Places in north and central london for an 18month old?

[Ruthyn]

I am taking my DS to London in a couple of weeks, and want some places to go, that he will enjoy, when the weather is likely to be bad.

Any ideas?
Thanks in advance

The Science Museum in South Kensington is brilliant. On the ground floor there's an area called the Pattern Pod that is for under-8s, full of light show type things.

In the basement there's an area called the Garden for 3-6 year olds. I take dd (13 months) and there's loads she can do there, including playing with giant stacking blocks, water chutes, and a lovely corner full of mirrored walls, sensory stuff and weird things stuck to the wall (welly boots, metal coils etc) that make funny noises when you hit them.

There's also a picnic area, a cafe, and a baby-friendly restaurant.

jump

hester is spot on. Science museum is fab. we took dd1 there for her 2nd birthday, and she loved it so we took her for her 3rd birthday only yesterday!

The 'deep blue cafe' is really nice if a little pricey. Pattern pod and the garden are definitely the ones for you to head for. Also just walking through the ground floor is great with rockets, aeroplanes and trains dotted around. Relaxing lighting spacey throughout too!

Otherwise Hamley's toyshop just near Picadilly Circus is heaven for children that age, but be warned will be busy!

Aquarium otherwise, at the foot of the London Eye on the southbank. Again, bit pricey but good.

London Zoo - quite empty of people when the weather bad, but still loads of animals to see. And if under 3 yrs old, the child gets in free...