London with a 1 year old

[Scotgirl80]

Hi all,

I'm going to London next week with my 18 month old. Looking for recommendations for things to do. A number of website have suggested museums but my son is a bit more hands on and needs things to do rather than to look at.

TIA

The science museum is very hands on - the basement section is best for this age, or the wonderlab (I think 5th floor) although marketed for slightly older was fun for my 1 yr old.
The transport museum also has some small play areas and you can get into some of the vehicles so it’s fun and interactive
If you want a more active outdoorsy type of thing then what about corams fields, Hyde park or London zoo.

If the weather stays like this, he might like splashing in the Princess Diana Memorial Fountain in Hyde Park. My DC used to enjoy feeding the ducks in Hyde Park.
The Transport Museum has two designated children’s play areas, one with dress up with a model bus to drive and the other is for even younger children with life-size model wooden boat, bus, taxi and tube car to play on in addition to a large model city with trains and buses to push along.
The Garden in the Science Museum has already been mentioned. It is a real treat to take your children to, its well-hidden in the basement so ask about it if you do not find it on your own. Filled with small boats that float down a cascading canal, children are able to work different levers and pumps to direct the water and boats. It is really great fun. Further along is a play area that suggests a building site, with giant blocks you move around a small climbing frame using wheelbarrows, bag and pulley rope, a chute or any other imaginative ways toddlers can derive. There is an area soft toys, an amazing multi-sensory room, puppets… The picnic areas are right outside The Garden, basically a large area of steps to eat on, or you can go to any of the cafes or restaurants.
The Museum of London Docklands also has a great play area with a soft play section for under 5s. Everything is themed around life in the London docks so the big kids can weigh cargo or load a tea clipper while the small kids get to crawl around with large foam bananas and a London bus, plus they can pretend to drive a DLR train.
Coram's Fields near the British Museum is a huge unique playground with the added bonus of a petting zoo and large sandpit.

Museum of Childhood at Bethnal Green is great......

Thank you ladies!

I would suggest Museum of Childhood. It's beautiful! I'm pretty sure you and your family will have fun!

The Diana memorial fountain and playground in Kensington gardens is brilliant. Have a google op.
I’m actually quite sad my DC are too big for it now, I used to love watching them play there.