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?

What kind of pram do you have? I live in London and we had a light weight one which was easy to manage. Could you also bring sling?

Near kings Cross :

Postal museum and then Coram fields is a nice day out.

The zoo isn't too far. You could get a bus from kings Cross.

If you can go down to south Ken - science and natural history are great, followed by the playground in near Diana memorial fountains

As a pp said, you know you’re not just restricted to the northern line, you can change lines?! Also again, as someone said above, you can take a buggy on an escalator. If a station is ’accessible’ it means it has a lift (as obviously wheelchairs can’t go on stairs or escalators). The non-accessible stations don’t just have stairs, they have escalators, so just tip the buggy!

Going somewhere unfamiliar to just mooch about with no plan and kids of wildly different ages and needs is going to be underwhelming.
If you’re going to a day trip to London maybe you should actually plan a day.

It has changed a lot. But I still wouldn't choose it for a day out 😁.

Get the boat down the river to Greenwich. There's the Cutty Sark, the planetarium, big parks and exhibitions, a market. The boat trip is fun too as you go past the London Eye, Tower of London, Tower Bridge etc, etc. It's fun for both age groups.

This is the equivalent of catching the eurostar to Paris, mooching around Gare du Nord station for a bit before declaring whole city is overrated having not bothered ro see the myriad of sights and attractions.

I second the recommendation for the boat trip to Greenwich and spend some time at the maritime museum, and the excellent adventure playground just behind it, while you're there. For the adults, the market is very interesting. If possible do one way and combine it with a ride on the DLR - you will be high up and have great views of the city/

It's a hike for you OP but mine have always adored Greenwich at all ages - for you it would be a change to the Jubilee line at London Bridge and then the DLR at Canary Wharf down to Cutty Sark, but once you're there is a great day out - paid things like the Cutty Sark itself and the Observatory but the Maritime Museum is brilliant and free and the park itself is amazing.

If step free is truly a dealbreaker, the South Bank is still accessible via London Bridge and changing to the northbound Jubilee line - like others I've always found it good for mooching around with the kids and a fair bit to see, incl the Aquarium if you don't mind paying.

I found the refurbed National Portrait Gallery really good for my 8 and 12 year olds. They're quite into history but it's presented well and lots to talk about but they also like the National Gallery (8yo is particularly into the Renaissance art and asking loads of questions about the gory ways the saints died.) Might be a good option for nap time for the 1yo? It's a fairly easy walk from. Waterloo.

Thanks for all the replies so far!!

I should have asked for ideas in my original post rather than saying it was over rated as I know IABU

Kings Cross has had massive regeneration so it is a lot nicer. Yes @Ginmonkeyagain we went to Coals drop yard. There was also a free Everyman outdoor cinema by the canal on there which looked lovely but wasn’t great with the pushchair. There was a floating book store on the canal, softplay on greens, water fountains in granary square for running through. But my overall feeling was it was too busy and a hassle. I think we went at the wrong time too, 3-8pm when lots of young people were out. Next time we are going to go 10-2pm

There have been amazing suggestions on here. I know London is walkable from the major stations and I’d really prefer to get off at London Bridge, Tottenham Court Road or Battersea Park as I just want to navigate one tube line and be done.

Thank you so much for the ideas

@BookShark Im going to get that book

@purpletrees16 your suggestions are brilliant and I’ve made a note of them

Thank you also @SnappyCroc for brilliant suggestions

It’s not, the area round Kings Cross is very nice now, Coal Drops Yard, Granary Square, there is an open air cinema and fountains for kids to jump in. It’s a perfectly fine destination to hang out in if you already live in London, just wouldn’t be my top destination for a day out from out of town.

OP, your ten year old might enjoy Camden too, I was there last week and was amazed how much nicer it is than it used to be.

I am baffled you would want to travel to London to see farms and trampoline parks which seem to be available a short distance from your house.

FWIW I took my 6 and 7 year old to Kings Cross last week to the outdoor cinema - we spent the morning making a picnic lunch and ate that during the 1pm show then bought ice cream and popcorn for the next movie. They then had fun in the water fountains, changed and DH met us for dinner. It was a brilliant day out.

