To think that sightseeing in London is incredibly stressful and not enjoyable

[EllebellyBeeblebrox]

We've just got back from a long weekend in London, using AirBNB. Kids are 5 and 9, and I'm 24weeks pregnant (which, I admit may be affecting my feelings on this matter)
We've had a lovely time, the kids thought the zoo was wonderful, enjoyed the tube, and the river taxi. I however am utterly shattered and drained and have the following gripes...

1. There was at any one time about 50 other people trying to walk in the same square metre as me. In all directions, like crazed and manic ants.
2. People just stopping in front of me randomly whilst walking to take a series of selfies in front of a lamppost.
3. Everything is horrendously expensive. £5 for a small gift shop key ring, aggravatingly underneath a sign which said "pocket money toys".
4. QUEUEING EVERYWHERE
5. Rude people pushing and barging and generally invading all personal space
6. The realisation (mainly at the Tower of London) that I have less than minimal knowledge of British history, and indeed the French family behind me in the queue knew more about various kings and queens than me. My children also seem only to be interested in historical things that are either gruesome and bloodthirsty (prisons/dungeons) or childishly amusing (Henry Viii's codpiece). Sadly the same could be said for me.
7. Big Ben looks like a building site and Westminster tube station smelled of piss.

Am I a total joyless bastard? Should I have been more enthralled at the historic and cultural sights? I'm so happy the DCs (mostly) enjoyed it but I'm utterly fucked, my feet and back are in agony after marching around for three days and not sleeping on a sofa bed. I'm so happy to be home

We really disliked it when we went. It was so busy. There were no seats anywhere to sit down and take a break. There were so many rude people. It was exhausting.

I would rather be in the countryside any day. You couldn't pay me to live in London.

Try it with a wheelchair. All you describe, then throw in an extra 100 quid for taxis because the accessible tube stations are nowhere useful, terrible pavements and crowds of people sticking their arses in DDs face because they can’t understand that wheelchairs need space.

The best times to get to busy touristy attractions are Saturday and Sunday mornings. Early

Yes, visit on a weekday if possible. Natural History or Science Museum for children. The more dinosaurs the better. Then there are the parks. My grandchildren, a few years ago, loved Princess Diana’s playground in Kensington Gardens (afternoon perhaps). The riverboats are also good way to travel. Via those you can do Hampton Court and well and truly get lost in the maze but not unless you have plenty of time.

Me and DH were both born in London and lived there for 40 years. We moved out but have regretted ever since.

We go back all the time. Yes it's overcrowded but so are many places but it's still, for us, the best City in the world.

So much to see and do. We never get tired of just walking along the South Bank or going to the British Museum or National Gallery. An added plus is the museums and galleries being free. They cost a fortune in some cities (definitely did in Stockholm).

At least now as a tourist the other tourists don't annoy me as much as they did when I was trying to walk to work every morning or back to the rail station in the evening and not miss my train.

Plenty of places to eat and drink cheaply in London too. The indian vegetarian restaurant in Covent Garden is cheaper than indian restaurants where I live now in the Midlands

Lived in London as a child .Busy then too but now very hectic .TBH I think you have every right to be exhausted .Tips from me : NEVER go on a bank holiday (pregnant or not!) .(School Holidays will be busy ,try to go on a non B/H Monday to attractions, less busy then).We have often been on Sundays of non B/H W/E.Less busy ,but fewer tubes /more chances of maintenance work being carried out(check before setting out).My knowledge of history is reasonable ,but dont forget the French family have probably swotted up before their holiday ,so as to make the most of it .No need to feel bad at all!.Sadly London is very expensive now and tourists pay top price it seems !

"Were they Japanese? They seem to photograph everything"

Nice bit of casual racism there.

Is it racist to note a penchant for photography? Or is it an observation?

I’m not going to make a generalisation, but I will say, twice in my life I’ve ended up in a tour group with a bus full of Japanese tourists with a handful of other nationals. Both times those Japanese tourists were prolific photographers, taking photos of absolutely everything. I will add, it was before we had so many camera phones. I noticed that pretty much everyone had a camera, families together, each taking photos, whereas the other nationals tended to have one camera per family. I wondered whether it was because camera technology was more accessible and affordable than it was in other Countries.

Also don’t travel on the tube in rush hour unless you absolutely have to. It will be much nicer for you.

No kids, but I know when it’s half term because my Central London tube station is twice as busy in the evenings.

