Is London over-rated as a day out?

[londonstufftodo]

I don’t know if I’m being unimaginative

I’ve got two kids, a ten year old and a one year old. Today we went into London and it was alright but nothing special. We went to Kings Cross as it’s convenient for us, to have a mooch around. There is lots going on, outdoor cinema etc but it’s busy and I just felt like it was a lot of effort for not much gain…maybe I’m doing it wrong?

If it's a sunny day mine used to live the outdoor fountains / water features you can run in and out of. There are some near London Bridge and also national theatre I think.

Kings cross has a reputation for people 'mooching' but I'm not sure that is something you'd want to get involved in!

I hope you are least went to platform 9 and 3/4 for the ten year old?

Wherever you go you need to plan, not just turn up. Many places need pre booking now and a day in London requires a bit of itinerary and travel planning. I'd certainly ditch the pram and take a very lightweight umbrella stroller so you can go to any station..just get ten year old to hold stroller on the escalators while you carry the one year old or get a toddler sling.

DLR to City farm. The dlr itself is a fun ride for kids especially if they get the front carriage as it Dan feel like they're driving the train. City Farm has good views and a nice cafe.

Would second a day out in Greenwich. 10 minutes to Maze Hill on the train then a nice walk through Greenwich Park which has a good playground and sand pit. The maritime museum is free and lots of places to have lunch or picnic in the park if the weather is nice. The Observatory often has kids shows on.

https://london-hq.co.uk/event/heritage-summer/
if you just want to wander , there is a trail of statues to find

For christs sake. If i came to your home town and mooched around the railway or bus station, I'd think it was a crap place.
So yes, extremely unimaginative. How sad.
I've lived here 35 years and am still finding places to explore and visit

Kings cross?

Back in my day King's Cross was full of drugs and prostitutes, so unless it has changed a lot it wouldn't be the best choice for a day out with the kids.

The thing is, there's no 'London' as such. There are thousands of things to do but the distances involved mean you do need to plan what will work best for your family - you can't just turn up.

The kids (toddler and 7yo) and I are doing three days out in London this summer and going to do the following:

Thames Clipper hop-on, hop-off, London Eye and Tower of London in the morning, picnic lunch, National Maritime Museum and Greenwich Park playground in the afternoon.

South Kensington museums (V&A, Natural History, Science Museum). They've all got different things for kids, though some you need to book in advance. Then we're heading to the Diana Memorial Playground in Kensington Gardens.

(Just with the older one) We're doing a show in Covent Garden (Terrible Tudors, my older one likes history), then going to the M&M store and doing Sealife on our way back to Waterloo.

I actually find it very difficult not to over-plan and try to do too much in London, so we're running about like headless chickens and not enjoying the day!

Follow Museum Mum on Instagram, she shares loads of ideas for all ages. Both of your kids would enjoy the current community painting activity in the Tate’s Turbine Hall.

Also use lifts if you have a pushchair, don’t restrict yourself! Also your 10 year old can help lift the pushchair if needs be. I bought a super light pushchair and would often carry it up the stairs alone with baby in it! No big deal.

disabled mum here - a Londoner so very well versed in getting around step free

You can change lines on the tube!!!!! you are not restricted to only northern line. That is just your starting point!!!!

also London buses are all wheelchair / buggy accessible - not recommended at peak time when busy but can be fine off peak.

use tFL planner with step free station selected - particularly as you can access Tottenham Court Road from northern line. Hop on the Elizabeth line there - great trains - modern and spacious and lots of accessible stations. Could go to Farringdon to the post office museum - really interesting

or get to waterloo - once you get through the maze of interchanges and navigate the lift system (either end of the station to get to the ground level) you are in the south bank - London eye,aquarium, shrek exhibition, Paddington experience, London dungeon - cafes, street performers, south bank centre, wander down to tate modern, take a river boat - absolutely loads going on!!! Wss as ok ti Westminster station from there - loads of lifts - on the district line snd off you go to tower bridge / see the Tower of London etc…

… being step free doesn’t stop you - just have to be a bit more creative in your routes and may involve some walks above ground or to find the lift tucked away in corner.

