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!

Second transport museum and Covent Garden is a sight ticked off then too 😊

@LostMySocks
The Ahoy gallery in the maritime museum is closed for refurbishment atm sadly. There's a new playground behind the museum (I hate it but that might just be me and my ND kids) and then the one with the sand

The playground at Paddington Recreation Ground has a (subtle) Paddington theme, which they might enjoy. You could go to Little Venice while in the area to look around the boats (or even go on one, there are companies that run cruises on canal boats in that area).
The Postal Museum is also great for kids that age, as is the Wonderlab area of the Science Museum. Mine have also enjoyed Frameless (large scale art proejctions, fairly spendy) and Outernet (also art projections but less immersive although free!)
I'd recommend checking out www.instagram.com/bablands.london?igsh=MW95bG92M3NmODl3dw== as she always has great suggestions.

Cutty sark and HMS Belfast

London Eye

we tended to get meal deals for lunch then somewhere like pizza express for dinner at that age.

Ps bookings for Kids Week (1 free child ticket for each paying adult throughout most of summer hols) at a lot of London theatres open on 11th June, in case you wanted to go to a show: https://officiallondontheatre.com/kids-week/?utmsource=SilverpopMailing&utmmmedium=email&utmcampaign=COMBB24066_04%20KW%20Shows%20Announced%20(1)&spMailingID=49817505&spUserID=MTU2MzYyOTgwNDQ0MAS2&spJobID=2720368650&spReportId=MjcyMDM2ODY1MAS2

My pair were 6 & 9 and they LOVED the Horrible Histories boat tour.

The open top bus tour was their least favourite.

They loved the tube and normal buses. If you use City Mapper App it's super helpful re what bus to get.

They loved all the different mini fountains that kids can play in. The one at coal drops yard was a favourite. They also have open air cinema in summer so they loved watching the lion king there too (which was free).

Also enjoyed going up the walkie talkie which is free, can book in advance.

They liked a walk along the Thames and Borough Market for tasty treats and atmos.

They loved Wahaca for their first Mexican, good kids offer.

They loved a musical Newsies that's not on any more but weren't fussed by Frozen.

Eldest is football daft so loved the Wembley Tour. Youngest loved dinosaurs and fossils so loved Natural History Museum.

Both loved going in the DLR give it's driver less and you can sit up front.

They loved the buzz of Covent Garden, street performers etc.

Daughter loved the V&A particularly the jewellery.

We did a Paddington walking tour that they enjoyed but was hard going for the 6 year old.

The ice cream parlour in Fortnums instead of afternoon tea.
Battersea park if you are in that area, there is a huge playground, boating lake and small zoo, pizza restaurant, cafe and ample ice cream stops.

Zoo is good for this age

I actually think science museum is funner than natural history.

Postal and transport museums both good

Use the Thames Clipper water transfers they're really affordable and you can go all the way to Greenwhich and stop at Tower Bridge

When my daughter was that age, the ones she liked best were the Science Museum - lots of interactive things with buttons to press, HMS Belfast and the Tower of London.

The Imaginarium in the Science Museum is well worth it.

If you're doing the museums and the kids need to chill for a while the central courtyard of the V and A has a shallow pool surrounded by grass they can paddle in by the cafe. It's easily accessible from the tunnel