NMH & Science Museum from Bournemouth

[Keroppi]

Hi all,

Looking to take my youngest (4) to NMH and the science museum on a Saturday this month for his bday.

Not crazy enough to drive but not sure what to do for the best and would appreciate some suggestions/advice. It's been a while since I've been to London and have no idea on buses or what's most convenient with a little one.

I'm thinking:

• train in then tube to Kensington then maybe stay in hotel nearby overnight (spenny)
• drive to Reading or somewhere similar, then can tube or train straight in and stay in a hotel
• Maybe drive to Southampton, park, get the national express to Heathrow and then tube to kensington (Google maps suggestion)

Any tips would be gratefully received on hotels, commuter towns to drive into from Bournemouth. I would go to Winchester science museum but we've been a lot

Thanks

Trying to do both museums on the same day with a child of that age is going to be too much IMO. NHM will be extremely busy - it always is. On the whole, unless they are totally obsessed with dinosaurs, I'd go for the Science Museum.

Oh, and I'd do train/tube all the way.

Last time we went (we don’t live that far from Bournemouth) I drove to Richmond and then got the district line in. It worked out really well as the train for 3 of us was a silly price. NCP car park is right next to the train station.

that said the train probably will be reasonable for one adult and a 4 year old and it is really easy just to get the train.

It'll be easy to tube it to the museums and Waterloo (presumably) for your train from almost anywhere, so just look for a cheapish central hotel.
Find a couple of affordable deals for the night in question and we'll tell you whether the location makes sense (or Google maps will tell you the same).

Clapham Junction wouldn't be a terrible place to stay logistically if your train in stops there and you can find a cheap decent hotel. There are direct buses to the museums. Not exciting and London-y though.

Check whether you need to book free tickets to get into the Natural History Museum and the Science Museum. I know I was saved by a post on Mumsnet a couple of years ago when a friend and I were planning on taking her DS to them and hadn't realized we needed to pre-book in half term. We got tickets for mid-afternoon and were lucky to get them. The lines for people to get in without tickets were horrendous.

They are probably not as busy when you are planning to go, but it would be a good idea to check to avoid long waits.

I would go in by train to avoid any traffic delays, and would do one museum one day and the other on the second day.

If you are going into Waterloo see if you can fit a boat trip down the river to Greenwich as those are interesting and leave from the embankment fairly close to the Waterloo station. You can see the Tower of London, Tower Bridge, HMS Belfast and other sights.

I know none of this is what you asked but I’m sharing it anyway! Mine are teens so this is what I’ve honed over the years.

another voice for not doing both in one day.
It really is too much. Pick one and go for that, both get really really busy, so go early or later. Science museum have lots of exhibitions you need to pay and prebook for, so bare that in mind.
There’s nearly always a long queue for the NHM, last time I went I booked an exhibition which meant I got to skip the queue, so that’s worth looking at.
dinosnores is brilliant and a great way to see the museum without the busyness as you get - also saves you money in a hotel (just don’t expect a good nights sleep!)

other brilliant museums, science museum Bristol is absolutely fantastic and so worth a visit. Oxford natural history museum is also fantastic and Tring is a tiny sibling of the NHM but worth a visit if your that way for something else - they often have events which are great.

onto trains - and what you actually asked! South Kensington is a shit for parking, even just park struggles with anything reasonable. Depending on the cost of train travel from home would depend which route I went, either train all the way (it will be a long day and you will be knackered) or drive up to and use justpark to find parking near by. I’d look at Elizabeth line (so reading like you said) but also cockfosters or Oakwood.
bear in mind a lot of the tube line stations will be in the ulez zone so there’s an extra cost there. If your car is ulez the ruislip stations are good.

I think I’d only do a hotel if I had something planned the next day otherwise I’d try and do it in one I think.

I think a 4 year old will be a bit exhausted and fed up (or hyped up) after the long journey so I wouldn’t try to cram too much into 1 day. It would be better to stay overnight, if you can.

You could do both museums in 1 day if you just do the highlights. IME at that age, apart from the interactive kids’ bits in the science museum, a walk through the museum going wow at the exhibits is enough. Obviously, you could easily spend a full day in either museum but sometimes less is more enjoyable for little ones. If you are tight in time, I would just do the dinosaur bits and the main hall at the NHM and a walk through the ground floor and planes at the science museum, and concentrate on the kids’ interactive parts at the science museum. It would be better to split it over 2 days though.

I would consider wrapping up warm and blowing off some steam at the Princess of Wales Memorial Playground in Kensington Gardens or feeding the ducks and parakeets after a visit to the museums, if you go for 2 days.

Or go to Covent Garden to the Transport Museum (smaller so less exhausting after a long journey), watch the street entertainers and have dinner there. Then do the South Ken museums the next day when you are fresh and full of energy. It doesn’t matter if your DS is tired on the journey home.

There are some cheap basic hotels near Paddington (if that is where your train arrives) eg https://www.thechapterhotels.co.uk/locations/london/marble-arch/the-chapter-hotels-griffin-house

There are lots of family friendly restaurants and cafes on the canal behind Paddington.

I forgot to say, make sure you book tickets for the museums!

If Waterloo is where you arrive, the Southbank on the river is a great location to stay. Lots of things going on, street entertainers, restaurants and cafes, a street food market etc Check out any free events at the Southbank/NT/Hayward Gallery. The Tate Modern has children’s activities too. Lots of nice places to eat around Borough Market too, you also have the Globe, Shard, HMS Belfast and the IWM, if that would interest your DS. There is a Premier Inn on Bankside.

Hi all, thanks so much for your help.

I'm driving down to Richmond sat morning, as train prices are crazy for DH & I (and maybe MIL) staying in a family friendly B&B with limited parking and doing a museum each day! Not sure on dinner etc.

Really want to fit in Covent Garden so might just play it by ear, I've prebooked free museum tix so will just cancel them if it doesn't work out

Definitely going to try and do the Oxford/Bristol museums in the summer too! I've done the ThinkTank in Bham but wasn't overly impressed.

You can get a District Line train from Richmond to South Kensington and the journey time is around 30 minutes.

Would not bother readily with Covent Garden; it is a bit of a tourist trap but the London Transport Museum is located there.

It would be a good idea for you to put the TFL go app on your phone as this gives up to date information on London's transport network.