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

I think I should have entitled the thread "AIBU to think that I did London wrong?" Really didn't mean any offence to any Londoners, it is a grand place. I think I am perhaps just a bit of a bumpkin

I did a day out in London on Friday. I absolutely fell head over heels in love with it.

I hadn’t been since 2004 and I had it in my head that it was a bit dirty but we went back and it was spotless.

The contactless on the Tube is a work of utter genius! Effortless, just boop and go.

We did the Tower Of London first thing and ended up spending 4 hours there. I did 2 Warder Yeoman tours as it was fascinating!

I really wish we’d stayed for the weekend at least. So much more to see. We’ll be back very soon.

SoupDragon yes but don't forget to add in the time for

• find correct tube station
• study map
• get up and down stairs etc with the kids, the buggy and all your bags
• realise you are on the wrong platform
• re study the map
• bicker at each other
• see the tube train is crammed full so you wait for the next one
• get on tube but realise it's the wrong one
• get off at next stop
• re study map
• child says "I'm hungry"
• leave tube station to find nearest maccyds

..... Are you in Greenwich yet?

Yes for someone from a small village in the north, the ease of getting around in London is just fantastic.

Yabbers..
Sorry if you thought I was being racist.It was just an observation really.No racism intended.

chocchocbutton

And when you go to Vietnam/Thailand etc, it's full of white people taking photos of little brown babies, except they don't ask first, just jam their camera in their face and post on insta for those likes.

How do you know if someone is Japanese anyway?

It's a lazy stereotype that needs to die.

sweet

Well, if you didn't INTEND it, it's totally fine, isn't it?!

We had two days in London with 4 & 6 yr old - no fun. Few years later went back with 9 & 11 year old best time EVER. We all loved it. did science museum natural history, walked past Buckingham Castle green Park, kids were fascinated with the tube (we live in the sticks) ate in Chinatown & went to a show. Cost a fortune but we will be back!!

When family have come to stay and we have done loads of touristy stuff I am absolutely exhausted!!! It is really tiring. And everything always takes longer... Greenwich is miles away from South Ken... no way is that 30 mins when you factor in walking through the station etc.

My family are always really relieved to leave London I think! And I'm relieved to go back to my leafy zone 3 and chill !

I love London.

But I agree that it seems much busier now than it was years ago.

If you're on a busy main route, go down a side street and you'll probably find a quieter, and often more interesting, alternative. Get a good street map - something like an A-Z, not something designed for tourists.

Get a Tube map too and plan your journey, so you know before you start out that you want, say, the Victoria Line northbound. Tube stations have good signage; keep looking ahead for the sign telling you what platform you need.

If you're going to a major museum or gallery, aim to see just one display or one room. Trying to see too much will leave you tired and overwhelmed. And as a pp said, one major attraction per day is probably enough. You can fill the rest of the day walking or sitting in a park or square or taking a bus ride or a boat trip.

A useful tip. When you get off the underground train look at the ribbon of signage on the wall giving the stop name. It will usually have an arrow indicating which way to walk along the platform for the exit.

When you get off the underground train look at the ribbon of signage on the wall giving the stop name. It will usually have an arrow indicating which way to walk along the platform for the exit.

If you can't move at the same time as looking/reading, whatever you do please do NOT stop and stare at the wall as you're getting off the train. Blocking the exit and/or flow of 'traffic' along the platform will not endear you to the locals and may result in some 'colourful' language and/or pushing and shoving. If you're not sure which way to go, get off the train and move to the far side of the platform (i.e. by the wall) so you're out of everyone's way. Then you can either look at the signs or ask someone.

I too would have found Henry VIII's codpiece highly amusing 😂

I think when you take small kids anywhere you have to adapt your schedule. Don’t try to do too much and build in breaks.
I brought the kids to London in March. We went to the Tower of London when it opened in the morning, left when it got busy and went for lunch and to a matinee. Went back to the Tower at night for Keys.
Up the next morning and in the Science Museum when it opened.

I think, like most city breaks, people don't give themselves enough time. You often hear of people taking a 3 day break in London, Paris, Rome etc... I am always sceptical about how much you can really see. I need at least a week in a decent size city.

I used to work in Barking! Happy days.
I love central London, but the crowds are a pain.
My son has started to be a commuter and
he moans about how busy it all is and he doesn't have 2 children to take with him!
I can imagine weekends are even worse , but it's still an amazing diverse city.
I should go up there more but the train fares and other costs involved put me off!

hundredmiles yes, I should have written "as you get off the train glance at the signage" I agree, please don't stop dead on the platform and block the doorway!

I go to London on average once a month - enough for me not to feel like a tourist, but not often enough for it to lose its charm. I find it endlessly fascinating and don't mind the crowds as long as it's not peak hour tube travel! You do have to know where you're going though and not dither about too much but there's plenty off the beaten track away from the hordes. I love the excitement and buzz but I'm equally happy to come back home.

I think your circumstances would tire anyone out in any location but especially in a big, busy city. I'm sure if you'd gone on your own for a break it would've felt very different. Hope you got some rest

I think three days is enough if you just want to get the feel of a place - arrive Friday night, see a bit of the centre sat am followed by time relaxing somewhere (park, canalside walk, wherever). Attraction on Sunday, bit of shopping, home Monday.

But yes people try to see Tower of London, Buckingham Palace, all the museums and galleries, Camden, Portobello, Borough Market, Oxford St, Harrods, Hampton Court, Greenwich and anything else they might have heard of in a film, in a weekend. And then complain they didn’t enjoy it.

American tourists are the worst for this, because the travel time is so far and they get so little annual leave, they usually also want to fit in trips to Edinburgh and Stonehenge, plus their great great grandfather’s ancestral home of Northampton, all in two days before flying on to Italy to “do” Rome, Florence and Naples in a similar space of time.

I am also on a US site and the planned itineraries some people post on there are mental.

Sounds like my idea of hell. I try and avoid London as much as possible.