AIBU to even think of taking children into london during the olympics...

[PeaTarty]

We will be housesitting for some friends just outside of London, as we do each year, for the first 2 weeks of summer hols. Pretty much exactly when the olympics are on.

My daughter hasn't been into london so I'd quite like to take her in, do a "duck" tour and go on a double decker bus. She's a pre-schooler so just want to be "in" London and do Londony things.

Is that an unreasonable ask? Will it be horrid in London or extra friendly?!

The duck tours are great for kids. A wander down the south bank sounds like a good plan too. Someone earlier suggested St James park, normally yes, but at the moment and also during the Olympics I would say steer clear. It is not just the marathon, there are also cycle races, and then there is the beach volleyball at the horse guards end. We have to walk through St James park to get to school and there are just barriers everywhere, big screens going up already, I know its for the Jubilee at the moment but it will be the same for the olympics, and the promblem is they just close roads and crossings when they feel like it it seems. Yesterday I couldn't get back from school as they had just closed the road with no warning for a rehersal of the Trooping of the colour.

I would say definately come to London though, I think its going to be great.

London will be fabulous! Come on in!

Oooh I'm all excited. If I keep it simple to just South bank (picnic and looking at "statues") and then duck tour that should be ok shouldn't it?

Thankyou for local knowledge.

I think London will be hideous during the olympics. Not just the Olympic bits - the whole of central London.
Our most recent trip was in April and I found it busier than normal.

Go anyway, enjoy your day but don't imagine the tourist bits will be quieter - they won't. (much much busier) the tube will also be heaving.

Sorry to be a misery but......

Tube will be heaving - agreed. Buses are the way forward or trainers on and walk about.

Can I get a bus from Marylbone to Waterloo? Is it walking distance? Baby in ergo and 4 year old . .

Hmm second thoughts!

South Bank is generally a good bet if you want to go inti Central London hut not go anywhere specific. I'm sure there will be a great buzz but to avoid travelling to work through it all I am going away for 2 of the weeks .

There will be queues to get on the tubes - peak times at interchanges (kings x, Victoria etc) are already hideous. I just can't see how any of the already full to capacity tubes can absorb any more passengers, it's not like they can add on extra carriages or even really any extra tubes. 1 every 2mins in the mornings at the mo, and by the time passengers have got off there is sometimes no time for anyone to get on!

What is this duck tour of which you speak? I've never heard of it

No no no, neither bus nor walking will work for that journey.
I think you'll be fine by tube if you research the predicted busy times and avoid them. Rush hour will be horrid, but then it always is.

You can always wait until the Monday to see how things really pan out. If everyone says it really is genuinely awful then just don't come.

And I don't know about bus but it'snot a good walk for a 4 yo - I've done Baker St to London Bridge on tube strike days and it's a nice walk but long.

Ruislip Lido and woods will be lovely though...

We're planning black park as I loved going there when we used to live in the area. Very strange child won't remember all these places!

House sitting for 10 days just wanted to take a day into London. Husband working most of it so hoping to sit in huge garden and catch up with friends!

Hmm we are based central London ( near Hyde park). I would avoid by the plague! Earls court station was horrendous the other day due to one small signal failure, wouldn't want to see dying Olympics.

We are going to avoid any travel as much as possible, even prepared the kids for staying in 5 mins walk from home by getting pool/ sandpit etc set up, and arranging playdates and picnics with every child in the neighbourhood :)

I'm avoiding buses/ tubes etc.. And we actually have tickets so shall have to brave two days getting there ( one main, one Paralympics)

It finishes the 12th, any chance you can come after?

Sadly not as house sitting while friends are away.

Duck tours are on a fun yellow vehicle that can drive around and then drive into the Thames :-)

I'd be looking at tube 10 30ish and 3 ish.

I think it should be fine. We've done the tour ££££ but fab- the kids remember it years later

Honestly I can't believe that the tubes will be a problem at 10:30 and 3. When you consider the millions of people who travel in and out during the rushhour who won't be there at those times, a couple of stadiums full are a drop in the ocean. It's when you add two stadiums full of people to the rush hour traffic, which is already absolutely at capacity...that's when the system will break.

Wow. Have we got the Olympics this year?

Can I just like pop in from Mornington Crescent? That's so cool.

The thing is its not just the rush hour going to work people. Its not just the people who are going to that days events, its all the other people who will also be in London.

The enormous extra number of people who will be in London. Anyone with a ticket for an event on Monday for example is highly likely (if they are visiting London) to be visiting the sites of London on Tuesday and every other day they are in London. There will also be loads of extra tourists in London who havent got tickets for any event simply to be in the olympic city, to be part of the buzz.

OP - I would suggest its fairly obvious why your friends are going away during Olympic week - to avoid the crowds! (wisely)

Friends are going away as they always go away this time of year - they live in zone 6 so unlikely to be affected by the crowds!

Might wait until nearer the time to book the duck. Don't want to miss out on it though!

I don't think it will be that bad. Many Londoners will be getting out of here, will be on holidays, etc. So, yes, it will be busy, but if you come after rush hour and leave before it starts again, you'll be absolutely fine. I am sure it will be bearable, unless you are very crowd-adverse. You can't spend 2 weeks so nearby and not come into London! just book your tickets in advance, come in mentally prepared for the crowds and off you go. Enjoy!

I would give it a try, im sure it can't be that bad! Might as well make the most of your opertunity while you are here. Go in for one day and if its a nightmare then stay out near your friends house surrounding areas for the rest of your trip.

I'm from near where youre staying and i will still go into central during olympics time if i need to, wont let crowds stop me! if we need to queue to get out of busy stations then so be it, will just queue - not the end of the world

Peatarty - she might well like the Science Museum. Our two were 3.5 when they went and loved it as there was so much to do there.