Five days in London with young kids - top tips please!

[ShufflingWeasel]

Kids aged 6 and 4. Where would you go to get the most out of five days? Classic London activities to supplement what they've seen in 'Paddington' 😆. Natural History Museum is top of the agenda, as is a boat/open top bus tour to take in some of the most famous landmarks easily. I'd love to hear ideas for other places/activities they might enjoy at this age...or tips for what to avoid!

Science museum is worth a visit too.

London eye or the cable cars at Greenwic.

The Diana memorial playground.
Use Hyde park or St James's for some space to run if weather is good.

London Transport Museum is brilliant for kids - there's a stamp trail to do and 2 big play areas. You can bring in your own food to eat in the picnic area too.

Ooh yes, science and transport museums are great idea! We've also thought about a child friendly afternoon tea somewhere. The Paddington bus one looked fun but I nearly passed out at the cost!!

Southbank is always fun - there's usually performers, a carousel etc. and a good playground by the London Eye. Could perhaps combine with a boat trip on the river to see other sights. If at the Science or Natural History museum on a sunny day it's worth popping over to the courtyard at the V&A for a splash in the water there, and it's a nice space to picnic too.

I took mine at about the same age... the 4 year old kept asking 'when will we get there? ' on the open top bus then fell asleep.

The best bit for them was the Diana garden (take dry clothes, they will be soaked) and another playground with sand and a pirate ship - I think it was close by the Diana one, but this was 10 years ago!!

Take in one of the city farms. Vauxhall city farm is on victoria line and mudchute is convenient for the emirates airline (cablecar) at Greenwich. Playgrounds are the best thing in London for that age kid, nearly all parks have a good playground.

Tower bridge is fun. The walkways at the top have glass floors and you can look down on the London buses.
Not too expensive by London standards either

Maybe the zoo? Or for a cheaper (free alternative) there are a number of City Farms.

If they like trains and planes then a ride on the DLR out to London city airport

At that age mine lives the maritime museum in Greenwich which has a children's gallery and is (or was) free and there is also a huge playground in the Park next door (with huge sandpit at the far end that you may or may not want to avoid)

We just took out 4 year old and 1 year old. 4 year old DS absolutely LOVED the London Eye and afternoon tea at the Shard. He also liked seeing the mummies and the "treasure" at the British Museum.

We did 4 days in London at the same age, staying near Tower of London.
we did something along the lines of:
Day1) Tower of London/tower bridge
Day2) dlr, cable cars to Greenwich, cutty sark & Greenwich prk playground & observatory & river taxi
Day 3) river taxi to parliament, London eye, Hyde park playground, Covent Garden & transport museum
day4) natural history museum & Hyde park playground again

The paddling pool in the v and a courtyard is lovely at that age. Pop in and have lunch there after the natural history museum.

Correction, Hyde park was St James park, they have a loverly playground in the sw corner

I think there are Charlie and the chocolate factory type afternoon teas for young kids.

www.onealdwych.com/food-drink/charlie-the-chocolate-factory-afternoon-tea

This is the one I was thinking of.

The zoo is the best thing for kids there and maybe a kid friendly theatre show. If you are feeling generous you could taken them to hamlets on regent street and let them choose something - they could spend half a day in there trying out all the toys it's so good.

Hamleys!

The postal museum, Clerkenwell.

I personally would say avoid hamleys; packed and overpriced.
There’s a play park in st James park that was perfect for running off some steam when going to see Buckingham palace.
A trip on the Thames is brilliant for that age the walk from Trafalgar Square down to Westminster is a good one to do.

Tumbling bay playground in the Olympic park and the discover story centre in Stratford if you’re in east London.
The young V&A in Bethnal Green is great and a really short walk from the tube. The docklands museum in Canary Wharf is lovely for kids too.

This is amazing, so many great ideas! Thanks so much everyone ♥️ Can anyone recommend any good places to eat with little ones too?

Overpriced but The Rainforest Cafe is fun for little kids.

I don't get the love for the Diana Memorial playground. It's... a playground and not in a convenient location.
I agree with many suggestions

• London transport museum
• postal museum
• boat trip
• cutty sark, Greenwich, cable car
• tower of London

Agree with the Southbank - and there’s also a new Paddington Bear experience that’s just opened up there, although don’t know if it’s any good.

Frozen the musical

I took my kids who are 6 & 4 and they loved it. DS4 was on the edge of his seat throughout & even DH who hates the theatre had a tear in his eye at the end.

We only went as DD6 loves Frozen

And we had shitty cheap seats at the back

Free stuff. Only do the pricey stuff if it's for you. Not wishing to sound like a complete cow, but speaking from experience they won't remember most of it in a year or two. London is somewhere you can return to year after year and still find new things to do. So I'd take advantage of the glorious parks, the world beating museums and leave the tourist traps for when they are older.
Whereabouts do you plan to stay as that will influence advice. Transport is usually easy but it's always nice to take advantage of what's local and to stay in a different part next time.
If you're staying in Stratford, I'd recommend Greenwich over Kew Gardens for example.

You can book slots at the Natural History Museum which are a must. You still have to queue when you get in, to go into the dinos area!

After Natural History Museum walk down exhibition road into Hyde Park. Serpentine gallery has a play structure opening this weekend and then there is Diana Memorial playground if you walk through.

Appearing rooms splash fountain at Southbank

Tate Modern and the Uber boat to Greenwich - going under tower bridge is great

Maritim museum Greenwich has a great new playground, there’s also a massive sandpit playground in the park and you can walk up to the observatory if not too tired 😊

My 6 year old was doing fire of London in year 2 so maybe Monument / pudding lane?