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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask for advice on great family things to do in central London

33 replies

Witness55 · 14/12/2019 09:27

We are travelling down between Christmas and New Year. 2 adults and 2 kids aged 10 and 15. We've done all the Merlin attractions before and Duck Tours. I've looked at that funny slide thing (arcelo orbit slide?!!) and that looks fun! Would love to go to history or science museums but big crowds put me off. Not sure if it would be too busy to enjoy?
Any other suggestions welcome please 🙂🙂

OP posts:
Katjolo · 14/12/2019 09:38

Natural history museum is brilliant. Huge museum. Plenty of space to walk around. More busy during term time due to trips etc. Science museum is also fun. View from the shard is good. Trip down regent st/ carnaby st etc to see the lights. Hamleys Toy Store. River cruise down the Thames (wrap up warm). Festival of Lights, Canary Wharf or Kew. Enjoy

jenthelibrarian · 14/12/2019 09:43

Have you been to the Tower of London?
Book online and go early in the day to avoid the worst of the crowds.
The tours led by the Yeoman Warders [the Beefeaters] are brilliant.

Similarly, both the Science Museum and the Natural History Museum have queues before they open but they move quickly and the crowds disperse as they move into the buildings.
Or go much later in the day towards closing time.

The Tate Modern is free to enter and there is an excellent viewing platform on the 10th level of the new extension with great views over to St Paul's.

The British Museum [for the Egyptian mummies, the Rosetta Stone etc] is also free. Dodge the worst of the queue by going in via the back entrance on Montague Street. The line moves quickly, prepare to have your bag checked is all.

Waterlemon · 14/12/2019 10:00

The city of London museum and sister museum the docklands museum at Canary Wharf are both really good. Much smaller than the South Kensington museums and far less busy. There is also the postman’s park a short walk from city museum. It contains memorial plaques to Londoners who lost their lives saving/helping others.

You could then walk around the city - maybe The monument, Tower of London, st Pauls or walk along the south bank, Tate modern, It’s our favourite part of London, far less crowded than the west end.

Or we Also like to take cable car over to the 02 then clipper boat back to Waterloo. If you time it right, 330/4 ish you can set off in day light and see arrive back to Waterloo all let up at night.

Original poster
Witness55 · 14/12/2019 10:03

Thank you some nice ideas here.

OP posts:
Vulpine · 14/12/2019 10:04

Sky garden

lunasunshine · 14/12/2019 10:07

You should go to the TKTS theatre booth in Leicester Square and get some cheap, on the day tickets for a west end show Smile This is what I do every time someone comes to visit me from out of London.

The Sky Garden is also fun. It’s free to go up but you have to book in advance (I believe!).

georgialondon · 14/12/2019 10:08

@Witness55 Christmas week in London is quieter than the average week (apart from if you're sales shopping). So it's a good week to do stuff here.

bsc · 14/12/2019 10:26

Globe theatre tour and a play?
Cutty Sark

AdelaideK · 14/12/2019 10:39

Mine are 16 and 12 and enjoyed the city of London museum, the Bank of England museum (small but fun) Covent Garden, the younger one loved the Lego store, they both liked a tacky souvenir shop in Piccadilly Circus.

CornishYarg · 14/12/2019 10:43

Transport Museum at Covent Garden
Boat trip/Clipper service
If the weather's OK, try a Treasure Trail or similar.
Ice skating at Somerset House
Sky garden - free but you need to book in advance

Pieceofpurplesky · 14/12/2019 10:45

British Museum.
Watch the performers in Covent Garden
Carnaby Street
Camden Marke

Logjam · 14/12/2019 10:48

What are people's thoughts on Winter Wonderland?

Clymene · 14/12/2019 10:49

The Postal Museum is great

Topseyt · 14/12/2019 11:03

We went to the Science Museum at a busy time two or three years ago and the queues weren't a problem. It is big and easy to move around. No problems getting to see the exhibits.

Natural History and the V & A museums worth considering.

What about the Tower Bridge Exhibition? Not free but it takes you up onto the walkways at the top of it, with great views and a museum detailing it's history. On the south side of it you can go down into the old engine rooms and view it's old steam engines which powered it before it was electrified.

QueenWhatevs · 14/12/2019 11:20

I'm sure I've seen people on a Harry Potter walking tour, that could be good

Original poster
Witness55 · 14/12/2019 11:41

Forgot to say yes we've done Tower Bridge and Tower of London. What do you think to that funny slide thing at the Olympic Park? Is it worth travelling to or not?

OP posts:
DriveInSaturday · 14/12/2019 11:46

St Paul's and Tate Modern are really close to each other. It is really expensive to go inside St Paul's, but go to the 1 New Change shopping centre and get the lift to the top. It's a glass lift just opposite the cathedral, so you get a great view going up, and there's a roof terrace with more views. (Also, these shops.will have the same discounts as elsewhere, but won't be busy.) Then cross the Millennium Bridge and you are at Tate Modern. If you have more energy, you can walk along the river. We walk towards.the South Bank. If you cross the river at the Royal Festival Hall, it brings you out near Trafalgar Square.

You mention the slide at the Olympic park. Personally I'd say that's more of a summer thing, because then you could enjoy exploring the park, which has summer features like water fountains to play in. Stratford is about 10 minutes from Liverpool Street by tube, and probably about 15 minutes walk to the tower, which is not very high. It's a big park, but lots of it is being built on. The Westfield shopping centre will be unpleasantly packed, and if you do want to go, check that West Ham aren't playing at home, because they are right next door.

Original poster
Witness55 · 14/12/2019 12:08

Thanks. And just to clarify the easiest way to travel is the tube isn't it paying with a contact less card? I think my 15 yr old still has an oyster card from last visit. What about the 10yr old?

OP posts:
BolloxtoGender · 14/12/2019 12:11

Ice skating in Somerset House, wonderful setting, really magical Christmas feel under the Massive 🎄.

TheHootiestChristmasOwl · 14/12/2019 12:13

Have you got the Clipper to Greenwich? Then you can do the observatory. It’s a great way to see the sights without walking everywhere.
British Museum
Apparently the Transport museum is really good.

superram · 14/12/2019 12:25

10 year old travels free with you-just go through wide gates.

TheHootiestChristmasOwl · 14/12/2019 12:25

The Tate Modern has got a huge Lego thing in the main hall which you can build.

morriseysquif · 14/12/2019 12:33

Tower of London is amazing, so much to see and do, you can lose the crowds in some of the rooms. Needs a full day!

malovitt · 14/12/2019 14:11

The Moon Exhibition at the National Maritime Museum. Very good.