Help with London trip

[fusspot23]

Planning a trip to London with my dc and I'm really nervous! I'll be going alone with him and I've never been before. Never used the tube etc. Im pretty scared but it's something I want to do and we both really want to see a west end show together.

Plan is to get the train directly into King's Cross. We'd like to see the natural history museum and a few landmarks during the day then go see a show in the evening. We'll be staying overnight. I'm thinking of booking accommodation in Covent Garden's and it's close to the big theatres.

Firstly, if we get off the train in King's Cross is the natural history museum walkable from there? And are there any other worthwhile spots in the same area? Does anyone have any good accommodation tips for Covent Garden's or nearby? Travelodge is always an option I guess.

Are there any other things you can advise or recommend for 24 hours in London? It sounds pathetic but I'm so nervous about it and really want to make it a fun trip for us both. I have a shit sense of direction and end up getting lost whenever I go anywhere new so that's not helping.

Well from KX the museums aren’t easily walkable. But very easy to get the Piccadilly line straight from KX to S Kensington and loads of signs from there!

How old is your child?

And what is your budget?

It may be better to stay at one of the Premier Inn type places near KX or Euston and take the tube easily to Covent G. CG is pretty pricey.

How old is your DC? Travelling, NHM and a show all in one day is quite a lot if younger.

The boat trip is a really good way to see the sights.

He has just turned 12 so not a littley lol.

I always choose a hotel near the station that way you don't have to lug your bags across London.

Science museum and natural history are both beside each other but you’d be doing well to to do them both justice in the same day. natural history museum especially can have huge queues in the holidays. My recommendation if your kid likes science and depending on age is to book the wonderlab at the science museum which is brilliant. Really easy to get to the museums from sth Ken tube as PP says above.

Getting around is easy on the tube. Under 11s are free, but make sure you use the wide gates at the side, you can use a contactless card for you both. TFL website has a lot of info and a journey planner so worth plotting your journeys in advance as knowing whether you are looking for north/southbound etc makes navigating stations easier.

Theatre shows are great but can be expensive so try to book in advance. Covent Garden is fun and buzzy, I don’t have a recommendation for accommodation but would think you’d be fine. Further out will be less expensive and anywhere on the Piccadilly line would be fine, but central will allow you to max time. You can also leave luggage at the station if you wanted to take a later train and max out your second day.

Sorry just realised it's only one night so you are unlikely to have big cases!!

Google maps or city mapper are your friends

Citymapper is a great app for helping you find your way around, either on public transport or walking.

Museums also have cloakrooms you can leave bags so also worth considering.

There's a Premier Inn hub behind Kings Cross station which is really good and they're usually reasonably priced (all things being relative).

YY to Piccadilly Line to South Ken and it also stops at Covent Garden on the way there/back, although I'd be inclined to get off at Holborn/Leicester Square and walk 😊

I'd recommend staying at Kings Cross - the Premier Inn Hub is good if you book a larger room.

Easy to get to the Science Museum and the West End from there.

Science museum is next to Natural History museum. Hyde Park and Kensington Palace within a short walk. Southbank is quite a nice area to wander with London Eye, Tate Modern, Southbank Centre and the Globe, just opposite Parliament and Westminster on other side of Thames, and you can get riverboats there. What does he enjoy otherwise?

Book a time-slot if you want to see the Titanosaur at NHM.

We stayed at premier inn kings cross tube to NHM . And we got uber to theatre I had never used the tube either but it's easy peasy although there is lots of walking to get to your train.

Theatres are doing 'kids week' at the moment, where a child goes free with an adult. It's actually on all of August so could be useful if you want to book for a show. Also be aware you need to book nhm and science museum Even though they are free, you need a timed ticket. As others have said, the tfl website is great for journey planning. Google maps is too as it will give you the tube, bus and walking times and routes.

There are also lots of hotels in Russell Square that is an easy walk from Kings X.

As people say the easiest way to get to the museums from Kings X is to get the Piccadilly line to South Kensington. The tube is busy but easy to use.

There are two museums in easy walking distance of Kings X that your son may like - the Wellcome Collection and the British Museum (the mummies are often a hit with 12 year old boys I find!). The Hunterian Museumis also an easy walk and may be fun.

Granary Square and Coal Drops Yard, just behind Kings X is fun to wander around and has plenty of restaurants.