London is full of awesome and many free things to do with kids - yes King’s Cross is great if you want to people watch from the gallery with a cupa or to look at the Harry Potter shop or go to the canal museum or British library etc - but so many exciting places to go beyond King’s Cross and the northern line with a bit of planning!

I look at where I want to go first - then work out how I can achieve it. My routes due to my disability are not always the most direct or quickest - but I get about to where I want to go.

enjoy !

Light weight strollers are manageable. I've done it on tubes with all four of mine, including South Kensington where the museums are. Many times people will help you too, I always find people in London helpful and friendly.

Why do you need step free access? For the pram?

Coram Fields, British museum, Covent Garden

One of the advantages of the internet is that you can do some research before going anywhere. Worth doing.

Not sure about the one year old, but for example the ten year old probably could have gone to the National Portrait Gallery if ever they have seen Horrible Histories.

Battersea is great, play park, lots to do. Don’t forget you can travel on the riverboat too.

We have a 3yr old, but when they were one they just fell in with what we did. Busses are easy with a pram.

There is literally every single thing you can think of, city farms, cool museums, lidos (the one at Gospel Oak has step free access), look on the Londonist for free weekend events. We’ve been to great children’s events at Canary Wharf and Vauxhall.

Postal Museum is great and is walkable from KX.

Just to add I’ve not found anywhere yet in London not accessible with a pram - it’s one of the most family friendly transport systems and cities in my opinion. I live here so I have to get in with it anyway, but I’ve never found an issue.

I think we can all agree that Kings Cross is overrated for a day out.

London, not so much. We’ve lived near London with our family for years and have never been short of a new place to explore in London. It’s one of the best cities in the world to explore. Safe, good transport, full of culture and history.

Next time, buy a Lonely Planet and make a plan. Honestly, the new edition LP is great, we’ve discovered loads of new spots. www.amazon.co.uk/Lonely-Planet-London-Travel-Guide/dp/1787017060

For the ages of your kids, Coram's fields if it's a nice day. Accessible from King's Cross and my kids have never not had a good time there.

Just spent 3 nights in London from Scotland. It has to be planned to a tee to maximise the benefits in such a short time. Research everything!! Plan walks, transport, hotel if staying over, but man the city is amazing. The history on every street!! We took our 12 year old, she fondly remembers the blisters we all had from walking everywhere!! Only time we used transport was to get to airport and we went on a boat trip up to Tower of London, walked across the bridge and along south bank.! So much to see! People watch on the grass, we didn't go anywhere near King's Cross (prior experience). OP if u are lucky to live close enough to in and do it again. Start in Westminster. Get the big things ticked off then go to
The smaller outer areas as to where ur interests lie.

The Southbank is great - especially in the summer as the kids can play in the fountains( take a swimming cossie and towel) ditto Somerset House.

Sounds like you went to Coal Drops Yard OP. It is a decent place to mooch - it has high end shops, bars, restaurants and nice landscaped areas along the canal. I enjoy it for an hour or so on a sunny day, but I am in my 40s. It is not that great for young children as a day out.

Stay on the Northern line and get off at Waterloo. The Southbank is more fun in the summer and they often have free family friendly events in the summer.

On Borough market, I walk though it most days on the way to work. The trick is to go earlt (like 9am)on a Thursday or Friday. But again not much of interest for young children.

Buy a Baby Bjørn or similar carrier and it will be easier. London with a stroller isn't worth it.

It has changed a lot. Coal Drops Yard and Granary Square. It's quite chi chi now - you'd be shocked how different it is 🤣

Poor ten year old having to trail about with a baby in a buggy. Save your next trip for a time when someone else can be with your younger child.

Re the stroller issue - much easier to have one than a sling and no need to fret about impact on 10 year old as long as you plan!