2days in London - where to stay, what to do?

[Twooter]

Hi

I'm taking my dc aged 10 and 5, and my parents to London for two days. Whenever get to London, and are unlikely to go back for years. So, given that time frame, what would be best to do with our time, and any good places to stay? ( thinking nice budget hotels ).

I haven't a clue as have hardly been myself in the last 20 years, and have never lived there, so any help would be great.

Bump

Mine liked the open top bus tour of all the sites, the science museum, the natural history museum, the tour of London and the big wheel. we stay as central as possible in the cheapest Travelodge because you only lay your heads there. what about a last minute show. wicked is really good or cinema experience in Leicester square with ice creams for tea.

Mine loved the ghost bus tour... We use housestay to give us a bit more space at a reasonable price...

Thank you. Which is the central travellodge?

Must look into the ghost bus tour.
Is Madame Tussaud's worth going to?
And what about the London eye? I think it might just be a waste of time, when we could be actually doing something.

We live Sth London so have done most big sites.

Top of my list would be the Natural History Museum and then possibly the Science Museum. NHM has great area in basement where you can leave coats and packed lunch and go back to them later. If Science is v. busy the top floor with the aircraft is usually much quieter. Friday pm is a bit quieter I have found, the later the better.

I would try and do something a bit more for yourself too. I wrote a general quiz for galleries some years ago which I have used in Tate Modern. Would recommend the bit with Dalis, Matisse Snail etc.
So quiz had about 20 questions like
Find a painting with an insect
Find the painting with the most blue
Find painting with a vehicle
Find painting with ugliest person
Which painting would you like in your bedroom, in the loo
Etc etc

Pizza Express, Nandos, Eat etc along river near Tate Modern.

After Tate Modern (which is free) could take boat to Tower of London or do HMS Belfast which is fair value as kids are free.

Imperial War Museum is v. Good too.

We have not done Madame Tus. I think a 5yr old might be too young to know who most of the people are. I would also not bother with the wheel (though have done it). And def not Ripley's believe it or not.

I think Open Top bus is quite pricey. Try to find a normal bus which will take you eg from South Kensington into the West end (74 from outside NHM or V&A?).

we got very bored on the open top bus tour and abandoned it half way through

London Eye is fabulous and a great way to get a good overview of the city

actually last time I took dd(7) up after abandoning the open top bus and doing a few other things. we watched the performers in covent Garden walked from there to dinner in Leicester Square then after dinner wandered through trafalgar square, down the mall to Buckingham palace. that was awesome.

if you make that walk the main thing you dp that day you would also be able to add in either the houses of parliament or hamleys.

best way to see London is on foot!