Weekend in London with 5 year old (Dr Who fanatic)

[prettybird]

Dh and I are taking ds to London this weekend as a treat. He knows nothing about it - we'll only tell him when we wake him up early on Satursday morining to take him to the airport, so he will be over the moon :).

He's a Dr Who fanatic and is alwys jealous that I go down to London frequently on business. He asks me if I've seen the Dr, Rose or the Tardis - and I've taken pictures of the London Eye (aka "the big wheel") and Big Ben for him.

We'll be getting in to Luton at 8.35, so by the time we have got a train in and dropped our overnight bag off at King's Cross, where we're staing in the travel lodge, it'll be about 10/10.30.

What do people recommend? So far, I'm thinking about going to see Big Ben (which the Slythene space ship crashed in to), then St Paul's and then on to the London Eye. I'm also planning on booking a Duck Tour. I'm also told that there is a "Tardis" near Earls Court, so will make a detour there.

I've read on here that the London Eye is better to do when they've done some walking, so are glad of the rest.

Is the Tower worth going to? I can remember loving it when I was about 10 - but what about younger kids? What about London Dungeons? Anywhere else we should be thinking of?

Where are good, child friendly places for lunch and dinner?

This is a trip for ds, so I'm not interested in shops for me or dh. So I'm thinking that Covent Garden would probably be wasted on him - or would it, and are there good places to eat there?

We're getting the 2.15 flight back up on Sunday, so we also have Sunday morning to look around.

.... an eagerly awaiting the wisdom of the many London based mumsnetters! :)

When I lived near London, I was footloose and fancy free, so never had to consider any of this.

what a lovely plan!

the tardis is indeed outside Earl's Court tube station (the Earl's Court Road exit) - tbh it's not very exciting, but then perhaps it is if you're a doctor who fanatic?

From earl's court, you could go up the road to the Science Museum perhaps? There are some nice places to eat in South Ken.

It will be exciting for ds. There is one in the cntre of glasgow and I have real difficulites getting him to leave it, as he wants to wait and see the Doctor and Rose! I don't think he will accept a trip to London without seeing the Tardis!

The Science Museum is a good idea.

Give us a wave as you land, I live near Luton Airport.

I go through Luton about once a week, so I'll think of you!

The aquarium is next to the London Eye, if that interests him. And if you're at Big Ben, you're just next to Westminster Abbey and around the corner from Buckingham Palace.

Not sure if you know London, but sometimes it helps to know what's nearby to the things on your "wish list". Have fun!

There's an IMAX cinema at the Science Museum which ds might like. The Space section is on the ground floor, and there's an interactive kids' area in the Basement. Then just pop over the road for dinner in Carluccio's - lovely!

take him to Hamleys as well my 4 year old son loved it in there! We went to visit the london transport museum but it was closed for refurb and doesn't open until next year, just to warn you!

It's been a long time since I lived near London (nearly 20 years! ), so my sense of awarenss fo where things are has faded somewhat.

I can realted to it from a London Marathon perspective though! So now you mention it, of course Buckingham Place is close to Big Ben - I ran past Buckingham Place and then along Hosreguard's Parade (which probably is much shorter then I remember) before finishing across the birdge with Big Ben in the background (this was 13 years ago, before they changed the finish).

Are the Hop-on/Hop Off Red London tour buses worth it?

Dinner at Carluccio's sounds good! :) And I presume, being Italian, child friendly?

Sadly MOMI is now closed, they had a real Dalek in there. I think it shut and have not heard if it reopening someone else may know (it is the Museum of the Moving Image on the south bank)

I don't like to rain on your parade, but we went to St Paul's last week and were appalled (groan) to find that it cost a vast amount to get in!!!! Whaaaat? Something like 30 quid for a family. The notices say if you're going in for a service, it's free, but presumably you have to find out first when services are, not just turn up. I'm still reeling. Don't know if anyone else on here can advise. And with other attractions, there are usually offers going, eg two for one, child free with adult - maybe check online if you've got time?

