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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Aibu to think that we can do all of this in one day out in London?

64 replies

danishkids · 30/03/2022 22:49

We are going to visit London soo and there as soo many great things to do. Ideally we only want to use one full day. The rest of the time we will be in a city close by.

Aibu to think that we can visit the natural history museum, the science museum, do the London eye and walk around for some sight seeing in one day?

We are a family of 5 with a 9, 8 and 6 year old.

Or do you have a better recommendation of how we could use our time in London city? Or should we stretch it too 2 days?

OP posts:
JazzHandsYeah · 30/03/2022 23:32

I live in London and there’s no way you can do all that (and enjoy it) in one day. Try and stretch over two if you can, there is so much to see.
And I totally agree with PP about the Uber boat versus the London Eye.

Bibbetyboo · 30/03/2022 23:39

As someone else has mentioned those museums are close to each other so you could do both. But the best way would be to look in advance at what you want to look at rather than traipsing round for hours. Pick one gallery/ thing in each and visit that. I don’t imagine children would have a longer attention span to keep doing all the museums.

In that direction you’ve also got the V&A and the royal Albert hall and the park. That probably does one day, can do the Eye and something else the second day? Stops you losing time crossing London etc…

Tate Modern and the south bank is good, during the holidays they often have special family events on, it’s a fantastic space and the south bank is nice for a walk, watching street performers, looking at the river, and lots of simple food options (Paul, sit down lunch options etc).

Enjoy. London is amazing! But not fun if you’re just rushing around with crowds of tourists. All these sights get really busy in the hols so expect to be queuing for ages.

bostonchamps · 30/03/2022 23:49

Honestly we're Londoners who 'get' travel and movement in London and we'd struggle with all of that in a day. And we don't have kids.

Do NHM, and get tickets to the Darwin exhibition (best thing in London), get lunch (NOT in one of the god awful tourist traps by South Ken station. Do some research and find a nice place away from the maddening crowd) and then get the clipper (Uber boat). You need a day in the science museum, save it.

And please remember to walk on the left WinkWinkWink

MintJulia · 30/03/2022 23:54

@Dogscanteatonions

An uber boat ride is much more fun than the London eye and you see a lot
Defnitely. I was going to suggest this.
littledrummergirl · 31/03/2022 00:08

When our dc were around that age we planned a similar day in London. I had it planned like a military operation and it was a bit of a whistle-stop tour.
We arrived at the Palace in time for the changing of the guard, then went to the Tate.
We bought sandwiches in the tesco express near the houses of parliament, the eye, and Big Ben and had a picnic.
Then we headed to the science museum where we spent a few hours. There was a show and lots of interactive things. We didn't see as much as we would have liked.
Then we went to Trafalgar Square before getting McDonald's at the station and eating it on the train home.
It was a ridiculously long day, we didn't leave London until after 8pm and were shattered with very sore feet, but my dc still remember it being a good day.
Yes your plans are doable.

avamiah · 31/03/2022 00:12

Don’t forget that museum’s are free to enter but you still have to book tickets for a time slot to prevent overcrowding and I believe this is the same at London Zoo.

CombatBarbie · 31/03/2022 00:32

No chance! We tried similar with ours at a similar age when we had a planned stopover and I worked in London for 3yrs previous so know my way around etc.

The kids chose what they wanted to see/do and I knew it was ambitious....but we had the flexibility to extend for another night. 2 days is fine. I was amazed that Hamleys was not on the list..... Good job it "appeared" on the itinery 😜

Fedupsotired · 31/03/2022 06:40

@littledrummergirl

When our dc were around that age we planned a similar day in London. I had it planned like a military operation and it was a bit of a whistle-stop tour. We arrived at the Palace in time for the changing of the guard, then went to the Tate. We bought sandwiches in the tesco express near the houses of parliament, the eye, and Big Ben and had a picnic. Then we headed to the science museum where we spent a few hours. There was a show and lots of interactive things. We didn't see as much as we would have liked. Then we went to Trafalgar Square before getting McDonald's at the station and eating it on the train home. It was a ridiculously long day, we didn't leave London until after 8pm and were shattered with very sore feet, but my dc still remember it being a good day. Yes your plans are doable.
Same here But now when we go we just do one thing then have a wander. It's so much better!!
Aroundtheworldin80moves · 31/03/2022 06:48

The museums don't open until 10. If you are very selective you could do both. Say 2hrs in each. So mid afternoon London eye.

