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Original poster

Idiot's Guide to London

31 replies

evansmummy · 03/04/2006 09:18

My in-laws are over from France this weekend and as they've never been to the UK before, and will probably never come again (!), I feel I should really take them to London, baby.

I'd like to know the biggest things that one would go and see and the tube stations to get to them, or at the very least, a site where i could find that stuff out. Also a nice place, not to pricey, to have lunch, that's baby-friendly.

Thanks iin advance MNers Smile

OP posts:
DumbledoresGirl · 03/04/2006 09:22

Would definitely take them up the London Eye which is on the south side of the river, um...nearest tube is....well, you could get off at Charing Cross and walk across Hungerford Bridge (rail and foot passenger bridge) or over the Millennium Bridge (the one that wobbled) and along the south bank.

Other sites: gosh there are so many, depends what interests you: Buck Palace, Big Ben, Tower of London, Nelsons Column (maybe not if they are French!) National Gallery....

But London Eye is best because you can see for miles and really get a chance to point out all the famous sites. Might also help you get your bearings a bit!

spacedonkey · 03/04/2006 09:23

Wow, blimey, well my advice is not to try to do too much in one day ... too exhausting! What do your in-laws like to do? Are they culture vultures?

SoupDragon · 03/04/2006 09:24

I think you can walk to the London Eye from WEstminster tube which means you get to see the houses of parliament etc as a bonus.

spacedonkey · 03/04/2006 09:24

Agree with dumbledoresgirl re: London Eye, or at least spend some time down by the river in that area because the views are spectacular, even if you don't go on the Eye. What about one of those boat trips up the Thames?

edam · 03/04/2006 09:26

Walk along the river from the London Eye - fab views.

DumbledoresGirl · 03/04/2006 09:34

SD, of course, you are right, Westminster is the tube you want for London Eye - you wouldn't guess I have lived 12 years in London, would you? Grin

You could do the London Eye, walk back towards The Houses of Parliament, go up Whitehall (taking in Downing Street and the Cenotaph), and go to Trafalgar Square, see Nelsons Column and the national Gallery and maybe have a meal or a drink in the gallery?

spacedonkey · 03/04/2006 09:36

The top floor restaurant at the Tate Modern has great views, but I don't know how baby-friendly it is ...

CountessDracula · 03/04/2006 09:41

Surely Waterloo is the best tube for the Eye

Carmenere · 03/04/2006 09:44

The Tate Modern restaurant is very baby friendly, and the gallery is a lovely place to bring anyone, even French people Grin

donnie · 03/04/2006 09:46

the crypt beneath St Martin's in the Fields ( Trafalgar sq) is a great and cheap place to eat - it's like a big subterranean cafe with lots of character plus it is in the middle of everything.They have high chairs, can't remember if baby changing but probably.I LOVE going there - it is wonderful!

ItalianJob · 03/04/2006 09:47

Giraffe chain is very child friendly. (there's one on Kensington High St).

spacedonkey · 03/04/2006 09:49

South Kensington for the V&A, Nat Hist Mus, Science Mus, Carluccios Caffe for lunch and ... er ... L'Institut Francais!

Original poster
evansmummy · 03/04/2006 09:51

Wow, cheers all. I know we'll never get it all in in one day, but the Londond Eye and the Whitehall thing sounds a good idea. Could we easily get to Camden from there after lunch? My bil loves all that stuff and while my parents in law are a bit old for that, we have to do a bit for everyone. So is it Waterloo or Westminster the best tube??

OP posts:
spacedonkey · 03/04/2006 09:53

Easy to get to Camden from Waterloo on the Northern Line

edam · 03/04/2006 09:55

waterloo is closer and on the same side of the river. bit of a walk from westminster.

DumbledoresGirl · 03/04/2006 10:07

Waterloo is nearest but rather grim round there. If you wanted to get to London Eye quickly, that would be the best tube, but if you wanted to take in some sights from the street first, your best bet would be Charing Cross (which is next to Trafalgar Square and from which you could walk down Whitehall) and pass Big Ben and then cross to Eye over Westminster Bridge) or Westminster which is right by Big Ben).

ToujoursMarine · 03/04/2006 10:13

Several nice family-friendly joints in bottom of Festival Hall at the moment Evansmummy.
We did this walk yesterday - there was an old-fashioned fairground carousel at the foot of the London Eye, a choice of Wagamama and Giraffe for lunch or tea, then Gabriel's Wharf, the Tate Modern, interesting little galleries and just the riverscape to enjoy before ending up at London Bridge. Cathedral has a nice cafe in it now - good for afternoon tea. Golden Hinde too.
London Bridge will take you back up to Camden via the City branch of the Northern Line, or if they fancy a bus ride through the City, a no 43 bus from the South End of London Bridge (by the Cathedral).

SoupDragon · 03/04/2006 11:40

highly recommend Giraffe

ToujoursMarine · 03/04/2006 12:09

Queue out of door on Sunday so we ended up in Wagamama instead Soupy - still v. nice but must admit I was longing to try it...

Earlybird · 03/04/2006 12:16

If they've never been before, might be a good idea to book tickets on one of those hop on/hop off tour buses. That way they could at least see all the sights, and get a sense of the city highlights...

Another thought - if you're doing London Eye, you're just over the river from Westminster Abbey, Houses of Parliament/Big Ben, Trafalgar Square and Buckingham Palace.

fuzzywuzzy · 03/04/2006 12:19

If you go to the london eye, you can do the thames river cruise, take in the tate modern, and do the london aquariuim (more for you little one the last I think).

Twiglett · 03/04/2006 12:23

do one of the bus tours .. you can hop on and off at any stop .. and get to see lots .. I think tickets are £20 or so but you get a ticket for the whole day

DH and I did one before we were married ... even though we'd both lived in London for years ..it was quite good fun

spacedonkey · 03/04/2006 12:24

My sister did the bus tour too recently (like you twiglett, she's lived in london for donkey's years) and she said it was great. Also the London Walks are meant to be good.

Original poster
evansmummy · 03/04/2006 12:35

Thanks so much for all your input. At the mo thinking of doing Paddington to Charing cross Tube (not sure how yet, but will get there eventually!), then all the bits around trafalgar Square, walk down Whitehall etc, down to river then London Eye and on to London bridge. Is that doable in a morning? Or should we stop for lunch at London Eye?

What's Giraffe?? Also after Camden in afternoon where would be a good for a traditional afternoon tea?

Also, I'm slightly worried about pushcairs on the tube? How?

Btw found this \link{http://www.panoramicearth.com/index.php?europe/england/london\lovelt website} Can't wait to get there!

OP posts:
fuzzywuzzy · 03/04/2006 12:37

there are quite a few stations which have wheelchair access (so ease of access for puschairs too), waterloo station is one I think have a look on the tfl website.