London - Legoland/Natural History Museum/Science Museum - which days to go?

[yonker]

Hi,

6 year old DS and I are going to London for three days last weekend in May. We will arrive at hotel about 2-3pm on Thursday (hopefully), then leave on Monday. 'Must do' trips are Legoland and Natural History Museum - but would also really like to go to science museum (same day as NHM).

The problem is deciding which days, want to try and to to each when least crowded.

Originally thought Legoland Friday, museums on Saturday. But would the museums be too packed on Saturday?

If we go to Legoland on Saturday instead would we be waiting in very long queues? Would the museums on weekdays be full of school trips - so more crowded than weekends?

Also thought of trying to go to the Natural History Museum on Thursday late afternoon if we get there on time, then Legoland on Friday, then science museum early as possible Saturday (could also revisit NHM is not seen everything.

Is Sunday better - thought not as I would think most people would be having a family day out on Sunday if any day at all.

If all this makes sense has anyone got any advice on the 'best' days for each? I really don't know as not been to any of the places before.

Thanks for any help

Half-term starts that weekend, so the Friday is probably the best bet for Legoland. Although lots of schools will have an INSET day, it will be heaving at the weekend. I know it's expensive, but if it is busy, it would be worth considering a fastpass, which will let you beat the queues.

Good plan to get to the museums at opening time, do the most popular areas and then relax and have a mooch about.

yonker,

Do as much research as you can online before arriving in London.

Museums tend to get very busy on the weekends particularly if you arrive in the afternoon. Best therefore to arrive at these on opening time or soon after.

Would book the tickets for Legoland online as you can save 10% on the cost by doing so. Legoland is situated just outside of Windsor but you can arrive there by train from Waterloo. It takes about an hour.

Legoland Friday might be marginally better than Saturday or Sunday.

Museums will be packed whatever you do. But you can get the best of both of them in a day if you plan carefully.

(you do know Legoland is about an hour out of London, depending on how you get there?)

Can't comment on Legoland as we haven't been yet, but the best time to do the Science and NH Museums is as soon as they open at 10am. By midday they become absolutely feral, which will be a good time to stop for lunch (both have very nice cafes, but there are lots of good chain restaurants nearby - can never remember where, but I think it's Exhibition Road or Cromwell Road).

I wouldn't do both in the same day, though - you'll be driven demented by the time you finish.

Also, if you are going to the NH Museum, you can sign up for a free puppet show at the information desk, which is great fun (and a chance for knackered parents to sit down for an hour while a lovely lady entertains their children); it's right next door to their interactive centre, where the children can touch lots of exhibits, which my two really enjoyed. And if you do get there at 10am, do the dinosaurs first, otherwise you'll have to wait for ages to get in, because they are the most popular exhibit.

And the Science Museum has a 3D cinema screen, which your DS might enjoy after lunch, and a brilliant basement area with activities of a scientific nature for small children to enjoy - again, best to do that first thing in the morning before the place starts heaving.

If it's a sunny day when you do the museums, the V&A across the road has a lovely courtyard with a big pool, where you can picnic. Kids are allowed to paddle.

Hi

Thanks to all for the suggestions and advice. Legoland is best on Friday I think, set off early and get there when opens (DH will be so excited he will be up at 5am probably anyway). Then do one museum Saturday morning and the other Sunday morning, again getting there when they open. The dinosaurs are the main attraction for us at the NH Museum and I really don't want to go when it is hyper busy, also you are right that 2 in one day may be a bit much. Thanks for the tip about the puppet show, DS would enjoy that, also the 3D cinema, also the V&A courtyard for a picnic sounds good. I'm going to book as many tickets online beforehand if I can and plan the routes everywhere. Other stuff we want to see/do is London Eye, Tower Bridge, HMS Belfast (probably a walk along the river for that), and whatever else we can fit in. Going to need a another holiday to recover from all this!

Thanks again

Would recommend the Tower if you can fit it in, DS1 aged nearly 6 loved it despite it being a baking hot day and very busy. Also there are river boat taxi things between london eye and tower bridge which are a good way to travel.

If you have lots of money (around £30 extra a head I think) you can buy a fastpass which means you virtually don't have to queue....