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.

National Gallery, Covent Garden, theatre where Matilda is on are a very easy walk from each other. As pp have said use Google Maps it will really help you figure out distances and options for transport.

Kings X has lots of tube lines so a really good place to base yourself.

I think one attraction and one show is enough for 24 hours. London is a lot and you will both get quite tired.

We have just returned from our first overnight trip to London. We stayed in Covent Garden Premier Hub. It was perfect for one night. It was £156 but that was the cheapest rate by far when I booked.

We saw Matilda recently - it was great. I felt comfortable walking from the theatre to our hotel (Russell square area) afterwards, and I'm usually a bit of a scaredy cat.

You can tap in and out on the tube with a bank card / iPhone / Apple Watch (but I think you have to use the same thing all day), and you can buy an unlimited day ticket for your DS (or if you have an old Oyster card, you can use that).

We usually go for one night, and squeeze as much as we can in on both days 😄.

Good luck, I hope you have a great time.

Oh, don't forget to book a time slot for the Natural History Museum, and don't expect to be able to get round everything.

There's a big Waterstone's in Traf Square. And also, walk down to the Embankment (tell DS to look up Joseph Bazalgette) and out on to Hungerford Bridge/Golden Jubilee Bridge to look out over the river. And it's the wrong bridge, but recite a bit of Wordsworth while you do it.

As well as cafes etc there are plenty of places like Tesco Express, M&S Food etc where you can buy sandwiches and eat them in one of the parks. I'd avoid the museum and gallery cafes, they tend to be pricey for what you get.

So family member works at the NHM so advice from him:

To massively reduce your queue time, prebook a timeslot for entry for free on their website. If you can arrive near opening (10am) even better to get a slightly quieter experience. It is heaving in the holidays, can't be helped.

They run paid behind the scenes tours you can again pre book on the website - called Spirit collection tours which are very interesting.

They have free talks with scientists at 3.30pm Tuesdays-Thursdays in August. These are first come first serve in the Attenborough studio, but not been full recently. There are a couple of dates that aren't running so check the website closer to your visit or ask at the info desk on arrival.

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.

I went to The British Museum yesterday. What a mistake. Massive queue (in the rain) and claustrophobically packed. I only ended up looking at one room, and then was desperate to escape.

Might be better if not a rainy day, but Jeeze, I've never known it so bad.

Sounds greqt.
Jump on buses too so you see things

Google maps on your phone will help find bus stop and route get yiur ds to look it up
Camden town market lots of bubble tea stalls kids love
Walk along canal from kings cross

Download the (free) Citymapper app. You put in your start and end locations and it will tell you different routes to get there by walking/bus/tube. Will even tell you prices

If you are happy to use your data it will pick up your location as a start point if you don’t know where you are

Few things to note if you are not used to London transport:

• you don’t need an Oyster card, you will pay the same amount if you use a contactless card
• you can’t use the same card for two people so you will both need an Oyster or one for your son and contactless for you
• Kids over 11 pay half price so he will need some form of payment
• You can’t use cash on buses
• Tube: you need to tap your card as you enter the station and when you leave - even if the gates are open, otherwise you will be charged for a full journey
• Bus: only tap your card when you get on. You have unlimited bus rides for £1.75 for one hour from the first tap
• Rule of thumb tip - count how many stations you need to go through on the tube and multiply by 2. That’s roughly the time your journey will take

London is great to walk around but don’t underestimate how far some things be away from each other, especially if you are unfamiliar with the streets

My office is in Seven Dials / Covent Garden and there's a really nice hotel by St Paul's that I know colleagues from overseas have used: not sure what your budget is, but I don't think it's too spendy.

Also, the Transport Museum in CG is brilliant!

the Hop on Hop Off bus tour is a fun way to see lots of landmarks and you usually get a free Thames boat cruise included in the ticket price too.

Milk Train is a brilliant ice cream shop in Covent Garden - great for kids! they do ice creams with candy floss round them!

Go onto Groupon and book a lovely afternoon tea nice and cheap. Other cheap deals too- eg river trip which you could get from embankment- a trip up the river and back, doesn't take too long.
Go to Chinatown for some lovely food in evening. Or Japanese - look around BrewerSt off ox street/ Charing Cross road.
Get a travel card for the days you're there.
Go look at the river (eg around embankment) and maybe the Wheel? Waterloo and London Bridge are cool to walk around in the area.
IMAX is at Waterloo too- look at shows?
X

It’s a nice walk (30 mins?) along the canal from Kings X to Camden. But I’d probably save it for another day as it sounds like you have a lot to do.

