Going to London for Christmas - Ideas on how to entertain a 5yr old child cheaply would be much appreciated!

[MummyJules]

As the subject suggests - I'm off to London for Christmas and New Year (leaving on Friday) to stay with my sister and my teenage niece and nephew. I'd like to take my little girl out and maybe my niece and nephew on occasions and spend some quality time so if anyone has any ideas that would be fantastic. I'm thinking of taking her to see Father Christmas in Harrods and such....

Many thanks,

Julesx

Museums are free-Natural History and Science Musems are great for 5year olds.

harrods is a great place to go with a child - amazing toy dept (even if you just look) and great kids cafes

the playground in Hyde Park is fabby if its not too cold

going on a big red bus or in a taxi features heavily on my 5 year old dd2s London wish list

Wagamamamas is a good cheapish eating place - it is weird enough for my country children to be totally amazed by it

We went at half term with the 2 DS age 4 and 2. They loved the science museum, and travelling on the underground.

The london eye wasn't fast enough for them, but they enjoyed the street performers alongside the river while we waited.

Father Christmas Harrods is crap (recent thread)

Selfridges is better.

Walk along South Bank - lots of people pretending to be statues and becoming hypothermic.

Lots of free carol services about.....

FC at Harrods will almost certainly be all booked up and the queues are horrific! But Harrods is great - they are very tolerant in the bookshop & have readings and stuff, the toy dept is fab with lots of hands on and the food dept is amazing. You can go to the soda fountain for a treat.
Museums are excellent and free and nearby. Also parks good.
Think there are events in Covent Garden over Xmas - also the big trees in Covent Garden and Trafalgar Square.

.....London Free List

London Eye and the Aquarium.
Lights on Oxford Street and Regent Street.
There's a half price ticket booth in Leicester Square - you might get cheap seats for a show, but you need to get there early and be prepared to queue.

the apple store, regent st (opposite hamleys) is great for fiddling and hanging out for a while
ds rates it not hamleys and so do i!

also as mentioned many museums and general street entertainment south bank and such

and treat them to a taxi ride! and a routemaster if you can find one now!
they are big hits!

enjoy its frosty but sunny so could be good

oh and skating they have outdoor skating on few places dont know how much though..

Also try Hyde Park winter wonderland here on til 6 Jan.

Natural History Museum always a winner, head for the dinosaurs and the blue whale. They also have a xmas market and ice skating on but not sure for how long. The Science Museum ,also free, is just next door.

Not so cheap - about £10 I think, even for kids - but if you are freezing, most kids adore the Aquarium, which is on the South Bank by London Eye.

Another free museum which is a bit off the beaten track but sounds amazing is the Horniman Museum, you will need to catch a train to Forest Hill but that could be all part of the adventure...

The lights on Regents St are rubbish this year - just some bunches of blue balls in the middle of the street, boring! I think Oxford St is marginally better....

Of course there is always the zoo as well.

Have fun!

Science museum is fab as is Hamleys
Natural history museum is also free and good
A ride on a London bus is a good one and your kids will love going on the underground if they havnet been to London before!

How about a boat trip on the Thames? Not done it with mine yet but keep meaning to. you could go down to Greenwich and then get the DLR or whatever it is back.

I second the Horniman. (Well, I live near it, I would.) Especially the stuffed walrus (and it has recently been pointed out to me you can look up its stuffed bottom, which is additionally thrilling).

yes boat trip
on thames clipper if you have day travel card you get discount
go from canary wharf to one of the tates very nice exciting see the egg, tower bridge all the wharfs...great fun!

Would also confirm that the Father Christmas grotto at Harrods is unfortunately fully booked (and tickets for that went weeks ago).

It still has a nice toy department though, if somewhat crowded. The childrens book dept is also located near there on the 4th floor. If you go there go early (they open at 10am). Infact the whole store can get very overcrowded particularly in the afternoon.

Both Science and Natural History museums are free.

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