London advice pls for Antipodeans

[Woodenlight]

We are visiting London for a week in October, with DP and DDs (11 and 13), as part of a big European trip. Coming from Down Under, so this is trip of a lifetime stuff. I have been before, but not for 20 years, and it will be first time for the others.

How to decide between the big attractions? Are Tower of London, Buckingham Palace etc worth going inside? I previously mostly visited the free museums/galleries.

We will probably visit the HP studios because both my DC love Harry Potter. Any advice on navigating this, as I know it’s very popular?

Any hidden gems or quirky, fun attractions anyone can recommend?

We will probably visit the HP studios because both my DC love Harry Potter. Any advice on navigating this, as I know it’s very popular?

It's very popular so essential to book in advance. If you've confirmed your travel dates then book now.

Buckingham Palace will mostly be closed already as it's only open during the Summer months.

HP World is not in London - you need a train to Watford and then a bus, it's a full day so take that into consideration. It is a great experience, no doubt though but tickets are often sold out months in advance, do check now.

The rest really depends on what your interests are and how you see your visit. For us the Tower is great but we are history nerds. I know others who weren't keen and just did it as a tick box exercise and complained about the costs and the queues.

There is no right or wrong way to visit London, I would go for your interests and not by what others think you have to do.

I would recommend though getting tickets for either the SkyGarden or Horizon 22 viewing platforms, they are free but require a ticket and you need to book fast when they are released around 2 weeks before.

You can get a bus/entry package from Kings Cross for HP.

What are you and your family most interested in?

HP studios - it's really good and will take most of a day, pack your own lunch if you can

Tower of London - definitely worth doing and you can also do a boat trip before or afterwards from the pier

Buckingham palace - wouldn't bother with, personally think Hampton Court palace is more interesting

Would do the tour of Parliament if you can get a slot

Don't try and do all the museums - pick a couple that most appeal. I like the V&A.

More obscure museums - John Soane museum, Leighton House, Apsley house

There is a harry potter walking tour in the city of London somewhere too

(How to decide between the big attractions? Are Tower of London, Buckingham Palace etc worth going inside? I previously mostly visited the free museums/galleries.

How do we know what's important to you? You only have a week so resign yourself to the fact that you cant do everything.

Get a guidebook (the old fashioned way) and note what you'd really like to see / do. Group them by area. Try to plan your days round those areas so you're not criss-crossing London. Leave gaps for just wandering or having a coffee. Aim for one big attraction plus one small one per day. A show one evening.

(And i would have Tower Of London on my essential list. If youre going the standard advice is get there for opening time, visit the crown jewels first before the crowds arrive, then join a yeoman warder's tour.)

That’s very helpful, thanks.

We are history nerds too, although I do worry that the grim history of the Tower might be a bit too depressing.

Some sort of boat trip is essential. Maybe Westminster to Greenwich.

If you’re going to London, then you at least have to see Buckingham palace , Big Ben, Tralfager square etc. ie. The typical British landmarks. Time seeing B. Palace with changing of the guards. There’s a nice park nearby.

Camden Town is quite cool for teenagers. Also Carnaby street and The Seven dials area.

Harrods is another must see.

Covent Garden is another area worth considering.

Harry Potter is at Leavesden, not London, and gets booked up in advanced.

I always like posting this website. Self-guided walks that take in key sights, plus lesser known ones.

https://walklondon.com

Greenwich area is also worth considering - museums, the Cutty Sark etc.

@Woodenlight The Tower is great, yes, it's a also dark but don't forget, it was also a royal residence, not just a prison.

Alternatively, again a full day though, you could look into taking a train to Hampton Court Palace, the trains go from Waterloo station, it's an easy trip.

The Cutty Sark and the Maritime Museum in Greenwich are also great, the Royal Observatory is good, the shows costs but the museum is free I think.
It's also just nice strolling around the area.
You can take an Uber boat instead of tube to get some views from the river as well.

I love London Walks and always recommend to my Aussie friends and family when they visit - www.walks.com

Also boat along the Thames. A nice route is Westminster along to Tower Bridge (and you can go onto Greenwich if you fancy)

Harrods - meh. But I do like Fortnum and Mason. They have a lovely ice cream parlour (you can also get tea and scones)

If you like history type things, there’s a charity that offer mudlarking tours on the Thames too. And they’re child friendly

https://thames-explorer.org.uk/guided-tours/

There are also the hop on hop off buses with commentary. I did it years ago when my mum visited and the price included a boat trip. You can, though, easily do the same trips via the tube or regular bus network for much cheaper.

Many places offer bus day trips to see sights outside of London. Stonehenge being one. Not that you mentioned it, personally, its a whole day, you can't get that close to the stones anymore, so I wouldn't bother with that.

1 day out of London can be nice though IF you have the time. Brighton is a beachside town and only 1hr via train from London. I love seeing the countryside as a change from the city. Easy to walk around, quirky shops and I found the Royal Pavillion fascinating https://brightonmuseums.org.uk/visit/royal-pavilion-garden/ Many train lines offer family return day tickets too.

You can easily walk from seeing Big Ben to the gates of Buckingham palace.

London eye (the ferris wheel thing) is expensive IMO. Also, unless you know the city and the buildings you are looking at, can be a bit of a let down.