Carry water and a lightweight raincoat and spf

If you have a battery pack for your phone that could be handy. I suggest an old fashioned small A-Z too. Personally I prefer a book style but this fold out one is a good price and up to date as of February 2023.

I would be fine out and about with a Tween at 10pm. I’d also probably stay at Kings X. Less busy than Covent Garden, near your train and the outside areas like the swing are quite fun.

Your itinerary sounds great OP. If you're in CG for food before the theatre this place is great www.sevendialsmarket.com/

Loads of permanent food stalls with seating, great mix if you and your son fancy different things, and awesome ice creams. I've taken my kids and families visiting us in London and it's always a success.

I suggest an old fashioned small A-Z too.

I know people love the apps, but an A-Z is great for browsing, getting to know the layout of the streets, seeing what places are near to each other, planning walks.

Welcome to London! :). There’s a lot to do, but don’t fall into the trap of trying to pack too much into a couple of days, you’ll both just end up tired and ratty.

I think the Natural History Museum/Science Museum double act is a good idea with a 12 year old. Don’t try and do all of both though as that’s not possible on one trip.

The tube is easy to navigate, it’s designed to be easy to understand - we have a lot of oversees visitors who need to be able to work it out without understanding English.

Don’t go to any restaurants on the main drag of tourist areas e.g. bang in the centre of Leicester Square- tourist traps which aren’t value for money.

Unsure how long your stay is but if it’s just a weekend - One day of museums, one day of parks and river.

Also Londoners are used to tourists. We won’t give you eye contact on the underground and we are always rushing around with a harassed look but if you ask us for directions, most of us will stop and help you if we can.

Have a lovely time with your son!

In Camden a couple of places I’d recommend are the Pancake art cafe - only open certain days and needs to be pre-booked but very fun or Hansel and Gretel. Also Babylon theme park which is an underground theme park. Also if you go on a Sunday they used to shut Camden Town tube station at peak hours and you’d have to walk up to Chalk Farm or down to Mornington Cresent to get back on the northern line. Not sure if they still do that but just something to be aware of.

pancake art link: https://tohomefromlondon.com/pages/pancake-art-cafe-menu

Get off the train at Kings Cross. Take the Piccadilly line to Leicester Square. If your hotel is in Covent Garden then drop bags as it's right next door. At this point, and I hesitate to say this, you could deviate into M&Ms World which is extremely full over overpriced plastic tat. But 12 year olds... Do not let him near pick 'n' mix.

Do not eat in a restaurant on Leicester Square. Do not get in a rickshaw.

Walk down Charing Cross Road to Trafalgar Square. See what's on the Fourth Plinth. Both National Gallery and National Portrait Gallery are on Trafalgar Square. Both free for the permanent collections and National Portrait Gallery just reopened after a refurb. Plus lots of portraits of Kings and Queens. Note statue of Edith Cavell.

From Trafalgar Sq walk along the Mall to Buckingham Palace. It's pricey to go in. But you can stare at the gates.

Check out seven dials food hall for dinner. There’s loads of different food options and not too expensive. Very close to the theatre for Matilda too!

The Natural History- and Science - museums are in South Kensington Not really walkable from Kings X but you can get the tube and it’s only a few stops.
London is busy but not scary, esp busy tourist areas. Just keep your wits about you like you would in any big city. Kings X is a nice area now, it’s been gentrified and has Premier Inn etc. it’s a good base.

Yes Kings Cross has gentrified. Coal Drops Yard near Google is nice.

If you go to Oxford Street, don’t be tempted by those ‘American’ sweet shops, rip off.

Premier inn hub st martins lane is great for theatres and Covent Garden and centrally located so v easy access to NHM and other spots via underground

Hi OP - just came back from a day in London seeing Matilda.

I'd advise taking it slow, especially as it's your first trip to London with your DC.

Don't pack too much in, take lots of breaks (grab a drink, sit outside a cafe & just soak up the city atmosphere)

Lots of central tourist spots are walkable (the Cambridge theatre is just a 5 min walk from Covent Garden) but, depending on your budget, consider using Uber?

It means you'll get somewhere directly, and just lessens some of the stress on yourself (my DC are ND, so it really helps us)

A lot of places, such as Covent Garden are just lovely for wandering about, and enjoying the food stalls and atmosphere.

Personally, Camden Market can get far too busy...but consider China Town or South Bank, they're really fun and lively. Lots to see.

Hope you and DC have a great time!

Also! If you do go to the Science Museum, Wonderlab is great fun.

You need to book a slot, alongside booking tickets for the main museum, but it's really hands on and lots of fun.

That sounds like a perfect itinerary based on your interests. Camden market has lots of food stalls too so you can grab something to eat too. Wear your comfiest shoes. I think you’ll have a great time.