Then a few hours after wards.

But... you have to be extremely picky on what you see. And get earliest time slot tickets

HelloDulling · 31/03/2022 06:54

Doable, but possibly not enjoyable. Just doing one museum would remove a lot of stress from your day.

JurassicPerks · 31/03/2022 06:55

Well, you could do it all, but I doubt you'd get the best of it all.
Drop some of it (probably one of the museums) or go for longer.

Bunnycat101 · 31/03/2022 06:58

Am also in the no chance camp. You’ll all be stressed and miserable rushing around. Pick one museum and don’t try and do two. I think you could squeeze in a museum plus London eye but you’re not going to get much sightseeing done on top.

Merrymouse · 31/03/2022 07:03

Depends how long you want to stay in the museums and whether all the children will agree on what they want to see.

With children that age I wouldn’t have tried to see more than a couple of bits of each museum in a day.

ConfusedByDesign · 31/03/2022 07:04

You could do it if you choose to see only the dinosaurs in the natural history museum and then pick a main aim for the science museum.

Simonjt · 31/03/2022 07:08

I live in London and have a 6 year old, if you want to actually enjoy the day I would say no. Even though he has been countless times he will still spent 3/4 hours in the nature history or science museum.

Weepingwillows12 · 31/03/2022 07:12

I think you can do it but probably need to pick a couple of nhm galleries rather than see everything but with your age kids they probably won't be reading every display anyway. The best bit for kids is wonderlab at the science museum but that costs money and needs to be booked in advance. You won't get the full experience but my kids never stay focused for a whole visit anyway so being selective can help.

MRex · 31/03/2022 07:17

You wouldn't see much, you'd just be dotting around. I'd split into two days. One day for NHM + science museum and stroll up through the park to Diana Memorial Playground. Another day half at the zoo and half roaming about. Go to Camden you see the market and bustle, get a narrowboat to the zoo, tube back to Waterloo for a stroll by the South Bank and dinner; or do it the other way round, you can get good breakfasts on Lower Marsh.
If you had a third day you might enjoy going over the river from Waterloo to Embankment and walk up to Trafalgar Square with National Gallery, stroll through Leicester Square including the Lego shop, Covent Garden area for lunch and the acts. Stroll up to Hamleys for a look at the toys, still interesting even for your eldest. You could theoretically walk down from the zoo to Oxford St near Hamleys to do it in reverse. You simply won't manage all that with the zoo as well though, it's too much walking where you won't enjoy all the stops.

Dontforgetyourbrolly · 31/03/2022 07:18

No , it won't ve worth going, you'll miss all the best bits

MRex · 31/03/2022 07:20

If you'll be by waterloo anyway, you could also take the kids on a boat cruise up the river to see a bit while having a nice rest, snacks etc. Thames clippers are cheap and convenient, the tour guide boats are expensive but surprisingly interesting.

crumpet · 31/03/2022 07:23

As other have said, it’s a lot, and you might find yourself stressing about fitting everything in, rather than enjoying the experience I’d suggest a targeted visit to the NHM, not trying to fit everything in, then look into bus routes into central London so that you can sit at the top of the bus and enjoy the views as you head in.

balalake · 31/03/2022 07:23

Could be done on a weekday in school terms perhaps, but given how crowded the two museums are in school holidays, a stretch.

MrsLargeEmbodied · 31/03/2022 07:28

the train journey used to be enough excitement when my dd was young!
museums are tiring

ThinWomansBrain · 31/03/2022 07:30

Cramming too much in - just go to one of the museums rather than both; other than that sounds fine. (ie zoo, museum, London eye)

look closely at the museums in advance and decide which bits you want to visit.

Clymene · 31/03/2022 07:31

You also have to queue for a good 45 mins for the Eye too

BogRollBOGOF · 31/03/2022 07:39

Maybe if you're like DH who goes powerwalking through museums, Dippy, Blue Whale, very nice...

If you actually want to pause to read, process and interact with the displays, it's better to give the time to do it well than rush.

My children would struggle with that kind of pace but DS(11) in particular needs a buffer to process and unwind between activities, but even DS(9) would get tired and whingy.