Things to do on holiday in London

[callmehannahbaker]

Please help!
Going away next week (Monday-Thursday) with DD and DM. We don't want to spend too much as I'm very poor and DM is paying for us.
We've already planned a few hours at the natural history museum and the science museum (we come to London a few times a year so we've done them before).

Any ideas on anything cheap on for 2 adults and a 7 year old?

Good article I just read on my Facebook here: londonist.com/2015/07/on-a-budget-cheap-family-friendly-london-alternatives
Definitely recommend the Horniman Museum in Forest Hill.... also try the Guildhall where you can see what remains of London's Roman amphitheatre and pick up some interesting City of London trails.
Have you been up the Monument to the Great Fire? It's about a fiver for adults, less for kids and you get a free certificate for your bedroom wall too!
Museum of London and the Museum of London Docklands are both excellent and have a summer programme of events for kids.
Princess Diana memorial playground (NW corner of Kensington Gardens) is great fun in nice weather.
I find that even if you go out in London without much idea where you are headed, there is usually interesting something that will pop up on the way.

Would recommend the Sky Garden in the Walker Talkie. Not quite as high as The Shard but free although you many have to book your slot. Also look at Treasure Trails - downloadable treasure hunts around London which will take you to interesting places. Walking by the Thames and London Parks are free. Go to Greenwich for the day- Maritime Museum is free. I wouldn't suggest Hornimans unless you've done all the other free Museums personally. It's nice, but not like the South Ken ones, or the National Gallery or Portrait Museum which often have children's events. Covent Garden for street performers. Walk across some bridges. Get a commuter river boat up the Thames. Walk by Regents Canal. Fountains at the South Bank are on most days but check for times. Look at Little Bird for offers- there is one currently for a 'time travelling bus tour' - London bus tour but dressed up as time travel for kids. Think tickets are around £10

Great ideas thank you!
We're getting very excited now

go over charing cross bridge to south bank, so many activities going on there at the moment

There is free theatre at the Scoop at the bottom of the GLA on the Wednesday. They're showing The Odyssey at 6pm in what should be an entertaining child friendly version.

www.freeopenairtheatre.org/current-season

There's an M&S food just round the corner from the Scoop where you can buy a picnic supper.

Globe theatre tickets for £5

I was coming on to say Scoop too. I went last night & really enjoyed it. The first hour is the most child-friendly & has a proper ending so you could easily just watch that.

Thank you! Will put ideas to my mum, we've decided to definitely do the Horniman museum on the first afternoon (1-5.30).
Mum wants to test us to a London duck tour -we aren't going to tell DD that the bus goes into the river so we can see her reaction

If you want a cheap river trip, the TFL river boat service is very good, using oyster. I would recommend Westminster to Greenwich and then walk past Cutty Sark up to the Observatory for fantastic views. Another good trip from Greenwich is to walk under the Thames via the tunnel and then catch the DLR through Docklands.

Mum's agreed to the scoop for the odyssey with a picnic tea (weather permitting).
Thank you all so much for suggestions-anything I don't use this time I'll use in future-my brother lives just outside London (unfortunately no room for visitors anymore now he has a dc - but, he has offered for just DD and I to go visit and pay our hotel in the next half term).

Do have a look in the London topic, lots of ideas and tips in there

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/london

(You might want to ask for this thread to be moved there if you think the suggestions are good and might be useful to others. Rather than staying in 'chat' and going pfft)

Thanks-will ask now

I know they are awful but my DD loves them-any all you can eat buffets near docklands?

I have googled but only seem to get overpriced hotel ones

I don't know about all you can eats but if you go to the Princess Diana memorial playground look out for the Elfin Oak. One of my favourite things in London.

If the 7yo has done Awful Egyptians, you could try both the British Museum (gets terribly crowded, but worth it) and the Petrie Museum

Or any of the other UCL museums (you can navigate to their pages from the Petrie)

And they're not far from Coram's Fields for a run around.

(sorry, can't think if any all-you-can-eats, but as that bit of London is where lots of university buildings are, there are numerous good value places)

BTW, the Londonist website mentioned by Graveyardkate has lots of lists of things to do, places to eat. These might be worth a look:

londonist.com/london/best-of-london/london-s-best-all-you-can-eat

londonist.com/2014/06/the-best-all-you-can-eat-and-drink-brunches-in-london

Oh yes, Petrie! It will be far quieter than the British Museum. And the Grant Museum of Zoology is fun too.

Thank you all! Will search with my mum tomorrow-huge thanks x

Look for a city farm too, depending on where you are staying? I know there are city farms in Vauxhall, Hackney, Stepney and Newham. Most are free entry/low donation entry.

Museum of childhood in Bethnal Green.
Southbank have loads on during the Summer too so it's well worth a visit.
Every thursday there is a small food market just at the top of high holborn that would be good for lunch on the go.
Corams Fields is worth a visit for a picnic/playground on a sunny day.

I hope this helps!! Excellent list of family experiences in London:

www.culturewhisper.com/r/kids/london_winter_events/5687