I love London - it is my happy place. I live in zone 6 so it's easy to get there in not too much time. I like the busyness and crowds though. And when the kids were young we rarely went there without military planning (when the youngest was about 8 we started going loads). There are so many things to do which are great fun and away from the big crowds though. But yes I can imagine bank holiday Monday in half term on a sunny day with two young kids will be stressful! It would be in any tourist destination! The most stressed I have ever been was Times Square in New York. It was heaving everywhere and I desperately needed the toilet. The queues were miles long and you had to buy something to use a toilet anywhere - I'd left my wallet with DH who was wandering with the kids. I was running (legs crossed) from pillar to post trying to find a free loo. I ended up bursting into tears in a McDonalds . Anyway my point is I love New York normally but anywhere like that can become a nightmare when it is too busy and you are stressed anyway (by kids or needing a wee!).

And to a PP who said London is a dump - no no no no no no! Best city in the world!

All weekend city breaks are exhausting with young kids. That's why i dont do them anymore.

Your description sounds exactly like the last one i did in Barcelona

I live just outside London and only do touristy stuff there with visitors on off days- I would rather use annual leave to go on a Tuesday than face London on a Saturday (or bank holiday). I appreciate this isn’t available to those who don’t live in/near London.

Interesting feature of London: traffic is worse on Saturday than it is during peak times Monday-Friday. I avoid going anywhere near the centre on weekends if I can help it. I have had to drive across London during a Saturday around 11am once. It took 5 hours. I swore never again. The north circular is as close as I want to get to the centre on a weekend (and even then the north circ can be bumper to bumper- it’s taken me 1.5 hours to go Redbridge to Ilford on a Saturday before also). I’d say use the m25 to go around but that’s even worse with all the lorries...

Yeah central London sucks!
(lived in London 12 years now)

I think tourists try to pack too much in - not realising the distance and travel time between places. Hint - you can't really take the kids to the Science Museum and then 'pop' down to Greenwich. It would take you an hour if not more to get there!

Honestly I think if I tried to drive there I would have a nervous breakdown and have to be rescued. The cyclists amaze me as well with how ballsy they are between taxis and buses

The cyclists amaze me as well with how ballsy they are between taxis and buses
Some motorists may use a different adjective to describe them OP!
🤣

Next time try the bb bakery bus tour - see all the sights while enjoying afternoon tea in a bus away from the crowds.

Honestly I think if I tried to drive there I would have a nervous breakdown and have to be rescued. The cyclists amaze me as well with how ballsy they are between taxis and buses

Aargh so impressed by the cyclists i posted twice. Same goes for the motorcyclists

I live in London, but don’t live in, I’m in Clapton which is sort of NE London.
Before I moved here I used to say I couldn’t imagine being anywhere so busy, but we very rarely visit the big sightseeing spots, so actually doesn’t feel hectic and stressed. I also work from home so don’t have to commute.

Bank holiday weekend when the sun is out, is always going to be busy.

Big Ben is under construction right now so that isn’t going to be that fun to look at.

London Zoo is great, as is the aquarium, and you can get on a boat down the Thames for as little as £11 and that’s always fun.

The cable cars over the O2 are good, and there are lots of places to eat round there as well.

There are lots of little gems that you don’t necessarily read about in the guide books.

YANBU
Hate the place

My DDs highlights of London is always the parks. We do something touristy in the morning then lunch at one of the many parks or fountain areas (we normally visit in the summer) then maybe a show in the evening.

Princess Diana memorial park is amazing, she’s getting a little old for it now and we swam at the serpentine Lido this year which she though was brillian. Olympic park also has several brilliant parks and the Olympic swimming pool has a really good inflatable session during the holidays.

The first time we did a London trip we tried to fit in too many tourist places which realistically DD was too young to appreciate.
It may not lead to the cultural trip I had hoped for but they are still all things that can only be done in London and leads to a much less stressful visit.

Hint - you can't really take the kids to the Science Museum and then 'pop' down to Greenwich. It would take you an hour if not more to get there!

33 minutes according to the TFL journey planner.

I love it - but I did all the touristy stuff years ago so when I go it's too the quieter bits .... I know may way round to nice cafes. I steer clear of Covent Garden, the Museums (unless on a day they will be quiet) and go to smaller museums that aren't crowded.

I think 'you are doing it wrong' sums it up!

this time of year is so busy, get up and do the main spots really early. Plus try not to cram too much in and go with the flow.