Is a day trip to London a good idea for a 2 and 4 yr old?

[springchik]

We live in cambs and would involve a train journey. They have never been to London. I have only occasionally been my husband lived there till he was 12. My dh really wants to take them during the holidays. I dont for a number of reasons I feel they are too young and I not sure I have the confidence it seems such a daunting place to take small children. What do others think? My dh is thinking somewhere like the natural history museum and a picnic in one of the parks.

Should have read wants us all to go as a family just realised it could read like he wants to go on his own! (Not that there would be anything wrong with that ofcourse!)

Well there's quite a few 2 and 4 year olds living here, so I don't think they are too young...

One of the museums and a park sounds perfect. As long as you keep it simpl-ish it shouldn't be too exhausting.

You'll be coming with your dh so enough pairs of hands to help with the buggy on the tube if needed.

I know theres plenty of 2 and 4 year olds who live there but they are used to it!

well i take my two year old into london, but i don't think its a great idea for a day trip when they are that young.

the national theatre is a good place to go on the south bank as the foyers are great to run about in , then outisde there is astro turf and massive chairs to climb on, with outdoor events very family friendly. me and my ds went today.

also there is an exhibition at hayward gallery nearby that my two year old loved. ernesto neto , its really fab. also a giraffe cafe there but it gets mega busy.

i think natural history museum would be too packed.

just go to one area, don't try and traipse around looking for things.

What is it you are worried about, exactly? I'm not sure what you mean by used to it?

Science Museum is good (and next door to Nat Hist). We took our DTDs there for their 3rd birthday. We had a fab time. Lots of walking though,so be prepared for tired children. We did Nat Hist (just dinosaurs, really) then Science Museum, and had lunch in the Science Museum cafe. The y loved the underground!

second the southbank centre, there is usually instillation type stuff on there and there are always lots of toddlers enjoying it whenever I've been

Well it wouldn't be top of my list for that age group (esp the 2 year old) -but of course it is possible. I'd go to a park that has a range of things to do (playpark, animals to see) and possibly to a smaller museum - we went to the horniman (sp?) a couple of years back and that was good.

Everything about going to london worrys me tbh from the train journey, and the underground to the general "busyness" traffic and crowds of the place. Havent been to London for years I must admit the last time I went I was pregnant with ds1 (it was so early on I didnt know I was pregnant at the time!) Dh has tried to convince me to go there for a day out for ages I remember having the same conversation with him this time last year!

I'm planning on taking a 4 yr old for a day out in London, but I've waited till he is 4. want to do tube and river bus with him. Maybe DLR as well and the greenwich foot tunnel.

I think dh thinks its a great place for a day trip because he was bought up there and he wants to take the dc to the same places he went to as a child iyswim! However I just dont see that the 2 year old in particular would enjoy it because I can see hed end up spending far too much time in him pushchair which he would hate!

I think its a nice idea as long as you don't overplan - just go to one place. Does your dh have anything in particular in mind?
They will however definitely get more out of it as they get older - and he can even take them on his own and show them all his favourites himself
What would you prefer to do as a family day out - you do seem rather anxious about this...

There are loads of other places I'd prefer: The beach, farms, zoos and country parks to name but a few! I went to London as a child but I was older and I think I got more out of it tbh.

You could have lunch in the small garden in the V&A - there's a water feature there that all the kids paddle in. I find that I didn't worry so much if I knew there was something that each would like coming.

If you just go to one place (eg South Kensington) it might be less stressy than charging about all over the place - prob best to have a smaller, but successful trip and then when your youngest is a bit older build up?

Wouldn't go to the museums during the school holidays unless one of you is a teacher or somesuch and that's the only time you can go.
Basement of the Science Museum is fabulous for a 4 and 2 year old but a weekday in term time is much better.
Would your train get into King's Cross? How about Coram's Fields? It's a lovely gated park with a big paddling pool and a few animals, walking distance from King's Cross. There's a Giraffe in the Brunswick Centre or take a picnic. Might feel a bit more manageable for a first trip?

WE took our DC at this age.
They were very excited by the train (though quickly bored by the length). We went to the Science Museum by bus so we got point things out to the older child. Had picnic at the Science Museum and went in the bit in the basement that is aimed at children and then cherry picked a few other things of interest. Then we walked over the Princess Diana Memorial Playground (which IS a longish walk, much moaning from the 4 year old).

It was a good day out and both children enjoyed it. The downsides were having to constantly find toilets (DD was recently toilet trained) and lugging the buggy everywhere.