If you’re a Londoner, how would you spend one day in the city with 3 yr old?

[AmberHollow]

I’d love to bring my 3 year old down to London for the day with me for something a bit different to our normal routine. I don’t know the city particularly well but I’m fine with tube travel and getting around generally.

What are your “must do/see” tips with a 3 year old who is a reasonable walker (not planning on bringing a stroller), but can’t go miles and miles?

We would probably be aiming to get into Euston around 10am and would want to be back there and heading home by around 2pm. So less than a full day! I don’t really know quite where to start so any tips gratefully received.

@Ilovemyfam buses are mostly great for getting around.
If there is space you can just push a buggy on and park it with the child still in.
But ALWAYS be prepared to have to fold the buggy down if the bus gets too busy or a wheelchair user needs the space because they have priority.
However if you have lots of luggage then cabs are definitely better because luggage space on buses is pretty much non existent.

Yes but the OP is coming as a tourist....

I would go to Coram’s Fields last, as it’s not far from Euston. And your 3 year old can run about and let off steam and then sleep on the train. Take a picnic for lunch - there’s a big play area, a paddling pool. I used to go there as a child, as did my Mum as my Gran lived on Lamb’s Conduit Street. I’ve recommended it to friends with young children, all of whom have loved it.

Yes, I'm aware of that. But no-one has suggested Hamleys/Oxford Circus (presumably because they're also aware that it's a hellscape and there are a thousand better things to do!). None of the places actually suggested are busy enough for a child to get crushed ergo she won't really need the hassle of a buggy.

If she wants to bring a buggy she absolutely should, of course. I was simply advising her that she doesn't NEED one to avoid her child being lost or crushed in any of the places suggested. I would strongly advise if coming into London with a three year old that you give places like Oxford Circus a swerve. They're hellishly busy and not a particularly good day out for a small child.

@NuffSaidSam yes no one has suggested Hamleys but people have suggested the Science Museum and Natural History Museum.
They get ridiculously busy. A few times when my daughter was small it actually felt dangerous in there as it was so overcrowded.
I don't know why you are obsessing so much on a suggestion that a buggy might be useful.
The OP can decide what will work for her.

Yes, I said something similar up the thread. I think sometimes parents who come to London for a day or part of a day with young children can end up getting frustrated that their child won't hurry to whatever museum, when in fact the child is just fascinated with the public transport or a street performer blowing bubbles or whatever, and doesn't want to pass that up for something structured. I'd also caution not trying to pack too much in -- the OP only has four hours in London in total, and part of that will be spent getting somewhere and getting back to Euston, and a three-year old who's not used to big cities may well be tired and overwhelmed as well as excited.

I'm replying only to your messages. Why are you 'obsessing'?

Of course the OP can decide. Both the Science Museum and NHM are now ticketed, so it becoming so busy that a child could be crushed is extremely unlikely. As I say, in twenty years of taking small children to various London landmarks/events I've never needed a buggy for a three year old . I've never had once crushed or lost either!

@NuffSaidSam I was at the Science Museum literally 2 weeks ago.
You don't have to have timed tickets anymore.
It was heaving with people.
Anyway.....we seem to be arguing over something a bit random so lets agree to disagree 🙂

My DC were underwhelmed by Coram Fields and the Princess Diana playground and didn’t really seem to think that seeing the pelicans was different to seeing the geese, swans and ducks in our local park! Likewise, London Zoo wasn’t particularly “wow” compared to somewhere like Longleat. What they did like was the Postal Museum, the Transport Museum and, more when they were a bit older, the Science Museum. However, the best things were the tube, the DLR and the cable car, Changing the Guard and seeing the London Eye. They also enjoyed Covent Garden and the South Bank. Their little parochial minds were also blown by the man we saw in full punk gear and the stag do dressed as traffic cones. For years afterwards, DS would ask where the traffic cone men where whenever we went to London!
So it slightly depends on what your DS enjoys and what you have local to where you are living.
If they are “independent”, do think through how you will keep hold of them on the tube. It’s terrifying losing sight of them for even a split second on a tube platform. The first time we went without the pushchair, I ended up improvising something akin to reins for DS out of my belt.