HP studios is great - as others say pre book as it sells out. It's quieter in the morning and evening if you want to avoid crowds. You can get a train to Watford (it's in the tfl zone so you can just tap) and then there is a frequent free bus from just outside the station. Tower is great if you like history. Also Hampton Court (but that is a trip out of London). Guildhall has some good Roman ruins if you are in the city area and a climb up Monument is a good way to see the city. There are also lots of historical London tours. My kids also really enjoy the tower bridge experience.

You should give yourselves time just to mooch. A walk along the South Bank from Waterloo Bridge to Tower Bridge (or the other way around) is glorious. Lots of places to eat, get drinks etc, and if you time it right with the tides, there’s a small beach at Gabriel’s Wharf. And if you want something specific to do, there’s the inside of Tower Bridge, HMS Belfast, The Clink Prison and a replica of The Golden Hinde.

Most of the Museums and Art Galleries are still free to everyone.
The Tower of London is one of my favourites along with Hampton Court. Both are great if you are into all things Tudor.
The weather might not be very good in October so indoor venues may be appropriate.

Kew Gardens is good for some exercise.

If there are no HP tickets, you can always try the website on the morning before they open. They often/sometimes have extra odd tickets come up. Buckingham palace is nice if you’re into the Royal Family. A cheaper option is The Royal Mews next door. Tower of London is interesting if you like history. If your children like HP, visit the house of mina Lima (shop with HP artwork). See the HP show at the west end. Or Wicked is also good and generally cheaper.

Harrods and selfridges have Jelly Cat stores inside which teens tend to like.

Time Out London is a good place to look for things that interest you in London

Get a proper paper street map of Central London and study it in advance.

Walk. Along the river, around the City.

Read Samuel Pepys on the Great Fire.

Think about doing St Paul's. (If you do, you'll need to allow half a day.)
If not St Paul's, at least try to visit some of the Wren churches in the City.

I like the London Museum Docklands. It's free, and because it's a large building it doesn't get too crowded. (The Museum of London at Barbican is closed and the new Museum doesn't open until later this year.)

October is a good time to visit. The weather can still be very warm (although good weather is never guaranteed of course.) But be aware that if you're visiting at the end of the month, you will coincide with school half term and everywhere will be more crowded.

In the central area, there will always be a coffee shop or small supermarket nearby, so no need to worry about carrying food or drink with you.

In busy crowded tourist areas such as Oxford Street and Covent Garden, watch out for pickpockets and bag dippers. (Though frankly I wouldn't go near Oxford Street anyway.)

Don't walk around with your phone in your hand. Have a cross body bag and keep it zipped with valuables at the bottom. In a cafe, don't put your bag on the floor or hang it on the back of the chair. But don't stress, just use common sense.

Not depressing - more fascinating, I think. Disbelief that people got their heads chopped off, etc. But anyway, the crown jewels are a must-see. They are fabulous!

https://www.wbstudiotour.co.uk/tickets/?gclsrc=aw.ds&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=20335468482&gbraid=0AAAAAD5ixeQR6dAUxE4mSQ3xPMwOOpsfq&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIhvme8sHGlQMVIphQBh136ScEEAAYASAAEgKxNPD_BwE

a shuttle bus goes to the studios to Watford Junction station

Harrods and Oxford Street are absolutely not worth it IMO. One is just a big fancy shop and the other is a hellhole (with some big shops).

The HP thing is really good fun and worth it even for non-HP fans (my DH who is viscerally against anything even vaguely fantasy and never reads fiction actually loved it).

I really second the walk along the South Bank - it's a beautiful walk with plenty of things to look at along the way. The National has a great bookshop. Find out what's on at the Southbank Centre and BFI. The RFH has the disappearing fountains in the summer but they will I think be gone by October. But go inside the RFH and find the singing lift (don't tell your kids what it does before you get in).

Camden is a great shout. Also Brixton market, which has lots of interesting shops plus great places for lunch.

Have you/your kids watched Ted Lasso? There are nice things to do in Richmond where it was filmed. I don't know where you are staying but you can get there in 15 mins from Waterloo. Kew Gardens is a great day out and they always have interesting exhibitions. Good walks along the river and Hampton Court is great and not far away.

Tower of London is good. I wouldn't discount the free museums - there is always something new to see even if you have been before. The Tate Modern has lots of free stuff to see (can be combined with South Bank walk, and then you can walk across to St Paul's Cathedral which I think would be good for history nerds).

I would also recommend the National Gallery and National Portrait Gallery where you can see tons of stuff for free.

The giant helter skelter slide in Stratford is great. I feel like 11 and 13 year olds would love this.

I could go on forever, but also, Highgate Cemetery, Sir John Soane's Museum, the Museum of the Home, Brick Lane for vintage shopping and bagels, Columbia Road flower market if you have a Sunday to spare, the toy museum in Bethnal Green, the glass walkway at Tower Bridge. You can google and see if you'd like these!

I already posted up thread, but another place I wouldn't bother with is Madame Tussauds (not that you mentioned it). I recall going age 9 and the lower level dungeon rooms freaked me. I returned as an adult and couldn't believe how over priced it was and how small the room was that the wax works actually are in. For your family, it would be £130 or $A250, so I'd save the money! Many London museums are free.