Less obvious things to do with a 7yr old in London

[Grockle]

I'm wondering about less touristy or more unusual things to do with DS when we are in London for a couple of days.

We have been several times before & DS has done:

Museums (Natural history, science, Transport, Imperial war, Household Cavalry, National Army)
Galleries (Tate modern, national)
Aquarium
London Eye
Westminster Abbey
St Paul's Cathedral
Cutty Sark
Buckingham Palace, changing of the guard

Open top bus tour + boat on Thames
Selfridges, Harrods, Hamleys

Covent Garden
Greenwich
Olympic Village
Borough Market
China Town
Trafalgar Square
Green Park

Shows: Wizard of Oz, Lion King, Shrek, Matilda

Tower of London, Tussauds, London Zoo, Zoo parks (there's one at Golders Green but I think there are others)

The Globe - the guide was really good at making sure the content was accessible for the children in the party as well as the adults (obviously there are some fruity bits that completely pass a 7 year old by!). We had a fab time then over the Millennium Bridge (out of Harry Potter thus must be A Good Thing) and St Paul's, then down the road to Monument as they had just been doing the Great Fire of London at school.

HMS Belfast? You can go on a tour inside Tower Bridge as well, we were going to do that.

Wetland centre in south-west London
Mudland city farm
Museum of London and Museum of Docklands
London Dungeon
Hampton Court Palace
Kensington Palace
Tower of London
Windsor Castle
Kew Garden
The viewing platform of the Shard is open I think, cost a small fortune though

Have a search at www.timeout.com/london

Museum of London is good and free, follow it up with a trip to viewing platform in the St. Paul's shopping centre also free. There is a walking tour company that does gory walks of London aimed at kids but sadly I lost the details. Time out is good for inspiration.

DS loved the london fire brigade museum followed by HMS Belfast and time around the south bank

Science museum is amazing!

HMS Belfast. 100% satisfaction guaranteed for a 7 year old boy.

Ooo, I want to go to The Globe & I have tesco vouchers we could use at the zoo...

I can't go to the Dungeons because last time I did that, I nearly peed myself when a 'model' jumped out at me

We did the Museum of London last time, I forgot! It was really good! I'll look up the fire brigade museum & HMS belfast.

Does anyone know where is a good place to eat snails?

Thank you.

Changing of the guard, ceremony of the keys. If you get in touch with your MP you can go up Big Ben. Other than that there are loads of events listed in time out etc.

coq d'argent does snails and has the infamous roof terrace!!!

Grant Museum Go. It is brilliant. Also have some great looking activities on at half term. Mine are too small to appreciate it sadly, but will be going in the next year or two. It's also close to the British Museum so you could combine the two.

Raggedy school museum, very good

Museum of Childhood in Bethnal Green is good and second Museum of London. And (it's a bit of a trek) but the Horniman is fab

The museum of childhood at Bethnal Green is good. Was also going to suggest the tour of Tower Bridge, you can see all the workings!

The Golden Hinde

Museum of childhood - Bethnal green
Discover - Stratford
Golden Hynd - southbank
Emirates air line - royal Victoria to north Greenwich, then see what's on at the 02. The dinosaur exhibition was on recently
Wimbledon

Dennis Severs House in Folgate Street (you need to pre-book via their website) It's an amazing Georgian house full of the original stuff. My children love it.

Then go round the old streets of Hugenot weavers houses in Fournier Street and surrounding area and end up in Brick Lane. Walk down Brick Lane and look in all the arty places and get a lox and cream cheese bagel at one of the two bagel shops at the Bethnal Green Road end (unless your DS likes curry).

On a Sunday do the flower market at Columbia Road and have a hot chocolate in one of the lovely cafes.

Also try riding the Emirates airline cable car in docklands. Huge waste of money as a practical form of transport but great for children. DLR also popular for children as they are driverless trains and you can sit right at the front and pretend you are driving.

Thank you so much. Wonderful ideas

Did not know you could climb up Big Ben...and for free too! (Is it £24 to go up the shard?!)

I have just emailed my MP to arrange a tour of parliament and to climb Big Ben during Whitsun holiday. Can't wait!

Duck tour

The Wellcome Collection is awesome if he likes freaky weird things.

Horniman Museum
Climb The Monument

Which is the museum with all the bits of humans in glass bottles? That was good.

this was a hit with boys and girls...

www.nam.ac.uk/

ds really liked the trail thing in the v and a (I wanted a change from the the science museum )

also ditto mudchute farm - cafe was fab ds loves the dlr so we do that often til the end of the line just to make sure get a front seat! and hop off at the farm for a bit or sometimes just go to Grenwich and the observatory - planetarium shows are great and not too expensive although we found the maritime museum v dull

friends recently recommended the speedboat if you fancy splashing out discount if you book via the duck tour website I think..
failing that a thames clipper under tower bridge or tate to tate is good

some of these could be helpful
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