London - two days for a family break

[Papercompany]

Hi all

We are going to London for a weekend in early March. Kids are aged 11 to 15.

I gave already booked the Natural History Museum on Saturday morning.

Any other recommendations? I'm overwhelmed at there seems like a huge amount of things to do - hard to narrow it down.

I would have liked to go and see a show but I think that is over budget for a family of five

Thanks for ideas

Where are you staying, I love Greenwich but then Im from south London so am biased. Theres the o2, or wandering around the city, love Leadenhall at the weekend, Museum of London, the 15 bus goes past most highlights. Covent Garden is another favourite of mine

Hi - we're staying near Hyde Park...sort of South West of it. So we're in a good central location.

the boat from Westminster pier down to Greenwich is a good trip and you see a lot of the sights on the way. Get off and visit the market, the Cutty Sark and the Maritime Museum which is aimed at children. Also, you can go to the observatory and stand on the Greenwich Meridian. The Outernet is a wonderful immersive digital display lasting a hour, it’s also free. It is at Tottenham Court Road by the tube station. Opposite a large Primark and walking distance to Covent Garden. London is a big city and you can’t expect to do too much in one weekend.
The Museum of London, recommended above, is closed at the moment.

What do your kids like?

Keep an eye on the Todaytix app for a bargain for a show.

Next to the NHM you have the science Museum and the V&A, both free as well. They may be worth a look depending on how much you all like museums. The Science Museum currently has the Power Up exhibit (which you do need to pay for) that's all about computer games, including loads to play.

The Science Museum also has the IMAX cinema which is nice if you want to sit down and chill for an hour in between walking around Museums. You do need to pay for tickets though.

Re show keep an eye on late tickets, you might have to go for a 2 and a 3 rather than 5 together but it's very possible to get seats.

A age approp guided ghost/Harry potter/history walk might be fun? They're generally very reasonable.

Mine loved the Harry Potter Studio tour, it's about 40 mins on the train/tube.

There's an app called GoCity, you can pay for an unlimited number of activities over a set number of days or just a set number of activities. It's worth a look even just for planning purposes but is good value if you plan to do a couple of paid activities.

Have done this kind of trip a good few times and I would say a show at the end of a busy day is a lot. We generally enjoyed having a meal then going back to crash at the hotel and watch TV in bed. Look up Pizza Union - unbelievably cheap but delicious thin crust pizza that makes one evening meal very affordable. You can easily spend all day in the Natural History and Science Museums.

Thanks so much for all the tips so far. Maybe a show might be too much for the kids after a full day of visiting - good point.

I think we might do a hop on hop off bus tour on the first day to get a sense of everything. Or possibly just a walk around. Big Ben, Buckingham palace, etc. I love the idea of a boat tour on Thames too.

Then the Natural History Museum on the next day. Love the idea of a guided ghost tour - we did one in Paris years ago and it was brilliant.

I think we'll go to Tower Bridge, Sky Garden and Leadenhall Market the following day.

My kids have never really been interested in Harry Potter unfortunately!

You need to book the Sky Garden in advance via their website and bring photographic ID with you on the day of your visit.

Leadenhall market is not that interesting , Borough Market opposite London Bridge station has more to offer.

Just mooching around and seeing the sights can be a good start. 'That's Parliament ...!!' A ghost tour is a good way to expand on that. Or might you want to take them to historic sights just to instill basics? Sometimes it's good to be able to say later, 'oh yeah, I saw that'. And deffo ride the Eye if you have not already.

Agree with PPs that riverboat, however you access it is v cool. It's not clear now but historically, people hopped on and off all up and down the Thames.

For me, the biggest question is what do you/your family like because London is full of it. So do they like history? do they like paintings? do they like international food? do they like Lego? Or sport - is there a Millwall fixture or similar? Check if there are any events? I went to a narrow boat conference in Maida Vale one weekend when my sister was in town. It was interesting to see all the different narrow boats and there was a food truck area ...

The V&A is full of random stuff, including modern exhibits, and is right by the NHM and the Science Museum and is also free. Also, opposite these museums is a street (Exhibition Rd) full of restaurants (much nicer than museum cafés) of all kinds if you need any sustenance.

TLDR:
I have reasonably girly DDs. We have been to V&A for McQueen exhibit and a pop-up Taylor Swift trail - brilliant marketing wheeze that one! We have been to the Tower of London including crown jewels and on the Eye and to certain parts of the National Gallery and the Portrait Gallery as and when. Sometimes we just choose an area with lots of cool shops and window shop (leche-vitrine comme on dit): certain trades are often in areas together. DD1 loves interior design so Lower Sloane St into Pimlico Rd was perfect for her: like a museum but without the museum.

Another time, we went to Borough Market and just ate our way through it, trying anything that caught our eye.

Given the age of yours, a few hours wandering down Oxford Street will probably be enjoyable. Or they might like Camden Market which is easy to tube to.

Go to the Southbank watch the street artists then go to the street food market for dinner and enjoy the atmosphere

The Old Operating Theatre, Borough Market for lunch and a trip up The Shard

https://oldoperatingtheatre.com

Why pay big bucks for 5 people to go up the shard….when Sky garden and Horizon 22 are both free 🤷‍♀️

Thanks for suggestion but I don't think I'd like the Operating Theatre🫣 Yes, to the Borough Market - it sounds fabulous. Happy to see the Shard but not too interested in going into it

What do we like? History and fun things ... Not too interested in art. No interest in sport. I'd love a show but will save that for another time.

We are staying not that far from Kew Gardens & I thought that might be nice for a morning too.

The Thames Rocket power boat trips are really good fun and very thrilling. They only go super fast once you’re out past Canary Whatf so are a great way to see lots of sights from the river plus a thrilling ride for a while. You get on near the London Eye.

Bear in mind that walking in London is tiring if you're not used to it due to the crowds and waiting at all the crossings. So a hop on and off bus tour is probably more enjoyable than walking round Westminster etc if you're not used to it.

The Tower of London is fabulous if you enjoy history. If you're going during February half term it won't be heaving but they usually have actors at certain times which are worth seeing. From there I'd get the boat to the Cutty Sark which is also excellent. Lunch near the Tower of London at St Catherine's Docks or in Greenwich near the Cutty Sark.

Greenwich market and Borough Market are far better than Leadenhall Market.