Does anyone here know central London?

[IneedsomehelpinLondon]

Hello, I’m very sorry to post here it’s not AIBU. I have ALN and am getting stressed and overwhelmed trying to organise a trip to London for me and my children .
I can’t seem to work out where things are despite looking on Google and how to get from one place to another.
we want to do the following

we will arrive in London at Waterloo station

London dungeon
London Eye
show at Adelphi theatre
Aquarium (sealife London).

I obviously need to book these things in advance, is it possible to do this in one day? Sorry I don’t know anyone in London to ask. Which order would be best? I was thinking the show latest (either matinee or evening)
thank you very much if you can help

Garfunkels is sadly no more LondonJax. I know it was over priced, bland and touristy but it was a safe food choice.

Zizzi on The Strand is convenient for the theatre - it's nice in there and a bit tucked away.

If you are walking back to Waterloo from the theatre you will probably be walking back over the river via the Embankment Bridge. The road you go down from the Strand is called Villiers Street and there is a Five Guys burger place on the corner. Then walk down Villiers, walk straight through Embankment tube station , over the bridge on your right and you are more or less at Waterloo.

I see the dungeon has moved ( who knew) , after the eye and the dungeon I would walk over the river via Westminster Bridge. you will see the Houses of Parliament, Big Ben and Parliament Square and truly “earth has not anything to see more fair” as the poet says. Then walk up Whitehall, past Downing Street and the Cenotaph toTrafalgar Square, then a short walk up the strand to the Adelphi.

Are your days out usually that packed, OP? I'd be a bit weary of doing so many things in a hectic place like London with an autistic child. (But if course only you know your DS).

I would allow time for decompressing between activities.

A PP suggested buying a meal deal on M&S, and I think it's a good idea, for eating by the river. And planning stops for ice cream and resting.

There is a big Pizza Express opposite Charing Cross station on the Strand - right next to Trafalgar Sq

Not what you asked, but the Premier Inn County Hall is right next to the London eye, and the family rooms are MASSIVE.

Embankment bridge is properly called Hungerford Bridge.

I think you could do it they are the London Eye, London dungeon and Aquarium are all next to each other. For London Eye they do have disabled access so you can avoid queue time. You also get free cater ticket for each attraction.

Has anyone mentioned Merlin Passes? Probably worth it since you mentioned you're a fan of theme parks too.

Valid for a year and they cover all three of the attractions you want to see. Yes, you can fit them into the one day easily with an early start.

The dungeon moved about 10 years ago too so I'd probably take those posters saying it's not possible and that there's no food options with a pinch of salt

I think it's doable too if there a full day. Have you an access card for your son. You can get free carer tickets for all the attractions and even for the theatre. Back to the future the musical is amazing. Alsp can beat queue at London eye with access card

Also leake Street grafitti tunnel only a few mins walk from southbank

The aquarium is absolutely shit, and I love an aquarium. It's the worst one we've ever been to. My kids were really disappointed.

Planet Hollywood has gone. If you are going to the matinee so have more time in the evening, you could go to the Hard Rock cafe on Piccadilly or the Hard Rock hotel at Marble Arch for a similar vibe.

Covent Garden is just a few minutes walk from the theatre and feels a bit more special with the street entertainers etc. If you want fast food, I would go for Five Guys or Shake Shack for burgers/hot dogs in Covent Garden plaza. If you want more of a restaurant, Maxwells in Covent Garden is like Garfunkels (burgers etc) or there is the BIg Easy BBQ place there too. Joe Allen's is American diner food but more upmarket. Pizza Pilgrims and Homeslice are good for pizza. They both have places in Covent Garden but not in the market. I think Homeslice is in Neals Yard (a quiet courtyard).

My kids all loved the London dungeon when we went when when were all 10-14 years old. It was scary and my smallest one wasn’t tall enough for the ride at the end but it was stand-out brilliant in our opinion. I’m sure I remember eating in a big hall on that area of the south bank, we had fish and chips or similar.

"The aquarium is absolutely shit, and I love an aquarium."

I liked it.

Or there are several pizza places on the river at the Southbank and Gabriel's Wharf, near Waterloo.

Honest burgers is a non fussy place to eat which my teenager likes. Try the one in Covent Garden which isn't too far from the theatre. Lots of places to eat around the theatres.

Don't go to Maxwells in Covent garden I used to work next to it and they had constant mouse infestations.

Flat iron is another option

If you've been to any other sealife then london will definitey be a disappointment - weakest of the lot imho.
Dungeon isnt super scary for a young teen, given their likely exposure to stranger things et al! .
Only thing to be aware of, given sensory issues, is that there was a loud 'scare' at the beginning - nothing else really more shocking than that.

If the weather is fine then wandering along south bank is very pleasant, living statues, performers, carousel and quite a few street snacks which may be a better option for lunch.

If its wet then probably not - though there is plenty of cover and the snack bars are under bridges/gantries

Dungeon is literally between London Eye and Aquarium 🙄

My rules for days out in London (and sometimes I am staying fairly central, or otherwise staying with my gran in not too far out North London).

1. CityMapper App.
2. If you want to do things in depth, be unhurried and enjoy whatever transpires inbetween AND are staying into the evening: max. THREE main things.
3. Otherwise TWO.

Don't want to derail but in my memory the dungeon is right next to the Aquarian, basically opposite the eye. Literally all within a 90second walk....
Has it moved?!

Am I missing something here??? London Dungeon is not by London Bridge anymore, and it hasn't been for good few years. Are you sure you live by Waterloo..?

No that is where it is. It used to be at London Bridge but moved nearly 10 years ago.