Where should we visit in London

[sunshineandstarsgirl]

Going to London with my cousins and uncle, aunt and my mum in middle of July.
It's our second time and cousins' first time to London.
In July, we are planning to visit the wax museum, Trafalgar square, Piccadilly circus, london eye, shrek's adventure, sea life aquarium.
Any other places in Central London or within walking distance to visit?
Is Camden market and Borough market in central london?
None of us drive.
Thank you everyone! 😊

In which case they might well want to see Shrek and the Aquarium. I love London Zoo but entrance fees are expensive everywhere so I’d pick one or two major things and then others like the markets and parks. The zoo is near Camden so possible to do the zoo and the market. The kids will love Camden so I’d definitely keep that on the list. There is a lot you can do for free and still see the sights.

Use buses and underground. Tap in and out with your debit/credit card. I’ve just spent a weekend in London using underground, train, uber boat and buses. All came to £8.40!

The power station revamp (£9 billion worth) is amazing to visit

Don't drive in London - get the tube!

I was born and raised in London. I've lived here for all my 41 years...

Madame Tussaud's is overpriced and all hype. I wouldn't bother.

I'd recommend...
• Kew Gardens
There are so many amazing parks...
• Kensington Gardens and Hyde Park - Have afternoon Tea at The Orangery at Kensington Palace (reasonably priced)
• Greenwich Park
• Holland Park (visit Kyoto Gardens)
• Regents Park
• Richmond Park
• The Churchill Arms pub for a drink a Thai meal (book a table)
• The view from the Shard (instead of the London Eye). Or lunch at the Sky Garden.
• Tower of London is great. London Dungeons is a bit cheesy/dated.
• China Town for Chinese food. My go to is a little place called The Friendly Inn. Then head to Waxy O'Connors for a drink.
• Camden Market, in my opinion, is still worth a visit. You can also walk along the canal and visit Primrose Hill.
• Catch a sing-a-long screening at the Prince Charles cinema.
• Wellcome Collection
• Fulham Palace Gardens

I really dislike the power station. It’s just a vast shopping mall but the times I’ve visited it has been rammed so some people seem to really enjoy it.

I'm going against the grain here, I've found Madame Tussaud's very entertaining, it was a surprise. It's not far from Regent's Park, Zoo, Camden, King's Cross. You could make a day out of that lot easily. Camden Market is full of tutt n my opinion, but the old buildings and canal side are nice. Lots of pubs too 🍺

What are the free sights please? I think most of what I looked at are paid stuff.

You don’t need to book in Borough market. Plenty of places are walk up food stalls with amazing street food and stools to perch on. There are also places you can queue to sit down. If you can get to Tower of London in good time for a morning visit, walk across Tower Bridge and have lunch in borough market.

Things like the markets, walking along the river and seeing the city, Tate Modern is free as are most of the museums and art galleries. You could go to the V&A or the Natural HIstory museum. The latter is very child friendly but lots to look at for all ages. Walking through Green Park and looking at Buckingham Palace, sometimes you can see the changing of the guard. Covent Garden doesn’t cost anything. It is mostly shops but there is a market and it is an attractive area. Have a look at Time Out online but also look up free things to do. There are often things going on and there’s so much that I don’t know even half of what is available.

Here is the timetable for the Changing of the Guard if that appeals to you:
https://www.householddivision.org.uk/changing-the-guard-overview#:~:text=Changing%20of%20The%20King's%20Guard,Buckingham%20Palace%20accompanied%20by%20music.

More free stuff

https://www.visitlondon.com/things-to-do/budget-london/101-free-things-to-do-in-london

You will need to Google Map where things are. Same for the Red Bus. Have you actually tried Googling? Just checking because some of the information is best checked on their website.

Also search "free attractions in London" because you've picked the most expensive paid for places. Museums are free. V&A, Natural History Museum and Science Musem are all next door to each other. Leicester Square for the Lego shop and Chinatown right next to it. Southbank is free to walk down, lots going on. Hamleys toy shop is like going to Wonkas Chocolate Factory but for toys.

