Central London with 4 year old boy

[kneedeepinthedirtylaundry]

My 4 year old DS is having a tough time right now and needs some cheering up. Am taking him to the London Eye, but anyone got any ideas for what else we can do to distract, inspire and gladden the heart of a lovely little boy that is incredibly exuberant? Any ideas welcome.

the huge dinosaur skeleton in the Natural History museum will amaze him!

My ds, just 5, likes the transport museum in Convent Garden.

How about a boat trip?

The Eye is near the aquarium, which is brilliant for kids (there's a touch pool where you can stroke the rays).

Or how about the Science Museum? Free and has great interactive areas for younger children. Or the Transport Museum in Covent Garden if he's into buses & trains? There are lots of simulators so he can pretend he's driving...

Science Museum

When is the Wallace & Gromot Exhibition on? Oh poo - it's not till the end of March, sorry.
Would he be up to the Natural History Museum?

the science museum (next door to NH museum incidentally)

• great space/rockets and trains/ planes/ transport halls.

Yes, Natural History Museum. London Transport Museum is supposed to be good too. The giraffe near London Eye for lunch? There might be something child friendly on at the Imex (is that spelt right - looks wrong), which is nearby too.

Travelling on the top deck front seats of a red bus, the tube and a short taxi ride (perhaps to Hamleys to buy a red bus, black cab and tube toys) might also be fun.

If it is a nice day the pirate playground in Kensington gardens are good

Hearing Big Ben chime (while you are near the Eye) is quick and free

Oh and the duck tour goes from near the eye, bet that would amaze and excite him!

Science Museum - they have the play area in the basement that kids love. Next door to the Natural History too.

you angels! Loads of good ideas here. Thankyouthankyouthankyou.

Dare I also suggest if you go to the museums in south kensington you are just a short bus ride away from harrods toy department

Or Hamleys (on Regent Street) is always a goodie

Took my DS on Duck tour at 4 - goes from right by The Eye, it was fab! The whole family enjoyed it!

South Ken museums also near Hyde Park/Kensington Gardens

I owuld check with the aquarium re: the ray pool.

They are having a massive refurb at the moment, and a lot of stuff is out of action.

we went last week, and it was still great, but not sure when they are due to reopen fully.

The ray pool is no longer a touch pool (if it's even open).

Also there is no longer an interactive area in the basement of the Science Museum (boo). We went last week. It was chaos, but half term, so be expected.

I would second the south bank. Lots of free stuff to do. Ds, also four, loves watching skateboarders. Maybe not so many around during the week. There's also beach coming if the tide is out and plenty of space to run around

The Princess Diana playground in kensington Park Gardens. There is an almost life size pirate ship to play on, you can climb the rigging, swing in a huge bowl shaped swing and jump on musical tiles. It's enclosed and entry is free and adults must be accompanied by a child. After that it's a short bus ride or longer walk to the museums. The science museum's play area on the 3rd floor is fantastic fun.

He loves pirates!

Yes, southbank is great. Loads to do and see as others have said. There's a small playground next to the eye and if you walk along (to the right as you face river) then places to eat, skateboarders, boats to see.
Taking a boat trip is fun - we went with DD (4) last year and just did a few stops and walked back again but you can go down to greenwich which is also fab.
Also Tate Modern is further along there which has good child friendly cafe, lots of space to run around and sometimes funky installation type stuff for children to see (and a good shop!)
Transport museum in covent garden (previously mentioned) is also great and you could walk over the bridge to embankment from near the eye and then up to covent garden to the museum