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Use our Travel forum for recommendations on everything from day trips to the best family-friendly holiday destinations.

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Original poster

Eating out/day out in London

19 replies

northernlass1 · 19/02/2004 00:04

We're taking our 5 year old to London on Saturday (leaving our 2 year with Gradnparents). I know this has been gone over before but I'd really appreaciate some up-to-date ideas. I also need a suggestion of where to eat Lunch - I'd like to make it really special for ds - but we really like wagamama's or chinese/Thai food.

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batey · 19/02/2004 07:13

My nephews love the Transport Museum in Covent garden. There is a quiz for them to do and they can climb on loads of things. Lots of places to eat in Covent Garden, street entertainers too. Also Natural History Museum and the Science Museum are very good. The London Eye too, may have to queue though. We took dds last summer and the highlight of their trip was a ricshaw(sp?) ride! You can pick these up in Covent Garden too. HTH, have fun.

sis · 19/02/2004 09:55

ds loves trains so last summer I took him from one end of a tube line to another and then we went on the docklands light railway - the trains don't have a drivers bit so ds got a seat right at the front and pretended to drive the train. Also, cheap entertainment for him is to take him to one of the main line stations to watch all the trains coming and going - I know, we have a train spotter in the making.

august24 · 19/02/2004 10:02

We have an almost 6 year old and she does great at almost any site seeing. Recently when we had friends in from France we went to the National Gallery and then across the road to ST Martins in the Feilds to do brass rubbings.In my little guide book it says that the National Gallery has activities on saturday morning at 11:30 for kids. I am not sure how up to date the book is. the number ther is 02077472885 and web site is here As for St Martins, I felt that the rubbings were quite expensive at the time but my daughter is still talking about it, she had such a blast and the rubbing has pride of place over her bed. They price the rubbings by brass piece and then kids under 11(not sure the age) get a pound off, so I think it ended up being like 3.50 for each child? There is also a cafe in St Martins and it is a very nice church. Phone number is 02079309306.

As for food, my husband and I recently went to Busaba Eathai, which is a thai place started by one of the founders of Wagamama. It was pretty good and even though there was a long line to get in it moved very quickly. They are like wagamama as the do not take reservations and they have communal seating. It is in soho at 106-110 wardour st w1. tube piccadilly circus telephone # 0207558686. It is not so far from the national gallery.

If you tell me more of what you like, I could give you other suggestions. We as a family are pretty wild about London. We are from the states and we just feel that London is such a great city to explore especially with kids.

Northerner · 19/02/2004 10:08

We've been to the RAF musuem, and my nephew (also 5) loved it. There is a huge section of interactive stuff for them to play with and loads of stuff to climb on and sit in. We also love natural history musuem, but then dn is crazy for dinasours!

udar · 19/02/2004 10:50

Agree with fab reasonably priced food at Busaba Eathai. There is now another one open on Store St off Tottenham Court Rd where the queues don't seem to be quite as long.
One of the most 'kid' friendly restaurants is 'Giraffe' and they have a range of food and restaurants all over London. I can't do links but www.giraffe.net is website.

webmum · 19/02/2004 11:00

We really like the Transport Museum and the Covent Garden area in general, the street enterenainers are always a hit with children!
for food, we like Belgo, the food is good (not thai though) and the children don't pay when ana dult meal is purachased, they also give you crayons and paper to start with and we've always found the staff very friendly.
We tried Giraffe once but were not impressed by the food (good but not exceptional) and we couldn't understand why it has such a name as a familyfriendly place, apart from the staff (which was very nice) the place was very cramped, and there was nothig available for younger children that would make stand out from other childfriendly restaurants. For a place that comes highly recommended in most guides I expected something more!

slug · 19/02/2004 17:06

If your child is train obsessed, take them on the Docklands Light Rail. There are no drivers, so you can sit up right in the front seat and "drive" the train,

sis · 19/02/2004 20:32

I just said that Slug! great minds...

mckenzie · 19/02/2004 20:38

would my son at 2 and a half be too young for the Transport Museum do you think?

We went to the Museum of Childhood yesterday and would recommend that. Free to get in, open 10 to 6 every day except friday, nearest BR Cambridge Heath, nearest tube Bethnal Green. In my group the youngest was 2 and the eldest was 8 and they all enjoyed themselves. There is a cafe there but Museum isn't big enough to warrant an all day trip so we ate beforehand and so can't comment on the cafe.

Janh · 19/02/2004 21:32

similar thread

jennifersofia · 19/02/2004 22:20

I can comment on the cafe at the Museum of Childhood - food not that great, very standard (think cheese and celery sarnie), but there is lots of space and a good few highchairs, and it is convenient, and has old reliables (crisps, drinks, etc). Museum, however, is FAB, and especially good if you are looking for a spacious interactive place for young children. My 3 yr and my 16 mth old love it. There is a little park right next door for outdoors play area, and also Victoria Park just up the street, with proper playground and ducks, etc.

suzywong · 19/02/2004 22:22

Slug
thanks for that link to the Discover park in Stratford, we are all going next week!

jennifersofia · 19/02/2004 22:22

Oh yeah, if you take the DLR, the museum of Docklands is worth checking out - good interactive bit on bottom floor and also interesting displays.

bossykate · 19/02/2004 22:42

mckenzie, no, not if he is into thomas the tank engine. they have brio type trainsets set up next to a small soft play area, and we have trouble dragging ds (2.5) away when we visit.

mckenzie · 20/02/2004 17:31

thanks Bossy Kate. Is it right by Covent Garden Piazza? Do you by any chance know rough cost/opening hours?

hedghog · 20/02/2004 17:54

mckenzie, the Transport Museum is right in Covent Garden. Adults pay £5.95, children free.

mckenzie · 20/02/2004 22:35

thanks Hedgehog

sis · 21/02/2004 20:59

there is a money off voucher for the london transport museum here

Original poster

northernlass1 · 22/02/2004 22:46

Thanks for all your suggestions, we went on the eye and then straight onto the 'duck tour' which was brilliant - The look of amazement and happiness on ds face when the 'truck' drove into the water was worth every penny.

We also went to busaba eathai which we loved - food was excellent - ds a little bored though...

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