Suggestions for a 5yr old and 2 yr old in or within 1.5hrs of SW London

[orangeplum]

We are unexpectedly in London for christmas and I need to entertain my two DS's. If I had known I was going to be here I would have booked some things up in advance. Can anyone recommend some good xmas activities/days out/places to see Father Christmas etc to amuse then as I will be on my own with them for most of the time. Thanks.

Anything in Greenwich?

\link{http://www.nmm.ac.uk/visit/events/?by=4&keyword=tiddlers+nippers|Also Maritime Museum}

Sorry here

Bocketts Farm, Fetcham, Surrey
Chessington World of Adventures (Zoo & aquarium only open)
Lots of outdoor ice skating rinks with those cute penguins that they push around

Kew Gardens always good at Christmas.

Still tickets available for the Snowman in central London.

There's a children's Christmas show (aimed at the real littlies) on in Kingston as well, I believe (details escape me right now, though).

There's a Christmas market outside the Natural History Museum (not sure what date that runs to, though).

Science Museum is always good for children.
Somerset House? (Think thats the place) they have ice-skating and lights and a little cafe to eat in (or take your own food and sit on the side and watch people whizz around.
Walk along London watersite by Southbank - free, and fab looking early evening (bearing in mind you have LOs who need to go to bed) - lights look great, there are usually buskers, life going on, I used to love meeting mum from work with my sister or brother, in the winter and walk across to Waterloo train station, stop at Southbank for a bit and just take London in, maybe get a coffe, maybe not, before we would all go home together

the Christmas show in kingston does look fab. but it's fully booked . We're going to see Pinocchio at the Polka Theatre in Wimbledon. but I have a feeling it's not for real littlies - but it's an excellent theatre and worth checking what else they have on. there's an ice rink at Hampton Court. there's a German Market in kingston (some nice crafts and tonnes of sweets, but basically it's a market so won't keep your 5 year old's attention for long).

There's some availability on the Kingston Night Before Christmas up until 18 December (but yes, fully booked for Christmas week).

(not much availability, mind -- generally only one or two tickets per performance, I think)

yes, now I think about it I was looking for after the end of term - ie after the 19th.