Please show off your London hacks and tips!

[evtheria]

Giddy with the thought of restrictions easing, we booked 3 (refundable) nights in London for autumn. We are not familiar with the city, and it will be the first time for our DS (who will be 7 by then).

What are your best tips and tricks for London visits? What should we splurge on? What should we miss? What did your young kids love? Do we go to Harrods or Hamleys for a gawk?
I’ve read a great MSE article with helpful info, but know Mn is full of founts of knowledge! Thank you in advance

Hello all, hoping you can all help a country bumpkin out!
We’re planning a day trip to London, hopefully in May when everything opens up properly. We live in a very rural area & I haven’t been into London since I was a teenager, I have no idea on how to navigate my way around. We are thinking of starting the day at the science museum and history museum, they’re predominantly the main part of the trip. I’m hopeful to squeeze in a quick visit to Harrods, a walk along the south bank and possibly a peek at Big Ben- Am I being way too optimistic or is this possible in a (very long) day? Apologies if I’m coming across as completely thick, I literally do not have a clue 🤪

If it's only a day trip and you're already going to the Science and Natural History museums, that's more than enough with a tube ride and lunch thrown in

Tangtastical.... depends on how long you want to be in the museums for...

We did a day trip for my sons 7th birthday a few years ago- he had never been to London before.

We got the 8:15am train which got us in for 10:15am and walked across Hyde park to the science museum- he wanted to see the space section and Tim Peake's space capsule - so we literally did exactly that. In and out in about 40 mins.
We then went next door to natural history to do the dinosaurs and see Mary Annings fossils. We ate the picnic we had taken with us there and were out of there by about 1pm after a visit to the shop.
We then went to green park on the tube and walked down to see Buckingham Palace. Then we went to Embankment by the Thames and walked across the Jubilee Bridge where we could see Big Ben. We managed to squeeze in the Monument too on our way back to Paddington. I think we bought some snacks/more picnic stuff at Paddington Station and were on the 5:30pm train home to collect the toddler from Grandma's house at 7:30pm.

It was a whistle stop tour and we walked 7 miles that day! We obviously didn't see all of the museums, but it didn't really matter as we did the bits he was most interested in. And he got to see so much more of the city.

We have since been back every year for a few days (with both the children) and done the museums and lots more properly. They both absolutely love it there.

But what you are proposing is definitely do-able and a great first taste of such a fab city.

Our trip is next week, we are so excited that it is still happening! I just want to thank everyone who has left suggestions and helpful advice on here, there’s enough that I think we’ll need a few more breaks in London to cover it all!

@evtheria How was your trip?
What are your top tips now, what were the hits for the kids?
I’m bringing my 4 year old daughter in November for two nights and this thread has been so amazing.

@princesssparkle9985 It was great! London wasn’t as crowded as it normally was (due to lack of overseas visitors) so that really helped us regarding bookings and queues etc. My main practical tips would be:

• Decide which general area you will spend Day 1/2/3 in, then plan your top 2 (maybe 3) things for that area so you’re not shlepping back and forth. EG. Day 1 is SW to watch the guards changeover, then head to the Natural History Museum. Check the Tube guide ahead so you’re familiar with what line and stop you will use on that day.
• Book your dinners if you’re not self-catering. Lunch is easy enough if you’re out and about, but at the end of the day you don’t want to be waiting for a table with a hungry and tired child. We played it safe and in the evenings ate at places basically 5’ walk back to the hotel.

What sights you should see with your 4 year old is up to your personal interests... DS loved: using a double decker to go to Oxford Circus, watching the changing of the guards (we watched at Wellington Barracks to avoid the crowds) and visiting every single floor of Hamleys. But the only reason he wants to return is just to eat another cannoli from a small Italian restaurant we stopped at! Kids.

I hope you have a great trip!

@evtheria oh sounds fabulous, thank you very much.