London 2 day trip with 9 yr old- itinerary help plan!

[Subtleknife]

I'm hoping to travel to London next weekend with my 9y old daughter, who has never been before. She mainly wants to go to the natural history and science museums so we are booked in there for the sunday. Hotel booked high st Kensington so near to museums and somewhere I've stayed before with free last minute cancellation.

We get into Paddington 11.20 on the Saturday with no specific plans, so wondered the best way of using our time to tick off a few sights for her?

Looking at the different hop on hop off buses and/or a river trip. Maybe tower of London if we have time as she has blue Peter badge.

Slight snag is I've recently hurt my back so although we will be travelling as light as possible, I won't be up for quite as much walking as when i initially planned the trip.

Should I cancel hotel and book somewhat near Paddington?

Can you take small rucksacks on Hop on/off buses? Any tour operators you'd recommend/avoid?

Are there left luggage facilities around london or are we better going straight to hotel and leaving luggage there if room not ready?

Thanks

[Newnormal99]

What about tickets for a show?

[MayThePawsBeWithYou]

High St Ken is easy to get to from Paddington on the tube, you could go straight to the hotel and leave your luggage there if they offer that. How about getting a bus from the hotel to Buckingham Palace for a tour, after that you could either get a bus or walk through to Embankment and get on a river boat, the Uber boat is cheapest, down the river, onto Greenwich which is a nice trip and there is a market on but I don't know till what time but there are plenty of places to eat and the Maritime Museum is very interesting.
www.getyourguide.co.uk/london-l57/the-queen-s-gallery-buckingham-palace-entrance-ticket-t53864/

[Subtleknife]

Possibly if I see a good deal, thanks. We saw beauty and the beast locally recently and my dad's taking us to lion king in a few weeks so wasn't top of my list. She'd love to see cursed child but saving that for a special occasion (and only mega expensive tickets available at short notice!)
I think she'll be happy just seeing bin ben, london eye etc and then going for some food somewhere but my geography is rubbish so trying to work out the best way of doing it!

[MayThePawsBeWithYou]

actually there is a family fun day in Greenwich this weekend
www.rmg.co.uk/whats-on/cutty-sark/family-fun-weekend-sailors-valentines

[SleepyRoo]

My 9 yo recently loved

HMS Belfast
The Globe Theatre tour
Musicals
Wonderlab at Science Museum
Watching skateboarders at South Bank

[Embracelife]

Leave luggage in hotel no need to pay left luggage
Download uber app in case you back hurts Bd you need to get from a to b
Back cab OK for short journeys too

Use regular buses sit at top 9 route for exampke

[Embracelife]

www.visitbritainshop.com/gb/en/articles/top-3-bus-routes

[Subtleknife]

Thanks all, some great advice.
Maythepaws sorry i meant 12/13th not this weekend. But sounds like easy tube to hotel to drop luggage (i left luggage on day of leaving when i stayed before so know they offer this) and then head off on the bus. Looks like number 9 would check off a few sights and stops at Kensington high Street? Would it take me near enough to walk to Buckingham palace? Cheaper and less faff than the tour buses. I'm sure with an app even i can't get lost 🙈
Uber is a good shout for emergencies.

Think we'll leave tower of london for another time as looks like you could spend hours there, and my back might not handle it!
Museum of London looks good as does the river boat.

For buses- she is v tall 9 y old, am i going to get quizzed about her age constantly?

Thanks again

[mastertomsmum]

Suitcases on Tube, only small ones as you will need step free access. Cab to hotel is normal route. Don't use Uber, they are rubbish

[MayThePawsBeWithYou]

what hotel are you staying in so we can plan something for you

[Subtleknife]

Its only an overnight stay so was hoping to take a smallish backpack with pjs/change of tops for us and wash bag. My daughter will probably bring rucksack with comic/fave teddy for the train.
Its holiday inn high st Kensington
Thanks

[MayThePawsBeWithYou]

From Paddington get the eastbound district/circle line tube to the hotel, 3-4 stops, dump luggage. Get the 52 bus towards Victoria, it goes through Ken High St, past Albert Hall, Ken Gardens, Hyde Park, get off at 2-3 stops before Victoria Station for Buck Palace. After that walk through St James Park to go to either Westminster Pier for Big Ben, Houses of Parliament, Westminster Abbey but there might be the usual demonstrations so give yourself extra time.
Getting the 9 bus from Ken High Street goes past Ken Palace, Albert Hall, through to Knightsbridge Harrods then onto Hyde Park Corner or Green Park (where you get off for Buck Palace and walk about 10mins) then onto Piccadilly where you could visit the Lego shop which is really good, and walk through to Covent Garden to see the shops and entertainers and get the river boat from Embankment.
The river boat (Uber Clippers) will take you eastbound up the river past the Tower/

[Subtleknife]

That's great, thank you!
Presume the Uber boat brings you back to Westminster or embankment? (Whichever we decide to join from) is it worth paying more to be able to get on and off? Just thinking she might like to have a look at the globe theatre.
Will we have to book somewhere to eat at the moment?
And with the buses do you just tap your card like on the tube, and they will just let daughter on if they believe she is 9?!
Thanks again

[VeronicaBeccabunga]

I hope you both have a wonderful time!

[I adore London, it's the Centre of the Known Universe!]

[gogohm]

I would take the sightseeing bus in your circumstances, then, unless you pick up show tickets, treat her to dinner somewhere fun or different in the evening - my DD's loved mocktails at that age, made them feel more grown up. Conserve your energy for the museum's

[MayThePawsBeWithYou]

Yes, the boat goes both directions, you can buy a day ticket or oyster. The boat also stops at the Tate Modern which is next to The Globe. The Globe do a lush afternoon tea and you can walk over the Millenium Bridge to St Pauls. There are loads of places to eat along Bankside which is the area around The Globe. The boat also stops at The London Eye. Look at uber river boat offers or Wowcher for deals. You can download the Uber boat map.

[MayThePawsBeWithYou]

www.thamesclippers.com/plan-your-journey/route-map

[NuffSaidSam]

You're extremely unlikely to be quizzed by a bus driver about the age of your daughter. And yes, you just tap in with Oyster card/contactless bank card on the bus, same as the tube.

[Subtleknife]

Thank you

[languagelover96]

Science museums
Chinatown
A pub
Vintage shops
A show etc
Toy shops
River boat