Good luck - we have a Dr Who fan in the house too.

We won't be going in to St Paul's - I told dh how much it cost, 'cos he was the one that was interested, and he diecide he is not that interested! It's more just to walk past it.... as seen in a couple fo the episodes. But maybe seeing it from the London Eye, or on abus tour will be enough. (Personally, Ilike the view from the millenium bridge).

Shame about MOMI - ds would have loved to see a "real" dalek!

\link{http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/1531516.stm\here is the tardis at earl's court}

The Eye is a v short walk over westmisnster bridge from Big Ben - so a logical next step from there. Then, if your 5 year old is up for it, it's a lovely walk along the river past the Globe, tate modern etc, to the Millenium Bridge and view of St pauls. There is a Pizza express along that walk, close to Blackfriars Bridge, which looks out over the river.

I wouldn't go the the London Dungeon with a 5 year-old - much too horrible. But v close to borough market, if you do the river walk, there is the replica of the Golden Hinde, they let you go on it unaccompanied and scramble under the decks amongst the cannons etc. (about £10 for 1 child and adult. 1 adult can re-cuperate in the pub on the corner by the river!!_)

Sofra, Tavistock St, Covent Gdn is a lovely, reasonably priced restaurant, good for kids. they have other branches, too. Some good italian Cafes on old Compton St at the Ch x Rd end - the garish authentic/cheap looking ones, not trendy soho-ite ones!

That's really good Blu. That would make a nice walk: I know the pizza express you are talking about, as I usually have breakfast (and often meetings!) in the Starbucks opposite the Globe. My main customer has offices a few minutes a away.

If I get the trains right, I can be sitting in Starbucks by 8.30am, having flown down from Glasgow that morning!

I've also walked past the Hinde on those occasions I've gone via London Bridge (if I've been in my company's offices before going to see my customer).

Does Borough market operate on a Satruday? Those occasions I've walked though it, I've alwys been in ruch to get to a meeting, but I've always been tempted to stop and savour it (yes I know that's not for ds, but dh and I are both foodies!

Tourist site is good for info
\link{http://www.visitlondon.com/\visitlondon site}

This site has 2 for 1 offers for lots of attractions if you show your train ticket or tube ticket

\link{http://www.daysoutguide.co.uk\offers}

London Pass can be good if you are doing a lot all in one day
\link{http://www.londonpass.com/\londonpass}

The Tower is good but probably not that exciting for young ones as it's mostly buildings
Covent Garden will be busy and horrid - I would avoid it

Borough market is in full crowded spate on a Saturday!

I love all the coffee and deli and patisserie shops in the side streets around it.

The river boats have improved, too - you could go from pier to pier of the walk was too long - but I'm not sure about the details.

I'll need to see if we can squeeze in a wee visit! :)

I'd second the Science Museum, which is always great to visit. MOMI (which was great) has been closed for a few years - I thinkit was going to move sites, but never found anywhere. A word of caution - my two (5 and 7) thought the Eye was pretty boring when I finally got around to organising to go - they thought it should go much faster!

Our 2 boys (7 and 4, and also Dr. Who fans) the Eye and the walk along the river to Tate Modern, then over Millennium Bridge to St.Paul's. On the Eye, we had to keep a close look-out for the Nestene (sp?)consciousness, and you get a good look at where the decoy spaceship landed in the Slitheen episode. Tate Modern is an impressive building and has some well thought-out children's packs on 3rd floor, though not much to do with Dr.Who.

.... we may have to time our meal in the evening, so that we can be back in the hotel in time to watch the second part of the current story line. There again, we could just cancel going out to my parents for supper on the Sudnay night and watch the repeat on BBC3!

..... will the Doctor find his Tardis again?!

Dh has found a Dr Who shop in East Ham with a full size dalek, so it looks like we will be making a wee trip out there!

Thanks for the help everyone - it is helping us develop a (flexible) itinerary, so that we can make the most of our time down there.

For other parents of Dr Who fanatics, dh has found out that there is also a shop in the Strand that has a full size (old style) dalek. :)