the Mall to Horseguards parade (soldiers on horses) and through it, and catch the pelicans being fed in St James park at 2.30 pm (I think, check the time).

If you can, I might be more inclined to take 5 yr old to see the dinosaurs at the natural history museum but I'm not sure what the ticket situation is. Yes to rides on the top deck of double deckers, yes to parks, yes to a trip on a boat.

My 4 and 6 year olds (one especially high energy!) spent 5 hours today in Holland Park if you want somewhere slightly quieter than Hyde

Everything is horrendously busy. It's like the world has taken their children to London this week 😔😔