I used to have this sling for older toddlers, you wear your child on your hip and I found it great and so handy living in London. My son has profound autism and likes being close. Just an idea to explore for trips like this.

That will be a very expensive day out. If you’re coming into Euston but not familiar with London it suggests you’re coming quite a distance?

I truly wouldn’t do that trip with a 3 year old for a few hours. Wait until they’re older and can walk a bit more and appreciate what they’re seeing/doing, and it’ll be easier for you too. Just stay somewhere closer to home and do something different.

I don't want to start another argument, but you can only get into the science museum without a timed ticket if there are spaces. If it's full (i.e. busy enough that a child could be crushed!) then you queue outside. It's always busy with people, but not dangerous which is what you seem to be suggesting when you're talking about children being lost or crushed. Busy, yes. Dangerously overcrowded, no.

But, on the buggy issue, yes. I can agree to disagree on preference, some people prefer to bring one, some people don't. Choose your hassle essentially! I think telling people their child is at risk of being lost or crushed without a buggy is scaremongering and quite unhelpful though.

@NuffSaidSam I actually walked in straight past the ticket counters and no one stopped me ! They didn't seem to bothered about checking people for tickets.
I then left for a while but came back later and that time I did get stopped and told I had to get a ticket from the counter.
I'm going to be honest - it wasn't obvious you had to get a ticket and it was very open so you can easily just stroll in.
It's one of my least favourite places in London so hopefully won't be going back for a looooooooong time 😂

Hamleys isnt a lovely toy shop! We found it a grim place with no carpets, no encouraging to play and discover what you like. And regent street is always so busy. Its all quite overwhelming not in a good way.

Within walking distance ( easy with a buggy) of Eustion station is The Grant Museum of Zoology. Free, loads to look at, nice loos, near a cafe, and yes to a buggy, IME, for when you walk back to the station or whatever with a tired toddler, bag, etc etc. And wait for a train etc etc. Unless you want to carry them and yoir bag in the rain or heat.

Ime doing things slowly with a 3 year old is more fun than rushing and stressing in a strange place.

@Beesandhoney123 yeah Hamleys is a horrible place.
Lots of tourists go there though.

I think some of the suggestions are a little old for 3. I would do postal museum (possibly barely touch the museum and focus on the mail rail and play base!) plus play in fountains in granary square. All nice and close. At some point get a bus for a bit to feel Londony. Maybe poke about the market in front of Kings Cross. Basically I would keep it v chill and local….

We loved Hamleys a couple of weeks ago! It was busy but 18 month could have stayed for hours! Of course he has toys at home!

I probably would not be a fan if it was in my home country

Bethnal Green - Young V&A. Victoria Park short walk away with a couple of great playgrounds and play fountains.

I would avoid Zone 1.

Absolutely, with a longer day, but the OP only has four hours between arriving at Euston and departing from there again, and if she's asking about things to do in London, she's probably not that familiar with London. Even getting to Bethnal Green on the tube from Euston would take at least half an hour.

I would also avoid the Natural History Museum and Science Museum as it will be so busy at this time of year that your DC won't actually be able to see anything apart from other people's legs.

Also Hamleys can also be overwhelming due to the shear amount of toys there.

The postal museum is very good and don't forget about using the buses. It saves on all the steps & noise from the underground and young kids love being on buses.

I'd also agree on bringing a buggy. You can use them on the buses and it gives somewhere for DC to sleep when they konk out.

Trafalgar Square can be interesting due to the large lion statues or the London Transport Museum in Covent Gardens.

My son loved seeing the big rockets and planes at the science museum at that age even without going to the kids area. The postal museum has an underground railway and a little under 8s play area and Coram Fields is fab for that age.

Have just seen others say that the science museum will be super busy, so scrap that, my kids are a lot older now.

London Zoo and then Regents Park. One main activity is plenty for a three year old, I think, and then you can go on the boating lake and mooch around in the park. It’s close to Euston, so no public transport or long walks.

Greenwich maritime museum is good. Huge upstairs play area then great playgrounds in the park. Get Thames uber clipper boat.

bring a buggy. Madness to walk everywhere.