How are you getting to London? A lot of attractions have 2 4 1 if you have travelled by train.

I quite liked Madame Tussauds but didn't love it. Shrek is good for younger children.

I think the London dungeon is good for all ages.

Some of the typical things are good. Leicester Square has the lego shop and the M and M shop with Hamleys close by.

Agree tower of London is good and the natural history and science museum both worth a visit

https://www.timeout.com/london/things-to-do

We are going to London by train from Manchester. Will I get 2 4 1?? How to find more about it? Thank you so much for replying. 😊👍

We’re going from Manchester too in June and have seen the 2 4 1 offer. It looks good. Includes St Paul’s and Kew Gardens which we were planning to visit anyway ! Loads of other stuff too. Not going with our kids so we can be a bit more relaxed but I’m sure you’ll love it. Maybe make sure you book restaurants in advance was advice I was given. Have a great time !

Google "Manchester London rail 241".

We went to the aquarium last year because DD loves sharks. It was expensive though compared to other aquariums.
We went to Camden and I thought it was horrible now compared to when I went in the 1990s.

Im taking a teen this year - we are going to various Japanese’s shops, Kyoto gardens, Greenwich, a dr who shop, a show, national portrait gallery and some other places I can’t remember! Personally I would concentrate on the key London places and less on the tourist crap like shek.

https://www.nationalrail.co.uk/days-out-guide/?gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjwu8uyBhC6ARIsAKwBGpQZ6nbxpfPOzhstoIub9f_0j3Zzvzw3fbLRI7f0aGp5GI_-AR6GccsaAmKGEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

Where will you come into and are you all mobile or do you need to use tubes/buses?

Is it your first time or have you seen things (what) before?

I'm going against the grain again, I thought the open top tour bus was brilliant. It was some years ago so I don't know about the cost. Boat trips are good too.
I would do

• Madame Tussaud's, Camden market
• open top bus tour, tower of London, maybe boat trip
• Covent Garden, London transport museum, maybe St James's Park

It would cost £200+ for 5 adults and a child ticket for a one day hop on hop off bus.

OP, meant kindly but a lot of those are the 'tourist hell / rip off' kind of places... I say this as a lifelong Londoner.

Not sure how long you are staying... also sorry for repeating some of the suggestions but...

Highly recommend a boat trip along to Greenwich - the market, park, Cutty Sark and Royal Observatory. There's a cable car over the Thames nearby - the boat also goes along that way. Boat and cable car can both be paid for using touch in/out debit cards, although the kids' tickets should be cheaper, so worth buying those separately.

Tower of London is wonderful. I also like Hampton Court if you like the Tudor period in particular. Kew Gardens is beautiful if anyone is into nature-type stuff.

The view from Primrose Hill is stunning, you can see the whole of London. It's also very close by to the zoo, if you like that sort of thing. Camden is also close by but in my opinion it's a shadow of its former self.

Portobello Road market on a Saturday is good.

One of the best ways to see London is on foot, providing no one has mobility issues.

It's really nice just walking along the river from Westminster (south side / London Eye) towards London Bridge, and you will see SO many sights.

Also there's a nice cluster in 'the City' of St Pauls's, with a really good view of it from the top of One New Change shopping centre close by. Also the Sky Garden (free but need to prebook or the queue is often big), and Fen Court Garden (free, rooftop garden with amazing views). In the basement of the Guildhall Art Gallery (close by) there's the ruins of a Roman Amphitheatre (also free) and the ruins of the Mithraeum are close too (also free but often booked up so need to prebook).

@Stylishcooncil jaysus, that's a hefty price. I take it back about the open top bus tour unless there are deals to be had

I would skip Madame Tussaud's, Shrek, the Eye and the aquarium, which are banal, expensive tourist rip-offs and nothing to do with London, which is a magnificent city. You've had much better advice on here.