The Southbank near Waterloo is good in the summer and has a fun and affordable food market some evenings as plenty of popular chains (Wagamama, Giraffe, Strada,Pret, Honest Burger etc..) - it is easy to get the 68 bus going south from Euston station and get off at Waterloo Bridge.

Premier inn are quite good for kids as they get free breakfast. Honestly, the tube is really easy. Download a map now and have a look at places you want to go, what tube is nearest and pick your route (ie where to change etc)
The natural history and science museums are great and free. If you can, you could book the sky garden as a good free thing to do that gets you up high for views over the city. I think tickets are released on Monday mornings for 4 weeks ahead (but check the website). I did the horrible histories boat tour which was great (I think about £40 for 1 adult and 1 child). But a much cheaper option for a boat trip is to just take a trip on the clipper. For adults I think it's included in your travelcard but kids need a ticket. We went from Westminster, next to big Ben to the tower of London, so that takes in a lot of sights. I think it was c. £5 for the kids ticket. That was the highlight of my daughters trip I think!

We stayed in Russel Square before but i can't remember the hotel name ? You can walk to places better from there. I think maybe 2 days would be better if you want to do a few things an overnight might be tight and you will be knackered.

I really hope you enjoy your trip OP!

The NHM / Science Museum are not really walkable from Kings Cross but you will find the tube really easy - as someone else has said, the Piccadilly Line will take you to South Kensington directly. There's a long tunnel you can use specifically from the underground to get to the museums, but honestly it's just as easy 'up top' - at South Ken they are really well sign posted as that's where everyone will be heading.

Just stand on the right side of the escalator to avoid getting told off by all the locals ;) Trains come along every couple of minutes so don't feel you have to run to one if you see it from the bottom of the escalator. People don't make much accommodation for kids sitting down but when I was a kid I loved holding on!

Re places to stay - as I've lived in London I've not stayed in the hotels - central will be pricey, but it's a treat isn't it and I get you probably don't want much of a journey with your kid after the show.

What show are you thinking of? I recommend Matilda or The Lion King - both brilliant!!

If your son likes trains, buses etc.. the London Transport Museum in Covent Garden may be of interest.

Don't get the tube to Covent Garden - it gets very crowded and the steps up to the surface are endless (there is a lift but the queues to get in can be long) get off at Leicester sq and walk back

I stayed a 10 minute 'meander' from King's Cross earlier this week. There's a travel lodge, premier inn and point a hotel nearby, as well as I am sure others. I stayed point A, first time and was quite happy with my room. They'll also store any luggage on check out for a small fee so worth it if you plan on getting the most out of your days. I suspect other places offer similar.

I’d stay somewhere near, and preferably south of, King’s Cross. You can walk from there to Covent Garden via Holborn. Then you only have to get tube to South Kensington for the museums. I’d walk down to somewhere on the circle line, such as Temple or Embankment as that line is much pleasanter as the carriages are open.

Museums also have cloakrooms you can leave bags so also worth considering.

Depends on the museum and the size of the bag. British Library won't accept bags over a certain size, otherwise they'd have travellers using Euston, St Pancras and KX using it as a free Left Luggage office.

Most hotels will let you leave your luggage after you've checked out, so if you're in a hotel near to KX, you can just go back and collect on the way to get your train.

As others have said, South Ken Museums are not walkable from KX, but the British Library is nearby - St Pancras station is next door to KX, and the BL is on the other side of St P. There's a free permanent exhibition and usually one or two smaller free ones.

The British Museum is around 15 min walk from KX. But be warned, all the big free museums will be packed. If they are doing bag checks, there might be a long queue.

If DS is into sci fi, fantasy, films, tv shows, etc. (or even if you are!) you and he might like to check out Forbidden Planet in Shaftesbury Avenue for books, comics, merchandise. And the big Foyle's bookshop is nearby.

If using the Tube, plan your journey in advance. (Let DS do it.) So that you know that you need the District and Circle Line Westbound, for example. If you look ahead as you're walking through the station, there will be a sign pointing you in the right direction. The Tube is very well signposted.

Stand on the right on escalators. Nothing marks you out as a visitor more surely than standing on the left on an escalator! Have your card/ticket ready as you approach the barrier.

Wear a cross body bag with valuables securely zipped in an inside pocket, or at the bottom under something else. Don't walk around with your phone in your hand.

London is very safe, but pickpocketing and bag dipping are a risk in crowded tourist areas.

Have a great time!