Free days out in London for a 4-and-a-half and a 5 year old.

[lynniep]

We (myself and a friend) are off on a London jaunt this weekend. Likelehood of course is that it will be peeing down. :(

I'm taking DS1 who is 5, and her son is a little bit younger. We have our travel tickets sorted, but we are both pretty skint, so it will be a packed lunch with the odd treat kind of day.

I've never been into London with children before, so this will be a brand new experience!

Can you recommend me one or two must-sees/visits for little boys, that are indoors (and possibly one or two outdoors in case the rain stops!)

Outdoors there's the Peter Pan Princess Diana garden playground thingy in Kensington Gardens. They'd probably like jaunt along the South Bank to look at the weirdo street entertainers too.

I think the downstairs bit of the Science museum is supposed to be good fun for young children, although I haven't been with kids. Natural History is just there too if they're into dinosaurs.

It's worth checking offers before you go too for things like London Eye in case there are two for ones about.

Museum of Childhood in Bethnal Green.

DS1 went to the Science Museum aged 4 and the Natural History Museum aged 3 - did fine at both!

Sometimes you can get 2 for 1 entry on attractions with your train tickets, maybe look on your rail operator website to see?

thanks for that. I will have a look at entry tickets. but I think the science and natural history museums look like good bets.

Im not sure how DS1 will react to the london eye. I will check out tix.

If you do the Science Museum, I would avoid the downstairs bit - was HEAVING last time I went and also more geared to toddlers than 4yos. Instead, head up to the floor where the ships' engines are - will be much quieter and kept my DS and his friend enthralled for ages.

If it's dry, Coram Fields (nr Russell Square tube) is free and fantastic.

Have a good search around on the attractions websites beforehand, the natural history museum has kids backpacks and British museum provide trails that are very good. The basement in the science museum is fab as is their Bubble show. The national gallery can be good for kids too, but perhaps a little but older?

If it does stop raining the princess Diana playground is lovely as are Coram fields.

Transport Museum is free for kids and is part of the 2for1 scheme for adults. Great for kids.

The Museum of London has weekend activities, check their website.

Science and Natural History are also great. The NH one can get very busy you need to be there as early as possible.

If the weather is good, Mudchute Farm on the Isle of Docks is free. The Museum of Docklands is also nice.

My DD loved the Tower but that is pricey as children from 5 onwards have to pay.

If you go to the London Transport Museum, you can go again on the same ticket for a year (with ID so it has to be the same person). Maybe not on the 2 for 1 deal, though - worth checking?

I second the Natural History Museum. The dinosaurs and the whale are mind blowing for little kids and it's all free. The science museum is next door and there's plenty of space there to have a picnic if you don't want to pay for the cafe food. V&A nearby too which often has nice activities for kids. All free.

If by some miracle it's not raining, then heading to the river is nice. All along the Southbank right up to Tate Modern is nice for kids. Lots of landmarks to see and free things to do.

Transport museum is brilliant for little ones. They get card tickets which they have to get machine-stamped at various points around the place - DD loved it. It's about £12 per adult, free for kids. It's in Covent Garden so you can wander round the piazza watching the entertainers afterwards.

Science museum great for little kids ... and free.

If you get nice weather, we love the fountains at Somerset house.

thanks again for the tips. we really dont want to spend any more money than we have to, and will only be there for about 5 hours, so only free things getting done!