London with littles help me out please!

[Cacanutmilk]

Hello lovelies, apologies I’m posting for traffic!

Impromptu london trip this weekend. One day we’ll be at the Disney expo.

what else can we do, ideally free or low cost as the expo and london itself are pricey.

we’re staying by the expo and kids are 4 and 2 and we have an out and about double (the skinny one). We’ve done natural history and science museums before (so a fall back if we can’t find anything else to do) and we’ll be going to the jungle cafe or whatever as my kids love it.

kids do love natural history and looking at taxidermy animals (weirdos lol) there’s another place that has a good collection in london isn’t there? Maybe something with a play aspect or sensory or run around aspect too as well if that’s possible?

ill have them for myself on Monday too whilst dh is at a meeting so what place, ideally accessible via bus would be good to take 2 feral beasts kids to solo?

How does this sound for you children. https://www.horniman.ac.uk/about-the-horniman/

At that end of London, if the weather is ok, the Riverside walk on both sides, is good with loads to see, Tower of London, Tower Bridge, The Monument to the fire of London - check opening times for going uo inside. The Golden Hind ship. Lots of eating places in Borough Market.

Aquarium and London Eye. Boat trip down the river Thames

From google I think the 'Disney expo' is in the Docklands? If so you are close to Greenwich and there is a fantastic kids play centre in the Maritime Museum there - https://www.rmg.co.uk/national-maritime-museum/attractions/ahoy-childrens-gallery. You could also do a river boat trip. I agree with Horniman Museum, that is prob what you were thinking of for the taxidermy and it is lovely and not too far from you. Tate Modern has kids craft sessions at the weekend which would be good for the 4 year old and both kids can enjoy the Turbine Hall.

Personally I found the aquarium too much for a toddler. Maybe if you went during the week, but we went on a wet weekend and it was very crowded and noisy, especially as they play music everywhere for some reason. Zoo is great for kids but not close to where you are staying. Zoo and aquarium are both a bit pricey anyway.

We went to buckingham palace and found a play park in st James park which the kids loved and it was a good opportunity for them to have something a bit low key after how overwhelming London was for them.

Museum of London Docklands and Greenwich Museum have lovely play areas for under 5s (I prefer Mudlarks (Docklands Museum in Canary Wharf as it has a small softplay - both are free but you need to book tickets online in advance).
Cable car is fun (from Excel to North Greenwich), thamesclipper/ uberboat. Kids like to see the planes taking off at London City airport (other side of dock has a nice walking path). Natural History Museum is on the other side of London from Excel… Mudchute farm on Isle of Dogs…
it depends if you want to do London, or entertain the kids.

Oh, and I really disliked the aquarium - expensive, busy, you will walk through as part of a queue.

Don't go to the aquarium! It's expensive, busy and a bit rubbish. Much better Sealife centres elsewhere in the country.

London Eye is also not amazing for kids those ages.

The Maritime Museum at Greenwich. I think you need to book the kids interactive gallery in advance but it’s not expensive.
Then walk up the hill in the park to the a Royal Observatory and stand one foot either side of the Meridian line. There’s a little bit you can get to for free through the gate at the side.
And you could ride the DLR in the front carriage until the front seats are free. Mine were quite happy to be “driving” the train for quite a while.

Oooh this is perfection! Thank you, you bunch of beauties!

Take them to the young V&A Bethnal Green, recently reopened , free and brilliant

https://www.vam.ac.uk/young/

Is that far from docklands?

I’d go to the Horniman and look at the massive stuffed walrus. There are a lot of interesting weird rooms in there and a decent cafe. And a tiny aquarium.

For a future trip (it's sadly closed at the moment) you can go to Grant Museum of Zoology, famous for its big jars of preserved moles!
If your kids are into taxidermy animals and weird stuff, they'll love it.

Do they have dinosaurs? They love them but I recall feeling a bit disappointed by the natural history, I swear there used to be more there or perhaps that’s my childhood memories

My kids loved the Transport for London museum in Covent Garden. Very child friendly. They can pretend to drive a full size bus as well as a kids play & dress up area.

Another vote for the Transport museum. Great for these ages and it's central.

If you're near Covent Garden and want a place for them to run around and let off steam Coram's Fields is nice - it's a playground where over 16s are only allowed in if accompanied by a child

Maybe a bit out of your way if you’re staying near the Expo which I believe is at Excel but I went here with my 4YO very energetic son last Saturday and he loved it. 10 mins walk from Old Street tube.

https://islingtonplay.org.uk/take-part/playgrounds/toffee-park-adventure-playground/

If you're going to be in Central London, the Princess Diana Playground in Kensington Gardens is very good, and there are a couple of nice cafes on the other side of Bayswater Road!

More votes for the Princess Diana Playground (great sensory areas) and the Transport Museum. My DS4 and his little friend also loved the Postal Museum and sorting office play area (Central-North). Worth looking at what the Southbank Centre has on in terms of family shows/events, too.

If you're east definitely do maritime museum in Greenwich - and book the play area, it's brilliant and free

Came on to say this re boat trip on the Thames - but just on the clipper ie as a means of transport (much cheaper than doing a commentated trip) as a) a pretty easy way to get east - west partic with a buggy and young children as there's space, you get a seat, it's not crowded, plus it will be interesting for them as you get a great view of London.

Another vote for the new young V&A or the Maritime museum. I have also heard good things about the postal museum.

Docklands Museum (book the Mudlarks Gallery in advance) - great softplay and interactive activites for your your DC. Try getting there on the DLR and then walking to Canary Wharf Pier (very close) for a river boat to Greenwich or Westminster.