Which London museum for 5 yo?

[knd01]

Hi mums, I moved abroad over 10 years ago and my son was born abroad.
We are taking him to UK for the first time in May and are doing a trip to London, we are taking him London Dungeons but also want to take him to either the Natural History Museum or the Science Museum in London. I know they are both next to each other but would we have time to do both? If not then which is better?
We can work the London Dungeon trip around the Museum(s) visits. But we only have 1 day to fit it all in.
Any thoughts on which museum would be more entertaining for a 5 year old if we can't fit them both in?
Thanks for any help mums :)

For us it's the Natural History Museum every time.

When we went to the science museum for various reasons we didn't go to the paid area (Wonder Lab) which does get good reviews. Floors 1-3 of the main museum really aren't designed for young children. Most of it is stuff in glass cases (and all the space stuff has labels which are years out of date e.g. this is a model of a probe which will land on x planet about 10 years in the past). The interactive stuff was all either set at a height our youngest couldn't reach or was aimed at people at least a few years older.
So that leaves the basement.
Both DC hated it, and by contrast a few months later we had to drag them out of @Bristol after 6 hours because they enjoyed it so much.

On the other hand the Natural History Museum goes down much better. Our 5 year old loves the dinosaurs, the earthquake area and really enjoyed the whale exhibition.

Personally I’d do both Science Museum and Natural History but not bother with the dungeons. They’re way too scary for a 5 year old!!

Def the Natural History

Out of those two, the Natural History. However, I wouldn't do the London Dungeon with a 5yo. I would recommend the transport museum in Covent Garden.

Lol, you don't know my son!
He will love the dungeons more than the museums I think! He doesn't have fear programmed into him, which can be very worrying at times 🤣
Thank you for all your opinions, I have read other places that the History may be more entertaining for him. I was a kid the last time I visited any of the museums.
What is a rough amount of time needed to get through a museum? An hour? 2? Really have no idea :(

Natural History you could do a day in imo bit deg a good few hours minimum

I don't think he will get much out of the dungeons tbh! The exciting bits he won't be allowed to do as he's too young. And the funny bits he won't understand.

If he doesn't have fear programmed into him is even more reason to avoid the dungeons! It's only gore and torture, I wouldn't encourage an interest in that.

I second the London Transport Museum or Science Museum.

You could probably fit both in,especially as they are right by each other.

The Museum of London is also very good.

For my 5yo DS I would do both NHM and SM with a break for lunch but agree Transport Museum is fab. I haven't been to the dungeons.

At 5 DS loved the Transport Museum and HMS Belfast.