Other things we do every holiday are the museums at South Kensington, theatre trips (although you will probably struggle to find something suitable for your oldest that accepts youngest), zoo, Southbank (great playground near London Eye), boat trips.

You don't need to be restricted to Northern Line and I used to be quite happy having a stranger help me with the buggy when I had one child who was 1 with me - I would imagine your older one is capable of handling themselves on stairs and escalators?

If you're a tube ride away (rather than 3 hours and £130+ on LNER) you can plan 'little and often' trips

I think this is key. Rather than trying to do lots at once, you can do bits. Northern line to Warren Street (escalators and one shallow step) then Regents park with either zoo or Primrose Hill or the post office museum, or Grant's museum of zoology or the Petrie museum, or Madame Tussauds or 221b Baker Street, depending on who is choosing, that sort of thing. If you don't have a light folding buggy you can get one on Gumtree for £10, and then you can go anywhere.

For the one year old iobsr the next few years London Zoo really is great. Very fond memories of days out there with DS. He’s over it now aged 8 but that may be due to over-familiarity, could suit the older child for at least 1 visit though.

Yes @HotCrossBunplease Kings Cross is quite genteel now!

@moonshinepoursthroughmywindow Thank you for Grenwich ideas

@JassyRadlett thank you for detailed ideas on Grenwich also. It definitely looks like the place to be. Can I ask how the boat transport is from London Bridge do you know? Can I get to Grenwich from there on the clipper do you think? I wouldn’t mind that (just don’t want to be on the tube with one head old trying to take headphones off and deafening high pitched tube screeching any longer than I have to, I don’t know if it’s just the Northern line but it’s ear splitting)

@prescribingmum I don’t want to take them for swimming and farms per se, what I mean is these are the things they enjoy, so I want similarly easy fun things suitable for both their ages whether that be parks, playgrounds etc.

The outdoor cinema is great for older kids but not baby friendly IMO

The @TheYearOfSmallThings yes @andyindurham hit the nail on the head, little and often...We’ve done that with Kings Cross and it was ok but not great. But I’m glad we did just one thing that day as was shattered by the end!

Have you
Been to aldenham
Country park. Borohamwood

That's Lovely.
Animals a Winnie the Pooh trail and play equipment.

King's Cross is great for a day out with kids - the fountains in granary Square, film screenings, pocket play areas, natural swimming pool, Camley nature park, the Samsung store, table tennis and people watching at UAL, the swing outside St Pancras....

But an unstructured mooch with kids of different ages can be tricky and it will definitely be busy.

Short and specific trips work best for us - pick one thing to do in an area and somewhere fun for lunch and then home.

And agree with doing some of the sights - having worked with people who grew up in London and were never taken to see eg changing of the guards or Big Ben while others visit London on school trips, you may as well make the most of accessibility...

@butterbeansauce thank you for Grenwich suggestion also, how easy are the boats do you know? Are they very busy from London Bridge?

Use buses.

I mean leaving yourself to only step free stations is going to limit you! I have a newborn and 3 year old and just take the buggy on the escalator always have done or else use a carrier for the little one then you can go anywhere !

Don't bother with Pollocks Toy Museum while you have the pram. It's fascinating, but it is basically a million twisting turning steps and tight corners. Save it until your little one is mobile.

There are plenty of other brilliant suggestions here.

Looking at the up to date tube map, I think you have step free access at Bank. In which case, I suggest get the DLR to the Docklands area. There's a free farm/petting zoo at Mudchute, free Museum of London Docklands at West Ferry, and the while area is designed to be accessible with buggies etc.

I’ve planned our days out in London weeks in advance, next week we’re doing a few days. I’ve got tickets for the ceremony of keys at the tower, the cutty sark, a cool indoor golf place, I’ve found a quirky pub to go to, we’re doing the imperial war museum and then borough market.
There’s loads on offer, but does require planning.

I also agree with posters saying use buses, we use buses a lot as my kids love seeing London from the top deck. They’re cheap too!