London with kids- two things....

[tiredemma]

1. Has Oliver! finished??? I cant find any tickets online

1. Apart from the obvious (museums, Buck Palace etc)- what else exciting is there for a 8 and 10 year old??

I have been a couple of times with friends, but never taken the children. any tips would be appreciated.

( we are staying right by London Eye)

1. yes - shrek soon though if thats any help.

1. London transport museum is good if you hadnt factored that in. HMS belfast. The Duck tour is cracking.

Apparently the boat (catamaran?) that goes to the O2 is great - my DC went on it the other day. There's stuff to do at the O2, but nothing v London orientated.

typical. I finally get DP to agree to watch a show (rather stick pins into his eyes apparently), and the show we want to watch has finished!!

Will look at some of your suggestions, thanks

I would add that ds really enjoyed the Golden Hinde as well - and theres all the gruesome stuff round London Bridge if they are that way inclined

DS1 is desperate to go to the imperial war museum

ooh yes Imperial War Museum is v good.

false- you mean stuff like Traitors gate etc?

Yes the Dungeon and the other thing across the road that isnt the dungeon but looks the same and The Clink and the Operating Theatre museum

St Pauls was a massive hit - worth the money as the audio Ipod guide is fantastic and really well judged - kept ds really interested and normally he struggles with that sort of thing.

No Traitors' Gate isn't gruesome and it is part of the Tower of London (Museum of London nearby also worth a trip). London Dungeon is at London Bridge but may be a bit freaky fro that age. Science Museumn and Natural History museum close together and free. British Museum has a kids' trail taking you through the key galleries and exhibits.

Westminster Abbey (topical for Royal Wedding) also has an audio tour/trail for kids and think they'd both get in free as under 11.

Is Chitty still on, thought it was long since gone ? Wizard of Oz starts in March - when were you thinking of visiting ?

Has anyone mentioned the Tower of London? It's really close to the HMS Belfast, the Golden Hinde, Clink and the London Dungeon so you can make an entire day of it. If you are there on a Friday or Sat, you have have lunch at the Borough Market.

My son like the Wallace Collection for the Arms (and you can try on some armour in the basement). That is near Oxford Street/Regent Street, so a trip to Hamleys (a good bribe for good behaviour?) could be done with it.

Really recommend the Imperial War Museum for that age group. Interesting for adults too.

Wizard of Oz??? Sold. Its Ds2's favourite. ill look into that- thanks LIZ.

lots of ace suggestions

There's the London Dungeon which used to be good but is apparently now crap (I've been to the Edinburgh version, run by the same people and not scary at all, but maybe your boys would like it?)

I took DS on the London Eye, the Golden Hinde, the Clink (real prison now a museum, very atmospheric), Imperial War Museum (v.big, you probably won't see the whole thing but it has something for everyone).

Best things for us were the Duck Tour, amphibious vehicle that does a tour around the streets and then goes down into the Thames - quite exciting and the guide was excellent.

Also Ripley's Believe it Or Not (PIcadilly), get the money off vouchers before you go though otherwise it's pricey! V. good though, google it if you don't know the sort of thing it is (basically weird and wonderful and freaky and gross stuff, fab).

Imperial War Museum is fab, but some parts are quite harrowing. Definitely recommend Transport Museum

The London Eye is good but not on a rainy or misty day. The Aquarium near the Eye is good ( search for discount vouchers) for an hour or so. Imperial War museum is great. Also, a vote for the transport Museum in Covent garden.
Hop on a tube and go to South Kensington - Natural History Museum and the Science Museum next to one another (free). If you DC like mummy's etc then the British Museum is fab and a really nice building.

There is a great adventure playground in Hyde park with enormous pirate ship and all sorts of other stuff.

titanic exhibition on at the o2!

*Cabinet War Rooms is BRILLIANT for kids that age.
*Imperial War Museum
*Thames Barrier
*Geffrye Museum (free)
*London Transport Museum
*Design Museum
*City Airport has a viewing area
*Docklands is fascinating seeing all the old warehouses now converted to appartments
*Greenwich/Cutty Sark/Maritime Museum
*Paddington Basin and walking along the canal to Camden

(two DSs, 9 and 7, who LOVE London, especially the free things!!)

Don't know how anyone can recommend the Cabinet Rooms and Imperial War Museum. Unless your dc are complete world war 2 geeks, they are dull, dull, dull. Don't waste your time and money. Mainly mock ups of committee rooms and cabinets of medals, letters and photos. Go the web and see for your self, but please read between the lines.

If you are near the London eye - have a look at the Tames clippers you can get on by London Eye. Nice way to see everything and very comfortable ride. Check the site as they have a good route map for planning days out.

Crystalglasses - I think it is on the nat curriculum for all English primary schools to study aspects of WW2. We found that both these museums made the history the kids had learned come to life. The audio tour in the CWR is particularly good, it points out to children all sorts of little things that we all might have missed. The trench mockup and the 1940s house at the IWM is again a way to illustrate what life was like for a lot of British people during the two world wars. Personally I think it's important that our children have a comprehension of such recent history, but of course everyone's entitled to their own opinion

With kids that age I would do London Eye, Duck Tour, Tower of London, HMS Belfast (and IWM if your son really wants to see it, it is good)