Spending 1.5 days in London with 6 year old Ds and need some sunny and rainy day suggestions please!!!!

[Notalone]

DS has been excited about this trip for months and I really want to make it special for him. We are travelling from Yorkshire on 2nd June, arriving at 12pm and then getting a coach to Brighton at 6pm from Victoria. On 3rd June we arrive back in London at about 4pm and have 4 hours until our train home.

The science museum is a definite for us even if sunny for the 1st day and DS also wants to see Trafalgar Square and have a picnic in Hyde Park. I was also thinking of a stroll along Southbank but as I don't know London very well which tube station do we get off at and which direction should we go? Also if it rains what else could we do after the science museum?

My main concern is what we should do on the 2nd day if it is raining as by 4pm it will be too late for the museums. Any suggestions?

Also, is it true the tubes and buses are free for kiddies?

Thanks wise mumsnetters!!!

Hello Notalone

You probably want to avoid doing too much as you mention four places but they are not very close together! For example, on the first day if you come into (I'm guessing here) Kings Cross then I would allow an hour to get to the Science Museum (Piccadilly line to South Kensington). After the Science Museum you could nip next door to the Natural History Museum to see a dinosaur or two. Apparently they also have an exhibit of live butterflies at the mo: kids.visitlondon.com/whatson/detail/2433432

Some people would also stroll down the road to Harrods- it's not really my thing but a small person might be impressed by the food halls for example.

You could then catch the District Line to St James' Park (as an alternative to Hyde Park), see a pelican or two and be nice and close to Victoria station.

On the second day, can I suggest a bus trip? This bus map is quite helpful. Your DS might like sitting on the top deck at the front. The Number 11 bus route is particularly fun, it goes from Victoria to Trafalgar Square past Big Ben and Downing Street.

www.tfl.gov.uk/assets/downloads/central_bus_map.pdf

If it rains, have you considered the London Eye? I know it is expensive but it really is a great way to see London from above. You could combine it with your stroll along the South Bank, from Waterloo station. If you have time, my favourite walk from Waterloo involves heading right (ie. East) and walking to the Tate Modern and back.

Can I ask, will you have luggage? Have you thought about where you are going to leave that? Victoria does have a left luggage place but it is expensive and you would have to go out of your way to drop stuff off/ collect it, which would also constrict the amount of things you could see. Things can be quite spread about in London and I wouldn't want you rushing about and not seeing things, or worse, missing your connections. It is probably realistic to concentrate on the West of London (ie. the museums) on one day, and the centre (ie. the South Bank, Trafalgar Square) on the other.

And yes, tubes and buses are free for children. You can go to this website www.tfl.gov.uk and it will tell you how to get between any two points in London.

I am quite excited for you both and hope you have a great time!

yes, not much going on in my household tonight.

We live in London but my children still love going on the open top bus tours - they're a real winner on a nice day.

notalone, if you are going to Waterloo/London Eye region, take one of the duck tours. They are a great fun sunny day option provided your ds is not afraid of water!

Wow! There are some fab ideas here and Wobbegong you are an absolute star! I never thought of getting on an ordinary bus but the no 11 would be fab for the second day. Actually, bugger, it would be almost rush hour when we get back. Is that route particularly crowded at rush hour?

I was thinking, weather depending, of taking a stroll to the Princess Diana Memorial Garden after the science museum via an M & S for picnic supplies. Would it be too far to walk do you think?

Re luggage I am only going to take a smallish over the shoulder flight bag with a change of clothes and basic toiletries for us so I am hoping I can just take that with us unless of course there are restrictions on bags in the museums. I have a vague memory of going years ago when I was small and my mums handbag being thoroughly searched.

The duck tour looks fabulous but is quite expensive sadly. I was counting on most of the stuff we do being low cost as sadly DP's contract at work ended a few weeks ago and he is finding difficulty finding anything else. I can't really afford this trip at all but can't bear to disappoint Ds who has been sooo excited for months. Luckily our train fares and buses (minus travel card) are already paid for so everything else is going to need to be cheap

Hello Notalone

I might be wrong but I don't know the Princess Diana Memorial Garden. I know there is a Diana walk and a fantastic memorial playground www.royalparks.org.uk/parks/kensington_gardens/diana_playground.cfm. It would be possible to walk from the Science Museum to Kensington Gardens (which is part of Hyde Park IYSWIM). Just walk north up Exhibition Road and it is at the end, I guess maybe 20 minutes walk? Lots of nice places to picnic. However, the park is quite large and the playground at the other (North) end- a longish slog (or a bus).

If your bag is smallish you should be OK so long as you check it in the cloakroom at the Science Museum. I don't know about the Science Museum but last time I went to the Natural History Museum they were searching bags on the way in- though in a completely rubbish and haphazard way. They ask everyone "Have you got a knife or scissors?" and I said no, even though I always carry scissors (to cut open cartons of formula for DD). They didn't find 'em .

Re. picnic. There is an M&S Food in Kings X and Victoria stations. There is also one about 10 minutes walk from the museums (timings are very rough- a local MNetter might correct me) on the main road in Knightsbridge (Brompton Road). However, that is in the opposite direction to the park unfortunately- you won't pass it on the way. You have the right idea though not to buy food in the museums; it's spendy and rubbish. If it is raining though they all have picnic areas inside, though they aren't exactly gorgeous.

Sorry to hear about DP's contract but that shouldn't cramp your style. There is lots of free stuff to do in London- it's one reason I love living here. Also it is rush hour all the time! There are lots of buses and bus lanes though, so don't let that put you off. I can't promise whether you would definitely get a seat or not, but it's worth trying.

I am getting quite excited for you now!