Big Ben Westminster - what's there to do round there

[Eggybreadwithnuts]

DS 9 years old, never been to London and really wants to see Big Ben 😀 so we will tube it to there so he can take pics etc, we can stand on bridge and look at the Thames as again asked to see the River. Is there anything else to do around there...also grab a sarnie at Pret around there????

Took dd on an uberboat tour from the London Eye - she loved it

Theres also the sea life museum there x

The London Eye??

St James's Park, Horse Guards, Downing Street, Buckingham Palace all walkable from there. Over the river there's the London Dungeon if he's brave!!

London eye is great as is, and I know it's supposed to be a tacky tourist thing, the London Dungeons. That depends on whether he is the sort of kid who likes to be scared or not, nine years old might be a bit young but mine really liked it. But there's quite a few tourist traps attractions on the South bank by the London eye.

Wander over south bank, watch the skateboarders. Bit of a walk, but then you can walk to borough market for some lunch. The bottom of oxo tower has some interesting shops.
or you can walk to China town / Leicester Square.

Cross post! But going over to the South Bank after Big Ben is a good idea, the actual walk over the bridge itself is nice IMO.

The Uberboat tour leaves from Westminster Bridge and is brilliant. You see the whole of London - lots of stuff to interest a 9 year old...Tower of London and traitors gate, HMS Belfast...loads of things.

Westminster Bridge is always heaving with tourists taking photos. Better to walk along the north bank to the Jubilee Bridge and cross there for a mooch along the South Bank. There are a few chains including Pret just below the South Bank Centre. Or Gabriel’s Wharf is good for lunch - several food places - and there are also other food outlets between the National Theatre and Gabriel’s Wharf. The Clink, a bit further along just after Southwark Bridge, is quite fun for kids (historical prison).

Houses of Parliament
Westminster Abbe
Many bridges over The Thames
London Eye
The Tate

Easy walk to -
Buckingham Palace
The Mall
Horseguards Parade
Trafalgar Square
Downing Street (though not much to see as you can't go in to it anymore)

Longer walk along the rive can take you down the South Bank -
The Globe
Tate Modern
The Shard
St Paul's

Eventually to
The Tower of London
Pudding Lane
The Monument

We really enjoyed getting the Uber Boat along the Thames, from which you can see many of the famous land marks

Just look at a map, OP - I think it's pretty obvious.

… watch a debate from the public gallery in the Houses of Parliament, you can request free tickets through your MP

Followed by an Elizabeth Tower tour https://www.parliament.uk/visiting/visiting-and-tours/big-ben-tour/

this would all need to be sorted way in advance. You can turn up on the day and queue to watch a debate too!

The Pelicans with their new (but now quite big) babies in St James Park. Just don't crowd them.

HMS Belfast was enjoyed by my DC at that age. And there is a tour at The Tower of London which is worth going on.

I’d get a normal tourist boat to Greenwich ( not an uber) and then see the cutty sark

cross over and walk down the southbank - there is a playground near the London eye. Brewdog in Waterloo has a big slide for the kids. Loads of street food vendors near the south bank so you can upgrade your pret :) and eat by the river. I’m always taking my kids to the Southbank. They love the booksellers by the BFI, watching the skateboarders near the Southbank centre. There are fountains outside Southbank centre called “disappearing rooms” so take a towel and spare clothes!

Helpful ;)

I lived in london and kids always liked the south bank, lots going on normally, nice walk down the river to tower bridge? Plenty of places to eat or buy a sandwich. Tate modern is good place to pop into.
The London eye if you like although its normally very busy in school holidays.

Get a fish finger sandwich in the pub across from 10 downing street. I had one over 2 years ago and still remember how good it was.

You can do a tour inside the Houses of Parliament (not including Big Ben) - if you book an audio tour in advance online, one child goes free per adult. There's a children's version of the audio guide with quizzes and games on it which is perfect for a 9 year old. It's open every weekday and Saturday through the holidays.

London Eye, London Dungeon - just opposite on South Bank, over the river.
From there you could take a water taxi to Tower Bridge and the Tower of London.
OR, walk up Whitehall, from Big Ben. Go past Downing Street, walk up to Trafalgar Square and along to Buckingham Palace.
Lots of kid friendly places to eat near Piccadilly Circus….

To answer your specific question, there is a Pret A Manger, and a Greggs, right across the road from Big Ben on Bridge Street (the street that runs onto Westminster Bridge.

If this is a summer holiday trip, Parliament is not in session so you can't get in to watch a debate.

In walking distance (as others have said):
London Eye
Trafalgar Square
St James Park
Leicester Square (for Lego shop if of interest) and Covent Garden

Or get on a boat at Westminster Pier and go as far down the river as you like -maybe to Tower Bridge??

Always lots of street entertainers on the South Bank