London visit

[Lilbratz]

Hi
we are planning on a day trip to london, the children want to do a boat trip along the thames. Any suggestions?

Also any hidden gems we have to on a budget?

Thanks in advance

How old are they ?
Is a visit to London going to be a 'one off' or rare trip, or do you go there regularly?

When we went, when my dc were younger, we did a lot of walking. Went and saw the outside of all the buildings you see on the TV - Houses of Parliament, Westminster Abby, St Pauls, Marble Arch, Buckingham Palace and the Mews, Downing Street (though that is disappointing now you can't go into it), Horseguard's Parade, Trafalgar Square, some of the main bridges, London Eye.
Another trip we went to the Tower of London (2 for 1 with train tickets, or free with Blue Peter Badge), and saw the crown jewels, and crossed the bridge there and walked along the South Bank - saw the cathedral, the ships, The Globe, the Tate Modern, etc.
Doesn't cost anything, but every time something is on the news, or a royal occasion, they go "Oh, look, we were there"
Mine also liked going up The Monument (close to the Tower) - you get quite a good view from the top, it doesn't cost much, and is right by where the Fire of London started, and they all studied the Fire of London in Junior school.

We went recently and intended to take the Thames your boat from by the London eye. We got the wrong pier and instead just got o the hopper. Big windows, comfy seats and only needed £6.50 on each of our oyster cards to go on it. Bargain.

Hopper is great. Get on the cable car at O2 dome as well.

Many of the best museums are free. My top recommendations for free museums with young children are:
Science Museum
Natural History Museum
Museum of London
V and A museum of childhood
Museum of London docklands

Other free things to see:
Changing the Guard outside Buckingham palace
Street performers in Covent Garden
Peter Pan statue in Kensington Gardens
The pelicans being fed in St James' Park at 2.30 from behind Duck Island Cottage near Horse Guards Parade.
Walk over Tower Bridge

Two of the best playgrounds are the Princess Diana Memorial Playground in Kensington Park and Coram's Fields (just south of King's Cross).

We got the hop on hop off cruise, 3 hour round trip from Westminster pier down to cutty sark and back. Bought a 3 day red rover pass for 4 from buy a gift website and it cost half the price of the booths on the pier.